Aiming for pro within 5 years. Realistic?

Seems like the OP has made up his mind. Go do it then...

Started playing pool in your 20's, you might be the first guy ever to play pool at a pro level having started that late.
 
If you mean you wish to become a professional pool player like Scot Frost, or Shane, or Ephren, or Miss Fisher, then I would have to say no. Maybe even a "hell" no! This is not the first time a thread like this has appeared on this illustrious forum.
It's kind of like going to the Big Texan steakhouse in Amarillo, looking at the 72 ounce steak (the one you get for free if you eat it in an hour), and thinking; I can do that. :smile:
 
If you spent the same amount of time learning a trade or getting a great eucation you'd be set for life. I don't know one pool player who has the security a great paying job with benefits can provide. If you have the cash you can play as good as you want, travel to pool events for fun and bet your own. That's a pretty nice deal.
 
2strong4u said:
If you spent the same amount of time learning a trade or getting a great eucation you'd be set for life. I don't know one pool player who has the security a great paying job with benefits can provide. If you have the cash you can play as good as you want, travel to pool events for fun and bet your own. That's a pretty nice deal.
Click to expand...

This!!!!!!!
 
2strong4u said:
If you spent the same amount of time learning a trade or getting a great eucation you'd be set for life. I don't know one pool player who has the security a great paying job with benefits can provide. If you have the cash you can play as good as you want, travel to pool events for fun and bet your own. That's a pretty nice deal.
Click to expand...

The OP has a job and gf. He isn't doing this as a career. His goal is to be at the professional level (rating system in Quebec) within 5 years. He isn't trying to play pool as his only income.
 
I have said this before, but here goes:

My sister is/was PRO level in her chosen sport, and she would NEVER have asked "is it possible to reach pro in 5 years?"

Instead she just forged ahead with all her energy and MADE it happen.

My point is the fact you asked this question causes me worry. All the "pros" I know wouldn't have asked this question, they would have just "made it happen"


(however, best of luck no matter what you decide)
 
Nothing in the world like the voice of experience. And little, more valuable than that.

JoeyA

eddie8842 said:
it's been two months
you've been bit by the pool bug, good for you, it's a great game, great way to pass the time

i, like you, was bit by the pool bug about 4 years ago, i was 22 years old

i started playing 8 or more hours a day 5 days a week, sometimes 12-15 hours a day if i got to the pool room early enough
bought and read all the pool instructional book i could get my hands on, bought and watched all the instructional video i could, saw all the top pro matches on youtube, just in 9 ball to start with but eventually everything else too, 10ball, one pocket, banks, 14.1, 8ball, even 3 cushion and snooker

i quickly became a pretty sporty player, saw improvement so fast many people didn't believe it when i told them i had only started a few months prior
everyone would say i could be a pro someday if i dedicated myself to it, it would take years but i had natural ability, i was smart, i was in shape, i had stamina, desire, dedication, solid fundamentals, what's to stop me?

well you say the money's not important, but it is, not the money you won't make from pool, but the money you're going to put into this endeavor
that 100 a month for the table time and 30 an hour for the instruction is just the beginning
join a gym because you better stay in shape if you're gonna play 80 hours of pool a week
eat right, no cheap fast food because you need energy to practice for hours and hours
a good cue costs money, books and dvds cost money
tournaments cost money, gambling is gonna cost money
travelling to find tourneys or action once you're the top dog in your area costs money

enough about the money, prepare to be alone for most of this journey
your friends aren't going to have your dedication to pool, they won't practice long hours with you, for most people pool is just a hobby
your girl says she wants to go on this journey with you, that's not gonna last, she has no idea what this will require, and neither do you, not yet
you're gonna work 40 hours a week, and the rest of the time will be spent playing pool, eating, working out and sleeping
see how i left out time with your girl, because there will be no time, it's the sacrifice you're making to get to pro level, also there will be no time with family or friends unless they all visit you in the pool room, which will cut into your practice time so you won't want that

so your day basically goes like this
wake up, shower, eat breakfast, go to work, eat lunch, get out of work, go to the gym, eat dinner, practice, sleep
and your days off
wake up, shower, eat breakfast, practice, eat lunch, go to the gym, back to more practice, sleep

prepare for it to get boring and very tedious, working on the same drills week in and week out, perfecting every aspect of your physical game
and then there's the mental game, the game that you need when playing better players or people trying to shark you, or when you're having an off day, because there will be many

and prepare for when you hit a plateau, because it happens too, the speed at which you're improving right now won't last
soon you won't see the improvements anymore, they'll be so minute you might think you've hit a wall, but they're what separates shortstop from pro, millimeters
and pool is a game of precision, a game of millimeters
and what separates pro from top pro is the mental game

so prepare for frustration because the other thing that happens is you can play a match and do nothing wrong and still lose
prepare for bad rolls and bad sportsmanship
and this is all for one game like 9ball, nevermind trying to reach pro status in all pocket billiard games

it's a tough and lonely road, very few take it because of all the time and money you have to put into it, and not alot of money you can get out of it even if you become the top player in the world
and that's another reason most players who achieve greatness have starting young in common, because life is easier when you don't have a job, bills, responsibilities, a significant other who wants to see you

so take this journey for a year or two and see how you like it, see if it's worth it

and as far as realistic?
of course it's realistic, but it takes hard work and too much sacrifice for very little reward in my opinion
plus say you get to pro level, there's still a hundred guys that could beat you at any given time, in some tournaments one mistake or one bad roll is all it takes to lose
shane van boening has won 3 US bar table 9 ball championships in a row and 4 total, his best game on a barbox is 8 ball, he has 0 US bar table 8 ball championship titles
that's how hard it is to win at this game at that level
one mistake, one bad roll, one dry break can be the difference between tournament winner and one spot away from getting in the money

so do i have what it takes to be a pro?...maybe, maybe not
would i ever pursue it?...hell no, i'm happy with pool as a hobby
i have my few and far between moments of stringing racks together, playing pinpoint position, dead stroke moments and that's enough for me
the pros can have the trophies
Click to expand...
 
michael4 said:
I have said this before, but here goes:

My sister is/was PRO level in her chosen sport, and she would NEVER have asked "is it possible to reach pro in 5 years?"

Instead she just forged ahead with all her energy and MADE it happen.

My point is the fact you asked this question causes me worry. All the "pros" I know wouldn't have asked this question, they would have just "made it happen"


(however, best of luck no matter what you decide)
Click to expand...

I think it's a personal thing. For some, making a public declaration of intent is a way to strengthen their resolve, to put themselves under even more pressure to commit.

An example is Jason Day, who made it very public from when he began as a pro, that he was determined to become no.1. And he became that this past weekend.
 
Brian in VA said:
Can you achieve "pro" speed in 5 years time? Yes, with natural talent and the willingness to put in the time. Based on your speed cubing mention, I think you have the correct mindset to get in the practice. (There are some people who just refuse to do drills as they are "boring." I think drills are a shortcut to success.)

Will you do it? That is entirely up to you. Just reading this thread, I like your chances.

Brian in VA.....so not a pro....
Click to expand...


What kind of drill would you recommend for a 2-3h practice session?
Do you guys have a practice plan, that you vary from time to time, just like people going to the gym?
 
Of course it's possible! But you have to put in the sheer hours which can constrict your schedule. It's just like any other sport you have to be disciplined and have a passion to learn the game. This game is not just about pure ability but a lot of knowledge goes into it as well so you have to surround yourself with the right people.
 
eddie8842 said:
it's been two months
you've been bit by the pool bug, good for you, it's a great game, great way to pass the time

i, like you, was bit by the pool bug about 4 years ago, i was 22 years old

i started playing 8 or more hours a day 5 days a week, sometimes 12-15 hours a day if i got to the pool room early enough
bought and read all the pool instructional book i could get my hands on, bought and watched all the instructional video i could, saw all the top pro matches on youtube, just in 9 ball to start with but eventually everything else too, 10ball, one pocket, banks, 14.1, 8ball, even 3 cushion and snooker

i quickly became a pretty sporty player, saw improvement so fast many people didn't believe it when i told them i had only started a few months prior
everyone would say i could be a pro someday if i dedicated myself to it, it would take years but i had natural ability, i was smart, i was in shape, i had stamina, desire, dedication, solid fundamentals, what's to stop me?

well you say the money's not important, but it is, not the money you won't make from pool, but the money you're going to put into this endeavor
that 100 a month for the table time and 30 an hour for the instruction is just the beginning
join a gym because you better stay in shape if you're gonna play 80 hours of pool a week
eat right, no cheap fast food because you need energy to practice for hours and hours
a good cue costs money, books and dvds cost money
tournaments cost money, gambling is gonna cost money
travelling to find tourneys or action once you're the top dog in your area costs money

enough about the money, prepare to be alone for most of this journey
your friends aren't going to have your dedication to pool, they won't practice long hours with you, for most people pool is just a hobby
your girl says she wants to go on this journey with you, that's not gonna last, she has no idea what this will require, and neither do you, not yet
you're gonna work 40 hours a week, and the rest of the time will be spent playing pool, eating, working out and sleeping
see how i left out time with your girl, because there will be no time, it's the sacrifice you're making to get to pro level, also there will be no time with family or friends unless they all visit you in the pool room, which will cut into your practice time so you won't want that

so your day basically goes like this
wake up, shower, eat breakfast, go to work, eat lunch, get out of work, go to the gym, eat dinner, practice, sleep
and your days off
wake up, shower, eat breakfast, practice, eat lunch, go to the gym, back to more practice, sleep

prepare for it to get boring and very tedious, working on the same drills week in and week out, perfecting every aspect of your physical game
and then there's the mental game, the game that you need when playing better players or people trying to shark you, or when you're having an off day, because there will be many

and prepare for when you hit a plateau, because it happens too, the speed at which you're improving right now won't last
soon you won't see the improvements anymore, they'll be so minute you might think you've hit a wall, but they're what separates shortstop from pro, millimeters
and pool is a game of precision, a game of millimeters
and what separates pro from top pro is the mental game

so prepare for frustration because the other thing that happens is you can play a match and do nothing wrong and still lose
prepare for bad rolls and bad sportsmanship
and this is all for one game like 9ball, nevermind trying to reach pro status in all pocket billiard games

it's a tough and lonely road, very few take it because of all the time and money you have to put into it, and not alot of money you can get out of it even if you become the top player in the world
and that's another reason most players who achieve greatness have starting young in common, because life is easier when you don't have a job, bills, responsibilities, a significant other who wants to see you

so take this journey for a year or two and see how you like it, see if it's worth it

and as far as realistic?
of course it's realistic, but it takes hard work and too much sacrifice for very little reward in my opinion
plus say you get to pro level, there's still a hundred guys that could beat you at any given time, in some tournaments one mistake or one bad roll is all it takes to lose
shane van boening has won 3 US bar table 9 ball championships in a row and 4 total, his best game on a barbox is 8 ball, he has 0 US bar table 8 ball championship titles
that's how hard it is to win at this game at that level
one mistake, one bad roll, one dry break can be the difference between tournament winner and one spot away from getting in the money

so do i have what it takes to be a pro?...maybe, maybe not
would i ever pursue it?...hell no, i'm happy with pool as a hobby
i have my few and far between moments of stringing racks together, playing pinpoint position, dead stroke moments and that's enough for me
the pros can have the trophies
Click to expand...

Nice post... I have a similar story to yours, and I agree with a lot of what you've said. It's not so much of do you have the ability it's more of do you have the time and what are you willing to sacrifice your personal life and finances to get there for a game that has a fair amount of chance involved. This game is not like track where if you run faster than the other guy you always win the race, the best man doesn't always win in this game... Making a living on those percentages is difficult to accept... Which is why have fun with it and play hard and if it comes it comes. That was one of the themes in the movie 'the hustler' chasing a dream at the expense of other things in life.
 
Just do it, do your best. Focus and prove everyone wrong. There's nothing wrong with setting a goal and trying to reach it.
 
I was looking at the website the OP linked and looked up the pros mentioned. Both those guys have results going back to 1999, so whomever said they just became a pro after only playing for 5 years is being a bit misleading, whether he intended to be or not.

Just play and practice as much as you can. You can keep that as an overarching goal, but you don't want to spend too much time focusing on the goal and not enough time just enjoying playing. You may get to the point where you only enjoy those fleeting moments of progress, if you don't just enjoy the learning process.
 
Last edited:
RunoutJJ said:
Get Dr. Daves DVD's. They are a true test to your skill level.
Click to expand...

I just sent him a message. Not sure which DVD set I should buy based on what I'm looking for in an instructional video. The "Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots" series are looking pretty good.

EDIT : Had a brain fart and wrote about HAPS instead of VEPS
 
Last edited:
SamLambert said:
I just sent him a message. Not sure which DVD set I should buy based on what I'm looking for in an instructional video. The "How to Aim Pool Shots" series are looking pretty good.
Click to expand...

There is a sticky on the main forum about the BU skill tests. It's a free way to test your skill, and to show you which parts of your game needs more work. Take it and tell us how you did, or don't, your choice of course. It's a good showcase for the Dr. Dave material, and will give you feel of what it's like. Also there are many free videos on his site.
 
AtLarge said:
While not raised on 14.1, both of those guys certainly play it at a pro level.

Johnny won a significant 14.1 event over 20 years ago. In the World 14.1 Tournament, he has finished tied for 9th or better half a dozen times, with a top finish of tied for 3rd. He has run 200 balls.

In his brief time with 14.1, Shane has finished T9, 2nd, and T5 in the World event. He has run over 300 balls.
Click to expand...

I must say that those two are not running to play Schmidt, Harriman, Appleton & Thorston for the cash in 14.1 and their backers are very silent about putting them in the box against those 4 I named and rightfully so!

they are good players that would and do struggle with Mike Davis playing 14.1 and Max eberle. I am friends with those two and rarely gamble, i need to state that before someone here presses me to bet due to that statement.

I see money matches on 9 ball, 10 ball and one pocket around here but NEVER any 14.1 gambling??? Could anyone answer why no one bets on 14.1 matches any more???

KD
 
Kid Dynomite said:
I must say that those two are not running to play Schmidt, Harriman, Appleton & Thorston for the cash in 14.1 and their backers are very silent about putting them in the box against those 4 I named and rightfully so!

they are good players that would and do struggle with Mike Davis playing 14.1 and Max eberle. I am friends with those two and rarely gamble, i need to state that before someone here presses me to bet due to that statement.

I see money matches on 9 ball, 10 ball and one pocket around here but NEVER any 14.1 gambling??? Could anyone answer why no one bets on 14.1 matches any more???

KD
Click to expand...

14.1 is sooooo 1977.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top