Do You have a Talent?

BAZARUS

BAZARUS

alien in a strange land
Silver Member
I always hear about many top players that they have a talent. Do they really?
My point here is how much talent do they have versus work they have done to get where they are? Wheather some players may have more talent than others I believe that pool is one of those sports that you gotta work for many years before you get anywhere. On my example, I have been playing since 1992 with 3 years break and I really didn't get anywhere. I'm a A+ player and I have won bunch of small tournaments, but not much than that. Haven't won any big money gambling either.
I'm going to throw here a few examples of talent vs work:

1- Stephen Hendry - playing for about 20-25 years, practicing 6 hours a day
2- Earl Strickland - playing for about 25-30 years, practicing 2 hours a day
3- Mika Immonen - playing for about 10-15 years, practicing 6-8 hours a day
4- Ralf Souquet - playing for about 20-25 years, practicing a lot
5- Luc Salvas - playing for about 35-40 years
6- Efren Reyes - playing for about 35-40 years
7- Thorsten Hoffman - playing for about 10-15 years
8- Alison Fisher - playing for about 25-30 years,
 
Not sure where your coming from here.

Are you saying that 5-8 on your list don't practice? So they have more talent?

Or are you saying that if you have a talent AND put in the practice then you will win more???

I thought that was obvious.

I'm still trying to work out your post, I'll need to come back to this one. :confused:

BS
 
If I haven't heard of you, you're not an A+ player. Sorry to break the news to you. (You may be on your little 8-ball league, though). Keep dreaming.
 
Roll-Off said:
If I haven't heard of you, you're not an A+ player. Sorry to break the news to you. (You may be on your little 8-ball league, though). Keep dreaming.
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What do you define as an A+ player ??
 
Aw c'mon. Give the guy a chance. Efren's an A+++ player, at least. Maybe the standards are a little lower in Greenville. :D
 
Roll-Off said:
If I haven't heard of you, you're not an A+ player. Sorry to break the news to you. (You may be on your little 8-ball league, though). Keep dreaming.
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I don't even know you but I'll bet he can give you the 8 for as much as you'll bet, mouth!
 
Rude Dog said:
I don't even know you but I'll bet he can give you the 8 for as much as you'll bet, mouth!
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No way! I beat Tony Mougey regularly. You know who he is...don't you Rude Dog. :D
 
Rude Dog said:
I don't even know you but I'll bet he can give you the 8 for as much as you'll bet, mouth!
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Hey Dog

Thanx for having my back :D
I didn't wanted for this thread to be about myself :cool:
 
Mario Lemieux is one of the greatest hockey players ever he's known for never practicing (and warming up with a smoke) a different game but some people just have it and some have to work for it.
 
I think it's pretty obvious that in order to reach the highest levels you must have 'natural ability' and you must practice like crazy. Myself, i could practice 20 hours a day and im not getting to the B+ level. I was playing 5 years every day and kids came into the poolroom who never played at all but within a year they were better than me. I know how much they practiced because i was there every day. It isnt all about practice and no you can't always do "anything you want to if you just put your mind to it" Mama wasn't always right. I found the same thing to be true in golf-numerous examples over the years.

Buddy Hall says that he ran his first nine ball rack within 30 days of picking up a cue. Earl says says his experience was "similar". These guys became super champions because they had the raw ability. Who knows- is it a brain formation thing, an eye thing, a memory thing?-Whatever it is they had it and it is only they who can become super-champions- the cream of the crop- through practice and dedication. One without the other and isn't gonna happen.
 
I think this is a very interesting question, and one of the best threads here.

I do think sometimes that I don't have the talent for the game when I practice but don't improve.
Then I sat down and thought about all the other players I've played and that there wasn't a snigle one who could play decent and hadn't spent lots of time on the table.

It reminds me of a recent event, I would go to a pool hall for about a year, playing and practicing. I did reach a level where I could beat most of the players there (which isn't any kind of achievement since most were casual players) but I had noticed a bunch of 6-7 guys (and one gal) who were definitely above my level. I could play them and beat them sometimes, but they were clearly better players. So I went for a long time thinking that they have some talent, since I spent more time at that pool hall than them and I couldn't play at their level.

After a while I started playing at another pool hall, since it was offering very cheap practice table time. What did I see? The same 6-7 players playing there from dawn till dusk, and this is no exaggeration.

I know that one example doesn't prove anything, but when I think about every player I know, every single one plays in accordance with the time they've put in.

Of course it does matter what you do with that time, too. And if you have proper fundamentals.
 
Boy ...

pinkisntwell said:
I think this is a very interesting question, and one of the best threads here.

I do think sometimes that I don't have the talent for the game when I practice but don't improve.
Then I sat down and thought about all the other players I've played and that there wasn't a snigle one who could play decent and hadn't spent lots of time on the table.

It reminds me of a recent event, I would go to a pool hall for about a year, playing and practicing. I did reach a level where I could beat most of the players there (which isn't any kind of achievement since most were casual players) but I had noticed a bunch of 6-7 guys (and one gal) who were definitely above my level. I could play them and beat them sometimes, but they were clearly better players. So I went for a long time thinking that they have some talent, since I spent more time at that pool hall than them and I couldn't play at their level.

After a while I started playing at another pool hall, since it was offering very cheap practice table time. What did I see? The same 6-7 players playing there from dawn till dusk, and this is no exaggeration.

I know that one example doesn't prove anything, but when I think about every player I know, every single one plays in accordance with the time they've put in.

Of course it does matter what you do with that time, too. And if you have proper fundamentals.
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A Girl was better than you!!! Boy, that tells me a lot .... lol just kidding ...
 
I think this is a good thread to talk about.

I see it alot in the pool hall on a daily basis, you get some young kid who doesnt know squat about pool, but has the POOL BUG, cuz his friends dragged him along, and he starts to practice and play in some small tournaments and after a month or so, he is playing on the same level as C and B players, who have been playing for yrs.

Now i will give a good example. I have played pool basically all my life, but didnt really know what the hell i was doing untill about a year or so ago when i started to play serious and get into tournaments and practice alot. And in turn my level of progress jumped very fast. And i began being able to beat guys who had been playing for several years. Not guys who are world beaters, but guys who in the beginning would consistently beat me pretty badly.

Also a friend of mine who started to play more seriously and practice alot more and do tournaments too, along with leagues. He had the same thing. He has made monsterous leaps in skill levels. I think after his first full yr of playing APA 9ball he is between S/L 7&8. And his main weapon in league is his break, being able to make 2 or 3 balls. Even though its on 7ft tables. Plus he plays very consistently too.

But yes the challenge of Talent Vs Practice is a big discussion that can go on for a long time. Mainly because you either see or know people who practice alot yet get barely see any improvement, or they use that practice to get to the skill level they have achieved. Or you have the people who just for some reason know how to shoot and shoot well, and it just comes naturally.

dave
 
Roll-Off said:
If I haven't heard of you, you're not an A+ player. Sorry to break the news to you. (You may be on your little 8-ball league, though). Keep dreaming.
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You dumbass. Efren is a top pro. Below that is pro, then shortstop, then A+, A, A-, and so on. Bazarus is a strong player, people on this board know him.
 
I know with me , the more I practice the worse I play. If I'm gambling, or in a tournament I can keep it at a high level as long as needed. When I'm practicing, I've got maybe an hour of 100% concentration, then boredom kicks in, I start banging balls around and I start looking around for someone to play. Granted, when I have something I want to work on I'll stay focused for as long as I need to until it's burned into the memory banks (like learning diamond systems).

Case in point, I just started back playing after a 3 year layoff from moving down here to Florida. The first day I went to the pool room I easily played at 80% of my normal speed, ran a couple of 30's/40's and felt pretty good. By the 3rd practice session I ran somewhere in the low 70's, which is a good run for me. Then I practiced too much over the next few weeks and messed it all up a little. I start exerimenting with different strokes, find silly meaningless things that are wrong, but really are'nt. Anyway, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones or not. Maybe it comes from growing up with a table in the basement?....Later.Gerry
 
LastTwo said:
You dumbass. Efren is a top pro. Below that is pro, then shortstop, then A+, A, A-, and so on. Bazarus is a strong player, people on this board know him.
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Where did you dig that rating scale up, cheesedick? You must be another dumb "wanna-be" wasting your life aways missing by 1 1/2 diamonds. Don't forget to patch that pocket, league-boy. Shortstop above A+? :rolleyes:
 
Roll-Off said:
Where did you dig that rating scale up, cheesedick? You must be another dumb "wanna-be" wasting your life aways missing by 1 1/2 diamonds. Don't forget to patch that pocket, league-boy. Shortstop above A+? :rolleyes:
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So are you saying the statuses top pro, touring pro, and shortstop don't exist, and that Efren is just an A+??? Newsflash, dipshit! An A+ is widely known as a strong player who isn't at the shortstop level. A shortstop is widely known as a very strong player who isn't at the pro level. Then you have a pro, who plays world class pool but is not one of the top players. Then you have the top pros that are the elite few, which is a class in which Efren sits on a throne. Learn some pool terminology, you clueless ball banger.
 
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