How does aging affect your game?

Fatuige is definately a problem for me. I'm fifty-nine years old and suffer from sleep apnea.

I went into the second day of three Joss events last year undefeated. I managed to win the first match of the second day, all three times. After that, there was nothing left in the tank. I started missing shots I had made in the previous matches with relative ease, by a block.

It's a little embarrassing when you start playing so poorly at this stage of a tournament.

Playing the likes of Dennis Hatch, Mika, and Joe Tucker didn't help either. Matt Tetheau beat me 9-0 in the hot seat at Snooker's. I know I'm better than that.

The only thing I can do is keep showing up and play as long and as hard as I can. I'm not about to give up.

Like poolchr stated:'I still win a fair share of my matches because I play a little smater than most players."
 
Sometime back, a poster mentioned Floaters. I didn't know what they were until that post. Now I know that I have lots of them. They generally don't affect my game as far as I know. I wear progressive bi focals just for driving but I haven't been wearing glasses while playing. Very hard for me to adjust my game with the glasses on so if it comes a time when I need to wear them, its going to screw my game up unless I can learn to adjust for them.
 
Ball Banger...What a great post! I'm one of those who believes you're as young (or old) as you feel! I'm 56, but I feel like I have the same energy, eyesight (still 20/20), and no major health issues (other than being fat :eek::grin:), as when I was 30. Eddie Taylor could still bank 10 balls in a row into his 80's. Jack White is nearing 80, and can still run out just about anytime he wants to.

About the wannabee's...I agree with you. He who talks the loudest most likely has the least skill (with the exception of some pro players) and the quiet guy in the corner (might be 16 or 86) might do his talking with a cuestick! LOL Don Willis was known for that, and played well into his 80's.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Ball Banger said:
Bellhemen

Oh yea, You are missing something. It called the Prime of life. Unfortunately we pay for our indiscretion of Youth. From Birth to death your body matures and at some point you go over hill and start losing your Motor and Mental skills. When and how has to do with those Indiscretion of Youth and your Genes. If you can't get in your Jeans you might blame it on your Genes.

Different people handle aging different. I am lucky in the fact as I just turned 69 I am still in great shape and come from a long line of good Genes. While my Pool Game might still be sharp, other things have past there prime. I still have my eyes but my hearing is getting so bad I must be looking right at you to understand.

As for the Old Rail Birds that claim to be former road player, I think a lot of that is pure "Want A Be". I know one guy in his late 50's since he was about 21. He will tell stories about being the greatest hustler ever and he never could hold a Cue Stick. I know an other who is 84 and never claimed to be anything more than a casual player and every so often whips the tar out of the hot shot kids. He also carries a very low handicap in Golf.
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you can say that again

JamisonNeu said:
I think the main problem as you get older is the game losing it's draw..What I mean is when you are 15-25 pool is important every shot means something you take your time, you study everything. You may have gotten upset when you missed in your younger years this is not a good thing it is a great thing it shows that you wanted to win. It shows that you hated to make mistakes.

At least for me the older I get the less I care about playing the game...It gets harder and harder to find a reason to go play...I don't mean I don't love the game as much if not more than ever. It is the stopping that gets me. I'll drive all the way across the country and not even stop anywhere to play. When I was 20 I could not go through a major city without stopping and playing. I would drive 15 hours to play a tournament now if it is over a half hour I probably wont go. lol I might, but chances are I'll find an excuse why I won't...

I think I am in my prime and still won't polish my game... I had my first bad day (nothing going well) of my life recently instead of playing the next day I started to drive to the pool hall...That is it I started to go play...lol

I think this is the difference between younger players and older players...
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I like your post because it hits home with me too......The first thing I think that affects a pool player is his attitude...and mine as I grew older just got progressively lackadaisical; if that's the word....like you, whether subconciously or conciously, I just don't care that much.....In my younger days, like you, I couldn't go to a new place or strange town without looking up and checking out the pool hall in that place.....Also, I do believe the physical aspects and stamina have to be factored in.....If you don't believe age takes away something, then why are those great champions like Hall, Varner, and Strickland no longer on top?
 
KK9L,


"If you've got your health....you've got it all" !

If I would pick one element of aging that really has an effect on pool shooting, it's your eyes ability to re-focus
from cue ball to object ball. That time used to be a blink, now it is a slight pause. If you're conscious of it, you can adjust (slow down) and allow for it.
The rest of the "old folks" aliments are nothing worse than having a bad hangover and bending over to shoot...Ouch!
F.Y.I.



KoolKat9Lives said:
Good question.

For me, the only thing hurting my game as I get older is changing eyesight. I keep having to di*k around with my contacts prescription. If I could get my vision correct and stable, I don't see a disadvantage vs the younguns (as long as I stay in shape and take care of myself). Actually, with more experience I should have the advantage!

I don't understand why the aging Efren's and Earl's of the world are at a disadvantage and maybe I'm missing something. I look forward to the posts.


Or maybe I don't look forward to posts of reason, because it might plant seeds of excuse in my head! :confused:
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Bellhemen said:
Do you play better now than you did 40 years ago? Are you a better shot maker now or play better position? You mentioned your hands shake. I'm guessing that only happens occasionally and when it does your lucky to hit the cue ball?

So the old man I'm playing that uses that excuse "I don't play like I used to" probably just didn't take the time to concentrate and doesn't really care if he beats me bad or not. If that's the case and this old man really wants to win and the desire is there he can hunker down and shoot great pool for a couple hours. Would you agree with that?
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For the most part, yes, I would agree. Do I play better now? I probably win more games and matches than I did then. Am I a better shot maker? I don't think so. I know my strengths and weaknesses, and I play to my strengths. The hand shakes are more noticible in my grip hand, since my bridge hand is securely planted on the table, so I don't miss the cue ball, but I may not be as deadly accurate with my spin. My position play is far better than it was 40 years ago.

"I don't play like I used to" is probably more of an excuse than anything. You don't forget how to aim. You don't forget how to plan a run-out. But as was already pointed out, your old friend may not put in the time on the table any longer, and so his game isn't what he remembers it was.

Physical changes that come with age require us to adjust. Just like we adjust to new cloth, tight pockets, and fast tables, we adjust to our own capabilities. If we don't, we get beat!

Steve
 
I think it's just an excuse for "I haven't learned a thing in forty years" :D
But seriously I think it's more to do with less practice time, Steve Davis admitted this a while back and I think it's most likely the case with a lot of older players.
 
Let's see....

it helps when you grow enough to see over the edge of the table....

better yet when you can look down on the table.....

still better when you have coordination.....

super strong when coordination + practice + knowledge is at its highest point..... at this point the only weakness is "you don't know what you don't know"

drops measurably if/when the mortgage is "serious"

drops some more when 'work time' + 'family time' + 'honeydo time' > pool time

the precipitous drop occurs either when you realize you now "know what you didn't know" :wink: you learn that no matter who you're playing you are really just playing yourself and you'd rather not play yourself again
or......... this is the skeleton in the closet...... you have no "peace" while you play, every time you bend over to make a shot your body is screaming in your ear and as much as you want to shut the little ....er up, the only way is to stop playing......


The point at which you stop wanting and/or caring to get better is really the most accurate point at which your game gets worse.... NO MATTER your age.... :rolleyes:


td
(used to be 'wanna be') :grin:
 
recent study

A recent study found that we peak mentally in our early twenties and then it is a slide downhill. We also peak physically in our late twenties. The only things we are gaining after the twenties is experience and the kind of smarts that come with experience.

Our best pool is played in our teens. We know it all and have boundless confidence.

By our mid-twenties we start to realize we might not be Superman.

In our thirties we realize that if we haven't set the world on fire by now we probably aren't going to.

In our forties we are pretty comfortable with our place in the world and we aren't fighting too many battles.

In our fifties we are old enough to start telling lies about "the old days".

In our sixties we are old enough that people start respecting our lies about the old days.

In our seventies we can't remember the lies about the old days anymore.

In our eighties we think we are in our twenties again.

In our nineties we are happy if we just think.

Hu
 
There's a number of reasons as to why our game starts to go downhill with age. For me, after so many years of being in halls where you don't see daylight for three or four days, I now have other things that hold my interest. Things like actually vacationing with my wife without any pool, going for long walks, quite dinners out, staying home and watching tv, etc. I still play enough but not like before.

With age, I'm 69, we do lose some of our skills, our body lacks the endurance it once had, our mind gets tired quickly and our concentration starts to fade.

These days I get into some positions that I just stare at for a few moments remembering what I used to be able to do with the shot and the stroke needed. But some of these shots are just memories now. My problem now is accepting that fact that I need to lower my expectations of what I can do.

I keep playing because that's what I do.
 
Eyesight

:eek:I'm 61 and my eyesight is getting bad-not lasik repairable I'm told. I play for the fun of competition these days or maybe for a beer. I was not, am not and never will be a world beater. My satisfaction comes from the occaisonal successful wacky 2 way shot that gets me out.

Since it takes so long to refocus sighting from cb to ob to cb to ob etc-I now do 90% of sighting and aiming standing-then walk into the shot-focus once-stroke 3 times for speed and let it go.

The game is still fun-when it isn't- I'll stop.

3railkick

grumpy grampa
 
dabarbr said:
There's a number of reasons as to why our game starts to go downhill with age. For me, after so many years of being in halls where you don't see daylight for three or four days, I now have other things that hold my interest. Things like actually vacationing with my wife without any pool, going for long walks, quite dinners out, staying home and watching tv, etc. I still play enough but not like before.

With age, I'm 69, we do lose some of our skills, our body lacks the endurance it once had, our mind gets tired quickly and our concentration starts to fade.

These days I get into some positions that I just stare at for a few moments remembering what I used to be able to do with the shot and the stroke needed. But some of these shots are just memories now. My problem now is accepting that fact that I need to lower my expectations of what I can do.

I keep playing because that's what I do.
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You have no doubt forgotten more pool than most will ever know in their lifetimes!

With all you have forgotten, nary a road player would be too excited to bump accidentally into your action my friend! :grin-devilish:
 
60 years old, or so.......

my back hurts when I bend over, sometimes really bad, and radiates down my right leg, so I have to stand straighter.....

I lose focus easily...........

I can't see shit......

I can deal with most of it, but recently, my eyes have really been a problem. I wear progressive bifocals, and it seems that each eye needs a different spot on the lens to be clear. Doctor says I have a cataract growing on my right eye which is causing some cloudiness and halos on the balls, and is really messing up my long, thin, cut shots.

...but I am hanging there and banging the hell out of the balls. I play for the good days, now.

Just got back from the TAP team Nationals where we finished 9-16, so that is not too bad....would have been better if not for the crap above....

Who was it that said "If I had of known that I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."

Truer words were never spoken.....

Joe
 
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Bravo!! Frank

dabarbr said:
There's a number of reasons as to why our game starts to go downhill with age. For me, after so many years of being in halls where you don't see daylight for three or four days, I now have other things that hold my interest. Things like actually vacationing with my wife without any pool, going for long walks, quite dinners out, staying home and watching tv, etc. I still play enough but not like before.

With age, I'm 69, we do lose some of our skills, our body lacks the endurance it once had, our mind gets tired quickly and our concentration starts to fade.

These days I get into some positions that I just stare at for a few moments remembering what I used to be able to do with the shot and the stroke needed. But some of these shots are just memories now. My problem now is accepting that fact that I need to lower my expectations of what I can do.

I keep playing because that's what I do.
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We in so cal are blessed to have such a gracious and talented senior statesman as dabarbr on the pool scene. This man is class personified. I wish I could know 1/2 of what he has forgotten.

Having your priorities right seems to not detract from your game.

Best wishes

3railkick
 
Getting old is not an option, action old is. That said I need glasses to read, one knee is in a brace most hours I am awake, should have hearing aids, and I am getting deaf.

As pops said on his 88th birthday had he know he was going to live for F****G long he would have taken better care of his body, now he is 89, and still is living on his own and enjoying life.
 
Bellhemen said:
I've heard comments about/from older people not playing like they used too. I don't know if this is an excuse to use for missing shots or is there something to it? I just watched ESPN Classic (again) with Mosconi, Fats and Jimmie. Hard to believe they can run 100 balls much less 500+ shooting like that.

If age really is a factor, what causes it to get worse? The only things I can think of are eye sight, arthritis and maybe memory. I would think as long as your memory holds and you can still bend over a table doctors could fix your eyesight, and tylenol for arthritis you should be able to shoot great your entire life.

Am I missing something here?
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I'm 76 and believe me, Tylenol doesn't do a thing. Just this past year my lower back has gotten a lot worse. Cortisone injections don't work. I now only play about 30 - 40 minutes while a couple of years ago I could play for hours. The energy is just not there. I still play a good game, position is okay, sometimes make some astounding shots (put a ball dead on the cushion in the middle of the bottom rail with the cue ball in the kitchen just a tad to the right or left of center and shoot that into a corner pocket) , and the desire to win is still strong, but the body is weakening.
The "Golden Years" are more like the "Rusty Years". Enjoy it while you can.
 
How age affects your game

Reading these posts is interesting to me because I will too soon be 66 (I hope) Presently I am playing the best pool of my life, however, I didn't start until nearly 50. Sounds like all you guys started too young, lol. I became a 7 level player in APA (I know that don't mean much) my second year after starting to play and on some occasions in tournaments I luck up and beat a pro (beat Tony Mougey a couple months ago). Of course it was a short race to 7 and I certainly know better than to think it will happen again anytime soon. But it's real good for ones motivation. For me I think the biggest obstacle is stamina. When I get tired my concentration fades and I begin to miss shots which earlier I was making. I work (a little bit) at staying in fair physical condition but I just can't keep my energy level high for long tournaments. As long as I can play semi-competitively I'll continue playing though.
 
Only 52 years old here.

I see the young-uns getting down on the cue. I mean really down, chin riding on the cue.

I wish I could do that, it must make aiming much easier. They look like they're aiming a rifle, or a bow.
And for 'staying down on the shot' - at least they have a consistent spot to stay down to.

My neck don't bend that way, and when I try, my main thought is 'this sucks - how soon can I stand back up!"

I'm considering yoga-type neck stretching exercises, to help with bending my head back.
Of course, for the past 20 years, I've been considering sit-ups.
Still considering...
 
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