At what age is a pool player "too old" to be world class?

There are some advantages to getting older.

[ During the 1936 World Billiards Tournament, when Alfredo De Oro was 71 years old, the Cuban master found himself matched up against the legendary Welker Cochran. Cochran was then at the top of his game.

This is was what Cochran had to say about the encounter:

"I knew the old man would have to take six piss breaks during the game. I couldn't complain about it because of his age, and I wasn't going to let it bother me if he took a lot of time. Halfway through the game he hadn't asked for permission to leave the table and I started worrying about him. Started worrying about his bladder. After all, he still hadn't gone to the can. Was he alright? Was he going to go in his pants? Was he in pain trying to hold it back? I got so worried about his bladder I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing. That old man did not take one piss the entire game, and that's what beat me." ]

-- http://untoldstoriesalfredodeoro.blogspot.com/
(taken from McGoorty, Byrne)
 
Underclocked said:
I'm 61 and am still "Southwest Missouri Class". :grin:
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i'm 65 and am still considered "Broken Down Denver Class"!
We might make a good match up.
At "Hanks" we get to play from 10 AM to 4PM for a flat $6.00. It makes all the trips to the bath room cheap. :groucho:
 
I see two questions in this thread

1) how long can you hold onto your world class abilities? (people are saying anywhere from age 30-70, depending on the person, average answer being until your 50's)

2) can you BECOME a world class player (assuming you have enough natural talent), but you start pool at age 50, instead of age 15 ?

I say "no", you have wasted your window of opportunity. You can become a nice player, but not a pro.
 
michael4 said:
I see two questions in this thread

1) how long can you hold onto your world class abilities? (people are saying anywhere from age 30-70, depending on the person, average answer being until your 50's)

2) can you BECOME a world class player (assuming you have enough natural talent), but you start pool at age 50, instead of age 15 ?

I say "no", you have wasted your window of opportunity. You can become a nice player, but not a pro.
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Do you think it's comparable to how it becomes harder to learn a foreign language as you get older?

JC
 
If they started at say around 16, I would say they most likely played their best in their 30's to early 40's. There are exceptions, but to say age is just a number is just bs. Check out the average age of the top 5 for the last 20 years. Can anyone name one player in history that started at around 40, and ever played top speed? Does anyone think any well known player 50 or older plays better now than they did before?
 
37 of course, we know all living humans perform the same like machines. So there you go 37 years of age male or female american, Philipino, German and all other nationalities. This also includes Efren as he is actually a human and he has only been getting coasting since 37. Don't get me start on Earl, what a luck box if he didn't have those as$ weights he would be dogging it like he should be he is so past 37.

Heart and desire have nothing to do with it. Ignore natural talent and work ethic.

Next question please.
 
exoldschoolpro said:
If they started at say around 16, I would say they most likely played their best in their 30's to early 40's. There are exceptions, but to say age is just a number is just bs. Check out the average age of the top 5 for the last 20 years. Can anyone name one player in history that started at around 40, and ever played top speed? Does anyone think any well known player 50 or older plays better now than they did before?
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I think Mike Lebron started pretty late he played the game at a pretty high level.
 
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