Frustration

(((Satori))) · Jul 30, 2015

Just helping him with his frustration.

It is an excuse though. A wife and kids dont stop others from putting in the time to follow their dreams, dreams of all kinds. It really is like I said. If playing elite pool was really important to him then he would commit. If its not important enough to find a way to do it then simply dont sweat it.

M.G. · Jul 30, 2015

I really like this state of mind. Also you need to be clear about your goal. Being a good player is an 8hr/day job.

I've only been playing 7 months, but own 2 nice cues and both of them were instrumental to my advance. I try out little things (cues, tips, chalk, ...) and have fun, even failing while trying (Predator chalk was a big fail for me or recently discovering how unnerving squirt is).

When I get frustrated I play a little Carambolage with a friend who's an instructor. Achievement is even instantanious every time - hitting 2 balls being the only goal which can be achieved in various ways. Driving imagination and just trying without the pressure of the pocket.
The concentration and exact enactment needed clears my mind of all the work and ailments and baggage we carry around all the time.

You might try this game sometime - 5 ball carom:
http://www.saluc.com/html/billiard/index.php?idlien=47

There is so much more than putting balls into pockets. You shall try it.
No fun, no advance, just dumb chores.

Cheer,
M

MDSPHOTO · Jul 30, 2015

Nope. I have too many hobbies to ever devote the time needed to be an expert at any of them. I liken it to sex, you don't have to be good at it to have fun and that's how I approach each of my hobbies including pool.

SilverCue · Jul 30, 2015

I believe I achieved the highest skill I was capable of achieving before I quit back in 1997 do to work.
I was a regular rack runner even on my worst days,

Now that I'm old, retired and crippled, I'm having fun trying to become the best at our local senior center. I think I'm on track to get there this year.

I had a great day on Monday.
From 10:30 to 12:30, I won about 1/2 my games.
From 12:30 to 3:00, I only lost 3 games against one of the top 4.
The last game, I called the last 6 balls before I started and never got out of line.

I just hope I can find that stroke next time I get a chance to play.

philly · Jul 30, 2015

The ones that become truly great have the passion to find the time no matter what. That is why they call it passion. The greats were incredibly motivated to play and practice as they were coming up and they put everything else on the back burner as they say. Without passion you will improve but with passion you will improve greatly. I know it is difficult to find the time with family obligations and especially young kids and work but if you really want something you'll have to find the time to practice and compete. There really is no other answer to my way of thinking.

Spimp13 · Jul 30, 2015

To the OP, I used to be this way but then I realized I would just rather enjoy the game while taking care of life/family. I had several of my friends tell me I need to focus on the game as I could be really good, but I don't have the time/will to become the robot needed to do that. I have much more fun screwing around (while trying sometimes). It hurts my game not giving full effort and training, but the joy of just playing the game makes it worth it.

WillyCornbread · Jul 30, 2015

I have passion, time and a new table in my basement. I'm practicing daily and have an instructor lesson lined up soon.

My frustration lies in wondering if it's simply too late. I'm over 40, and my mind is constantly trying to figure out nature vs. nurture. I suspect it's a young mans game at the top of the ranks - I'm not aware of any pro players at all that started taking it seriously this late in life.

I try to keep my goal to simply learning something new and being better today than I was yesterday, and the voice in my head is always telling me to relax, just goof off, it's too late anyway.

b

Aaron_S · Jul 30, 2015

I feel I could be a great player if I could put the time into it, but that doesn't frustrate me. When I think about the time and effort it would require, the question I can't get past is "to what end?" Even if I reached a world class level, there's no way I could justify giving up my current career to chase what little money there is out there. One glance at the 2014 money list:

http://www.azbilliards.com/people/azb-money-leaderboard/2014/all/

should be more than enough to convince anyone not to pursue this game as a career.

Plus, I figure once I started treating it like a job, the fun I currently have with the game would go away. No, I'm very happy having pool as just a hobby, and, as ElCorazon mentioned, a release.

Aaron

philly · Jul 30, 2015

I played when I was young, 14 years old to 20, and was a pretty good player. I stopped playing when I went to college.Got out of school, worked, raised a family. After 40 years off I am back in the game a year and a half and playing better than ever. I am 63 and still working and live, eat, and breath the game. My goal is to never miss a shot. I know that is impossible but that is my goal. I love the game, the poolroom culture, and the fraternity we have as players of the game. A month ago I was playing so badly I actually thought I forgot how to play and now I am getting out from everywhere. Every time you work through the tough playing times or plateaus you break through better.

ElCorazonFrio · Jul 30, 2015

There are two times when I have an absolute need to get to the table as much as possible:

1. When I am playing really well--It is rewarding to go on a streak of playing your best for a sustained length of time, when everything is effortless and the mistakes are tiny...but you still see them, even if nobody else does.

2. When I am playing badly for an extended time. This isn't about working through a 'slump', it is about having played pool and evaluated my game for so long that I believe I am on the verge of a new breakthrough every time my game goes downhill. I think that when my game takes a sudden nose-dive, it is something subconscious that is changing and I get to figure out why, bring it to light and use it.

Ron Swanson · Jul 30, 2015

Virtually all of us underestimate how difficult it is to become a great player.

BasementDweller · Jul 30, 2015

I've felt this frustration. What's probably more frustrating for me is the realization that had I not given up on the game earlier on -- by now I would probably be a very good player. Oh well.

I do sort of agree with Satori though, if getting better at the game is really that important to you -- you should be able to find time to practice.

Most of us have more time than we like to admit. How many of us could carve out two hours a day to practice but we just don't because we really really really don't want to? How many of us have a table at home and we could even get out of bed an hour earlier to put in more practice but we don't?

Most people that are truly passionate about something find a way to make time for it. I'm as guilty as the next guy when it comes to complaining about a lack of time for pool but yet I hit the snooze button a few times in the morning. Our actions are a better indicator of what we are passionate about than are our words.

TATE · Jul 30, 2015

There are people like that in everything. Some actually try it, drop everything and become wannabe golf pros sleeping in their cars, bodybuilders hanging out at the gym all day, card players, tennis bums, actors and pool players.

They do this their whole lives and one day they are 50 with no future and living off hand-outs from their family and friends.

I would not discourage someone who shows great potential at a young age, like Johnny Archer, Earl and Shane. But would you be willing to do this on the off-chance you could be a champion? Most are not willing and honestly, most would not get to that level no matter how much they practice. It takes more, a lot more, than most of us would believe.

Icon of Sin · Jul 30, 2015

I have the ability to dedicate most of my free time to the game, even though I do not I still do put a good amount of time into it to where I will still be able to get better and continue progressing.

mantis99 · Jul 30, 2015

No, because like everything else, I have made choices in my life that prioritize things, and I simply have not chosen pool as that priority. I would love to be much better at pool and I really enjoy the game, but at this point in life I have a wife and kids that take up my time, and they are my priority. I don't know that I could be a "great player", but I could certainly be much better if I had 2-4 hours a day to practice.

It is hard to be frustrated when we make our own choices. I know there are limitations and responsibilities, but we choose what they are. Most people have the same limitations, so those that are able to rise to the top within that still make it. Many people overestimate how good they are, and wouldn't make it much farther if they had more time.

book collector · Jul 30, 2015

At some point in almost everyones career I would guess they felt that way,almost everybody I have ever talked to had that feeling.
It's like the smoking commercial , "What are you willing to give up"?

Frustration

(((Satori)))

AzB Silver Member

M.G.

AzB Silver Member

MDSPHOTO

AzB Silver Member

SilverCue

Sir Raksalot

philly

AzB Gold Member

Spimp13

O8 Specialist

WillyCornbread

Break and One

Aaron_S

AzB Silver Member

philly

AzB Gold Member

ElCorazonFrio

Banned

Ron Swanson

Banned

BasementDweller

AzB Silver Member

TATE

AzB Gold Mensch

Icon of Sin

I can't fold, I need gold. I re-up and reload...

mantis99

AzB Silver Member

book collector

AzB Silver Member