Age matter?Am I too old?

[Fred Agnir]

I have been practicing for years.At young age I took on the resposibility of a family and did what was right....I am a young 40ish ...Am I too old?

The quick answer is "no." You're not too old to improve and be an accomplished player in your own right.

I have no idea what taking responsibility of a family has anything to do with not playing pool.

Fred

 

[VQStyks]

Don't cut yourself short...I quit pool for 15 years to raise my children. (A small sacrifice) they are off and away now, I came back to the game 5 years ago and am shooting the best I ever have now. Absence was the best thing I ever did. It's like the old saying...if I knew then what I know now....

 

[catscradle]

... I have no idea what taking responsibility of a family has anything to do with not playing pool.

Fred

Fred,
I think just as some women can work and be a good mother, and some can't; some people can play top quality pool with the time commitment it takes and still be a good parent, and some can't.
I know that when I was raising my 4 boys with 3 (sometimes 4) different soccer leaguesj, 3 (sometimes 4) different baseball leagues, school events, etc., I couldn't. The other factor is the expense, personally, I flat out could not have afforded private high schools (then college), cars, mortgage, and a serious pool game.
Everybody's circumstances are different. I think any implication that somebody can't be a good parent and a top quality pool player is flat out wrong; but I also think it is wrong to think everybody is in a position to manage both. JMHO.
Steve.

 

[Jon]

didn't sigel also say that throw doesn't exist???

VAP

HEHEHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHAHAAH!!!
I had almost forgotten that.
Thanks for the reminder.
But... if Mike Sigel said it, doesn't that mean it's true???

 

[chefjeff]

Can I ask you a question?...Why do you want to be a pro pool player? That is, what exactly do you want out of the game that you think becoming a pro will give you?

Jeff Livingston

 

[drivermaker]

Can I ask you a question?...Why do you want to be a pro pool player? That is, what exactly do you want out of the game that you think becoming a pro will give you?

Jeff Livingston

Now, THAT'S a great question.

 

[BazookaJoe]

Why is that a great question?
Why did we play little league or pee wee football?
Why should the urges to compete or the dreams we had when we were kids just go away because we're older?
If he plays pool, why wouldn't he dream to compete at that level?
That's why Derby City is so popular.
To bring your game to the table and compete against Earl, Efren, Keith, Buddy, or any of the world beaters is both a challenge and a thrill.
Never ask a man why he dreams.

 

[drivermaker]

Why is that a great question?
Why did we play little league or pee wee football?
Why should the urges to compete or the dreams we had when we were kids just go away because we're older?
If he plays pool, why wouldn't he dream to compete at that level?
That's why Derby City is so popular.
To bring your game to the table and compete against Earl, Efren, Keith, Buddy, or any of the world beaters is both a challenge and a thrill.
Never ask a man why he dreams.

Now THAT'S a great answer. (think I'll go look through a Penthouse and dream)

 

[chefjeff]

Why is that a great question?
Why did we play little league or pee wee football?
Why should the urges to compete or the dreams we had when we were kids just go away because we're older?
If he plays pool, why wouldn't he dream to compete at that level?
That's why Derby City is so popular.
To bring your game to the table and compete against Earl, Efren, Keith, Buddy, or any of the world beaters is both a challenge and a thrill.
Never ask a man why he dreams.

Well, what I asked him was, what exactly does he think he's going to get by becoming a pro. Not, why does he dream.

Far be it for me to squash a man's dreams. But if he thinks he's going to get something from the pro circuit that doesn't even exist (yet?), then I'd hate to see him waste his second half of life on that.

There's so many ways to receive value from pool. Perhaps he hasn't thought about others things besides going pro. That's all.

Jeff Livingston

 

[vapoolplayer]

Now THAT'S a great answer. (think I'll go look through a Penthouse and dream)

once i told an old timer, that it was my dream to play pool for a living...........

he said "son........dreams are things you wake up from.........quit dreaming and just fucking do it"

great advice.........

VAP

although DM.......i'm not sure if this advice would work with the penthouse

 

[OldHasBeen]

Imo

I have been practicing for years.At young age I took on the resposibility of a family and did what was right.Yes I spent alot of time around the tables in the local poolrooms but not the time I would have liked to.I am a young 40ish now and semi retired (I worked very hard my life) and have a little more time then before.This is a 2 part question.First question.If I get a table and practice very hard everyday and become alot better what is the age limit to become a real pro and second what would be the correct path to go for this.How do I get my ducks in a line to do this?What would be the right way to go about this?Am I too old?

Pool MUST be learned at an early age - Before the responsibilities of a normal life have caught on. This is the only way to have complete devotion to the one thing on your mind. To be a truly TOP player and competitor, you must go through learning stages that take ALL your time and energy.
Also, IMO, You must Play For Your Food and Shelter for a certain period of your life. In other words - Be "On The Road"!

Keep in mind that this is JMO and Not gospel. This is the way it used to be - I don't really have any idea of how it is now.

TY & GL, You'll Need It!

 

[jrhendy]

Too Old?

I agree with The Old Has Been. You have to LEARN how to play pool at a young age. I will be 66 in July & can still play when I make myself get out there & practice & play in tournaments or gamble. I played almost every day from age 13 to 21, and then two or three times a week for the next 30 years or so while working and raising a family. It takes several hours & a few trips to feel comfortable at the table and gain some confidence back. I play in the monthly one pocket tournaments at Hard Times in Sacramento & don't win, but usually cash. I am doing this playing two or three times a month. If the desire is there, a guy in his forties that has the time and $$ should be able to reach a fairly high level, but if you were not living and breathing pool as a young man, it's going to be tough. Not saying you can't do it, and hope you can and wish you the best. Now, getting back to me (us old guys like to talk about ourselves), If you have a full time job, you probably can't beat me playing one pocket. If you think you can, I will play some $50 or $100 a game one pocket anywhere around Sacramento, CA. There are some exceptions, I am older not dumber, so Billy Palmer, don't call. Just about anybody else can get played.

 

[jrhendy]

Too Old?

I agree with The Old Has Been. You have to LEARN how to play pool at a young age. I will be 66 in July & can still play when I make myself get out there & practice & play in tournaments or gamble. I played almost every day from age 13 to 21, and then two or three times a week for the next 30 years or so while working and raising a family. It takes several hours & a few trips to feel comfortable at the table and gain some confidence back. I play in the monthly one pocket tournaments at Hard Times in Sacramento & don't win, but usually cash. I am doing this playing two or three times a month. If the desire is there, a guy in his forties that has the time and $$ should be able to reach a fairly high level, but if you were not living and breathing pool as a young man, it's going to be tough. Not saying you can't do it, and hope you can and wish you the best. Now, getting back to me (us old guys like to talk about ourselves), If you have a full time job, you probably can't beat me playing one pocket. If you think you can, I will play some $50 or $100 a game one pocket anywhere around Sacramento, CA. There are some exceptions, I am older not dumber, so Billy Palmer, don't call. Just about anybody else can get played. John Henderson

 

[drivermaker]

he said "son........dreams are things you wake up from.........quit dreaming and just fucking do it"

although DM.......i'm not sure if this advice would work with the penthouse

That depends... on what your definition of "do" is. (also could need a clarification of WHAT we're f*#king)

 

[excessknowledge]

Thanks all

We will see how it goes.

 

[JAM]

Gotta throw my 2 cents in! As SJM said about Hall of Famer Balsis winning most of his titles in his forties, it is noteworthy, as I've posted previously, that "Spanish Mike" LeBron of Philadelphia won the U.S. Open when he was a young 54 years of age!

Picture of Mike taken last year at the 2004 U.S. Open!

JAM

 

[BazookaJoe]

Well, what I asked him was, what exactly does he think he's going to get by becoming a pro. Not, why does he dream.

Far be it for me to squash a man's dreams. But if he thinks he's going to get something from the pro circuit that doesn't even exist (yet?), then I'd hate to see him waste his second half of life on that.

There's so many ways to receive value from pool. Perhaps he hasn't thought about others things besides going pro. That's all.

Jeff Livingston

I guess the chance to live out that dream is reason enough.

 

[rayjay]

If you want it bad enough, it is attainable... if you have, or you can develop, the ability. Find out...play in small local tournaments, bigger state tournaments, national tournaments. Play good players for money. Play the best players you can find. Try to thrive under pressure. Every win and every loss will tell you something about yourself and your goals. Make corrections and modifications, take lessons, keep playing tough competition. You'll know.

 

[Blackjack]

If you think you are limited, then you are. There is no crime in dreaming big. I would not listen to anybody that got in the way of me fulfilling my dreams. If I can get there, so can you. Even if you aren't very successful, you'll come away with a wealth of experince that the naysayers will never get. Many will say that you are setting yourself up for disappointment, but what if your not? You'll never find out unless you try. Go for it. Anybody that says you're too old, or it's too late, or it's impossible... turn down the volume and walk away.

 

[Loretta]

Blackjack's advice is the absolute best advice you've gotten and in fact is the ONLY advice you should heed.

Follow your heart... it's never wrong. Fear keeps us from doing so many things. People will try to discourage you by saying you're too old/not good enough but that's their own fear. Don't make it yours.

Grandma Moses started painting in her 90s. Her heart called her and she listened; it was her time.

Go for it.