147 or 9 Darter?

[N4Footsoldier]

Saw a FB post pop up - probably because both Snooker and Darts have had a fresh surge of popularity recently - whether a 9 dart leg in darts or a 147 break in snooker is harder?

Leaving athletic sports out of the mix, I'm trying to think of any other examples of perfection that could be in the debate as the most impressive. The only one that comes immediately to mind is a hole in one in golf but I would say that's more of a statistical anomaly which comes down to fortune than specific skill.

I would lean towards a 147 break. According to a random fb comment, there have been 440 9 darters in PDC history since 1999 versus 196 maximum breaks in snooker since 1982. I think the concentration over 36 shots to land each within an acceptable tolerance to set up for the next, on a table where your opponent is trying to make it hard for you, is harder than 9 perfect shots on a board which remains constant, despite crowd noise and psychology that comes with darts these days.

Other thoughts?

[vanderark14]

147 is harder IMO for the same reasons you've stated. 

I'd be surprised if anyone said 9 darter 

Edited January 13, 2024 by vanderark14

[Orraloon]

I suppose it depends on whether you are a darts player or a snooker player.

[N4Footsoldier]

41 minutes ago, Ally Bongo said:

9 darter

Interesting, why is that?

[Toepoke]

34 minutes ago, Ally Bongo said:

Coincidentally John Lowe popped into The Winning Post bar in Benidorm today

He is 79 this year

First 9 darter on TV...

For what it's worth ther first 147 on telly was 2 years earlier.

 

[bonzo]

6 hours ago, Toepoke said:

First 9 darter on TV...

For what it's worth ther first 147 on telly was 2 years earlier.

 

Due to the way dartboards were wired back then trebles and doubles were much smaller. Modern dartboards have a lot more space.

[Orraloon]

2 hours ago, bonzo said:

Due to the way dartboards were wired back then trebles and doubles were much smaller. Modern dartboards have a lot more space.

I wonder if anybody has got stats for the number of bounce outs? I'm sure that used to happen more often in the old days.

[bonzo]

4 hours ago, Orraloon said:

I wonder if anybody has got stats for the number of bounce outs? I'm sure that used to happen more often in the old days.

Look at the difference...

 

[Orraloon]

Was there not some stooshie a while back about about professional snooker tournaments having bigger pockets? 

I am convinced that pro golfers have bigger holes.  

[Orraloon]

1 hour ago, Ally Bongo said:

Someone who had been at an Open Championship told me that they have markers on the course, which you dont see on the TV,  telling them how far away they are from the hole

A lot of standard golf courses have them. The pros don't use them though, as their caddies measure the course out for them. Most amateurs use GPS watches nowadays.