Would a cue ball with a design be a distraction to you?

L

LiLStick

Registered
Hi everyone. Need some opinions and advice here. I have invented a new billiard game that will require its own specially designed set of balls. Due to the way it is played and the overall theme of the game, the cue ball will not be the traditional white color. In fact, it will have matching designs on opposing sides of it and also be colored. (Can’t tell you more cuz its “TOP SECRET”). Anyway here are my questions.

1) Assuming the game is challenging and entertaining, would a colored cue ball with a design deter you from playing?
2) If I can design the cue ball so that it has solid colored or white area which you could turn to face your cue before you shot… kinda like the way golfers reset their golf balls before they putt… do you think that would help with aiming your shot?
3) Do theme related pool games such as Poker Pool and others that require special sets of balls interest those of you that consider yourselves billiard purist or do you think they lend themselves more to the recreational player?

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to these questions. Your input is deeply appreciated.
 
Just a quick response ,

No a colored CB wouldn't bother and No , there's virtually no chance of a game requiring a completely different set of balls taking off.

:)
 
Not really. I've tried to play with the elephant balls that look marbelized and didn't really have a problem.
 
I'm all for your efforts on this one, but I get the feeling that you'll be met with a fair amount of adversity over this idea. Here are my reasons why:

1) Many people are opposed to creating new variations of pocket billiard based games. There are a lot of different options already, and the sheer number of different games and rule sets already confuse the casual players, as well as the TV audience.

2) Cost. With so many traditional games that require only the use of a traditional set of balls, your game will need to be incredibly good for people to justify the additional cost incurred when playing it. Pool players are cheap, and they seldom want to spend a dime on anything...let alone purchase a variation of something already have (referring to the balls).

3) Having to reset the cue ball so that it faces you before each shot imposes two key problems. First, its irritating. Being a quick player, this setup time will ruin my flow. Secondly, if the ball isnt set exactly as you want it, you'd have to readjust it. Or what if you change your shot selection and need to readjust it even further? Sounds problematic.

Again, I do support your efforts - I just feel you're going to have a lot of difficulty with this. Your game needs to be incredibly good....so much so that it makes all other games pale in comparison, else it just wont fly.
 
Nope, a ball is a ball is a ball.

But, a football would bother me, if I were trying to play pool.

3 inch balls would bother me, if the pockets were only 2 inch wide.

And so on...
 
LiLStick said:
1) Assuming the game is challenging and entertaining, would a colored cue ball with a design deter you from playing?
Click to expand...

YES. You DO realize that players like to know EXACTLY where they're placing the tip on the cueball when they stroke, don't you. A cueball with a design makes it difficult to see where they're hitting the cueball.
 
Depends on how distracting the graphics are. A lot of people use the measles ball as an example, but some find even that somewhat distracting.

One thing though, I can't see the game catching on with serious players if it in anyway allows you to touch the balls during play so that you can turn the cue ball to it's blank side for shooting. IMO that's a foul, period. The only exception to that of course is if both you and your opponent agree there is a foreign substance on the ball.

As far as a game involving a special set of balls catching on I think the appeal would be limited to the private home table segment of the market. I can't see a pool hall investing in special ball sets. The game would have to make some market penetration first I think.
 
I could deal with any kind graphics on the cue ball, and maybe adjust to the point where my game is just as good as with a plain cue ball. But I'd prefer a plain CB. Well, measles ball actually. Then you have some reference points for placing your tip.
 
something tells me in 2 years you will look back and be like wow....... :banghead: but in the meantime, after a few minutes people will get used to the cue ball being different
but people are stubborn so good luck making a go of it lol
 
Getting some great feedback here. Starting to think my first idea was the best... just design the cueball like I planned and let the player adjust to it. Resetting the cueball was a recent idea, but like most things I tend to over analyze things. I agree that touching the cueball during play would slow things down and create more problems. Just trying to make sure this game is the best it can be. Keep the comments coming...

:thumbup:
 
Anything to promote the sport shall be supported. Keep us informed, and no, a CB that has color wouldn't bother me either.

Chino
 
LAlouie said:
YES. You DO realize that players like to know EXACTLY where they're placing the tip on the cueball when they stroke, don't you. A cueball with a design makes it difficult to see where they're hitting the cueball.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. Heck, players get distracted even when they notice a speck of dust or chalk on CB, let alone graphics. Besides, the graphatized CB will sorta blend with OBs (specially 8 ball) and make it uneasy to spot from the rest. Also, the solid white on CBs has better "aiming" vision against colored spectrums and background. The thing to notice is that OBs have changed colors and designs but the CBs has always remained the same in any pool games. I'm sure there must be a good logical reason. Just my 2 cents.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Pool Poker is proof of that fact!
Click to expand...

Of what fact?

We still sell lots of poker pool sets. You all completely underestimate the power of the casual buyer in America. This segment of the market could care less abotu 9-ball, 10-ball, 1 pocket, etc.... they know "pool" as 8-Ball, have a table at home, or have friends with a table, and they LOVE novelty balls and games.

Do you all have ANY idea how many people in America have pool tables at home and are not now, nor will ever be league players or even serious hobby players? These people buy a table like it's a piece of furniture, being more concerned with the look of it and how it matches the decor. The could care less about pool outside of their home.

CueSight never gets any love on these forums. When someone says, which online store should I buy from, then many other stores are mentioned but not Cuesight. But still CueSight is one of the top three online retailers of billiard products in the United States. Why is that?

It's because most of the business comes from people who have NO CLUE about pool in general. They are shopping for gifts for people they know who are interested in pool. How do I know this? Because at Christmastime and various times throughout the year I man the "live chat" at CueSight and talk to hundreds of customers. And our competitors who share the top spots in online retail ALSO know this.

So don't underestimate the power of the greater market.

I agree that anyone with the idea that their "new" game on the pool table is going to take over the pool world is probably in for a big let down when die hard players don't adopt it. But to say it can't be a success because of that is not quite true. It depends on how you define success. Some people define it in units sold and in that case there are a lot of units being moved of some thing outside the narrow scope that is AZ Billiards.
 
OOoooOOOoooo. I hated that red spotted ball when it first came out. I absolutely refused to play with it because I was satisfied with the little red circle cue ball. The red spotted ball distracted the hell outta me, but now I'm used to it and don't see them anymore.

I just wish they would stick to ONE cue ball.

For the record, I think the red spotted one is heavier than the red dot. (eventhough people have told me they were weighed the same). I refuse to believe this.

One other thing. This is a message to cue ball inventors: Please, I'm begging you! Don't make another cue ball I have to adapt to. I hate change. Please?
 
LiLStick said:
Hi everyone. Need some opinions and advice here. I have invented a new billiard game that will require its own specially designed set of balls. Due to the way it is played and the overall theme of the game, the cue ball will not be the traditional white color. In fact, it will have matching designs on opposing sides of it and also be colored. (Can’t tell you more cuz its “TOP SECRET”). Anyway here are my questions.

1) Assuming the game is challenging and entertaining, would a colored cue ball with a design deter you from playing?
2) If I can design the cue ball so that it has solid colored or white area which you could turn to face your cue before you shot… kinda like the way golfers reset their golf balls before they putt… do you think that would help with aiming your shot?
3) Do theme related pool games such as Poker Pool and others that require special sets of balls interest those of you that consider yourselves billiard purist or do you think they lend themselves more to the recreational player?

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to these questions. Your input is deeply appreciated.
Click to expand...



Maybe I need to clarify my original post. The cue ball will have a design on it because of the way the game will be played. It’s hard to explain without giving out the details of the entire game. The cue ball will not be the only ball with graphics. It will coincide with a totally new set of balls with their own graphics which relate to the overall theme of the game. The set will not have balls numbered one thru fifteen. Hope that clears things up a little because I really do value the feedback I receive here. Again, thank you all for your comments and please keep them coming. My goal is to create not only a fun and challenging game, but also a game that will draw new players to the sport that may have otherwise moved on to something else. I think anything that benefits the sport of billiards is a good thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top