What Happens to Your Stroke at a Certain Age?

chefjeff said:
BORING after so many years.

I've often wondered if the lack of focus is merely being bored, instead of "lacking focus."

I've thought about it quite a bit and I'm still not sure if I'm bored or tired or lacking focus pr my brain isn't working the same or what.

I hope it is not boredom, and the lack of that being mentioned here gives me hope.

Any here bored with the game and that's the problem?



Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...

BORED....cannot spell the word. ( used spell check here).
Sentence with BORED. Went to the poolroom today...room was empty...got bored and left.
 
GoldCrown said:
BORED....cannot spell the word. ( used spell check here).
Sentence with BORED. Went to the poolroom today...room was empty...got bored and left.

I read half your post and bot bored so I quit and shot some pool.

Which reminds me, I have to practice for the State tournaments, so I'm planning on shooting some every morning at 8 am for the next 2 or 3 weeks. I'm seeing it as a chore instead of as an opportunity to play pool.

Perhaps it all IS in our heads? :yes:
Click to expand...


Cripes....I finished my practicing of a mock match. I lost 0-4.

I just couldn't get focused this early. I definitely need more practice!



Jeff Livingston
 
Last edited:
I never had much of a stroke

pool was always my 3rd game
so i never studied or practiced

I am now 74 and playing a 25 ounce 68 inch long cue

my game is much better
the weight and length enable me to swing easy and get some power,
also accuracy has improved


i do not have any stamina so after 2 hours i am tired but i hope it is because i have the flu like stuff

when I get tired I tend to go down hill fast
 
buckshotshoey said:
I'm 51. Been struggling for a while. Two causes.... no longer have a home table. And I am getting far sighted as hell. Have to wear cheaters to read or see anything up close. And they do no good when playing pool. Can't afford a trip to the optometrist..... no vision insurance where I work. Really sucks.
Click to expand...

Check out America's Best eye care. Free exam and two pairs of glasses for $69.95.
 
chefjeff said:
No one here has mentioned the B word

BORING after so many years.

I've often wondered if the lack of focus is merely being bored, instead of "lacking focus."

I've thought about it quite a bit and I'm still not sure if I'm bored or tired or lacking focus pr my brain isn't working the same or what.

I hope it is not boredom, and the lack of that being mentioned here gives me hope.

Any here bored with the game and that's the problem?



Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...

Jeff, I think what happens to many of us is we lose our motivation for the game. When I was in my 20's, I wanted to play pool night and day nonstop, to the exclusion of just about everything else. As I got older I began to develop other interests, like owning a poolroom which was much more lucrative. Once the money no longer became an issue, I was free to pursue other things in my life and pool got put on the back burner.

I still love the game of pool, but not so much playing as watching the great players. I don't have the desire or motivation to practice even four hours a day any more. I can play for about two hours and I'm done. The only way for me to get back in stroke is to "mock it up," meaning I have to act like I want to play good again and hopefully just the process of hitting balls will help. I do know that after a week or so of mocking it up a couple of hours at a time it's becoming more fun as I begin to make more shots. Right now it's a challenge for me to throw the balls on the table, give myself a decent shot on the one and run out a 9-Ball rack. My Diamond table is tough (the top players like to practice here) and that doesn't help, but when I do manage to run a rack it feels pretty good. :wink:
 
deanoc said:
I never had much of a stroke

pool was always my 3rd game
so i never studied or practiced

I am now 74 and playing a 25 ounce 68 inch long cue

my game is much better
the weight and length enable me to swing easy and get some power,
also accuracy has improved


i do not have any stamina so after 2 hours i am tired but i hope it is because i have the flu like stuff

when I get tired I tend to go down hill fast
Click to expand...

Why such a heavy cue? I know Jay just said he's gone under 18 oz., if I remember right.
 
ChrisinNC said:
For some of us, it hits in your 50 or 60s. If you're lucky maybe not until your 70s. You've still got sharp corrected eyesight, still got solid fundamentals, a solid pre-shot routine, decades upon decades of experience of playing at a certain level of proficiency to draw on. But how can one describe what happens to your stroke when you get to a certain age, and why?

Shots that you've made in your sleep your entire life are no longer a given. No shot becomes too easy to possibly miss, particularly in a tournament situation when there is the added variable of pressure. Is this largely a mental thing, or is there some physical explanation for it, as we enter our latter years, that I just don't understand?

I'm trying not to accept it and to play through it. At times when I'm practicing by myself, I play like I did 30-40 years ago. Even when in a longer gambling session against a evenly skilled opponent, I can generally play pretty well. But something about a tournament and a shorter race, particularly against a weaker player getting a handicap, its just very frustrating to mess up easy outs and feel like I've never played before.

Anyone else in advanced years (60+) experienced this, and if so, have any of you had any luck overcoming this, or is it just something that needs to be accepted that our best years of playing pool are behind us?
Click to expand...

I started falling apart at age 54. First the kidneys, then because of transplant; the eyes (2 cataract surgeries ). Have had three more eye surgeries since. Then at 65, a major heart attack. Tore my rotator all to hell about 4 years ago ( stroke arm) and haven't had it fixed because I'm done with anymore surgeries.

Maybe I don't qualify to respond to this thread. I can't really say my skills have diminished because of age.

But just before my heart attack, while I was playing a tournament, I felt like I was playing the best pool of my life. I felt like I could beat the local pro that day and probably would have if I hadn't had that heart attack in the middle of my match.

By now you're probably thinking I had to give up playing. NOT.

I just bought my first pool table. And I have not been playing great pool to say the least.

Just have to say that I haven't lost my passion nor desire to play. Frustrated? Yeah. Every time I miss or put right on the cue ball when I wanted left. Kills me when I miscue instead of draw the ball. Most of the time, unless it's a road map, I can't run more than three balls.

Still practice a little every day, hoping I'll get that stroke back. I guess I'm just a dreamer and can't accept the fact that that ain't going to happen.

Still having fun.:smile2:
 
rtrdriver said:
I started falling apart at age 54. First the kidneys, then because of transplant; the eyes (2 cataract surgeries ). Have had three more eye surgeries since. Then at 65, a major heart attack. Tore my rotator all to hell about 4 years ago ( stroke arm) and haven't had it fixed because I'm done with anymore surgeries.

Maybe I don't qualify to respond to this thread. I can't really say my skills have diminished because of age.

But just before my heart attack, while I was playing a tournament, I felt like I was playing the best pool of my life. I felt like I could beat the local pro that day and probably would have if I hadn't had that heart attack in the middle of my match.

By now you're probably thinking I had to give up playing. NOT.

I just bought my first pool table. And I have not been playing great pool to say the least.

Just have to say that I haven't lost my passion nor desire to play. Frustrated? Yeah. Every time I miss or put right on the cue ball when I wanted left. Kills me when I miscue instead of draw the ball. Most of the time, unless it's a road map, I can't run more than three balls.

Still practice a little every day, hoping I'll get that stroke back. I guess I'm just a dreamer and can't accept the fact that that ain't going to happen.

Still having fun.:smile2:
Click to expand...

My compliments for finding the strength and desire to carry on. I played with some guys that had a bad case of shaking arms and hands. They managed. They got shots off. They made and missed shots. They did what everyone does... simply do the best they can. That’s a win. I always say pool is more than a game.
 
Last edited:
Tore my rotator cuff a year ago. Didn't know it and continued the hehavior to make it worse. Tried to stall it with cortisone shots, which didn't work. Got an MRI a couple months ago...saw the damage...and bit the bullet to have the surgery. Done 5 days ago, and I'm in a sling for a while...but I believe it will be better than ever, once it heals and I do some PT. :thumbup:

I think we met in Vegas a couple summers ago. Do you live in Pueblo?

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

rtrdriver said:
Tore my rotator all to hell about 4 years ago ( stroke arm) and haven't had it fixed because I'm done with anymore surgeries.
Click to expand...
 
For everything pool related......
Keep your back loose and healthy!
Back problems kill your game quick!
 
I am one of the lucky ones. At 78 it takes a good player to beat me at one pocket. I can still play rotation games but pay a price with my arthritis the next day.

I often play and sometimes win local one pocket tournaments against the best in Northern CA that last 12+ hours. I pay a price the next day, but it is what I love to do. I play 2 or 3 times a week and look forward to it as much as I ever did.

I have always worn eyeglasses and am lucky my Rx has not changed much over the years. I am NEVER SATISFIED with my game, I work at it constantly.

I hope it goes on forever but I know it will not, so I will enjoy it while I can. I think desire and the joy of playing can help overcome the negatives we face as senior players.
 
jrhendy said:
I am one of the lucky ones. At 78 it takes a good player to beat me at one pocket. I can still play rotation games but pay a price with my arthritis the next day.

I often play and sometimes win local one pocket tournaments against the best in Northern CA that last 12+ hours. I pay a price the next day, but it is what I love to do. I play 2 or 3 times a week and look forward to it as much as I ever did.

I have always worn eyeglasses and am lucky my Rx has not changed much over the years. I am NEVER SATISFIED with my game, I work at it constantly.

I hope it goes on forever but I know it will not, so I will enjoy it while I can. I think desire and the joy of playing can help overcome the negatives we face as senior players.
Click to expand...

I was getting ready to slit my wrists from depression after reading this thread, but yours caused me to put the blade down.

Thanks! :thumbup:
 
jrhendy said:
I hope it goes on forever but I know it will not, so I will enjoy it while I can. I think desire and the joy of playing can help overcome the negatives we face as senior players.
Click to expand...
Tap tap tap and tap
 
rtrdriver said:
I started falling apart at age 54. First the kidneys, then because of transplant; the eyes (2 cataract surgeries ). Have had three more eye surgeries since. Then at 65, a major heart attack. Tore my rotator all to hell about 4 years ago ( stroke arm) and haven't had it fixed because I'm done with anymore surgeries.

Maybe I don't qualify to respond to this thread. I can't really say my skills have diminished because of age.

But just before my heart attack, while I was playing a tournament, I felt like I was playing the best pool of my life. I felt like I could beat the local pro that day and probably would have if I hadn't had that heart attack in the middle of my match.

By now you're probably thinking I had to give up playing. NOT.

I just bought my first pool table. And I have not been playing great pool to say the least.

Just have to say that I haven't lost my passion nor desire to play. Frustrated? Yeah. Every time I miss or put right on the cue ball when I wanted left. Kills me when I miscue instead of draw the ball. Most of the time, unless it's a road map, I can't run more than three balls.

Still practice a little every day, hoping I'll get that stroke back. I guess I'm just a dreamer and can't accept the fact that that ain't going to happen.

Still having fun.:smile2:
Click to expand...

Hang in there baby! I think you're doing great considering what you've been through.
 
jrhendy said:
I am one of the lucky ones. At 78 it takes a good player to beat me at one pocket. I can still play rotation games but pay a price with my arthritis the next day.

I often play and sometimes win local one pocket tournaments against the best in Northern CA that last 12+ hours. I pay a price the next day, but it is what I love to do. I play 2 or 3 times a week and look forward to it as much as I ever did.

I have always worn eyeglasses and am lucky my Rx has not changed much over the years. I am NEVER SATISFIED with my game, I work at it constantly.

I hope it goes on forever but I know it will not, so I will enjoy it while I can. I think desire and the joy of playing can help overcome the negatives we face as senior players.
Click to expand...

Jimmy Moore was the best older player I ever saw, still running hundreds well into his 80's. Jr. Goff (still alive in his 90's!), Patcheye and Squirrel Carpenter (still with us also) are a few others who played well in their 80's.

Onifrio Lauri won a major 9-Ball tournament (at Weenie Beenies place in Arlington, VA) at age 69. All the top guys were there!
 
jrhendy said:
I am one of the lucky ones. At 78 it takes a good player to beat me at one pocket. I can still play rotation games but pay a price with my arthritis the next day.

I often play and sometimes win local one pocket tournaments against the best in Northern CA that last 12+ hours. I pay a price the next day, but it is what I love to do. I play 2 or 3 times a week and look forward to it as much as I ever did.

I have always worn eyeglasses and am lucky my Rx has not changed much over the years. I am NEVER SATISFIED with my game, I work at it constantly.

I hope it goes on forever but I know it will not, so I will enjoy it while I can. I think desire and the joy of playing can help overcome the negatives we face as senior players.
Click to expand...

In BOLD.

I'm forever a Professional Student of the game. At 71 I still enjoy the game and the learning.

Keep on strok'in John. Love your commentary. :)

John
 
I am 53 and vision is starting to be a factor, although only on long cut shots due to lack of ability to see object ball clearly. Other factor, and it seems to have been mentioned by several others already, is that I am affected by essential tremors. Sometimes worse than others, but almost always present. But I can still hang with some of the better players. Arthritis in my hands and wrists, and bursitis in my shoulder doesn't help either. But I can still break >25mph when I feel like it, but don't need to most of the time.
 
cuenut said:
I am 53 and vision is starting to be a factor, although only on long cut shots due to lack of ability to see object ball clearly. Other factor, and it seems to have been mentioned by several others already, is that I am affected by essential tremors. Sometimes worse than others, but almost always present. But I can still hang with some of the better players. Arthritis in my hands and wrists, and bursitis in my shoulder doesn't help either. But I can still break >25mph when I feel like it, but don't need to most of the time.
Click to expand...

I am a huge fan of legal cannabis oil (No THC, just CBD). There are several websites to purchase it from and it comes to you in the mail. I keep a tube in my pool case and when my wrist/thumb act up, which always happens when I play rotation games because of the break, I put a little on and get some relief.

I used to take Aleve or Motrin but I think they gave me the yips and made me a little tense. The advances in cannabis for medical use is remarkable and now that it is legal and lots of $$ to be made, improving all the time.

Anyone who wants more info PM me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top