The pop-a-shot story
The history
The first ever pop-a-shot
1981 - SALINA, KANSAS
Our story
The Original Arcade Basketball Game is Born
In 1981, Ken Cochran was recuperating and restless after undergoing heart bypass surgery. The longtime college basketball coach’s idle mind found inspiration in a mini basketball on his desk.
His initial idea was to put three small basketball rims on side-by-side backboards with a net that would return the balls to the shooters. He had a local machine shop build a frame and a cabinet shop make the backboards. He then attached a volleyball net to function as the return ramp. He called this first game the “Triple Shot.”
From Sports Camps to Sports Bars
He set up his invention at one of his sports camps and charged campers $1.00 for 10 shots, with a free T-shirt awarded to anyone who made at least seven. When the games consistently drew long lines of campers, he realized he had something special.
The Triple Shot proved too cumbersome to transport, so Cochran eliminated two of the baskets. He built a new single basket game with a frame and net return made especially for it. He put this game, “Mini Basketball,” in a local bar and charged $1.00 a minute to play.
From Sports Camps to Sports Bars
He set up his invention at one of his sports camps and charged campers $1.00 for 10 shots, with a free T-shirt awarded to anyone who made at least seven. When the games consistently drew long lines of campers, he realized he had something special.
The Triple Shot proved too cumbersome to transport, so Cochran eliminated two of the baskets. He built a new single basket game with a frame and net return made especially for it. He put this game, “Mini Basketball,” in a local bar and charged $1.00 a minute to play.
Ready for Your Home Court
Cochran knew the game needed some type of electronic scoring. He added a “scoring collar” to the bottom of the rim nets, so that when the ball passed through a mechanical switch could record the score. A 40-second clock was added. If a player scored 40 points, they received a free game. The ball return ramp was changed from netting to fiberglass, and a heavy-duty polycarbonate piece was placed in the center of the game to contain the three balls when the time expired.
But with success came competition. As the coin-op market became saturated, Pop-A-Shot created its first home electronic basketball game. Over time Pop-A-Shot left the coin-op world (so any basketball arcade game you see in your local arcade or bar is not a true Pop-A-Shot). The current Pop-A-Shot Classic game is very similar to the model built almost 30 years ago.
Join the pop-a-shot community
Where my NEW YORKERS at?!? This final four matchup was one for the history books! Who were you rooting for?
#arcadebasketball #popashot #centuryclub #nba #nbaplayoffs #playoffs #brooklynnets #knicks #nyknicks #fyp #fypシ #fypage #explorepage
Welcome to the FINAL FOUR ladies and gentlemen!!! This match up was a nail biter all the way through! Who do you want to see make it to the championship?
#arcadebasketball #popashot #centuryclub #nba #nbaplayoffs #playoffs #atlhawks #hawks #nuggets #denvernuggets #fyp #fypシ #fypage #explorepage
If you or a loved one are struggling from Pop-A-Shot addiction please call this number: 1-800-HOOPALOT. Help is out there!
#arcadebasketball #popashot #addiction #addicted #fyp #fypシ #fypage #explorepage #explore
When you finally break the Century Club and the only witness is your dog.😂10/10 good dog!
#popashot #arcadebasketball #centuryclub #gooddog
What’s 9+10? We obviously need to brush up on our Vine knowledge.🙃 Tell us your fav Vine in the comments!
#arcadebasketball #popashot #vine #roadworkahead #getoutmecar #mothertruckerdude #andtheywereroommates #icouldhavedroppedmycroissant #lookatallthesechickens #vineisnotdead #fyp #fypシ #explorepage #explore
@thesaguaros continue their legacy of giving back!!! The 25 year old, Olympiad, has raised over $6 million for children’s charities. Thank your for including Pop-A-Shot in this amazing day of play!
@peoriafriendshiphouse hosted Drive 2 Thrive a few weeks ago. Here were some of the trickshot highlights! Could you do these trickshots?
#arcadebasketball #popashot #trickshot #blindfolded #ovenmitt #peoriail #centralillinois #fyp #fypシ #explorepage
When you send a Pop-A-Shot to @mrmattwalsh from Veep and recieve a signed poster! You made Bens year! Thank you!!!
#popashot #arcadebasketball #veep #veephbo #julialouisdreyfus #signature #signedposter
The Nuggets and Grizzlies faced off in a 7 game series! Both teams showed incredible skill and sportsmanship. Congratulations to the Nuggets on a well deserved victory!!!
#popashot #arcadebasketball #centuryclub #nbaplayoffs #grizzlies #grizzliesbasketball #memphisgrizzlies #denvernuggets #fypシ #fypage #explorepage
Where my NEW YORKERS at?!? This final four matchup was one for the history books! Who were you rooting for?
#arcadebasketball #popashot #centuryclub #nba #nbaplayoffs #playoffs #brooklynnets #knicks #nyknicks #fyp #fypシ #fypage #explorepage
Welcome to the FINAL FOUR ladies and gentlemen!!! This match up was a nail biter all the way through! Who do you want to see make it to the championship?
#arcadebasketball #popashot #centuryclub #nba #nbaplayoffs #playoffs #atlhawks #hawks #nuggets #denvernuggets #fyp #fypシ #fypage #explorepage
If you or a loved one are struggling from Pop-A-Shot addiction please call this number: 1-800-HOOPALOT. Help is out there!
#arcadebasketball #popashot #addiction #addicted #fyp #fypシ #fypage #explorepage #explore
When you finally break the Century Club and the only witness is your dog.😂10/10 good dog!
#popashot #arcadebasketball #centuryclub #gooddog
What’s 9+10? We obviously need to brush up on our Vine knowledge.🙃 Tell us your fav Vine in the comments!
#arcadebasketball #popashot #vine #roadworkahead #getoutmecar #mothertruckerdude #andtheywereroommates #icouldhavedroppedmycroissant #lookatallthesechickens #vineisnotdead #fyp #fypシ #explorepage #explore
@thesaguaros continue their legacy of giving back!!! The 25 year old, Olympiad, has raised over $6 million for children’s charities. Thank your for including Pop-A-Shot in this amazing day of play!
@peoriafriendshiphouse hosted Drive 2 Thrive a few weeks ago. Here were some of the trickshot highlights! Could you do these trickshots?
#arcadebasketball #popashot #trickshot #blindfolded #ovenmitt #peoriail #centralillinois #fyp #fypシ #explorepage
When you send a Pop-A-Shot to @mrmattwalsh from Veep and recieve a signed poster! You made Bens year! Thank you!!!
#popashot #arcadebasketball #veep #veephbo #julialouisdreyfus #signature #signedposter
The Nuggets and Grizzlies faced off in a 7 game series! Both teams showed incredible skill and sportsmanship. Congratulations to the Nuggets on a well deserved victory!!!
#popashot #arcadebasketball #centuryclub #nbaplayoffs #grizzlies #grizzliesbasketball #memphisgrizzlies #denvernuggets #fypシ #fypage #explorepage
