Aiming for pro within 5 years. Realistic?

When I was young and feeling my oats, my dear ole dad used to tell me, "Don't tell me, show me." :D

JoeyA

SamLambert said:
I liked the idea of blog entries.

I think I am gonna start a YouTube channel, posting an update roughly every month. 20 racks of 9 ball in a row for every video? I guess that'd give a good idea of the current state of progress.

Of course it's not gonna interest many people, but I'm thinking of doing it more for myself.

What do you guys think?

Also, I am not sure what I was expecting when asking this question here. I already very much believed it to be possible, I think I just wanted some opinions.
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My comment was not a knock on sam, he seems like a good kid. We all have the pool bug and respect anyone who works hard on their game. Rhea could barely cash in the b division here so i have no clue what she is talking about. 6 months is not long enough, if pool was that easy everyone would get a coach and become a pro. Old gene is off his rocker.
 
SamLambert said:
So, I recently started playing the incredible game that is pocket billiards (july) and quickly developped a great interest forthe game.

I am not aiming for anything lower than pro-level skill and was wondering what would be a realistic target to aim for? The pro who owns the pool hall where I play became one after 4 years, so I'm figuring it is very much possible to do, but then he told me it was before there were rating systems in place and so he was ranked as such arbitrarily.

After asking another one who became one just this year, it took him just a little over 5 years.

So, everything points toward it being very much possible, albeit very hard and not without a lot of hard practive and lots of tournaments.

Since I started, I have been playing/practicing about 30-35 hours a week on average.

What's your take on this? Am I looking at this the wrong way? Input from others is always interesting to hear.

Sam

EDIT : I should mention that although I said "pro", I didn't really mean it in the literal sense. In Quebec we use a bit a different system, and being a pro instead refers to someone who is good enough to participate in major events without being squashed like a bug.

EDIT2 : So, I made a blog. Will be updated about every month with a quick summary and a new video.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

https://progresstoprospeed.wordpress.com/
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At 35 hours a week, you could go "pro" by your Edit definition in about 3 months with a coach.

Provided of course you have the three Ds and the all important T.
 
SamLambert said:
So, I made a blog. Will be updated about every month with a quick summary and a new video.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Hello Sam ,

I know Fred and have Watched Sylvain play, You have some great teachers.

I started playing at 17 and was a pretty good semi-pro in quebec at 23 ish . Martel always told me I had a lot of natural talent , I practiced like crazy and gambled a fair bit.

I have had periods of time where I took time off to concentrate more on work or played more poker than pool. I finally got the bump to a " weak quebec pro" in 2013 and that was always my goal. So it took me about 10 yrs being a working player .

I'd say 5 yrs to get to semi-pro is a good goal but that next step is the tough one.

Good Luck , Jared
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kidpool85 said:
Hello Sam ,

I know Fred and have Watched Sylvain play, You have some great teachers.

I started playing at 17 and was a pretty good semi-pro in quebec at 23 ish . Martel always told me I had a lot of natural talent , I practiced like crazy and gambled a fair bit.

I have had periods of time where I took time off to concentrate more on work or played more poker than pool. I finally got the bump to a " weak quebec pro" in 2013 and that was always my goal. So it took me about 10 yrs being a working player .

I'd say 5 yrs to get to semi-pro is a good goal but that next step is the tough one.

Good Luck , Jared
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Thanks Jared! That is some good information.
 
SamLambert said:
I am not sure what I was expecting when asking this question here. I already very much believed it to be possible, I think I just wanted some opinions.
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You were just hoping to get confirmation for what you wanted to do. You had zero interest in actually getting and listening to any advice if it didn't support what you wanted. The facts are the odds are at least 1000 to 1 against you, and probably much, much worse. Overwhelming odds are that you simply don't have the talent. Overwhelming odds are that you simply don't have the determination and the willingness to put forth the efforts it will require or to accept the sacrifices that will have to be made. That is a fact and there is nothing wrong with that and at least 999 out of a thousand of everybody else is in the same boat with you.

That said, there is nothing wrong with pursuing a pipe dream as long as you don't shirk your responsibility to you family or to society (which means society shouldn't ever be forced to have to spend one penny to financially support you in any way). If you can pursue this without shirking any of your responsibilities then go for it and more power to you, but as soon as someone else or society as a whole is forced to have to pay a single penny in support of you because of your choice then you are completely out of line. If you can fully pay your own way through life and also do this then go for it if that's what you want.
 
Poolplaya9 said:
You were just hoping to get confirmation for what you wanted to do. You had zero interest in actually getting and listening to any advice if it didn't support what you wanted. The facts are the odds are at least 1000 to 1 against you, and probably much, much worse. Overwhelming odds are that you simply don't have the talent. Overwhelming odds are that you simply don't have the determination and the willingness to put forth the efforts it will require or to accept the sacrifices that will have to be made. That is a fact and there is nothing wrong with that and at least 999 out of a thousand of everybody else is in the same boat with you.

That said, there is nothing wrong with pursuing a pipe dream as long as you don't shirk your responsibility to you family or to society (which means society shouldn't ever be forced to have to spend one penny to financially support you in any way). If you can pursue this without shirking any of your responsibilities then go for it and more power to you, but as soon as someone else or society as a whole is forced to have to pay a single penny in support of you because of your choice then you are completely out of line. If you can fully pay your own way through life and also do this then go for it if that's what you want.
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Well said, sam just remember you have to want it more than shane, niels, morra, and guys with work ethic like that just to come close. Im pulling for ya, remember to keep your stick on the ice.
 
6 months of training and playing. ...

Poolplaya9 said:
You could get him to internationally competitive pro level in 6 months? I suggest you go back and edit that part of your post before too many people see it. Wow. Just wow.
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Not just going to the poolhall and wacking balls in.

I've seen really good success and have worked with some of the top players in the country.

They weren't top players at the beginning and not just because of me.

Dedication, love the game and hours of instruction.

It's amazing when a player is actually taught the right things to work on.

Without the right instruction, it would be impossible.

Look at China churning out champions.
 
genomachino said:
Not just going to the poolhall and wacking balls in.

I've seen really good success and have worked with some of the top players in the country.

They weren't top players at the beginning and not just because of me.

Dedication, love the game and hours of instruction.

It's amazing when a player is actually taught the right things to work on.

Without the right instruction, it would be impossible.

Look at China churning out champions.
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To my knowledge nobody in the history of the world has gone from beginner to internationally competitive pro level in pool in 6 months. Think of all the talent that various pros have had and how they weren't even close to being able to accomplish it. Think of all the accomplished coaches in the history of the sport who were never even close to being able to get a student to accomplish this. It should tell you something.

But yet you think you can take any random beginner and make them an internationally competitive pro in 6 months if they just do what you say and are dedicated to practice for that six months? I know you think highly of your coaching abilities but this one was more than a stretch to say the least, and I am being really kind. I still suggest you rethink this and edit your posts because you are losing serious credibility.
 
Also I don't come on here often but it is for the exact reason of what you're seeing. People with big meaningless comments and way too much time on their hands.
 
kidpool85 said:
Also I don't come on here often but it is for the exact reason of what you're seeing. People with big meaningless comments and way too much time on their hands.
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It seems the people who would have the most to contribute get driven off by the trolls. From pro players to industry leaders.

Sam, please take advantage of the ignore button.
 
caff3in3 said:
It seems the people who would have the most to contribute get driven off by the trolls. From pro players to industry leaders.

Sam, please take advantage of the ignore button.
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Considering his op. the only person with a valid opinion on the subject is Mark Wilson. That is what he does. Maybe pm him.
 
SamLambert said:
23 years old.

ing as individual limit, I believe almost anyone can be at the international pro level given enough practice. QUOTE]

I think you are mistaken with this statement. I think almost anyone can play at a Silid B level with enough practice, but playing at an international pro level requires a certain amount of in born talent and exceptional hand eye coordination.

Many people believe that because pool does not require height or power, that everyone can play at the same level. This simply is not true as their several other physical and mental attributes to pool that make someone a good player.
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SamLambert said:
I answered in a post a big higher why I aim to be a pro pool player.

I'd say, from the comments I am getting, that I have sufficient talent. I've been told a few times that I will become very good.
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I don't think you can know in only 3 months if you have that kind of talent. That being said, I wish you the best in your quest.
 
I have been lurking on this site for a while and have yet to post. All id like to say is that if you commit yourself to something you can have amazing results. I've done some things in my life that I thought I couldn't because i didn't have the knowledge or training or skill. Turns out all I needed to do was commit and stay focused and I was able to achieve my goals. If people walk around and believe that it takes someone special to do something then they will problably never achieve any of there goals. Also if you don't ever fail then you aren't setting high enough goals to unlock your potential. Good luck to you in your venture and I hope you get where you want to be!
 
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