Blockers/Excuses that keeps You from becoming a Champion!

I too am Old, Beat up, Banged up, Hurting, Arthritis, Bursitis, and many days feeling like S**T.

But I think the one thing that holds me back from being one hell of a lot better player consistently is what I call the 110% RULE.

That being putting 110% of my Knowledge of the Game, how to Make a Shot, and Effort, and Concentration into every shot I take at a Ball.

I find when I give 110% I am one Hell of a Better Player, Make more Shots, and Play sometime to the point I amaze myself.
 
No excuses here. I believe I have the knowledge and ability to make any shot on the table any time. My only problem is I have never put in the amount of time needed to become a pro. Mortgage, two car payments, a wife, three cats, and a dog that all like to eat, a utility company that expects money every month to keep the house warm, and a job that requires me to give them 40 hours a week to get that paycheck to pay all the bills. Most of the time I have in a pool room is devoted to giving lessons. I get one, maybe two nights a week to play, and maybe 3 hours a week of honest practice time if all goes well...1 or 2 hours if it doesn't.
I accept the fact that at 53 years old, I probably won't ever be a pro, so I accept that fact, strive to be the best instructor I can be and maybe help someone else reach that level. Meanwhile, I work to improve my game, and have fun when I get the chance to just play.
Steve
 
Location, Location, Location! (and time...)

I have read about pros who trained in a large city and who had access to a billiard room with many top players to play against daily for hours on end.

I would imagine that I could get to be quite good if everyone kept beating me every game every day. After awhile, I would say enough of this! And I think everyone does this... "I want to beat THAT player just once!" and we set our minds to it and do it. Then do it again.

But I like living out in the middle of nowhere. Not too many big shots around here....
 
BAZARUS said:
I know everyone have them, but most of us maybe shy to talk about it. Here is your chance.
Me?
I had a back injury and I can't practice more than hour a day right now. Also I run my own, small buisness that takes lots of time.
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How dare you! I get plenty of opportunity to use my excuses. I know a lot of them but not an infinite number so if you think I'm going to waste them here you've very wrong!:p
 
I don't practice enough.

I don't play enough good players for money.

I don't want to do the above...maybe if I was 19, I'd take a shot, but not now.

I decided to simply enjoy what each shot gives me and reflect on my improvements wherever I can make them. This integrates very well into my overall happiness, my main goal.

Jeff Livingston
 
I was born blessed with a lot of natural ability at pool, none of my friends growing up could beat me, then came the Army and 2 years of no playing pool.
Then came marriage, family, one night a week out to the bar to play a little for years until a divorce. I never really practiced, just played anybody.
Then got a part time job at a pool room for 4 years, playing every day and back in total stroke. Then I buy the pool room and my game goes to hell. because of constant interuptions, telephone ringing, put me on the table, I need a soda, take me of the table, I need a new tip, etc. Game goes to hell for good, don`t care if I pick up a stick, don`t like to even watch pool any more. Ready to retire if I can only make it 5 more years,
THEN BACK TO SERIOUS POOL AGAIN.
 
Children, model trains and women, in that order. Although, if you ask me another day, I'll say pool gets in the way of my model train and women chasing time. Nothing gets in the way of my time with my children. lol, it doesn't hurt that they like it when I take them to the pool hall.:D :rolleyes:
 
I am committed to my wife, daughter and the child I have on the way. I have a 40+ hour a week job and I am working on my PHD. I have a healthy social life with friends who are not interested in pool at all. I will be getting another job in May which will demand more time.

Currently I am studying the game and I am able to practice about 5 hours a week. I play not to become a champion but to simply improve. I have adopted pool as a mental discipline not as a potential job. Even if I sacrificed everything I loved for pool it would not pay enough.

Pool is a part of my life, not life itself and that's why I will never be a champion.
 
When I first started playing around 2 years ago my girlfriend held me back (she hated the fact that I started playing). Now that she's out of the picture I have no one but myself to blame. I've come to conclusion that the better I get the more I realize just how much I suck at pool.

Oh yeah... my career and mortgage also get in the way. :D
 
My only excuse is money. It is the root of all evil in my pool game. I practice 5-8 hrs a day most days but i don't have the finances to get out and play tournaments, gamble, or see my coach as often as I'd like.

My wife does complain about my desire to be a professional pool player but only because she thinks it would take me away from her for weeks on end.

I guess both of these things have combined to stagnate my game at a high B low A level.

Oh well I got my lottery ticket for the week, here's hoping

Bern
 
I have the skills to be a champion but the one thing that kept me from becoming one was a .......................................JOB...................... Now most champions have never seen or heard of that before.
 
etimmons said:
I have the skills to be a champion but the one thing that kept me from becoming one was a .......................................JOB...................... Now most champions have never seen or heard of that before.
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BINGO -> most of the champions started to play in their chilhood.
Like Allison Fisher for example started to play as 12 and when she was 17 she won her first snooker title, so why would she go look for a job.
For most of us that got bugged with the game in their mid 20's or so with jobs and fammilys lined up its really hard to accomplish.
 
etimmons said:
I have the skills to be a champion but the one thing that kept me from becoming one was a .......................................JOB...................... Now most champions have never seen or heard of that before.
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ET,
After a match, Buddy Hall was asked by a young boy if he had ever had a "real job." Buddy thought for a moment and responded, "Well, I've been offered jobs before, but I've learned to just say no."

Grady Mathews says there is no secret to becoming a great player, "just get a divorce, quit your job, and learn to live on no money."
 
Big Bad Bern said:
My only excuse is money.(snip)
Oh well I got my lottery ticket for the week, here's hoping

Bern
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Someone in our little ol' neighborhood just won $115 million on Powerball...gee I hope it is someone I know that likes me. ;)

Jeff Livingston
 
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