That isn't the case, but you would've known that already if you had bothered to read my post.
I just don't care about pool enough anymore (at least as of right now) to justify putting the time needed.
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A little update
- Thread starter SamLambert
- Start date
That isn't the case, but you would've known that already if you had bothered to read my post.
I just don't care about pool enough anymore (at least as of right now) to justify putting the time needed.
Sam, thanks for the humbling update.
You just proved you are human.......:thumbup:
Most people who are "pro level" at anything, have a lot of natural ability PLUS a super-human level of competitiveness, that lasts for years and never burns out....they often do not have a well balanced life.....
You are one of the few who put their game and progress on display for all to judge, that already makes you a winner
This is one of the best replies I've ever read on this forum.
I think it is possible to play pro speed in 5 years it sure wouldn't be easy. I don't think it's a journey you can go alone. Requires a great coach.
So of you just over think the game
I am glad to see you back on the forums 
You shouldn't feel bad about letting the whole pro speed stuff go. It becomes very clear for the vast majority of us to realize that we all cannot ever play like the greatest champions. Pool is a game that cannot be forced to improve eternally, it has so many things involved in it that a minimal minority can ever become world beaters.
It is not practical or even remotely fun to grind 9 ball 8 hours a day, its no wonder you burnt out. I have been in your position where I strived for perfection so much that I could no longer sleep without working out table patterns in my dreams :thumbup: Then after a short while I realized that pool is not something that one should lose sleep over, its meant to be fun playing it, not like working a shitty job. Loosen up a little on your game, relax and have fun. Dont beat yourself on a missed shot and play with people who you like to spend time with and the joy of playing will come back :wink:
Also try playing different games, 9 ball can become tedious after a few weeks of play as it doesnt allow you to think your way of play but it forces your shots. I enjoy 8 ball a lot, it has helped me find my style of play and it gives you options on what you want to do. Great game that seems to slowly diminish under rotation games.
As I said earlier, its good to have you back here. Despite the few individuals who enjoy mocking you, I hope that you will continue to post here. I have enjoyed watching your videos and I hope to see a few more when you feel like it :wink: Also I'd like to see a picture or two of your equipment if you'd like to post a few? I love discussong about equipment and as far as I can tell about your previous posts so do you
You shouldn't feel bad about letting the whole pro speed stuff go. It becomes very clear for the vast majority of us to realize that we all cannot ever play like the greatest champions. Pool is a game that cannot be forced to improve eternally, it has so many things involved in it that a minimal minority can ever become world beaters.
It is not practical or even remotely fun to grind 9 ball 8 hours a day, its no wonder you burnt out. I have been in your position where I strived for perfection so much that I could no longer sleep without working out table patterns in my dreams :thumbup: Then after a short while I realized that pool is not something that one should lose sleep over, its meant to be fun playing it, not like working a shitty job. Loosen up a little on your game, relax and have fun. Dont beat yourself on a missed shot and play with people who you like to spend time with and the joy of playing will come back :wink:
Also try playing different games, 9 ball can become tedious after a few weeks of play as it doesnt allow you to think your way of play but it forces your shots. I enjoy 8 ball a lot, it has helped me find my style of play and it gives you options on what you want to do. Great game that seems to slowly diminish under rotation games.
As I said earlier, its good to have you back here. Despite the few individuals who enjoy mocking you, I hope that you will continue to post here. I have enjoyed watching your videos and I hope to see a few more when you feel like it :wink: Also I'd like to see a picture or two of your equipment if you'd like to post a few? I love discussong about equipment and as far as I can tell about your previous posts so do you
I hope you learn the right lesson from this. Great things are great things because they are HARD. Just because something would be a great accomplishment doesn't mean you can do it.
Ask yourself these questions:
What percent of people in general could accomplish that goal?
What special skills do you have that makes you think you could be in that miniscule percentage?
What have you done in your life that demonstrates that you do indeed have this special skill?
Maybe you misinterpreted realism and common sense as "angry and shitty"?
In any case I wish you the best and hope you do not compromise the long term happiness of your life by sacrificing to this dream, because that is what it is a dream, not a goal.
This is exactly how I see it now. I really would like to play pro speed, but I have many hobbies and as much as I love pool, I can't justify dropping everything else just to play pool. I did for a bit and quickly stopped having fun.
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I have been playing for just over 5 years, started a little (a lot) too old but I have zero illusions of becoming a Pro. I would like to get good enough to play in some Opens or maybe USBTC soon but pool is a pretty tough game. 1 big problem is that you dont know what you dont know. After 5 years I am just starting to get the confidence and knowledge that I can get the cue ball to go where I want it to go. Before it was like a crap shoot, I knew where I would like it but that was about the whole of it. Part of the problem (more so on tight pockets) is that in the early stages you are afraid to use the needed spin because it may cause you to miss the object ball. Then along the way you start learning how to pocket balls with spin or how to pocket a ball frozen on the side pocket rail/point that should not go in but you can force it in etc......So many things you didnt know like that that come up as you are getting better at this game.
I think this young man (like many others) is just a "victim" of our "modern" world.
He tried to turn this tough process into a "reality show". And this is not how it works.
Posting videos playing the ghost using your expensive equipment and without knowing how to shoot basic shots, is not the way to become a good player.
He could be a better player right now if he was just practicing 3-5 shots per day at any cb-ob distance, any speed and spin. Checking how his eyes, feet, stroking arm, bridge placement work. He doesn't know anything about that, and I wonder what his "coach" was doing to help him.
The whole thing looked like a "show off" attempt to me. And Sam was not ready for any kind of "show off".
Sam, start from the basics and stop recording yourself and posting videos.
Forget about this f......ing "reality show" stuff. Unless you are fan of Big Brother - X Factor, Kardashians, and other trash tv shows that keep people away from reality and real meaning of life.
What a trash post.
I posted videos to keep a track record and to receive advice and it helped tremendously. If you don't like it, you can **** right off.
Instead of spouting trash about what you think I do things for and how I do them, just get out and stop posting such stupidities. You are among the many on here who are just completely useless and poisoning the well.
It's really unfortunate that some trash posters are so vocal on this forum, it really is driving people away. "Victim of the modern world", what kind of bullshit, I'm a victim of your ignorance and know-it-all-ness.
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I know, I know...... TRUTH HURTS........
I really had no intention to attack or humiliate you.
Your attempt was wrong from the very beginning.
Reading a book on fundamentals doesn't mean that you learn how to do it. It takes years. And yes, you don't know very basic things about the game.
Do what you want. Maybe the new REVO shaft will do better than your Z2..... Who knows?
I will not post in your thread anymore. No chance you will understand what I am talking about. And yes, you are a true "victim" of the modern world and YOUR ignorance.
Sam, I've mentioned this quite a while ago.
PLAY STRAIGHT POOL
The runs you make will tell you how you're doing....
...the game doesn't lie....and as you keep trying to beat your high run...
...you will get back your enthusiasm.
High runs need no alibis or outside opinions...they do all the talking.
PLAY STRAIGHT POOL
The runs you make will tell you how you're doing....
...the game doesn't lie....and as you keep trying to beat your high run...
...you will get back your enthusiasm.
High runs need no alibis or outside opinions...they do all the talking.
I wish I enjoyed straight pool. For some reason, I just don't. Trying to beat your "high score" is usually something I'd enjoy, so it would have been great if I loved the game.
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Complete agreement with KissedOut here. Nothing wrong with pursuing a dream, as long as it's not to the exclusion of everything else in your life...especially when it will NEVER pay you what you could earn with an education and a good job. I've seen people play ALL the time, for decades, and not really get any better. There are many ways to TRY to get better...just playing all the time is the longest road to that goal.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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That's the point he's making. To be a pro in 5 years may not be impossible but it's very much improbable. Mostly because you just don't have enough time to not burn yourself out.
I don't disagree with his post either. It definitely is not easily achievable to become a pro speed player (you seem to think I intended to go full pro and make a career / money ouf of it? That is not the case and not my initial goal.)
But, I still think I could have done it. I did not stop playing because I realized I wouldn't achieve my goal or because I was depressed or whatever else people who think they know me better are saying. I simply stopped playing because I don't feel like playing anymore. Pool is a hobby to me. Not gonna make it a job, and if I don't have fun while trying to improve, I stop playing. That's it. No need to seek further. That's all there is to it.
I totally understand everyone's doubt about me being able or not to reach pro speed, but these people don't know me, no one can know whether I would've made it or not. Neither I nor anyone else. That doesn't prevent me from thinking I could do it and others from thinking I couldn't.
If people on here would've said "I don't think you can do it because it is hard to keep your motivation straight for 5 years", I wouldn't have argued, because I know myself and I know it is very much probable for me to not feel like playing anymore within that timeframe. I do disagree categorically with the "I don't think you can do it because yeah you're kinda old and it's pretty rare and blah blah" though.
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Predator technology will be at it's peak in a few years anyway, so it's worth it to take a break.
Is this another low-effort post trying to poke fun at people who believe better cue technology matters?
While I agree with you in principle, most of us who gave you common sense advice actually DO know what it takes to even GET to pro speed...something you were (and perhaps still are) unaware of. There's a significant difference between wanting to play pro speed, and knowing A) how to get there, and B) whether or not it's actually worth the effort and sacrifices needed just to make the attempt. You may have finally realized B...or maybe not. In any case, there is nobody here that doesn't wish you well, and encourage you to keep reaching for that goal, but keeping in mind the reality that one in a million actually "get there".
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Sam, you hit some sort of mental and emotional plateau. Happens to everybody at some time including myself. I am taking some time off because the passion is beginning to wane simply because I have been playing too much. My play shows it. You'll get it back and so will I. You may not be pro level but I bet if you randomly pick a thousand guys off the street you probably play better than all of them because of the time you put in on the table and if you walk in to a poolroom you probably play better than half of them for the same reason.
The "return on investment" of pool is quite low indeed, and this is mostly why I stopped playing. I thought I could have fun trying to improve for a much longer time. It stopped being fun quickly. I just really don't like doing drills alone for a few hours straight. It's incredibly hard to be highly motivated for that long for something that doesn't really bring you anything in the end, especially since it's possible to achieve the true goal (having fun) without playing pro speed and putting all the time needed.
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