Conversations among pool players exist about how our skills are or are not increasing with time and age. I suggest instead of comparing yourself to others...compare yourself to a "younger you". Would your 30 yr old self beat your 20 year old self? I can tell you that now at 50... my 20, 30 or 40 year old self would be crushed..I know the steps I've taken toward getting better are working. No down swing yet.
Are you getting better? Compare this!
- Thread starter BarTableMan
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My 35 year old self would have destroyed my 22 year old self. My 48 year old self... wouldn't be a decent cue caddy.
I'm 55, been playing since I was about 14. Every year it seems I learn something new to incorporate into my game.
20's could andwould shoot any shot with no fear whatsoever. 30's started getting around better players and picking their brains.
mid to late 40's realized half the time i shot ,i wasn't even seeing the ball, since i wear glasses. Early fifties finally got a pair of glasses that i could see out of and it's been a world of difference. Plus I'm smarter.
20's could andwould shoot any shot with no fear whatsoever. 30's started getting around better players and picking their brains.
mid to late 40's realized half the time i shot ,i wasn't even seeing the ball, since i wear glasses. Early fifties finally got a pair of glasses that i could see out of and it's been a world of difference. Plus I'm smarter.
Good thread and question. I thought for a long time I hit the apex of my playing ability at about 21 or 22 when I was in college and playing pool almost every day. I thought that getting a job and the diminished playing time that came with it would inhibit me from getting there again. However, after really practicing the right things for a couple of years the 31 year old me (my current age) would destroy 21 or 22 year old me. I could probably give 21 year old Brent the 7 ball and the break and beat him easily.
Moral of the story? It's not how much you play or practice, but the quality of the play/practice time you do get.
Moral of the story? It's not how much you play or practice, but the quality of the play/practice time you do get.
My current self could provide my younger self a healthy spot in any game I play. While I believe we improve as we age through experience & being wiser I'm waiting for the day that my game starts to degrade as I believe playing at an elite level is a perishable skill at some point. I'm thankful I'm not there yet.
My 26 yr old self could beat my 25,24,23,22,21 yr old self. Everyday i play i learn more and more. My confidence is at a peak right now. I have no fear. Sometimes i feel like i cant miss. Im a perfectionist and when i miss more than once a rack(not including safeties) i tend to feel like i failed. People can constantly run out. If im not running out im losing in my mind. It doesnt effect my play like im making it sound but its just a feeling that im not where i need to compete. I can easily comeback from that one miss i just dont like that one miss. It does make me work harder and harder though. There can always be a positive coming from a negative. Its how you interpret the negative.
This is true for most of us amateurs where we get better as we age. But, not exactly true for higher caliber players or pro players. These players learn the game fast and usually master the game at young age so it doesn't take 'em long to play their best game.
You ask anyone who plays at high level they will always say that they used to play better when they were young.
You ask anyone who plays at high level they will always say that they used to play better when they were young.
I'm 73, and
my self of 50 years ago would surely beat me playing 9 Ball or other rotation games. But I could give him a ball playing One Pocket and just toy with him. Only problem is, he was a nit and I wouldn't win much.
my self of 50 years ago would surely beat me playing 9 Ball or other rotation games. But I could give him a ball playing One Pocket and just toy with him. Only problem is, he was a nit and I wouldn't win much.
38 would have beat 22
67 would give 38 a good game but could not win.
67 would give 38 a good game but could not win.
At 73 I still can beat (on a BB) the 9-ball ghost, my 1st 100 ball run came at 70, but the 10 ball ghost beats me now on a BB. At one time I played about even with the 10 ball ghost on a BB...can't break hard anymore. I have no idea if I can play this well when someone is firing back for a good chunk of change.
As far as 10' and 9', I played 14.1 pretty well., but rotation...not so much. Johnnyt
As far as 10' and 9', I played 14.1 pretty well., but rotation...not so much. Johnnyt
Wow....70.
I'll be 62 this year and I play much better skill wise but lose more.
Frustrating. What's your secret? (I had to ask):thumbup:
Jeff Livingston
He probably uses Viagra. Old guys play better with a stiff shaft and a hard tip.
I thought my break shot was lacking something.
...and it hurts, too!
My wife said she wants to have wild sex in the back seat.....
...she wants me to drive!
Jeff Livingston
As I said, I play on my BB at home every day I'm able, but no one is firing back at me. I might be much worse under pressure. Johnnyt
PS:I think I do always give it my all to beat the ghost and try for high runs any time I'm practicing 1. If I s4.1tart just banging balls, I quit fast. Johnnyt
When I learned to play in high school, I learned shot making and position play from reading 99 Critical Shots and the Standard Book. I won the local 8-ball bar box tournament (~25 players a week) three times and came in 2nd 2-3 times. I remember always thinking "Just give me one more shot and I'll run out"
But today I know sooooo much more about pattern play and strategy (there is very little about that in the above books).
I'd like to think I'm better today, but also I think all the other tournament players are better too, compared to the 1980's...
But today I know sooooo much more about pattern play and strategy (there is very little about that in the above books).
I'd like to think I'm better today, but also I think all the other tournament players are better too, compared to the 1980's...
Thanks.
Playing the ghost is good, for sure. I do best practicing when I play Hopkin's game and chart the results. I hate that game but it makes me a better player when I stick to it for a month or so. I'm currently doing it for the next 30 days or so to prep for the state tournaments coming up soon. Already I've improved a notch from the slump I've been in.
Jeff Livingston