I was wondering what age typically would be reasonable for a kid to learn the game. I sure it depends on the person but I would like to know by average. I didn't start learning until I was about 21 years old. I'm 28 now and for a couple years now I'm ranked 3A in my local arenas. I picked the game up very fast but I was very dedicated. I would like to teach my son how to play. He is only 9 months old right now so I have a while. I'm not even sure if he would like the game or be as dedicated as I am. I know some people just doesn't have what it takes to do well at the game. But I imagine if I started at a very early age I wonder how good or experienced I would be.
Earliest age to start learning
- Thread starter wseyller
- Start date
wseyller said:
I think the more you expose your yougn' to art, sciences, sports, et cetera, you will soon learn what may come natural to him.
As far as pool, many accomplished players that I have spoken to state they began playing pool as a child and took a liking to it. I remember reading that Allen Hopkins' dad got him into competing, and Young Hoppy liked it, so much so that he went on to become a world champion player.
Keith McCready learned how to play pool from his dad and two older brothers. They had a bumper table in their basement, and Keith would spend hours and hours there. He really liked it. His two older brothers and him would play for their allowance monies, and then there came a day when they couldn't beat Keith anymore. Keith's father enjoyed gambling, and there's more to that story which I won't go into.
I took piano lessons as a child which I think contributed to me being able to type 150-plus words per minute today.
JAM
wseyller said:
As a parent, I urge you to PLEASE refrain from projecting your dreams or unfulfilled goals on your child. I'm not, by any means, suggesting that this is what you are doing, but I'm just uttering this word of caution. The best thing you can do is to take him with you to appropriate billiard environments from time to time, and if he shows an interest, help and support him. I've found that pushing kids in one direction so often leads to them trying their best to go in the other. Aside from the basic values and principles that are essential to civilized and decent human society, it is important to let our children choose their own path!
I don't pretend to be a child expert but I will share my personal experience. My Uncle started the kids playing pool on his snooker table at the age of 6 or 7, by the time we (all the cousins) were 13 to 15 we were a force to be reckoned with at any pool game. I gave up the game for more than 20 years and after I started playing again everything he taught me came rushing back. It took a few months to hone those skills again and it was like I never stopped playing. You have to make it fun for the kids with very little pressure, get the basics down and they will last a lifetime.
Just my 2 cents.
BK
Just my 2 cents.
BK
VIProfessor said:
I do agree with you. I would never try to push it on him. If he likes pool that much then fine then I will teach him what I can. If not then that is fine. There are a few very good golfers in the family too. Maybe he would be more into that then pool. It is just one option that he can benefit from myself if he wants to persue that route.
My family back in Florida just got the table installed, and my 8 year old son was hanging around realkingcobra he whole time, under his feet, and was immediately hitting balls as soon as the table was up.
He has always seemed to like the game. He could make a closed bridge with onw of my spare shafts at 1 year old. We used to give him golf balls to hit around the coffee table at that age, and he enjoyed it immensely.
He used to watch Accu-Stats videos with me too, and he would copy the stance of the players.
Imagine the sight of a one year old with a closed bridge and a stance very low over the shaft, hitting golf balls on the coffee table with a look of concentration..
He loves competition of all sorts, so I'm sure we'll be taking him to youth tournaments within the next year or two..
Russ
He has always seemed to like the game. He could make a closed bridge with onw of my spare shafts at 1 year old. We used to give him golf balls to hit around the coffee table at that age, and he enjoyed it immensely.
He used to watch Accu-Stats videos with me too, and he would copy the stance of the players.
Imagine the sight of a one year old with a closed bridge and a stance very low over the shaft, hitting golf balls on the coffee table with a look of concentration..
He loves competition of all sorts, so I'm sure we'll be taking him to youth tournaments within the next year or two..
Russ
I've been seeing one kid in the poolroom I hang out at coming in with his dad to play. I got to talking with them a bit and found out the kid is about 11 years old.
Personally, I started hitting balls when I was around 7 or so. Never really got into it until I was about 14-15 and my dad took me to a poolhall and I got myself hooked after that.
Personally, I started hitting balls when I was around 7 or so. Never really got into it until I was about 14-15 and my dad took me to a poolhall and I got myself hooked after that.
I've always had a table in my home. In fact I'm still kicking myself for selling an old House of Lords table I had. My son showed an interest when he watched us play at the house at age 5. I let him play at that age, but only rolling the cue ball with his hand. I think that taught him how the balls reacted as they were hit, and the angles they came off the rails.
At age 7 he had his own stick and played occasionally. Sometimes alone for half an hour or so. At age 9 he was pocketing balls that were spaced 4' apart and 4' from the pocket diagonally across the table like they were 1' no brainers. It was laughable at times. My buddies and I would watch him fire these shots in like no one ever told him that was hard to do, and no one ever did.
15 yrs ago we opened a poolroom (that we since sold) He was age 15 then and shot a solid B to B+ speed although it was still very occasional. He had found women shortly after and found that more interesting.
Now, he has moved out on his own, and on rare occasions when we have company who wants to shoot pool, and he happens to be visiting at the same time, he will pick up a stick. He still shoots quite well and can move the cue ball with plenty of touch. He just never really got serious with the game for any length of time.
We do have a nice photo of him at age 14 with Jim Rempe and a very special card that Steve Mizerak wrote best wishes "the Miz" on.
At age 7 he had his own stick and played occasionally. Sometimes alone for half an hour or so. At age 9 he was pocketing balls that were spaced 4' apart and 4' from the pocket diagonally across the table like they were 1' no brainers. It was laughable at times. My buddies and I would watch him fire these shots in like no one ever told him that was hard to do, and no one ever did.
15 yrs ago we opened a poolroom (that we since sold) He was age 15 then and shot a solid B to B+ speed although it was still very occasional. He had found women shortly after and found that more interesting.
Now, he has moved out on his own, and on rare occasions when we have company who wants to shoot pool, and he happens to be visiting at the same time, he will pick up a stick. He still shoots quite well and can move the cue ball with plenty of touch. He just never really got serious with the game for any length of time.
We do have a nice photo of him at age 14 with Jim Rempe and a very special card that Steve Mizerak wrote best wishes "the Miz" on.
My daughter and I play all the time. She just turned 7 and seems to really enjoy knocking the balls around. I started her off just shooting the balls straight in the pockets without using the cue ball so she would make the shots far more often and get more enjoyment out of playing. We also play 8-ball this way with me playing regular and her shooting them straight in so she has a better chance at winning.
I was 4 or 5 and my summer school had a pool tournament at the end of the year. Hooked ever since. Found out later that both my parents were quite the college pool players (especially my mom) and they taught me whatever they knew. I started wooping my dad at 11 and my mom at 12-13ish. Beat my dad for the first time with a full table gentle masse shot on the 8 that I will never forget
Encouragement is great but never force it
Encouragement is great but never force it
Give him the choice...
At about five give him an introduction into the pool world. Just enough to what you think he can understand.
Now from Five on, Give him a choice to go to the pool hall. The feeling is in the choice.
I never had a choice, I was just brought and stayed for hours on end.
It's the sights and sounds that cought me.
At age seven my dad took a Duffrin house cue to a local cue maker and cut it down to fit my specs..
At age ten my dad told me that I have the choice to continue playing pool or not. He said If I continued playing pool my life would change FOREVER!
He told me about Heartbreak, lonelyness and things that scared me to death.
I've been playing ever since and Loving Every Second!!
**I'll tell you this, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be normal.
To go Hangout with people your own age. Movies, Dates and Parties.
I hear people at school talk about great times at parties. Been invited to many parties, Movies and Even on a date but.....I love pool, I can't go more than Days without it.
-Vinnie
wseyller said:
At about five give him an introduction into the pool world. Just enough to what you think he can understand.
Now from Five on, Give him a choice to go to the pool hall. The feeling is in the choice.
I never had a choice, I was just brought and stayed for hours on end.
It's the sights and sounds that cought me.
At age seven my dad took a Duffrin house cue to a local cue maker and cut it down to fit my specs..
At age ten my dad told me that I have the choice to continue playing pool or not. He said If I continued playing pool my life would change FOREVER!
He told me about Heartbreak, lonelyness and things that scared me to death.
I've been playing ever since and Loving Every Second!!
**I'll tell you this, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be normal.
To go Hangout with people your own age. Movies, Dates and Parties.
I hear people at school talk about great times at parties. Been invited to many parties, Movies and Even on a date but.....I love pool, I can't go more than Days without it.
-Vinnie
never too young
My uncle started me at 9 and at 58 I am still learning
I will say this I have a engineering degree because of my early start in pool ! When I was exposed to physics and geometry it was all so simple because of my understanding pool.
wseyller said:
My uncle started me at 9 and at 58 I am still learning
I will say this I have a engineering degree because of my early start in pool ! When I was exposed to physics and geometry it was all so simple because of my understanding pool.It's never too early
Your child will lead the way, just let them decide.
I speak from experience from owning a room and having 7 kids. Only one followed a pool path but maybe his circumstances caused it. At 2 he broke his leg in an accident and was in a body cast, so I would take him to the pool room and put him on the table since it was an activity he could participate in for the next 6 weeks. Well needless to say he fell in love with the game. The other 6 although all into sports never took it as seriously and they were all exposed.
Now we have a 3 year old that started with his Dad about a year ago and he has become quite good at stroke and power since his beginning. I just wish I knew how to film and post on you tube. I am amazed at his proficiency considering his size. Oh by the way it is ironic that he is half Phillipino, so maybe it is just an inbred natural talent. But I cannot explain his Dad is white. lol
Your child will lead the way, just let them decide.
I speak from experience from owning a room and having 7 kids. Only one followed a pool path but maybe his circumstances caused it. At 2 he broke his leg in an accident and was in a body cast, so I would take him to the pool room and put him on the table since it was an activity he could participate in for the next 6 weeks. Well needless to say he fell in love with the game. The other 6 although all into sports never took it as seriously and they were all exposed.
Now we have a 3 year old that started with his Dad about a year ago and he has become quite good at stroke and power since his beginning. I just wish I knew how to film and post on you tube. I am amazed at his proficiency considering his size. Oh by the way it is ironic that he is half Phillipino, so maybe it is just an inbred natural talent. But I cannot explain his Dad is white. lol
when the owner of our local hall brought in his twin boys (they were like 1 or 2) he would let them sit on the table and roll balls into pockets. They were entranced by this and could do it for quite a while without getting bored. People were surprised to see they had the coordination to not just roll the balls in the right general area but to pocket them pretty consistently.
They are now 12 or 13 and both play plenty of pool and are becoming scary little shooters. They fearlessly drop 7 foot cuts and can use follow and draw at will.
Just bring your kid into the pool hall and the fascinating roll of the balls will pretty much take care of the rest. My dad brought me into the pool hall exactly one time and I've probably played 2 out of 3 days for 10 years since then.
They are now 12 or 13 and both play plenty of pool and are becoming scary little shooters. They fearlessly drop 7 foot cuts and can use follow and draw at will.
Just bring your kid into the pool hall and the fascinating roll of the balls will pretty much take care of the rest. My dad brought me into the pool hall exactly one time and I've probably played 2 out of 3 days for 10 years since then.
Started playing when I was 10. Really got hooked when I was around 15. Played 10 - 12 hours a day 7 days a week for the next 10 years (I am not kidding). During that time I remember a couple of young guns learning to play at the local hall, George Breedlove and Brian Groce, both were very young.
Kids
I know that when I have kids I am just going to let them decide if they want to learn or not. If you push them, you could turn them off all together.
Just let them decide if they like the sport or not. You can instill the basics, but if they don't have a desire to learn more then don't worry about it.
Odds are they will want to learn just to be able to spend time with dad!
I know that when I have kids I am just going to let them decide if they want to learn or not. If you push them, you could turn them off all together.
Just let them decide if they like the sport or not. You can instill the basics, but if they don't have a desire to learn more then don't worry about it.
Odds are they will want to learn just to be able to spend time with dad!
TAP TAP TAPVIProfessor said:
As a parent of two 16 year old boys and a 5 month old boy I can say I learned alot of lessons w/ my first two and THE MOST IMPORTANT is to support all interest and not project your wants or desires on them.
Wish I Knew then what I know now.
Best of luck w/ your son & I hope he develops some common interests w/ you.
My kids were exposed to pool (table at home, and cues for their size) when they were 2, 3 and 5 years old (even participated in trick shots). They enjoyed playing and still do but it didn't become their passion (like it was for me when I started around 10). I think you can start as earlier as he has an interest but that doesn't mean he will be as passionate about it as you are - but it will be a good father and son thing - just like fishing or golf.wseyller said: