Fat Men and Pool -- What's the deal?

9BallPaul

9BallPaul

Banned
Hanging out recently at a Denver pool hall and asked about a kid I had followed as a teenager, and later when he turned pro. Was told that he'd recently tipped in at 400-plus pounds. I looked up his picture on AZB, and apparently this is true.

Gleason, Fats, Fat Marty (Omaha Fats), Mizerak, the list seems endless. And I've got to admit, a fat man who can move well around a pool table acquires a certain grace that's nearly unatainable in any other sporting endeavor -- at least for the fat man.

Anyway, I've recently lost about 40 pounds since prowling the permiter of my home table. Seems to me my game's getting better, but I'm wondering, do I need to pack on the pounds to further improve?

Just to make sure this thread is PC, I should note that I can't think of a single fat woman who can play. Helena Thornfeld and Julie Kelly are as as chunky as anyone who comes to mind, and neither approaches obesity.
'
 
Last edited:
Quoting Homer Simpson at a pool table: "They don't call me 'Fats' just because I'm morbidly obese"
 
I can say that in my years of playing, obesity has only hurt my skills. I'm about 40 pounds over weight now and have a hard time shooting behind the back on special shots. One of the reasons I'm over weight is because of all of the shots and drinks I have won over the years. Now that I don't play anymore, I have no excuse! It's time to lose it and wish me luck on doing so!
 
9BallPaul said:
...Just to make sure this thread is PC, I should note that I can't think of a single fat woman who can play. Helena Thornfeld and Julie Kelly are as as chunky as anyone who comes to mind, and neither approaches obesity...
'
Click to expand...

I can probably come up with a couple but I think I'll pass. ;)
 
It must make alot of already tough shots even harder, sometimes you have to drape yourself over the table to make, say, a lefty shot, can't imagine doing that laying on a 40lb pillow. It's a sport like bowling, doesn't actually burn many calories and you spend alot of time around beer and nachos.
 
Short and fat =minus two balls. Tall and fat..well they better not play C. Bartum in a long ahead race. They would be dogs for sure. Johnnyt
 
9BallPaul...First of all, good for you losing 40 lbs.! :thumbup: You're a good role model, physically, for all of us. There are probably less than 20% of us (poolplayers), that couldn't benefit from losing 10 or 15 pounds...let alone 30, or even 50+! :eek: Anyone who knows me, knows that lately, I've fit into that last catagory, and what a struggle it is, to lose weight permanently.

One of my mentors, Jack White, was 6', and 260 lbs (a large man)...but he danced around the pool table, like it was effortless...and always dressed up! Overall, I'd say the obese players that play well easily, versus the obese players that play well, but struggle physically with endurance and overexertion, are far more rare. Being overweight certainly doesn't necessarily make it harder to learn to play well...but it certainly doesn't lend itself to making it any easier either! In the end, it's all about the stroke!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Last edited:
When you play a fat guy and you don't have a shot, just make sure to leave them a shot where they are "Belly Hooked"


:D
 
But all the fat ppl that I know play's really well I was thanking maybe I need to put on about 100lb
 
I have always thought that the fat guys have a lot less body movement when stroking . And they keep their head down as well ( a lot of weight to move for them constantly ). Add a nice stroke to that, and they leave the pool room with a lot more weight in their pockets.
 
Fat Men and Pool

At 55 years old I weigh 250 pounds (at 5 10 1/2 I should weigh no more than 190). I have made a bet with a fellow employee as who can loose the most weight by 12/31/09. We bet 50.00 a pound (net) with a cap at 500.00. So far in one month I have lost 10 pounds. Its not the money that motivates me its that I don't want to lose.

I played in a Regional APA Masters Tournament a two weekends ago and the team I am on won a spot to Las Vegas again (3 years in a row). After the 4th round (about 6 hours) I began to fell a little tired and I knew it was because of not being in shape. To play the best you can you have to been in great shape both mentally and physically.

Thinking of all the best players today I can only think of a couple of fat people. Most all of the best players are in fact in very good physical condition. The Europeans, Phillipinos, Taiwanese, and Chinese are are in great shape. Most of the Americans are also in very good shape.

The bottom line is you need endurance to play at the highest level in todays game and therefore need to be in shape.
 
dognit26 said:
I have always thought that the fat guys have a lot less body movement when stroking . And they keep their head down as well ( a lot of weight to move for them constantly ). Add a nice stroke to that, and they leave the pool room with a lot more weight in their pockets.
Click to expand...

Add another nice stroke and they leave the pool room on a gurney and spend the rest of their lives drooling.
 
One other thing

It's worth pointing out that Babe Ruth would probably be considered fat by today's standards. And it's questionable whether Ruth could have competed in today's game without winnowing his body.

All the fatties seem to be in the past. Are there any left?
 
There are some big guys around who play very well.

Paul...how close to Colorado Springs are you??

If you are close enough, we need to match up when I go visit my in laws.

Russ......
 
poolhustler said:
There are some big guys around who play very well.

Paul...how close to Colorado Springs are you??

If you are close enough, we need to match up when I go visit my in laws.

Russ......
Click to expand...

Russ -- I'm in downtown Golden. Look me up by PM, would love to play some on my home table.
 
9BallPaul said:
It's worth pointing out that Babe Ruth would probably be considered fat by today's standards. And it's questionable whether Ruth could have competed in today's game without winnowing his body.

All the fatties seem to be in the past. Are there any left?
Click to expand...


Prince Fielder is "listed" at 5'11" 268....I think the height may have an inch added, and the weight may be generous (lower than actuality) as well. :eek: I doubt the Babe was his size! Fielder outweighs Big Papi (David Ortiz - also large) by quite a bit, even though Ortiz is 6'4"!!! :p
P Fielder.jpg

Big fellars can still be VERY athletic - take the NFL....try outrunning some of those guys who are 3 bills plus!!

I'm 6'1" and a buck 85 to 90ish, and I "look" to most at the poolhall as SKINNY. I had one guy actually use that word once, so I asked him to guess what I weighed; he guessed 160-170....lol. He was easily 260. I dunno if added weight would hurt your game, but it may not be too good for LONG ahead sets.....
 
Last edited:
I am a big guy, and I don't play well. Not because of the weight lol. I'm 5'8 240lbs (Was 250lbs before I started training) By the end of the year, I have to loose 60+lbs for a wedding in december. Right now, I just got a personal trainer at my gym (Gold's Gym) and in a week and one day of training. I got on the scale and I have already dropped 12lbs. That is of course with hardcore dieting and not your usualy stroll around the gym. Its worst than bootcamp. But I am loving it and enjoying it. Running and walking for 45min five days a week. Lifting weights 4 days a week and shoot pool everyday for around 4 hours a day. Dieting right, no more than 1800 calories a day. One small cheat meal a week. 12 pounds, POW!!!! Easy but hard work. It pays off.

I don't know if being fat has anything to do with being a good player, but I know many bigger size guys want to find activity to at very minimum move around. What better than a sport that is graceful at its peak? Let's shoot some!

Some say you revolve around beer, liquor and nachos. I don't drink, so no liquor, if I drink pop, I drink diet, and I even cut that down. So mine revolve around a protien bar and a big bottle of water. lol

Happy shooting! :)

Chino
 
Big gets in the way trust me :mad: :rolleyes:

Years ago in Dothan Al I played for 39 hours straight. It was about 12 years ago and I was only about 26. Now At 38 and bigger I dont have that kind of endurance at all.
I know its now or never. Hopefully by this time next year things will be different. I wish anyone that needs to lose some weight all the best in the world doing it. It just isnt easy.

I do believe that dropping weight would help by pool game. There are a few guys that I have spoken to in the pool world that have done so and there comments have always been interesting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top