I read an article in the Daily Mail recently, which posed this question: Why is the popularity of darts going through the roof, while interest on snooker seems to be on the wane?
It's an interesting point. With the success of the world championship at Ally Pally and packed houses at the Premier League every week, darts has never been more popular. Both sports were in Sheffield this week so it seems like a good time to have this debate.
Snooker or darts: which do you prefer?
My personal view is that the success of Phil Taylor is driving darts forward. He is doing things that have been making his fellow professionals gasp in recent times. James Wade (his biggest rival) and Dennis Priestley (now probably his biggest fan) have both commented on how he is raising the bar.
In last year's UK Open he broke the record for the highest televised average with 114.53 against Wes Newton and he continued his record-breaking in the world championship final where he averaged 111 against Barney, by far the best ever in a televised world final.
Just over a week ago, he beat his own record for the highest televised average with 116.01 against John Part in the Premier League. Such a playing level is thrilling players and fans alike. In comparison, a snooker player getting a maximum 147 break seems almost mundane.
In snooker, the appeal has mainly come from the mavericks. In its heyday there were guys like Alex Higgins and Jimmy White; maverick geniuses who were great to watch.
We have a sport where there are mavericks like Adrian Lewis and Peter Manley, but the tone of our sport is set by the amazing achievements of Taylor. He seems to be able to break some sort of record almost every week.
The only natural genius around in snooker these days is Ronnie O'Sullivan, but the tone tends to be set by "boy band" players with their infinite safety play. There are far too many young lads who are lacking charisma and I believe that is one of the reasons why snooker is losing popularity.
You could argue that darts can be performed in front of 6,000 to 9,000 people in fancy dress getting very excited. Obviously the crowd has to be more subdued when watching snooker. I'm not sure it's fair to compare the popularity of the two games because of that.
Generally though, darts has a wider demographic to appeal to. I think our sport - with its mad commentary, walk-on girls and razzmatazz - is more suited to people of both sexes aged between 15 and 45.
I would argue that the way darts is shown on Sky Sports, like a pop concert with plenty of razzle dazzle, is more attractive to that age group than snooker.
I have even read suggestions that snooker commentators should become as freewheeling - and occasionally off the wall - as us darts lot...
So why is darts on the rise while snooker seems to be on the wane? Can snooker learn anything from darts? Sid wants to hear your comments on this one using the feedback form below...
Comments (53)
Mick Ebbles says...
ive always been a keen darts fan since the 70"s and as soon as taylor came on the scene i just knew that he was the one to watch and have been a fan since, ive seen some fantastic players over the years and there are a lot of good up and coming players, snooker well i just turn tele over no competition
Posted 19:56 26th April 2010
Ross Akten says...
The main reason Darts is so popular now is because people are allowed to drink and blow off a bit of steam whilst watching it. I personally like to watch both sports, but probably slightly prefer snooker, as the game itself is more absorbing. The BDO version of darts is so boring, whereas the PDC is thrilling - same game, different crowd.
Posted 14:56 1st April 2010
Liam Sanders says...
I don,t care what anyone says snooker is to some people boring i understand that, but it is still a great British sport that anyone can watch and play. I like darts but snooker is in my blood, to be honest I'm sick of people saying that darts is this and darts is that, at the end of the day there two different sports there not the same, and never will be. Why can,t we all just watch and enjoy them. And when people say that snooker has no characters its rubbish, look at Ronnie o Sullivan hes fantastic, great to watch, and theirs always new talents coming through. So just enjoy them and stop moaning. LOL.....................
Posted 13:48 12th February 2010
Adam Whiteley says...
the reason why darts is about 40,000,000,000 times more exciting than snooker, is because putting premier league snooker aside, in darts, you dont get that 20 minuets to make a decision, on which shot to take next, that back and forth walking round the table, scratching of the head, chalking the cue, kneeling down to take a shaot, getting back up again to wipe the smallest spek of dust off the table, then walk round the table a bit more, ask for the white to be cleaned, walking round the table a bit more, chalking the cue a bit more, wiping a bit more dust off the table, the "quiet please" from the ref, the audience aint allowed to breath, sneeze and you have to leave, just stupid, darts on the other hand? well, you allowed to shout n cheer for one, one shot after another, big score little score, big finish little finish, one guy after another, fist pumping, shouts of "come on" genuine shows of excitment once victory is graspt, in snooker, you get none of that, and until snooker is played with timed explosive balls so they have no choice other than to just hit them, then im affriad my friends, darts will be forever more popular
Posted 23:17 10th January 2010
Martin Daley says...
Darts has it all. Its amazing to watch and anyone can play. The atmosphere at pro tournaments is electric and all the fans get on so well and clearly have a great time together. A major factor in darts is that the people can still relate to the pro players who all remain down to earth. Look at what football has become. The players are so far up their own backsides, stupidly overpayed and there is so much cheating, play acting and diving. Long live darts. As for snooker its just nowhere near as entertaining, it lacks what makes televised darts addictive viewing - the big walk-ons, big personalities, noisy cheering fans (who can have a drink and enjoy the event), "One, hundred and eighty!", the big checkouts, the shock defeats and misses....the 9 darter! Darts is one of the few sports that keeps getting better and better and long may it continue!
Posted 10:20 2nd January 2010
Christine Folwell says...
I'm 66 play darts( not very well) for the local British Legion and am in total awe of the quality of the porfessional darts players. How any one can prefer to watch snooker over darts is beyond me. I 'm not over keen on too much razz matazz but love the atmosphere and the whole package. Game On !!
Posted 14:30 29th December 2009
Christopher Taylor says...
darts is brilliant,,,,,,snooker is too,,,,,,,,,it really was great when alex higgins was about,there was a kind of wild excitement about it in those days,the game itself is perfect and doesn't want tinkering about with or altering in any way,,except of course the dreaded boring miss rule,l mean who wants to watch the ref constantly putting the balls back for half an hour,maybe only have a maximum of 3 misses,or none at all if its obvious the player is trying to hit,,,and the devastating effect it has on a player in a tight game in the final stages of say the world c/ship for a ton o'money,,well they must feel like going home,,,,snooker looks to me as if its been run by a load of 1950's school teachers obsessed with discipline,,,,,don't alter snooker or the way its played but it could be made more exciteing in the build up and the inbetween bits by some marketing and televisual genius,,its just a question of finding that person,,,oh and bring back clive everton the best commentator there's ever been
Posted 20:36 23rd September 2009
Mark Turner says...
Don't be fooled into believing that snooker is dying, it simply isn't. Darts is back in the spotlight in a big way, purely because of SKY and Hearn's advertising genius. You look at the Premier league, and tell me more than 50% of the people there even know whats happening - Its a night out, not a darts match. Snooker dosn't belong in that environment, and I pray it won't ever be there. It still continues to pull the second biggest TV audience behind football. FACT.
Posted 15:55 11th September 2009
Richard Webb says...
Snooker needs change . Needs to be more exciting . The minute per shot should be introduced were a player have a miximun of a minute to play . Could also try changing colors from thier usual spots starting with the black on the yellow spot and so on.... needs some fun to make poeple watch...
Posted 18:26 22nd August 2009
Sol Campbell says...
I Prefer snooker to anything else, that way i can see men bending over all day ennit. good times.
Posted 22:54 2nd August 2009
Martin Dickson says...
its all about the crowd, darts have a party atmosphere and you know your in for a great night regardless of who¿s winning. i think about a quarter of people on a premier league darts night don¿t give a dam about what¿s going on, they are simply along for the ride
Posted 13:28 2nd August 2009
Ben C says...
Darts is simply better as its more entertaining walk on music crazy crowds and the standard of the game is gerrin beta n beta. Snooker however the players just walk in and get a mild round of applause and of they go with not a murmer from the crowd as half of them bagin to fall asleep.
Posted 17:24 31st July 2009
James Ziants says...
As an American, I would like to submit my comment. I think the commentators make or break the sports popularity. Darts on TV is the US is a rare occurence. When it does come on, it is at an obscure time. Snooker does not get any play on American TV. I have to go to Youtube to watch any matches. The commentary is brilliant from Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis. I enjoy watching the Mosconi Cup. The commentary from Sid Waddell and Jim Wyche made the American commentators seem quelled. Sid's enthusiasm is very catchy. I think that is why darts is more popular, you need to have brilliant commentators.
Posted 16:08 24th July 2009
Phil Taylor says...
Arrogant, me? I don't even know the meaning of the word. I love watching a playing snooker, but find the constant bending over the table criples my back so I decided to try darts instead. Bless him, Barnie tries hard and James Wade too, but they just can't cut it in the big time. I'm loving playing darts and winning everything but would welcome a bit more competition - so come on Mervyn, step up to the plate. To be honest with you, the best chance I've got of getting a decent game at the moment is our new mate Gary Anderson. Yes, he's got a few chinks in his game - and he knows what they are to be honest with you, bless him - but once he gets those sorted, he'll be a half decent player. He played well on Friday evening - I played better.
Posted 13:20 6th July 2009
Shark Finn says...
I enjoy watching and playing both sports. I feel it is mainly about characters. When Ronnie inevitably gets knocked out of a tournament, I loose all interest. Darts on the other hand has several top class players, james wade, barney, etc., all capable of scoring 100+ 3-dart averages for the duration of a game. Also no matter how bad a game of darts is, it can be set on fire by one high checkout (120+) or 2 180's in a row (he's on a nine darter). Even with all this to keep me interested, the number 1 reason for me following darts is to see Phil taylor getting knocked out. I can't stand his arrogance and the way he talks down to his opponents after beating them (bless him). To add to this when taylor is beaten and unfortunately it doesn't happen often enough, it somewhat tones down sid wadell's constant praise of his lover (i can't see any other reason why he only sees darts shots in terms of how taylor would do it. ie tayloresque arghhhhh!!!!!!!!!). I watch with the mute button on anymore....
Posted 12:20 17th June 2009
Rab Carr says...
Snooker is losing its popularity because of its lack of characters and the slowness which it take to play a frame. Darts is much more colourful and the sponsorship which it receives has ensured that the money invested has been put to good use and has created more colourful characters. I love both sports but the razzamatazz in darts is that little bit special.
Posted 21:21 4th June 2009
Adrian Rathbone says...
To start with I am a big darts fan and have been for a long time, well before the boom. To be honest i'm fairly bored of the premier league, Wayne Mardle wildcard every year? Why? ok yeah his walk on is entertaining but after that he's rubbish and can't even come close to the top players. Lets have Van Gerwen or Van der Voort next year instead. My biggest problem with darts on sky is Phil Taylor. I just can't stand Sid Waddell endlessly going on about how great he is. It doesn't matter who's playing, thats all he talks about, and that stupid commentry i'm sick of it. Getting rid on Waddell would be the best thing sky could do. I think Taylor is the best ever btw. Snooker will always be better for me, Is sky slagging snooker because they don't broadcast any ranking events, only the premier league.
Posted 17:03 4th June 2009
Liam Lonergan says...
Darts is fast,exciting and cheap,it has its characters,champions and legends like every sport but it has been looked upon as the"poor relation"to other sports, but no longer!roll on the uk open,180!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 17:01 28th May 2009
Scott Cornwell says...
Recently there has been much debate on whether or not snooker should follow darts' lead to modernise the sport. I have a question of my own¿ Would football benefit from becoming a little more like snooker? First of all, notice the largely impeccable behaviour, sportsmanship and manners of the competitors even under extreme pressure. Then there's the supportive yet generally respectful audiences who can be surprisingly loud yet remain in the control of the referee's, who in turn are incredibly diligent and rarely if at all, make mistakes. I wondered if an obvious mistake would lead to a player chasing the referee around the table? Snooker has in place the ultimate performance related pay structure - yes continued success is rewarded handsomely but one-off tournament glory is just that and although it may help reduce the mortgage or pay for a car, the need to earn a living will remain. Consider those mercenary footballers who have on the back of a period of short-term success, perhaps in a tournament, secured a multi-year, multi-million pound contract and set themselves up for life. People often ponder the lack of characters in snooker but I found similarities between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jose Mourinho, both play the game the way they want and will, for better or worse, always say what they want. For Sir Alex Ferguson, see Stephen Hendry. They both have a burning desire to constantly add trophies to their already vast collections but they don't always take defeat in the correct manner. Is football crazy or is snooker loopy?
Posted 12:21 27th May 2009
John Musgrove says...
The answer is easy and it is soley down to one factor.........the ability of barry hearn to popularise a sport that had lost its way and had got a bad name. Snooker is being carried at the moment entirely by ronnie o,sullivan and although many people did not like his comments about it needing some major adjustments he was dead right. darts is fast, skillful and there are some great players and the weekly attendances at the premier league speak for themselves. the only thing that remains is to get the prize money for darts up to the level it should be at. whilst i used to be an avid snooker follower (highest break 132) i hardly watched the world championships. i cant stand one hour frames with thorne and virgo attempting to make it interesting. for snooker to make a comeback there has to be a very radical change in the format of frames with much faster and more exciting elements to hold the viewers attention. until then darts will continue to thrive whilst snooker will re-enter the days of fred davis and john pullman.
Posted 18:08 17th May 2009
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