Would you watch Golf if....

[Colin Colenso]

Would you watch, or go to a golf event if 90% of the shots were putts from 20 feet away into a 44 gallon drum?

I've been watching the World Cup 9 Ball Doubles and that's what 90% of the shots look like.

Yes I can appreciate the skill and knowledge in the positional play and pattern formations, but is this really the best way to showcase the skills that pro players possess?

Tightening pockets and playing on bigger tables is one way to go, but this discourages beginners from wanting to play the game, and it further discourages players from playing power positional shots, creative combinations etc, it makes them even more conservative in stroke play.

I play some versions of rotation and 8-ball that require CB and/or OBs to hit minimum 2 rails on each shot. I can produce a better highlight reel in 3 racks than they could scrape out of the entire World Cup event.

Others may have better ideas regarding game formats that better showcase the game. American rotation is moving in the right direction, but imho, much of that game resembles dribbling balls into a 44 gallon drum too.

I'm not surprised the current games can't attract viewers and inspire few to take up the game. Venom has probably attracted more people to the game than all the events combined in the last couple of years.

 

[Black-Balled]

Tough call...to us, it does seem kind of basic. But look what 'we' have done to pool.

The public? Probably doesnt fathom-or care:sorry:- that there is better pool out there.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Tough call...to us, it does seem kind of basic. But look what 'we' have done to pool.

The public? Probably doesnt fathom-or care:sorry:- that there is better pool out there.

The public probably didn't care too much about motorcycle riding until creative promoters started producing events like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I50dvExuKsQ

FWIW: Another game I play requires a minimum of 2 Object Balls being moved on every shot, so pot and move the CB into another nominated ball or play a combination. On the final ball, the CB needs to finish within 6 inches of the center spot.

 

[AZnDrafts]

Every time I try to find pool on TV I see poker being played. That game of yours seems challenging. 3-cushion is challenging, amusing to me, to watch long runs, boring for some. Poker is also amusing, again boring for some. We can all remember when there was more pool on tv than poker. I really think if more celebs showcase and respect the game it would revive and attract more people to it. Besides, it seems the public likes anything amusing and what appears to be challenging. Golf is one of those games. Although boring, it still has the celeb factor and top athletes playing it.

Watching golf can be very boring for those who have not played. For me Putting became a breeze more than any other aspect of the game due to playing pool at a young age, and feeling the putter follow-through as a stroke and not a swing. Of course, the grass direction (or grain) makes it challenging on a straight flat shot. But just seeing size of the cup compared to the golf ball on tv sometimes seems like dunking a basketball into a 55 gallon drum.

I still think Pool requires far more accuracy than getting the ball near a hole for better than par. Par golf is much more relaxed than having a must-make shot on a 9ft table that requires .021" ball contact accuracy. (.019" if you're cutting on a 10ft table).

 

[ceebee]

Would you watch, or go to a golf event if 90% of the shots were putts from 20 feet away into a 44 gallon drum?

I've been watching the World Cup 9 Ball Doubles and that's what 90% of the shots look like.

Yes I can appreciate the skill and knowledge in the positional play and pattern formations, but is this really the best way to showcase the skills that pro players possess?

Tightening pockets and playing on bigger tables is one way to go, but this discourages beginners from wanting to play the game, and it further discourages players from playing power positional shots, creative combinations etc, it makes them even more conservative in stroke play.

I play some versions of rotation and 8-ball that require CB and/or OBs to hit minimum 2 rails on each shot. I can produce a better highlight reel in 3 racks than they could scrape out of the entire World Cup event.

Others may have better ideas regarding game formats that better showcase the game. American rotation is moving in the right direction, but imho, much of that game resembles dribbling balls into a 44 gallon drum too.

I'm not surprised the current games can't attract viewers and inspire few to take up the game. Venom has probably attracted more people to the game than all the events combined in the last couple of years.

Colin, the folks playing Snooker seem to have discovered a way to get folk's attention & keep it. Somehow, we can't duplicate that draw here in America. For the novice & unknowing, watching Pros on TV, the game looks a bit easy. If they had some normal players precede the main match, a good comparison of skill levels could be drawn, That might add some understanding of the skill required to play top level Pool

Maybe the fact that Professional Snooker shows up their skill level, because anyone can see the small pockets, or maybe it's a comeback like Ronnie o"Sullivan produces once in a while. People like excitement, imagine watch earl Strickland run 11 racks for a Million... that was exciting. The tension in the air could have been cut with a knife.
I like Winner Breaks, watching someone runs rack is exiting, especially when they come out of nowhere. However, I watched 2 players run 16 racks in a match, with alternating Break... An errant cue ball on the Break halted the run, at hill-hill... somebody had to win.

Venom is a phenom, his reflexes are unbelievable.

 

[macguy]

Colin, the folks playing Snooker seem to have discovered a way to get folk's attention & keep it. Somehow, we can't duplicate that draw here in America. For the novice & unknowing, watching Pros on TV, the game looks a bit easy. If they had some normal players precede the main match, a good comparison of skill levels could be drawn, That might add some understanding of the skill required to play top level Pool

Maybe the fact that Professional Snooker shows up their skill level, because anyone can see the small pockets, or maybe it's a comeback like Ronnie o"Sullivan produces once in a while. People like excitement, imagine watch earl Strickland run 11 racks for a Million... that was exciting. The tension in the air could have been cut with a knife.
I like Winner Breaks, watching someone runs rack is exiting, especially when they come out of nowhere. However, I watched 2 players run 16 racks in a match, with alternating Break... An errant cue ball on the Break halted the run, at hill-hill... somebody had to win.

Venom is a phenom, his reflexes are unbelievable.

Snooker had a leg up being on TV in Europe. My wife and I used to go to Europe for a month or two every year. As recently as the mid 90's you would turn on the TV and they had like 2 or 3 channels and they would be showing old American sitcoms.

Of course you could show Snooker for like 6 straight hours live, it had no competition at all. I am sure that is different now but I bet in a lot of countries it is still like that.

 

[336Robin]

Would you watch, or go to a golf event if 90% of the shots were putts from 20 feet away into a 44 gallon drum?

I've been watching the World Cup 9 Ball Doubles and that's what 90% of the shots look like.

Yes I can appreciate the skill and knowledge in the positional play and pattern formations, but is this really the best way to showcase the skills that pro players possess?

Tightening pockets and playing on bigger tables is one way to go, but this discourages beginners from wanting to play the game, and it further discourages players from playing power positional shots, creative combinations etc, it makes them even more conservative in stroke play.

I play some versions of rotation and 8-ball that require CB and/or OBs to hit minimum 2 rails on each shot. I can produce a better highlight reel in 3 racks than they could scrape out of the entire World Cup event.

Others may have better ideas regarding game formats that better showcase the game. American rotation is moving in the right direction, but imho, much of that game resembles dribbling balls into a 44 gallon drum too.

I'm not surprised the current games can't attract viewers and inspire few to take up the game. Venom has probably attracted more people to the game than all the events combined in the last couple of years.

I agree fully with you that Pool can be a real snoozer of a sport to watch. Suggestions that I would make for now that I have thought of in the last several months are:

Play Ring Game Rules where you must shoot without safety play the obvious intention. If the incoming player cannot contact a ball directly or like his chances he can give it back otherwise he has to make something happen.

The most excitement I remember was in my youth when I was playing in Recreation Centers. My friend and I would go into a place and play partners and clean out the local kids for $1 a piece per game playing doubles and the games were intensely watched by onlookers and since it was affordable there was no end to challengers for the table.

So to that effect I think a partners format should be studied as well as King of the Hill on a table type tournaments where you get a certain number of losses.


This does limit the field and makes it harder for tournament directors to make much money and there is a problem. Room owners would need to have someone work the tournament board...its not that hard..I mean really?

 

[bdorman]

No rule/equipment changes are going to make pool popular TV fare. It's boring to 99.9% of the general public and even 99.8% of league players. Tighter pockets, bigger tables and rule changes aren't going to change that.

If you want to watch pool on TV, use a few of the tried-and-true TV methods:

1) Strip Pool. Beautiful woman plays against handsome guy. For every shot made, the opponent has to remove an article of clothing. Sex.

2) Shot Pool. Same as strip pool but the opponent also has to drink a shot of (sponsor's liquor). Drunkeness.

3) Fight Pool. The shooter of the next shot is determined by who can get the shot off. Push, shove, kick and punch. Violence.

It would probably do well in the ratings.

 

[336Robin]

No rule/equipment changes are going to make pool popular TV fare. It's boring to 99.9% of the general public and even 99.8% of league players. Tighter pockets, bigger tables and rule changes aren't going to change that.

If you want to watch pool on TV, use a few of the tried-and-true TV methods:

1) Strip Pool. Beautiful woman plays against handsome guy. For every shot made, the opponent has to remove an article of clothing. Sex.

2) Shot Pool. Same as strip pool but the opponent also has to drink a shot of (sponsor's liquor). Drunkeness.

3) Fight Pool. The shooter of the next shot is determined by who can get the shot off. Push, shove, kick and punch. Violence.

It would probably do well in the ratings.

Eureka! The Man is a Genius! Everyone go forth and Fix Pool!

 

[ineedaspot]

Would you watch, or go to a golf event if 90% of the shots were putts from 20 feet away into a 44 gallon drum?

I've been watching the World Cup 9 Ball Doubles and that's what 90% of the shots look like.

Yes I can appreciate the skill and knowledge in the positional play and pattern formations, but is this really the best way to showcase the skills that pro players possess?

Tightening pockets and playing on bigger tables is one way to go, but this discourages beginners from wanting to play the game, and it further discourages players from playing power positional shots, creative combinations etc, it makes them even more conservative in stroke play.

I play some versions of rotation and 8-ball that require CB and/or OBs to hit minimum 2 rails on each shot. I can produce a better highlight reel in 3 racks than they could scrape out of the entire World Cup event.

Others may have better ideas regarding game formats that better showcase the game. American rotation is moving in the right direction, but imho, much of that game resembles dribbling balls into a 44 gallon drum too.

I'm not surprised the current games can't attract viewers and inspire few to take up the game. Venom has probably attracted more people to the game than all the events combined in the last couple of years.

You're correct. 9-ball (and 10-ball and 8-ball) look very easy on TV when they are played by pros, even on 4.5-inch 9-footers. And that's not an illusion. They are simply too easy, and too much luck, especially on the break, for a real professional sport.

Snooker, on the other hand, looks hard, even when pros play it. And there's much less luck. Frames aren't decided by the break. They are decided by a combination of mistakes, great shots, and great breaks.

I would say bring the pockets in to 4" or less and play American Rotation. Even a 4-inch pocket is way more forgiving than snooker pockets. And snooker pros seem to be able to let their stroke out pretty well.

As far as beginners, they don't have to play on pro tables. But the thing about a game like rotation, which is points-based, is that even beginners could play on tough equipment, and enjoy it.

Beginners playing 9-ball basically makes no sense because if you can't run balls, then the whole game until it gets to the 7 or 8 or 9 is a waste of time.

 

[hang-the-9]

Would you watch, or go to a golf event if 90% of the shots were putts from 20 feet away into a 44 gallon drum?

I've been watching the World Cup 9 Ball Doubles and that's what 90% of the shots look like.

Yes I can appreciate the skill and knowledge in the positional play and pattern formations, but is this really the best way to showcase the skills that pro players possess?

Tightening pockets and playing on bigger tables is one way to go, but this discourages beginners from wanting to play the game, and it further discourages players from playing power positional shots, creative combinations etc, it makes them even more conservative in stroke play.

I play some versions of rotation and 8-ball that require CB and/or OBs to hit minimum 2 rails on each shot. I can produce a better highlight reel in 3 racks than they could scrape out of the entire World Cup event.

Others may have better ideas regarding game formats that better showcase the game. American rotation is moving in the right direction, but imho, much of that game resembles dribbling balls into a 44 gallon drum too.

I'm not surprised the current games can't attract viewers and inspire few to take up the game. Venom has probably attracted more people to the game than all the events combined in the last couple of years.

Unless you are doing trickshots or banking/comboing/jumping each ball, the normal person will have no idea how tough the reverse english 3 rail position shot was or how tight the pockets are. They will either A see them make every ball after getting shape on it within 6 inches and say "I can make that shot" or B see them miss a shot in a 4" pocket and say "I can miss that too" and go watch baseball players walk around and spit for 2 hours.

Top games between Efren and Strickland get 100k views on YouTube, Florian does trickshots with a girl on the table and he has 12 million.