Same thing with Tennis. I think today's women could compete with the top men from the 60s and 70s. It's a entirely different game now.Look around. Today's player, IN ALL SPORTS/GAMES, is better. Training, equipment, video feedback, diet, etc all have led to what we see today. I never thought i'd see pro golfers ROUTINELY hit tee-balls that CARRY 350yds but they now do it. These top players from Europe start getting top instruction and tough competition at a very early age. And its ALL on 9ft tables. American players in general are so far behind it makes me wonder if US pool will ever catch up. BTW, i fully believe that the greats would have been great in any era. They would have had access to whatever equip. was used at that time. Earl, Buddy, Sigel, Wimpy, Efren, Willie, etc. would all have been monsters in any era.
Look after your back, everyone. Eyesight can be helped with surgery, glasses, etc. Focus can be helped with a little mindfulness practice, meditation, etc. I regularly have to stop playing for a week or more when my back is bad, and the solutions are often complex, varied, and not permanent.
I agree with the sentiment, but this is just not so. As John McEnroe said last year, Serena Williams couldn't beat a #400 man on the courts...Same thing with Tennis. I think today's women could compete with the top men from the 60s and 70s. It's a entirely different game now.
Look around. Today's player, IN ALL SPORTS/GAMES, is better. Training, equipment, video feedback, diet, etc all have led to what we see today. I never thought i'd see pro golfers ROUTINELY hit tee-balls that CARRY 350yds but they now do it. These top players from Europe start getting top instruction and tough competition at a very early age. And its ALL on 9ft tables. American players in general are so far behind it makes me wonder if US pool will ever catch up. BTW, i fully believe that the greats would have been great in any era. They would have had access to whatever equip. was used at that time. Earl, Buddy, Sigel, Wimpy, Efren, Willie, etc. would all have been monsters in any era.
The internet has been the gamechanger (no pun intended) for competitive endeavors. It's easier than ever to get the info and knowledge you need to succeed. Then it's a matter of practicing and competing. For pool in particular, there's no excuse for grinding away for years with poor mechanics and holes in your understanding of ball physics. All of that can be gleaned in a matter of months for the dedicated newcomers.Look around. Today's player, IN ALL SPORTS/GAMES, is better. Training, equipment, video feedback, diet, etc all have led to what we see today. I never thought i'd see pro golfers ROUTINELY hit tee-balls that CARRY 350yds but they now do it. These top players from Europe start getting top instruction and tough competition at a very early age. And its ALL on 9ft tables. American players in general are so far behind it makes me wonder if US pool will ever catch up. BTW, i fully believe that the greats would have been great in any era. They would have had access to whatever equip. was used at that time. Earl, Buddy, Sigel, Wimpy, Efren, Willie, etc. would all have been monsters in any era.
And Bait and Tackle shops, this is a true story.Greatest stories hanging around in a pool hall are only surpassed by those heard hanging
around in a truck stop.
McEnroe was comparing Serena to today's men. Not the men that played in the 60s and 70s. I'm tellen' ya, if Serena played (with her modern racket) on the men's tour in the 60's, she would be ranked #1.I agree with the sentiment, but this is just not so. As John McEnroe said last year, Serena Williams couldn't beat a #400 man on the courts...
He was just making conversation. She hits it pretty hard as far as women's tennis goes but the #400 male player would SMOKE her. Probably wouldn't be close. Men's serves AND ground-strokes are hit WAY harder than what she can come with.I agree with the sentiment, but this is just not so. As John McEnroe said last year, Serena Williams couldn't beat a #400 man on the courts...
She wouldn't have beaten Laver in his prime. With any racket.McEnroe was comparing Serena to today's men. Not the men that played in the 60s and 70s. I'm tellen' ya, if Serena played (with her modern racket) on the men's tour in the 60's, she would be ranked #1.
That's so hard to believe it has to be true!And Bait and Tackle shops, this is a true story.
I once fought a sunnie for 6 hours. As I was lifting her out of the water a Seagull grabbed her and flew off.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, an Osprey swoops in and steals the sunnie from the Seagull, it was amazing, unbelievable I tell you.
Now you're not going to believe this. An Eagle, the size of a car, hits the Osprey at 100 MPH.
The sunnie falls out of the sky and lands in my white bucket.
Uber and Lyft provide an income for some the of the guys you mention.I find it interesting, the players who are now 35-50 years old ,with FR ratings say 700-750 and made a career of playing pool, no other income. How the heck do they live?
They have been playing their entire life and barely win local tourneys, if at all.
In a large event it's a rare occasion they have a decent finish, they never win anything.
And never in a stacked field with players from around the world.
One or two of them travel overseas for world championship and big events. They are in over their heads and are out in the first round, second round if they got lucky.
I'm amazed at some players determination. I understand the love and passion for a game.
How long can you sleep on someones couch and wear the same clothes for 25-30 years?
Teaching lessons to kids and winning a handicap league is lunch money.
Over the last few years players like Woodward, Thorpe, Gorst, Filler, Shaw, too many to mention, and young players from around the world finishing high in events are blowing by these mid tier players, whipping their butt day in and day out.
When following your dreams becomes a nightmare, hopefully you wake up in time.
The Parade has passed by and took the floats with it.
That's sort of what I was getting at too. Some may think it's unfair to name names here, but two guys I can't help but wonder about are Brandon Shuff and Hunter Lombardo. They have 735 and 736 FR'ings. I know Hunter does some instruction and whatnot, but I have no idea how they could possibly make a living at this game. If they find a way, more power to them. We could go up the list from there and still wonder how players make it all the way up to 780 or even higher. Professional pool has been in trouble in the U.S. for quite some time, now with an accurate measuring stick of performance, it may only get worse as more players get wake up calls.. The numbers don't lie when it comes to measuring performance.I find it interesting, the players who are now 35-50 years old ,with FR ratings say 700-750 and made a career of playing pool, no other income. How the heck do they live?
They have been playing their entire life and barely win local tourneys, if at all.
In a large event it's a rare occasion they have a decent finish, they never win anything.
And never in a stacked field with players from around the world.
One or two of them travel overseas for world championship and big events. They are in over their heads and are out in the first round, second round if they got lucky.
I'm amazed at some players determination. I understand the love and passion for a game.
How long can you sleep on someones couch and wear the same clothes for 25-30 years?
Teaching lessons to kids and winning a handicap league is lunch money.
Over the last few years players like Woodward, Thorpe, Gorst, Filler, Shaw, too many to mention, and young players from around the world finishing high in events are blowing by these mid tier players, whipping their butt day in and day out.
When following your dreams becomes a nightmare, hopefully you wake up in time.
The Parade has passed by and took the floats with it.
That is the problem with making a living off of pool.So... you want to make a living at pool?
There are rules, you know?
1. Always play someone you know you can beat.
2. Practice, alone, if necessary, until you can beat someone.
3. Playing better players, only rewards them in their approach to the game.
4. Don't dilly/dally in the same place too long. Pick up a few bucks, here and there, and move along.
5. Etc, etc, etc....