This is a fact:
You cannot teach an old dog new tricks---But I've never seen an old dog that didn't like a young trick.
You cannot teach an old dog new tricks---But I've never seen an old dog that didn't like a young trick.
Can old dogs learn new tricks?
- Thread starter CaptainJR
- Start date
TATE said:
You have it right. You have what is called "fire in the gut"!! And I am glad I still want to beat everyone I play!!
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
Here's a different angle on this question. After laying off playing for over 20 years, family-job etc., I started playing a year or so again. When I was in my 20's I wouldn't have stood still for a "lesson" if one could be found, let alone read a book or watch a video, if they would have had them. I wanted to play for money every minute, chase p***y, have fun, hopefully all in the same night. Now, unfortunately, most of that is behind me, especially the chasing part. I know that now I can learn and improve faster because I am smarter, and have learned how to study things I need to know, without the youthful distractions. In all, I am a much better student of the game now, than I was in my 20's, although I have not yet began to play near as well. But I will, and it won't take long cause the clock is ticking faster now and I know it.
blah blah
Shoebat
i don't think it's age that affects learning and improving- i think it's getting set in our ways and refusing to change or open our minds to new possibilities.
ever been in a conversation with someone and they're rushing to express their judgement of the story and its characters before you've even gotten to the point? they're set in their ways and their minds are made up.
ever tried to show a new shot or tell a new perspective to someone and they're already jumping up and down saying "but that's not the right way" before you've finished the thought? they're set in their ways and their minds are made up.
that's when you can't learn anything anymore- when you're stuck to your own security zone and won't open your mind up and try new things. you start saying the words "can't," "won't," and "wrong" a lot. this can happen at even twenty. or it can just never happen.
ever been in a conversation with someone and they're rushing to express their judgement of the story and its characters before you've even gotten to the point? they're set in their ways and their minds are made up.
ever tried to show a new shot or tell a new perspective to someone and they're already jumping up and down saying "but that's not the right way" before you've finished the thought? they're set in their ways and their minds are made up.
that's when you can't learn anything anymore- when you're stuck to your own security zone and won't open your mind up and try new things. you start saying the words "can't," "won't," and "wrong" a lot. this can happen at even twenty. or it can just never happen.
TATE said:
Well that's about it Chris. At age 30 I could give my present self 80 to 125 at 14-1 and three games in a race to ten, 9 ball. The desire as you said has plenty to do with my play. I played strong once but not likely to happen again simply because it's not worth it. A new pair of eyes might perk me up though.
Rod
Ok, here is a different angle. What is to old to rationally consider becoming a pro. I have been playing for about a year and three months and am a A player here in Dallas. I play on average about 10-18 hours everyday, seven days a week and work with alot of champions and road players, but everyone tells me it's a pipe dream. I dont believe them, but then again maybe i am just naive.
I've found that there's something common among ALL A or A+ players, but that I mean semi-pro or pros.
They've all immersed themselves in pool at one point in time in their lives for at least 5 solid years of playing 5-6 days per week, at least 8 hours per day. Some did it with more time, others with less - but that's basically what it comes down to.
To do that, your life must be pool. End of story. You cannot possibly sustain a real career, or a decent relationship (unless the female can deal with that arrangement) or anything else. The exception to this are those folks who grew up around it. Like those whose parents owned a billiards hall and they were hitting balls at 3 years old...
To play that much pool, that many hours, for that long -- requires that you NEVER get bored of pool. IF you get bored after 2hrs - you will never be a serious pool player. There's no such thing as a virtuoso violinist who only practiced 1 hour every other day. Doesn't exist.
There are those with more talent than others, and as a result they had to work harder to get to where they are - but even the most naturally gifted in pool had to put some SERIOUS time on the table to get where they are. Nothing is free - nothing.
The only thing that stops a true pool player from playing is exhaustion, hunger, lack of competition (no one to play, and even then, some of them shoot racks of straight pool or 9-ball), need for sleep, pool hall closing time...
Just think about it for a second. Look at some of these bets that have been made between good pool players. They play set after set to see who can get 3 ahead or whatever the bet is. That's endurance pool playing hours and hours all day, sometimes over the course of days.
Real pool players never lose the novelty of the game. Shooting balls and pocketing them over and over never gets old. Also, they are all competitors. You can't get good unless you want to beat everyone you play. They are attracted to competition - they like pressure. Most pool players seek out and religiously play in weekly tournaments.
These guys want to win - they play to win. They have everything an amateur does , the love for the game, the beauty of it etc..but they also have a love for competition, a love for challenges, they don't get bored, and they want to win. They are also more determined and are willing to work harder on their games. I can play pool with friends simply because it is fun - and win or lose - it makes no difference because I was entertained. That doesn't exist for real pool players. There's no such thing as pool without the serious desire to win all the time. Do you ever see a top player play "for fun" with a D player for hours?
To become an A or A+ player, you must have a huge shift in mindset and heart when it comes to pool.
They've all immersed themselves in pool at one point in time in their lives for at least 5 solid years of playing 5-6 days per week, at least 8 hours per day. Some did it with more time, others with less - but that's basically what it comes down to.
To do that, your life must be pool. End of story. You cannot possibly sustain a real career, or a decent relationship (unless the female can deal with that arrangement) or anything else. The exception to this are those folks who grew up around it. Like those whose parents owned a billiards hall and they were hitting balls at 3 years old...
To play that much pool, that many hours, for that long -- requires that you NEVER get bored of pool. IF you get bored after 2hrs - you will never be a serious pool player. There's no such thing as a virtuoso violinist who only practiced 1 hour every other day. Doesn't exist.
There are those with more talent than others, and as a result they had to work harder to get to where they are - but even the most naturally gifted in pool had to put some SERIOUS time on the table to get where they are. Nothing is free - nothing.
The only thing that stops a true pool player from playing is exhaustion, hunger, lack of competition (no one to play, and even then, some of them shoot racks of straight pool or 9-ball), need for sleep, pool hall closing time...
Just think about it for a second. Look at some of these bets that have been made between good pool players. They play set after set to see who can get 3 ahead or whatever the bet is. That's endurance pool playing hours and hours all day, sometimes over the course of days.
Real pool players never lose the novelty of the game. Shooting balls and pocketing them over and over never gets old. Also, they are all competitors. You can't get good unless you want to beat everyone you play. They are attracted to competition - they like pressure. Most pool players seek out and religiously play in weekly tournaments.
These guys want to win - they play to win. They have everything an amateur does , the love for the game, the beauty of it etc..but they also have a love for competition, a love for challenges, they don't get bored, and they want to win. They are also more determined and are willing to work harder on their games. I can play pool with friends simply because it is fun - and win or lose - it makes no difference because I was entertained. That doesn't exist for real pool players. There's no such thing as pool without the serious desire to win all the time. Do you ever see a top player play "for fun" with a D player for hours?
To become an A or A+ player, you must have a huge shift in mindset and heart when it comes to pool.
Thank you all for the great responses. I guess by now you had forgotten about this thread or thought I had and maybe wondered if I was ever going to respond again. I have been taking quick glances at the responses here and there but I had been on vacation and very busy. So I'm sorry I'm a little late getting back about this.
I looks like the common opinion is what I was hoping for. I'm not to old yet. 54, did I mention that. Don't think I did. "YET" being the key word there. There were some replies that do admit that somewhere around 60 is probably the limit for most people. Yes there are probably exceptions, but I'm probably not one of the exceptions. So I have 6 years left. I should be able to do some damage in 6 years!
Maverik, thanks for the compliment. Exercise? Exercise should have been a four letter word all along. LOL
Chefjeff came right to the point didn't he. How can I expect to improve if I don't spend enough time on my game. I have a family. I have a job. I have my piano. That being said I wonder if I shouldn't be darn happy that my game hasn't disappeared. I don't think I could ever get my mind to just be satisfied at where I am though. Maybe when I'm 65 if I make it that long.
Now for the new question. What do you think it would take? Right now (9' table hours) I play 3 to 5 hours on Thursday and Saturday. Some practice before and then a tournament on Sunday. Most other days during the week I'll go down to my basement and spend at least some time on my 7' table.
Taking for granted that I have at least a better than average natural ability. (Piano, 6 handicap in golf) So I am fairly coordinated and tend to do this kind of thing fairly well.
At best, the most I could even shoot for would be to add an hour a day at the pool hall. On the days that I usually don't go, add an hour, maybe hour and a half after work. That would be real solid practice time, nobody is there to play then. Then add a little more time to the days I play already.
It just doesn't sound like enough to me and this is the most I could expect to do regardless of how much I'd like to do more. If I was a beginner that would be enough to improve, but I'm not. I think this extra time would probably help some but expecting any kind of big level jump over the next year would be asking a lot with so little effort compaired to the amount of time some people mention in this thread.
Just typing out loud here at this point. When sitting here talking about it I feel that I want to just be satisfied that I do play fairly well and should enjoy that and enjoy the game and the competition. But when I'm playing I get so upset when I realize that I'm failing on things that I know how to do, have done and just can't get consistent with.
I looks like the common opinion is what I was hoping for. I'm not to old yet. 54, did I mention that. Don't think I did. "YET" being the key word there. There were some replies that do admit that somewhere around 60 is probably the limit for most people. Yes there are probably exceptions, but I'm probably not one of the exceptions. So I have 6 years left. I should be able to do some damage in 6 years!
Maverik, thanks for the compliment. Exercise? Exercise should have been a four letter word all along. LOL
Chefjeff came right to the point didn't he. How can I expect to improve if I don't spend enough time on my game. I have a family. I have a job. I have my piano. That being said I wonder if I shouldn't be darn happy that my game hasn't disappeared. I don't think I could ever get my mind to just be satisfied at where I am though. Maybe when I'm 65 if I make it that long.
Now for the new question. What do you think it would take? Right now (9' table hours) I play 3 to 5 hours on Thursday and Saturday. Some practice before and then a tournament on Sunday. Most other days during the week I'll go down to my basement and spend at least some time on my 7' table.
Taking for granted that I have at least a better than average natural ability. (Piano, 6 handicap in golf) So I am fairly coordinated and tend to do this kind of thing fairly well.
At best, the most I could even shoot for would be to add an hour a day at the pool hall. On the days that I usually don't go, add an hour, maybe hour and a half after work. That would be real solid practice time, nobody is there to play then. Then add a little more time to the days I play already.
It just doesn't sound like enough to me and this is the most I could expect to do regardless of how much I'd like to do more. If I was a beginner that would be enough to improve, but I'm not. I think this extra time would probably help some but expecting any kind of big level jump over the next year would be asking a lot with so little effort compaired to the amount of time some people mention in this thread.
Just typing out loud here at this point. When sitting here talking about it I feel that I want to just be satisfied that I do play fairly well and should enjoy that and enjoy the game and the competition. But when I'm playing I get so upset when I realize that I'm failing on things that I know how to do, have done and just can't get consistent with.
identify weak areas
I routinely shoot like crap in practice, even worse than when I am trying to play. The reason is that I pick the shots I normally try to duck in a game.
What I'm trying to say is that time isn't the primary issue. Two hours twice a week of practice in the right areas is likely to bring better results than many times that many hours of just general practice. With or without video or an instructor, identify weak areas that you can reasonably expect to improve on and focus on them one by one. Prioritize them as shots or techniques you need most often or the ones that will let you build off of them to help other problem areas.
Hu
I routinely shoot like crap in practice, even worse than when I am trying to play. The reason is that I pick the shots I normally try to duck in a game.
What I'm trying to say is that time isn't the primary issue. Two hours twice a week of practice in the right areas is likely to bring better results than many times that many hours of just general practice. With or without video or an instructor, identify weak areas that you can reasonably expect to improve on and focus on them one by one. Prioritize them as shots or techniques you need most often or the ones that will let you build off of them to help other problem areas.
Hu
CaptainJR said:
CaptainJR said:
Reaching your top level is more difficult than maintaining it. Top players can get back in stroke quickly after a layoff, but getting there is what's difficult. From what you've said, I doubt that you have the time to get there.
Assuming you are a lower level "A" player or an upper "B" player, if you really want to get to your peak level on a 9' table, I would say you probably need to spend 2 hours a day on a tight pocketed , 9' table practicing (as focused as possible, with an objective), playing the ghost, shooting for high runs in straight pool, doing drills (yawn) looking for break and runs in 9 ball. Then you have to play competitively at least once a week, preferably more, in 3 to 4 hour or longer sessions. You might also save time by having a qualified instructor look at your routine and your stroke, and give you some drills.
Most likely your game will sharpen immensely in small increments. Sometimes it jumps by leaps and bounds depending on how much room for improvement you have left.
I would give it some time. After doing this for a year or two, you will know if you can play at the top level. How you can rate your speed is to take on the best players in your area, preferably pro caliber players, and see if you can stay with them. Once you can stay with them, you'll know you're in their league and will gain a lot of confidence. Then you can get on the table with anyone and feel like you have some kind of chance.
Chris
PS. The 7' table might be hurting your 9' table game. Maybe it's time for that addition to your house.
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As long as you have steady hands and strong mind I don't age has a whole lot to do with it.
Most people who end up becoming pros started playing when they were kids and teenagers. But I don't think that means that you learn better at that age. It is due to the fact that kids don't have commitments or responsibilities outside of school, and we all know that is only as time consuming as we let it become
.
Anyone who decides to devote most of their free time to the game can improve and become a great player.
Most people who end up becoming pros started playing when they were kids and teenagers. But I don't think that means that you learn better at that age. It is due to the fact that kids don't have commitments or responsibilities outside of school, and we all know that is only as time consuming as we let it become
. Anyone who decides to devote most of their free time to the game can improve and become a great player.
I jump into the phone booth at my pool hall dial up a few numbers. It feels like you are gone for hours but once you get back out its only a couple of minutes. As long as you called the right people you playing skill should be up in little time.
Bill and Ted gave me this advice and it totally worked for me. Best of luck to you. Good luck figuring out what to say to yourself.
Bill and Ted gave me this advice and it totally worked for me. Best of luck to you. Good luck figuring out what to say to yourself.
