Am I now just an old guy?

Do you practice? Do you practice those shots that you admit cost you the match? One thing I have noticed over the years is that old guys never practice. They play a lot, but they never practice or work on their weaknesses. I am sure there are some exceptions, but I haven't seen them.
 
efirkey said:
Do you practice? Do you practice those shots that you admit cost you the match? One thing I have noticed over the years is that old guys never practice. They play a lot, but they never practice or work on their weaknesses. I am sure there are some exceptions, but I haven't seen them.
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Nope- I admit I do not get on the table enough. Like I said, I don't have a table at home. With my schedule the only thing I can do is play in the matches. That's why I was pretty impressed with the visualization of shooting. It really seemed to pick up my game. Sounds silly but I played the best I have since early January.

Bob
 
Sedog said:
What are you talking about? I just started playing pool 5 years ago and I keeping getting better! I am 76. Try something new in pool to get your interest and enthusiasm up.
Good luck!
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Good for you. I started playing 49 years ago. I would try something new but my wife said if I do it will be the end of me :D
 
Could be!

I'm a few months shy of 65 and face similar issues. But, I don't let it bother me as I'm not going to waste my time on things I can't change and I don't want to use it as an excuse for loosing. When I loose at pool it's because the other guy out played me and when I win I have out played him. Face the fact you will continue to win and loose and keep shooting pool until some one calls 911 because you fell on the floor, just don;t drop your cue when it happens!
 
I'm closing in on 67 years old and have high blood pressure, prostate cancer, heart disease, too fat, near sighted, sore knees and feet and couldn't feel better when I'm playing pool. It's what I like to do. So if you're doing what you like to do then keep doing it as long as you can.
 
Mooneye said:
I realized I was getting older last month when I received my Billiards Digest and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on the same day and read the Billiards Digest first.
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You truly did make me laugh out loud on this one. :thumbup: Greenie for you!
Bob
 
Welcome to the club old man! I find that in my 60's I do not have the attention span I once had and easily distracted or trying to think way too much for no reason - (since I have all this experience and knowledge :) ??).

It sounds like you may have been thinking about the consequences at the end of the games - if that is the case, doubt creeps in and if you are not confident in your decision and playing with conviction, you're screwed most of the time. This is one of the 3 D's: Don't Do Dat!

Or...you are simply sandbagging as many do in leagues :)

I swear I will read your book soon!!!!!!

Dave
 
12squared said:
Welcome to the club old man! I find that in my 60's I do not have the attention span I once had and easily distracted or trying to think way too much for no reason - (since I have all this experience and knowledge :) ??).

It sounds like you may have been thinking about the consequences at the end of the games - if that is the case, doubt creeps in and if you are not confident in your decision and playing with conviction, you're screwed most of the time. This is one of the 3 D's: Don't Do Dat!

Or...you are simply sandbagging as many do in leagues :)

I swear I will read your book soon!!!!!!

Dave
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Dave, as you may have heard me say, I would rather take poison than practice !..If there is nothing riding on the outcome of a game, why play it ?..Let the non-gamblers practice 'til their eyes bleed!..They will always be 'non-gamblers', with no chance to improve, unless they put up some cash ! ;)

SJD

PS..Ask Fats, Harold Worst, or Ronnie Allen ! :cool:
 
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I think it's mostly mental. I play with a guy who's just barely south of 70; three years ago he couldn't reliably get out with more than 4 balls on the table. He used to do the road, by the way, but was convinced that Father Time had already put him to pasture. For some reason, he decided to re-dedicate himself to getting it back and now runs 3 and 4 packs regularly. Another old gent I see around is almost 80 and has a HORRIBLE tremor in his right hand. His stroke hand shakes like he's whipping cream...yet he still strokes straight and really plays sporty...can usually beat anyone in the room at any given time. It's really all in the attitude. 90% of this game is between the ears and the other 10% is between the nipples. ;)

Tell Efren 65 is a sudden free fall...I think 90% of the pros that draw him in any given tournament would disagree.
 
I'm not old yet but I've watched players age in the game & I think it's different for different people. I know guys who's game visibly dropped off with age & others that play nearly as well or as well as they ever did. I believe it's a perishable skill for most. I hope I end up like some I've seen that aren't seemingly affected by it. I have an older student who I took on at 65 & with small adjustments to his game he's gotten 2-3 balls better in the last year & breaks & runs racks of 9 ball on a pretty regular basis.
 
I have several really good player friends who are in their eighties and they're shooting as 7's and 8's. Same goes for my friends in their seventies. I'm an 8 and I often times will lose to one or two of these fellows and I'm 64. We all beat some 9's that come to play once in a while, too.

One of my good buddies who is 84 years old keeps reminding me that each new shot is a new game and that I'm playing the table layout nothing else.

Don't get down on yourself. It's too easy to do and too hard to stop once you start. :smile:
 
I think you answered most of your own question.
You knew the correct shots and for whatever reason , didn't shoot them.
If the reason was, you can't make those shots or safes any more , then your game is probably going south on you .
If you ignored the old knowledge because you think it doesn't apply to you any more, then you can expect to be a victim of it.
What is the purpose of all these years of playing and learning, if I make the same stupid shot I have been learning to avoid all my life?
 
I agree with an earlier post that you should play the table, and not the person. The one thing that I think I am losing as I get older is that Killer Instinct that used to create so much Focus.
 
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