Have you ever considered to quit?

S

Slh

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi

we are here because we love pool and we enjoy play it. But when you take the game seriously you want to improve and become a better player.
Have you ever considered to quit? You have a feel which say you that you can't get better than this or even if you play more or train more you can't become a better player. I have this feeling ultimately and it is very disappointing because i love pool and i enjoy play it but i don't want to stay in this mediocre level of play forever.
 
I did quit playing competitively for about 3 years. It is tough to get back and even harder to get further than you were. I'm still trying to break through to another level, but I figured it is better to die trying than spend life wondering so i'll keep at it. I have thought about it a couple of times in the past year. Luckily i've had a wife to kick me in the balls and a friend to get me back on track anytime I start wondering off in the wrong direction.
 
I remember getting the 'urge' to quit quite a few times, especially after losing a match that was very important to me.

It was usually because I felt I let my game down by not playing to my full ability. I either did something stupid (usually the case) or just didn't trust my instincts and went the other way.

I learned to Accept what I did. (not judging myself or the shot)

I learned how to Trust what I was going to do. (this was a big factor in getting to the next level for me) Only Pull the trigger when you know you are ready.

I learned the importance of a Pre-shot routine. This routine helped me deal with distractions of all types.
 
I drifted off for several years. Then a Natl Champion moved to town. He showed me so much it made playing more fun.

Find a good instructor. They'll give you a bunch to work on and help you break through the wall.
 
Slh said:
Hi

we are here because we love pool and we enjoy play it. But when you take the game seriously you want to improve and become a better player.
Have you ever considered to quit? You have a feel which say you that you can't get better than this or even if you play more or train more you can't become a better player. I have this feeling ultimately and it is very disappointing because i love pool and i enjoy play it but i don't want to stay in this mediocre level of play forever.
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SLH,

Yes, I have considered it for about a split second, then I say to myself "F#$% this, I am figuring this shit out so that shit doesnt happen again" and I have trying for 20 plus years to figure it out and I still havent achieved the pro level, really not even close, but every day I learn something new and thats every day closer.

Let me give you some advice:

Two things that really bother me about your paragraph.
If you feel that "you can't", then "you won't".
If you settle for mediocre, then you will always be mediocre.

So in your case, I would change your mindset.

*You will get better because you can be a better player" is what you should be saying.

*Dont settle for mediocre, I forgot who quoted this but I think its pretty good, "The quickest way to kill the human spirit is to ask someone to do mediocre work". Your asking yourself to settle for mediocre, which is killing your spirit. Strive for success, no more of this mediocre BS.

Now after you change your mindset, go get some help with the game,,,video, lessons, books, something to excel your game to the next level. I would go and get lessons to be honest with you, it may just be one little gliche that solves everything and without getting a second opinion, then you will never find it.

Good luck, and quite being the racker,,,,you want to be the breaker.
 
Slh said:
Hi

we are here because we love pool and we enjoy play it. But when you take the game seriously you want to improve and become a better player.
Have you ever considered to quit? You have a feel which say you that you can't get better than this or even if you play more or train more you can't become a better player. I have this feeling ultimately and it is very disappointing because i love pool and i enjoy play it but i don't want to stay in this mediocre level of play forever.
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Yes I think about quitting from time to time and then I realized how do you quit something you hardly do? I play Friday nights and attempt to skip league on Thursdays wherever possible. Other than that if I make it out then I make it out, if not I really don't worry about it. I set some goals that were realistic and I have achieved them so its time for new goals.

Just have to figure out where pool fits in and you'll be better off for it. Ultimately I'd like to get two tables in my next house again, then I might go out to play twice a month. Fact is when I do play I like to gamble a little and the lack of games here usually just ends up frustrating me.
 
I quit playing pool for about 3 years when I got too busy to play. It wasn't hard at all, but I'm not as passionate about the game of pool as I am about golf. I get frustrated at times with golf but I could never imagine quitting. I understand what you're saying about not getting better, as I seem to be stalled at a certain level, probably because I only play once a week. I began taking lessions last spring and that helped a lot, and I have also recently learned quite a bit on this forum and am looking forward to putting that new knowledge to use on the cloth. If you really love the game I'm sure you'll stick with it and make some breakthroughs, especially if you seek some outside help. Good luck!
 
I quit before, I knew deep down inside that it wasnt permant-but I didnt know when I'd be back. Its been in my blood since I was 5 years old and I used to watch the bright colored balls roll around on the barbox at a resteraunt in San Deigo thats still there with 2 Bar Boxes.

The longest I went without hitting a ball was maybe 3 years I'm not sure. Soon as I got a house with enough room for a box, I put one in, went to SW begged Laurie to build me a cue fast, And played at home for 7 years-completely away from the pool scene, I never heard of Cory Deual or Alex I was so far removed, but I still played-at least every month for a 4 hour session sometimes more, alot more. Sometimes less. I didnt miss the "Scene" but The balls have awalys been there for me, they awalys will be-even if I cant play(due to back problems) I still love the feel of holding them or looking at a cue.

So I'm a lifer, there aint no getting away from pool, 100%. And I cant explaine why. Why did I love to watch the barbox when I was 5 years old and never touched a cue. I hate pool sometimes because i'm not the player I want to be, I wasnt born with any gift to play at the highest level. However I have hit shots good as any player in the world now and then and that feeling is amazing, I dont do it often but I am capable of hitting any shot at anytime good as anyone ever. I just have 100 bad shots between the good ones, where the champions make the great shots consistantly. But that one good shot feels so good-I'll fade the pain to get to the next great shot. Its in me and in me deep-I'll never quit. Its just not possible.


I saw a guy with no arms at the derby play on a barbox, and he played good-lots of people saw him. none of us have any excuse to be quitters if a man with no arms can play.

A pool player is what I am, For some people its all they are, thats not my case I am other things as well and was other things in the past but pool was first and will be last. Thats my story.
 
Slh said:
I have this feeling ultimately and it is very disappointing because i love pool and i enjoy play it but i don't want to stay in this mediocre level of play forever.
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All progress in human endeavors comes in fits and starts. That's just how it works--"smooth progress" is essentially unheard of.
 
quit

Slh said:
Hi

we are here because we love pool and we enjoy play it. But when you take the game seriously you want to improve and become a better player.
Have you ever considered to quit? You have a feel which say you that you can't get better than this or even if you play more or train more you can't become a better player. I have this feeling ultimately and it is very disappointing because i love pool and i enjoy play it but i don't want to stay in this mediocre level of play forever.
Click to expand...



choose 4 or 5 of your most difficult shots and shoot them every day and they will become your easiest shots. Then move on to the next ones.
 
I quit entirely when I was about 30 years old. That was in 1979 or 1980. I was a B level player and going nowhere. Life and work took over from there. This year, at age 60 I took it up again. I could kick myself for the 30 year break. But one thing that long hiatus has given me is a perspective that I wouldn't otherwise have if I stayed with it all those years.

My mind boggles at the tons of information now available about the sport, from video instruction and Youtube to the ability to watch really good players from near and far compete. Online streaming is the schnizzle for that kind of thing. Some 30 years ago, it was rare indeed to see high level players at work save for an occasional pro who might pass through looking for some action. Videos and the internet are helping to take away the mystery and mystique of the game which 30 years ago mostly just served to benefit a few really good players. Some 30 years ago, knowledge and techniques were traded amongst one or two guys at a time. And if someone you knew shot well, you'd generally have to pony up more than few dollars in bets to get at those techniques that made the other guy such a good shooter.

Of course, lots of guys these days still just take your money and you learn nothing from the experience except how to be a chump. But there's now a huge wealth of free information available (and even more stuff if you want pay for it) to help you improve your game against that same guy for the next time if there should be a next time.

Organized league play like that offered by APA and BCA that take a person out of the hermetically sealed world of their local pool room also are bigger and better organized now and those types of venues offer competitive play and players who are generally pretty helpful as long as you don't lack social skills (something sadly all too apparent among some pool players - some things never change) or make a complete douche of yourself.

That said, pool takes a LONG time to become proficient. Even then, there will always be plenty of people just flat out better. (I'm reminded that every person seems to think themselves competent automobile drivers. But just look at the accident statistics or just think about the boneheads you see every day driving around town.) Very few become very good at pool, and those that do have put beaucoup time and effort into improving their skills. Everybody hits plateaus and self-doubts often rule our thinking. All you can really do is try not to let the doubts destroy the pleasures of the game.
 
define "quit"

sometimes just the frustration of not improving at the rate you feel you should makes you want to quit .
Fine .
Great .
Do it .
Take the time off - you deserve it for all the hard work you put in .
Take a month . Take two .
Go fishin' .
Climb a mountain .
Jump out of a plane .
Go to your kid's Little League game .
Just relax .
Pool will BE THERE when you get back .
Muscle memory doesn't fade that fast .

When you first get back , don't think about it - just pocket some balls - don't use an aiming system , don't overthink them -you'll be better than you are now , I promise .:grin-square:
 
What?

I don't remember ever wanting to stop playing pool. It might be a good idea to take a break from pool for a week or two (maybe take up Ping-pong), but it's important to play the game to have fun and not stress out over it.
 
Been playing for 20 years and the longest I went without playing was a month and a half. I doubt I ever stop playing entirely.
 
I am pondering it as we speak. I rarely get a chance to practice, so when I do I am frustrated with my level of play.
 
easy-e said:
I am pondering it as we speak. I rarely get a chance to practice, so when I do I am frustrated with my level of play.
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That is me......

I have played well at times in the past. I have some victories and high finishes to my credit and had my name in some pool rags so I know I can play a little. I have never been a great player and I never will be. I sometimes go a month or two between playing so I am never in stroke and that is frustrating. When you know what it feels like to be confident and then lose it this game can really mess with you.

I will always enjoy playing and I will never completely quit but I feel like I cheat myself sometimes when I don't really give myself a chance to be better. Maybe one day I will have more time to commit to play but having a family and providing for them takes precedence over a game.
 
I've quit playing pool 178 times in the 20 years I've been playing, sometimes for hours, sometimes for days but, the love for the game always took me right back to my case. :grin: Ron
 
The first time I saw Johnny Archer play in person I wanted to quit, because that was the first time I'd ever seen anyone play where I thought to myself, "I'll never be that good."
 
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