Folks, there is no nice way to say this. Quality, professional level pool is at an all time low in the United States. That’s right, the very country that created the game of pool has no fallen so far behind many of the other countries around the world that we are no longer considered serious contenders in any event outside our home soil. If you watched the 11-2 drubbing of the United States at the 2013 Mosconi Cup, if nothing else that should demonstrate to you how far behind we truly are.
But why? America invented pool. 51, Straight Pool, both invented here. 9 ball, 10 ball, and for even a while 8 ball were our strengths that no one could beat. So what happened? Well, some of the problems with pool date back to it’s origins, and some are brand new within the last thirty years of the game. However, I believe there are at least five contributing factors to why the US has fallen so far in the pool world, possibly more (for my purposes though, I’m going to stick to these five). A lot of these points will use Europe as a comparison, but Asian countries have also swiftly overtaken the United States as well.
1. Origins: For those who are not aware, pool has a very special origin that few other billiard games share. Unlike snooker (invented by British soldiers), or billiards (invented for the elite class of Europe), pool was invented in the saloons next to horse race tracks. As a result, it was often associated with a seedy element and a game of ill repute. Many of the earliest players, before there were professionals, were heavy drinkers, users of drugs, and road hustlers. It took a very long time to begin to pull the game up from these origins and have it recognized as a sport and noble game much as three cushion and snooker have become. The problem is that while the world has embraced pool, America has never truly shed the back room, tough guy with a cigar, style. It’s very hard to change a pattern when it’s been set for so long. We might still be two generations away before we become fully distanced from this culture of a gambling pastime instead of a serious sport. Which brings me to point number 2
2. Entertainers vs Athletes: If you go around the world to Europe and Asia, their players train like athletes. Not just on their game, but on their bodies, their minds, and their lives. In America, very few players actually train like they are preparing for an athletic event. Some of these players who do train like that include Shane Van Boening, Oscar Dominguez, Earl Strickland, and Corey Deuel. However, pool at a top level has become more and more it seems like a popularity contest rather than learning how to battle through racks to come up on top. I’m not surprised at all anymore after watching how Europe prepared for the Mosconi Cup or how the players prepare for their own events that they have over taken all but a few US players.
3. Bargain versus Cost: The American way is to take shortcuts, maximize profit, and minimize cost. That’s capitalism for you, and it’s an ok business system. But when it comes to competition, there are no shortcuts. There is no easy way to the top. I’ll use Neils Feijin as an example. When he was younger, Neils was a pretty good player. However, he wasn’t satisfied, and began working with Bert Kinister and Alex Lely to improve his game. Not surprisingly, he’s risen to become one of the most feared players around the world. When was the last time you heard of an American player hiring a coach to help them? And not only hiring, but investing the time it takes to truly learn the game and excel? Sometimes you can teach yourself, but most often you need to learn from others how to pick up skills and strategies you may not be able to see. I’ve run into a lot of players over the last year who think they know ever in and out. No one ever figures out everything about pool, and there is no such thing as a free lunch. America seems to have forgotten that, and it’s time to remember that if you want to truly get something, you have to give something.
4. Romantic vs Realistic: I’ll forever be grateful to the great writer Walter Tevis for giving us The Hustler and The Color of Money. But those books did something that in some ways hurt the game’s development. They created a romanticized view of pool that doesn’t exist, and focused on money in pool and acting rather than the quality of play and balance (even though the characters learned the importance of both at the end of the books, that part usually gets skipped by readers). While they did expose people to pool, it exposed more of the darker side of pool that degrades tournament play with hustling. Also, as the work ethic in American Pool playing has gone down, people began to do things like introduce handicaps, sandbag, and all other sorts of things that promoted playing to a system rather than playing your best. You want to know why Snooker, 3 Cushion, and Trick Shot pool haven’t suffered like pool has? Because there is no value in leagues or tournaments in those games to hustler, sandbag, manipulate, or lie. It’s shoot your best and take it, or you’re out. Somewhere along the line in the name of money and promoting a “dream”, America turned pool into this idea that everyone should be able to play against everyone and have a ‘fair’ chance to win. I’m going to come out and say it, that is a boatload of crap that has crippled and set pool in America back possibly 20-30 years. In order to beat the best, you must play your best. There’s nothing wrong with everyone playing the game. But no one should only have to win three racks while another guy has to win 9. You both have to win 11, or one of you shouldn’t be in that event.
5. Social versus Practice: This has been touched on already, but it’s just that simple. We as a country have been outworked in pool. Pool has become a social game, a pastime, and something to play for beers or cheap change. You can offer excuses such as bad economy, other commitments, etc. But the truth is, practicing is not always fun. It’s boring, it’s tedious, it’s frustrating, and it takes effort. If you want to really get better as a player, and if we really want to help fix pool in America, there has to be a separation between the social aspect of pool, and the pro aspect of pool. Otherwise, the game will continue to sink.
So, how can we go about fixing this? Well, it starts with one individual at a time. Here are five things you can do to help jump start your game. Share them with your friends as well, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get back to a level where we can challenge anyone when it comes to pool again.
1. Practice games that encourage thinking, example straight pool, one pocket, 15 ball rotation.
2. Do at least three hours a week of drills on your weaknesses, not your strengths.
3. Keep yourself in shape. This includes diet, exercise, and mentally sharp.
4. Always shoot pool with the goal to do your very best rather than trying to sneak up on someone
5. Force yourself to seek out better players than you and accept that losing can build character and teach you things you can never learn or get from winning.