What beginner pool tip do you wish you learned sooner?

I'm a 31 year old APA 4 (got into pool 2 years ago) and I want to at least reach the point of being a strong enough 6 to play Masters by age 35.

I'm hoping that's feasible, but often when I feel like I'm getting better I end up choking away a match I could have won.

In regards to your point about having fun, that's why I disagree with those who say beginners looking to get better should only do drills and not play racks. Playing actual games (whether in league or at bars) is just too fun for me to give up, and it has still taught me a decent amount.

I can attest APA SL-4 to APA SL-6 in 4 years is absolutely doable (I did it in 2 years as a 45 year old, however that occurred when I got my own table and my wife at the time decided to start screwing her boss, pure coincidence I’m sure).

Translating to Fargo this is a 100 point jump from about a 375 to 475, or you need to become about twice as good as you are now.

I do see in APA land where there’s a bit of a natural cap at SL-5 if you stay focused only on shot making and don’t start getting into fundamentals, stronger pattern play, etc..

SJM Trip Report: 2026 WNT UK Open a Big Hit

with in reason im right Stu, as filler is taking so much of the top money paid in tournaments . along with a very small subset of top players. not enough left for the good pro to pay expenses if he has to travel far. certainly if out of the country.
they are obviously out classed against the very best.

there has to be a way for the pros to win more , or some guarantee show-up fee for them. or you may find most start dropping out of long travel.

time will tell. but if i am right it might mean no going backwards.
Of course, you are right about this. As a group, the top 10 are walking away with most of the money and the middle of the road pro player (perhaps Fargo 790) is not walking away with much after expenses.

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Tournament organizer admits he gambled away all of the tournament prize money 😂

That excuse is not nearly creative enough....

A new in-house league started near me, so I joined to help support it. About the final week, the room owner had bad news: someone had gotten into his safe and taken all the league funds, so no prizes. Seems they only took the league funds. Also no police report. So sorry.
I played in one of the santa clara county bar leagues a few years back. The guy who was running the league, collecting the money, decided to spend all of it. Something like $8K. Gone.

Tournament organizer admits he gambled away all of the tournament prize money 😂

These stories could go on forever. Played in a match play challenge, at my local course. Big group, not a huge amount of money, but well over four figures. After winning, was told the fees were kept in an envelope be hind the cash register. The owner, his wife, and stepdaughter were the only ones that ever worked behind the bar. They claimed the envelope was stolen. A few years later, won the summer league, clubhouse burns down. I was told the prize money was in the office, and got burned up[emoji1787]

Fool me once …

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