This is an interesting post. I've come across countless of "players" who want to tell me they've been playing for XX years. Most of these guys' experience is bar pool on Friday night. But speaking of serious players, when do people start their count?
I wacked a ball with a stick on a pool table when I was 5. That's not when I started playing pool.
I shot two games with my dad once a year at the Masonic temple starting when I was 8 or 10. That's not when I started playing pool.
We had a 5' or 6' pool table at the church, and my friends and I played on that table every Sunday when I was 12-14. That's not when I started playing pool.
I spent a summer playing every day on a 9' table when working at a summer camp. I was 16. That's really when I started playing the game.
You are correct, most people shouldn't start their count that early but here's a little bit more background. I first whacked a ball on a table at 6, but I'd actually say I started playing at 7. I've never played on a kids table, I've always played on an 8' table. My parents both have played their whole lives, although not at a competitive level. We've had a pool table in our house/garage as far back as I can remember. So, they started teaching me how to play at 6/7.
Between ages 7 and 8 I could actually shoot and make shots consistently. I was a very competitive child and hated losing. So while my dad was at work I would play pretty much all day, around school hours, of course. Then when he got home I'd challenge him and if I lost, I'd shoot by myself the rest of the day to get better.
By about 10 (+/- a year) I could keep up with my parents and win off and on. Right around then I started learning english and cue ball control. This is when I surpassed my parents because they didn't understand cue ball control and english other than basic draw and follow.
By High school, they couldn't beat me and I started teaching them english. In high school, is around where I lost interest in pool tho it was a fun party trick to beat my friends' parents in junior high/ high school but that was about it.
Now, I still help my parents and they understand cue ball control, english and defense very well now. Up until last year my parents were playing in an APA pool league in Southern California. My dad is rated as a 7 and my mom was a 6. She was about to be a 7 when she stopped competing for personal reasons. I'm currently on par with both my parents but my consistency isn't as good because I don't play as often as I did when I was younger.
When quarantine ends, I'm planning on hopping in a league, but who knows when that'll be.