yes but in a big table with small pockets and slow cloth. When a non billiard people watch it it looks extremely tough ( and it is).
Why pool isn't viewed seriously by Joe 6-pack...
- Thread starter chefjeff
- Start date
yes but in a big table with small pockets and slow cloth. When a non billiard people watch it it looks extremely tough ( and it is).
i suggest to watch those videos. There are some nice shots and runouts. As you can see a lot of people is wondering why there are shots in that video that they don't look that hard. Or the runouts... simply pool look easy to non pool people. People usually think people is always trickshots and when they see it isn't are disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUO40_a4708&feature=related ( there are 6 parts)
For example my mother doesn't know players play position and clearly she thinks they hit the cueball dead center and they get shots for casuality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUO40_a4708&feature=related ( there are 6 parts)
For example my mother doesn't know players play position and clearly she thinks they hit the cueball dead center and they get shots for casuality.
I agree with other posters asserting that it 'isn't just the money'. For what my opinion is worth, I think we (as a Western society) are seeing cultural shifts in priority when it comes to the lay public being entertained by sport. I don't want to veer the discussion too far into the semantics of cultural investigation, but it strikes me that younger generations (by that, I mean those under 20) have many opportunities to be socialized by a variety of entertainment media, like role-playing games, virtual social networks, etc. Actually putting in time on a pool table holds less appeal when you can merely play a video game that mimics its qualities, and provides a soundtrack, can be played in your living room with friends, less introductory cost, and so on. This is part of the reason why so many people enjoy playing a game such as Rockband, but have no desire to pick up an actual musical instrument. I think it is unfortunate, but until pool tournaments start to feature larger-than-life people like Lebron James or Tiger Woods, Joe Sixpack is not going to flock to the game. Looks as though it is time for Earl to mount a serious comeback...
In my opinion, the rules prescribe overly conservative play--mainly due to every penalty being rewarded with ball-in-hand. This discourages jumps, banks, 3-rail shots; and takes the specticle out of the <typical> race.
{And no, I don't know how to create/monitor/reward penalties between nada, and BIH.}
I'm successful in sales and marketing and it blows my mind that they try to sell pool on tv with so many safety shots!!! This actually makes joe pool think he's BETTER than the guy on the tv because Joe would NEVER play safe because that's chicken shit pool. Yet they try to make a show of nine ball.
I would have a draw shot competition for 1 point, a jump shot competition for a point, speed pool rack for a point, trick shot for a point, no safety speed nine ball for a point, no safety speed eight ball for a point...like a decathlon.
Half the pros wouldn't be able to win my event but who cares. A handful of purists wouldn't enjoy it but who cares. We might have advertising dollars in pool and more interest.
Almost forgot the masse portion of the match. And the power break competition.
Flame away but I'm just brainstorming and giving away free ideas here.
I would have a draw shot competition for 1 point, a jump shot competition for a point, speed pool rack for a point, trick shot for a point, no safety speed nine ball for a point, no safety speed eight ball for a point...like a decathlon.
Half the pros wouldn't be able to win my event but who cares. A handful of purists wouldn't enjoy it but who cares. We might have advertising dollars in pool and more interest.
Almost forgot the masse portion of the match. And the power break competition.
Flame away but I'm just brainstorming and giving away free ideas here.
I think Hopkins tried that with sudden death 7 ball- only 1 safety allowed per game. If you missed after that, it was ball in hand.
I think pool will never be supported by the general public in it's present form. The fan needs something to relate to, something to follow on a week by week basis, something to covet.
Nascar is a hit as of the last ten years. I love NASCAR. I didn't need to be sold on the idea. It has not only survived in the USA but has thrived. California has three races now including a road track. I would have bet against that. NASCAR did several things to promote interest.
First, they modified the rules to keep the compitition close. Open wheel racing is dropping behind due to this. Hell, they still run carburated V-8's.
They educated the fans about the sport every chance they had. They even built a cut away car and cut away engine to help describe the tech of the sport.
Teams and rivalries were promoted. This gives fans something to look forward to each week. Pool fails miserably at this. Even if you supported a certain player, you might not see him this week in the tourny. There is nothing to bring the average fan back week to week. How many of us can name the US player with the most points/money and how far is he in the lead? Other than the Moconi Cup, what does it mean anyway? Who cares?
I think something like a league structure with 4 man teams might work. The players need a home pool room. The rooms should be regional. The events would be match ups in different cities on the same weekend. Sometimes they travel, sometimes they are home. The event shouldn't take more than three to four hours. 3 day events are not feasible for the average Joe. A year end championship can be played by the points leaders.
Just my thoughts.
Nascar is a hit as of the last ten years. I love NASCAR. I didn't need to be sold on the idea. It has not only survived in the USA but has thrived. California has three races now including a road track. I would have bet against that. NASCAR did several things to promote interest.
First, they modified the rules to keep the compitition close. Open wheel racing is dropping behind due to this. Hell, they still run carburated V-8's.
They educated the fans about the sport every chance they had. They even built a cut away car and cut away engine to help describe the tech of the sport.
Teams and rivalries were promoted. This gives fans something to look forward to each week. Pool fails miserably at this. Even if you supported a certain player, you might not see him this week in the tourny. There is nothing to bring the average fan back week to week. How many of us can name the US player with the most points/money and how far is he in the lead? Other than the Moconi Cup, what does it mean anyway? Who cares?
I think something like a league structure with 4 man teams might work. The players need a home pool room. The rooms should be regional. The events would be match ups in different cities on the same weekend. Sometimes they travel, sometimes they are home. The event shouldn't take more than three to four hours. 3 day events are not feasible for the average Joe. A year end championship can be played by the points leaders.
Just my thoughts.
One thing Snooker has going for it is that it is easier to follow on a less than brand new TV.
Admittedly, even in HD, I occasionally mix up which ball is which watching Nineball on ESPN broadcasts. Makes me feel stupid, which I may be, but I don't find that feeling entertaining.
sooo..... in summary
Joe wants the best players making tough shots in exciting fair matches where players make shots that boggle the mind and those shots lead to great come from behind victories...excitement..... drama... shots the folks at home can't make (without the props and set shots of the trick shot scene...)
what about this??
10 Ball alternate break each player breaks 5 racks
game is scored by points not racks
a cut shot scores one point
every additional contact scores another point
so a bank shot would be 2 points, a kick shot would be 2 points, a combination would be 2 points
kick into a combination and score 3 points.. 3 OB combination scores 3 points, kick into a bank shot to score 3 points
kick into a combination bank shot and score 4 points ect..
that way you get the fairness of alternate break with a method to come back from a deficit...
10 ball always spots unless it's the last ball on the table so you could theoretically cycle it and extend a lead or recover from a deep hole
If you get down on points you gotta start takin the fliers...
there ya go my gift to the pool world someone run with it
Joe wants the best players making tough shots in exciting fair matches where players make shots that boggle the mind and those shots lead to great come from behind victories...excitement..... drama... shots the folks at home can't make (without the props and set shots of the trick shot scene...)
what about this??
10 Ball alternate break each player breaks 5 racks
game is scored by points not racks
a cut shot scores one point
every additional contact scores another point
so a bank shot would be 2 points, a kick shot would be 2 points, a combination would be 2 points
kick into a combination and score 3 points.. 3 OB combination scores 3 points, kick into a bank shot to score 3 points
kick into a combination bank shot and score 4 points ect..
that way you get the fairness of alternate break with a method to come back from a deficit...
10 ball always spots unless it's the last ball on the table so you could theoretically cycle it and extend a lead or recover from a deep hole
If you get down on points you gotta start takin the fliers...
there ya go my gift to the pool world someone run with it
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alot of sports are boring that are still aired on tv. Yaught racing was made popular with a commentator Pete Montgomery.He found a way to make it interesting sitting there watching the commentary while making interesting comments.He has a way of getting viewers involved even tough they are not.His formula is still copyed today.
Snooker and pool need commentators that make it informative and interesting to watch.
Just my view from the sideline.
Snooker and pool need commentators that make it informative and interesting to watch.
Just my view from the sideline.
In a famous passage of Mark Twain’s novel, Tom Sawyer, Tom is faced with the unenviable job of whitewashing his aunt’s fence in full view of his friends who will pass by shortly and whose snickering promises to add insult to injury. When his friends do show up, Tom applies himself to the paintbrush with gusto, presenting the tedious chore as a rare opportunity.
Tom’s friends wind up not only paying for the privilege of taking their turn at the fence, but deriving real pleasure from the task—a win-win outcome if there ever was one. In Twain’s words, Tom “had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it—namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.”
People don’t reliably know what they like. So there is no reason why a properly promoted pool tournament couldn't find a market on TV.
Part of this post has been borrowed from
http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/wp/wp2005/wp0510.pdf
Tom’s friends wind up not only paying for the privilege of taking their turn at the fence, but deriving real pleasure from the task—a win-win outcome if there ever was one. In Twain’s words, Tom “had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it—namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.”
People don’t reliably know what they like. So there is no reason why a properly promoted pool tournament couldn't find a market on TV.
Part of this post has been borrowed from
http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/wp/wp2005/wp0510.pdf
Some great thoughts...thanks.
Everybody's contributed some great stuff here...thanks all.
Jeff Livingston
Summary...plese add anything else I've left out.
Change rules to encourgage difficult shots.
Have announcers [instruct] more.
Integrate leagues into learning more.
Lessons help understanding.
Show cue designs and styles and their differences.
Same with table conditions.
Promotion...promotion promotion
Consistent promotion with a end goal in mind.
Home team spirit.
Same players each week so viewers can relate and attach themsleves to a player/team(s).
Replay difficult shots and encourage viewers to try it.
'Shots of the week' is a good thing, imho.
More money (that follows the rest, imho, after IPT debacle)
Tom Sawyer marketing.
Get kids to move from electronic skills to physical.
Promote rivalries.
Jeff Livingfston
Change rules to encourgage difficult shots.
Have announcers [instruct] more.
Integrate leagues into learning more.
Lessons help understanding.
Show cue designs and styles and their differences.
Same with table conditions.
Promotion...promotion promotion
Consistent promotion with a end goal in mind.
Home team spirit.
Same players each week so viewers can relate and attach themsleves to a player/team(s).
Replay difficult shots and encourage viewers to try it.
'Shots of the week' is a good thing, imho.
More money (that follows the rest, imho, after IPT debacle)
Tom Sawyer marketing.
Get kids to move from electronic skills to physical.
Promote rivalries.
Jeff Livingfston