Ever stopped playing pool and then started back again?
- Thread starter JMW
- Start date
- It got old, it was my job at the time, got super burned out.
- Quit after the 2001 U.S. Open. Did not play again until July of 2009.
- Lived in Houston,Texas and wanted to play in the Galveston World Classic Event. Singles and with my girl in the Scotch Doubles.
- I played from July of 2009, until December 9th. That was the last day I shot a ball. I have not quit again, but needed a small break from the game as now, real work is in charge. To answer the last question directly. It's more enjoyable this time around because it is not work, it is not to pay the bills etc. Makes it a lot easier.
i dont mind answering. i hope other people do also. i think it would be interesting to learn about other posters experiences.
1. i quit to do the career and raise a family thing. i also got into softball and raquetball. i was a member of the number one ranked usssa class c team in the mid 80's.
2. quit for about 20 years.
3. kids grown and out on their own. wife left. tired of sitting at home alone so i started bar hopping and playing pool again.
4. leagues. never joined a league till a few years ago. met a guy at a bar who asked me to join his team. never knew it could be so much fun. of course you gotta fade a lil drama once in a while but all in all i really enjoy league play.
Definately.
I normally stop due to being too busy and/or not having a sufficient avenue to compete in (not enough tournaments with decent compentition).
I have gone through years of not really playing much pool. I have not played serious and consistent pool in probably 7-8 years now.
I have not started playing serious pool again since about 2005 when I was last truly playing alot and competing on a regular basis.
As far as enjoyabilty, pool is a game where I like competition, practice and simply pocketing balls or playing for fun at the pub does not do it for me really. I like tournaments the most and action on occasion.
I used to be a 4 hour a day player even at 17. Over the years I got into some serious legal troubles being a dumbass kid. Cost me a few years as a guest of the great state of Texas. After that was said and done, having nothing to my name, was homeless for a while. So I was out of pool for a good 5 years.
I started playing again after I got my life back on track and could afford to be back to where I really feel at home, in a pool hall. Great job, new life!
It is more enjoyable to me that I am still here and able to do what I love, and have a life I can be proud of. I don't think about anything but sinking those balls, it is a getaway that I hope never ends again.
Having the freedom to do what you like or love and enjoying every minute you are able to do so is a great feeling.
Happy shooting y'all!!
Lets see I quit the first time when I was 17 for a summer over a break up, she loved playing more then I did so I was burnt out and pool just brought up stuff I wanted to forget.
I got started back heavy when my dad took me to my first bar tournament that we finished 1st/2nd in. So I started playing more tournaments and one winter was making more from them then my crappy factory job.
Then I started playing league with some friends and after a few years of that sucking the desire to win outa me I quit, too much handicap bs so throwing games got to be the norm. That combine with the tournaments drying up and starting my own business I just lost the desire to play enough to stay in stroke.
Now I may play a couple times a month as I just don't have the time and end up getting annoyed that I can't play like I used to yet I don't have the desire to put in the time to get back in stroke.
Unlike most here I always viewed gambling and tournaments as work and never really enjoyed it even though I am good at dealing with the pressure. I would rather just play for the hell of it with friends.
HI,
quit about 1999. Bc of a personal/private issue from one day to the other.
Accidently saw a team mate on video in 09/2009.
Started again- made it through 2 innerstates to qualifers for the nationals then. But then again a bigger operation got me back for almost a year.
Now it s all about instructing- and sometimes i play a bit, if the health allows it.
Reason is easy: Addicted to pool
Teaching/Instructing is/was the way back to pool for me, after not really being able to play pool as i would want to.
quit about 1999. Bc of a personal/private issue from one day to the other.
Accidently saw a team mate on video in 09/2009.
Started again- made it through 2 innerstates to qualifers for the nationals then. But then again a bigger operation got me back for almost a year.
Now it s all about instructing- and sometimes i play a bit, if the health allows it.
Reason is easy: Addicted to pool
Teaching/Instructing is/was the way back to pool for me, after not really being able to play pool as i would want to.
HI,
quit about 1999. Bc of a personal/private issue from one day to the other.
Accidently saw a team mate on video in 09/2009.
Started again- made it through 2 innerstates to qualifers for the nationals then. But then again a bigger operation got me back for almost a year.
Now it s all about instructing- and sometimes i play a bit, if the health allows it.
Reason is easy: Addicted to pool
Teaching/Instructing is/was the way back to pool for me, after not really being able to play pool as i would want to.
I stopped from 93-2000. i promised my daughter i would be home for her school activities, so i quit caught a nice job and stayed home.
She left for college in 2000 ad we were transferred to San Antonio, so I picked it up again.
it was frustrating as I nevr got back to what I was, but, that's life. At 61 nw, pool is about over with for me.
- I stopped because I was utterly and completed tired of the "scene." The woofing, gambling, everyone seeming to know everyone's business, etc etc. The game had become more of a "I must make money" thing instead of having fun. I remember the last time I hit a ball seriously......playing cheap 20 or 50$ sets with local player. We were both mid A speed at the time I guess. I was ahead 2 sets and well on my way to a 3rd. He was *****ing constantly as he got a few bad rolls and I was running out anytime he messed up. I was having a good day and he wasn't......but he just kept on *****ing more and more. Finally when I was on the hill of the 3rd set, I couldn't take it anymore. I broke my cues down, told him to keep the money and left. Didn't hit a ball seriously after that for 5 years. I was just totally burned out with pool
Also I was introduced to poker and almost immediately started making more money than pool and any regular job. Poker was refreshing because there was no "woofing" with everyone trying to match up a game in their favor. You always play even, no one *****es(for the most part) when you take their money, and you can quit anytime you like. Instead of this "never quit ahead" mentality in pool.
- I quit playing seriously about 5 years go, and didn't hit a ball for the last 2 years until about a month ago.
- Not sure, just felt that "itch" to play again.
- Feels like I'm 17 again and just playing because I love to play. I don't feel the need to gamble all the time, and playing is just enjoyable again.
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1. I stopped because I had some personal issues that turned my world upside down. (Divorce proceedings)
2. I was basically out of the game for about 3 years.
3. I got my pool table back from the aforementioned divorce proceedings. (She got the house, I got the Diamond! :wink
4. I've actually enjoyed having the opportunity to rebuild my stroke and correct some bad habits that I had for many years. I was previously aware of the bad habits, but didn't want to mess up my game at the time. After returning to the game, since I was out of league, and not playing tournaments, I figured I might as well go ahead and make those adjustments. I am now stroking straighter than ever, and I think I've built a new foundation that will help me break through the performance plateaus that I faced before the break. Yes, I forgot some of my good habits, but I also forgot some of my bad habits, too. I think I really appreciate the game more now than before. I've won a couple of local weekly tournaments, and it's great to hear some really positive comments about my stroke. I'm also really enjoying getting back into doing some instruction (nothing official, just mentoring some rookies).
-Blake
I quit yesterday.
I'm pretty sure I'll be back at it in a couple hours....
Sometimes you just get tired.
I'm pretty sure I'll be back at it in a couple hours....
Sometimes you just get tired.
Had to quit going to smoky poolhall after a bout with throat cancer.
Quit for 11 yrs.
Friend ask me to go watch hime shoot a non smoking bar tournament, only had 9 players, needed 10 for the bar to give $100.00 to 1st place. I played 2 warmup games and then went on to win the thing. I was laughing at how easy it came back.
Have not stopped since. Learned how to play 1P and love the game.
I guess the reason for starting back is like a couple of guys have said, Your addicted to the game , you never lose the desire to shoot.---Smitty
Quit for 11 yrs.
Friend ask me to go watch hime shoot a non smoking bar tournament, only had 9 players, needed 10 for the bar to give $100.00 to 1st place. I played 2 warmup games and then went on to win the thing. I was laughing at how easy it came back.
Have not stopped since. Learned how to play 1P and love the game.
I guess the reason for starting back is like a couple of guys have said, Your addicted to the game , you never lose the desire to shoot.---Smitty
i played very well from 1963 until 1994. i had a 9 footer at home for 12 years and practiced daily as my work was basically from the house. the last few years of that time period, i could only play occasionally as my wife and i took a 7 year sailng trip thru the caribbean...during that time i was not beaten on any island in any game but once and that was from the champion player in bonaire (i got some real stories about some games during that time on the water for sure!). when we returned to the usa in 1994 i quit the game and did not start back until 2009...just the love for the game and something to pass the time started me back. i am only 75% as good as i was and do not know that i will ever get "it" back but i am over the frustration of trying now and just try to enjoy the game....i have won 2 9 ball tournaments in the last 6 months so it is not all bad...because of health issues i think i see the end nearing....guess i will watch all the "streaming" after that and continue my 4 or 5 visits to az forum every day! ...i have considered ebay a few times in the last 2 years after losing a match but get over it the next day! 
...i have considered ebay a few times in the last 2 years after losing a match but get over it the next day! 
Pangit
Banned
I quit for over 20 year's because I joined the US Navy at age 19 married with a young child..Didn't have the time or money to play. Even after I "Made" Chief...I still didn't play....I had bigger fish to fry....had I played pool during part of my life...it would have fricked up my career. I would have lost focus.
Now I'm retired with all the US Taxpayers contributing to my retirement. A few thousand bucks once a month... I just stay alive and sign the "E-Check" Add in VA disability... Cha Ching I'm making dollars and spending peso's.
Plenty of time to play pool now....no distractions...other than the girls in the Go Go bars and life in the PI with all the Rosters crowing..I'm still sub AARP age.
With that said "early retirement" is not all it's cracked up to be.
Now I'm retired with all the US Taxpayers contributing to my retirement. A few thousand bucks once a month... I just stay alive and sign the "E-Check" Add in VA disability... Cha Ching I'm making dollars and spending peso's.
Plenty of time to play pool now....no distractions...other than the girls in the Go Go bars and life in the PI with all the Rosters crowing..I'm still sub AARP age.
With that said "early retirement" is not all it's cracked up to be.
When I first moved to Detroit years ago I started to get really serious and played seven days a week. Joined the Viking tour and cashed in a few tournys. Then I had a bad experience at a tour stop in Pittsburg and just got burned out. Quit playing for a year or so and took dancing lessons and joined a tennis league.
I started again and just when I started to be good again I tore my rotator cuff. Quit again for two years and started cycling instead. Now I play during the winter and cycle when it gets warm. My 9 ball is at about 60% but my 1P is pretty good. Just dont see the balls like I used too.
I started again and just when I started to be good again I tore my rotator cuff. Quit again for two years and started cycling instead. Now I play during the winter and cycle when it gets warm. My 9 ball is at about 60% but my 1P is pretty good. Just dont see the balls like I used too.
Have you ever quit playing pool for an extended time and then started back again? If so... - why did you stop? - how long did you quit? - what made you decide to start playing again? - what makes it more enjoyable the second time around?
Guilty...
I quit because my son was born and my job increased the pay a lot so I didn't have to make money on a table to make ends meet anymore.
I quit for about 10-12 years.
Initially I restarted because I played a friend who wanted to start a league team. Since I was unrated, I was pretty much a sleeper. Last minute him and the rest of the team decided on bowling instead and I was re-hooked on playing.
After I started again, I fell in love with it again. The personal challenge of being better, playing better and pulling shots, run outs and banks that look impossible is fun to me.
I enjoy it more now because I'm not looking for a pay out. I rarely turn down a cash game, but I don't take them all either. I also have fun playing league because its a good challenge and like to be understated and taken for granted while the opponent racks
Guilty...
I quit because my son was born and my job increased the pay a lot so I didn't have to make money on a table to make ends meet anymore.
I quit for about 10-12 years.
Initially I restarted because I played a friend who wanted to start a league team. Since I was unrated, I was pretty much a sleeper. Last minute him and the rest of the team decided on bowling instead and I was re-hooked on playing.
After I started again, I fell in love with it again. The personal challenge of being better, playing better and pulling shots, run outs and banks that look impossible is fun to me.
I enjoy it more now because I'm not looking for a pay out. I rarely turn down a cash game, but I don't take them all either. I also have fun playing league because its a good challenge and like to be understated and taken for granted while the opponent racks
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Started playing when I was 12 and quit the first time at 21, the day I got married. I knew it would not be healthy for my marriage or career.
Didn't pick up a cue for 10 yrs. On a whim, I entered a monthly tourney and got beat by a loudmouthed bonehead. Pissed me off enough to start practicing, went back and whupped him bad. That got me going again.
Eventually, I went out on the road for three years and made a good living. Burned out and quit again for a few years.
From there, I built and managed poolrooms in Houston and San Antonio for twenty years.
Finally started and ran the Fast Eddie's 9 Ball Tour with ironman for ten years which I retired from a couple of years ago.
Now, I manage our family's ranches in South Texas and all I play is on a weekly BCAPL league with some friends when I'm in town.
Didn't pick up a cue for 10 yrs. On a whim, I entered a monthly tourney and got beat by a loudmouthed bonehead. Pissed me off enough to start practicing, went back and whupped him bad. That got me going again.
Eventually, I went out on the road for three years and made a good living. Burned out and quit again for a few years.
From there, I built and managed poolrooms in Houston and San Antonio for twenty years.
Finally started and ran the Fast Eddie's 9 Ball Tour with ironman for ten years which I retired from a couple of years ago.
Now, I manage our family's ranches in South Texas and all I play is on a weekly BCAPL league with some friends when I'm in town.
I picked up the game when I was about 11 or 12 and played a lot from then until I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I even convinced my parents to put an 8 footer in our basement. Even though I still loved the game I became even more enamored with golf because I had friends that were and I could play it with my dad. I would always pick up pool intermittently, but the driving range and golf courses became my new home. I even got to where I could break 80 pretty consistently. However, when I went to college golf was too expensive and time consuming, but the student union had tables, a billiard class, a pool club, and a pool team. I made some new friends there and jumped back into pool full throttle. My golf game slipped and I've pretty much fell out of love with that game entirely. Too frustrating. Even though pool is still my #1 hobby now I've still taken short breaks from it. Mostly from moving to a new town and not having a room nearby where I could go and practice consistenly. Now I'm just content to go play about once a week and practice when I can.
Pangit
Banned
:grin-square: You didn't just type that...did you? Ballet, Jazz, Tap...With a Tutu...?? Maybe Square dance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzV7lTwqN8E
Video...please.. how is your backhand? :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: