D player upwards
Here's my little journey (9-ball), I figured for a normal joe (has a job, wife, kids, responsabilities etc...) who loves the game and practices and competes regularly it would take about 10-12 years to get to high B or good A (here A level play could rival short stop) pro rated players are a ball above this level.
From nothing to D player: These would be formative time where the only thing that should matter is the fondamentals (now and forever). Advice was given to you earlier about getting a coach/teacher, if you do have the extra cash and want to jumpstart your game to C status relatively quickly do it, it will also send you towards the B level. So D to C take 1-3 years. You will tink like a C but perform like a D for most of the time after year 1 and it will take time to bring your C game to competition at the same rate as your knowledge of the game. Practice 2-3 hours 4+ times week, compete at least once a week and play 1 or 2 times weeks.
Going from C to B will be the hardest and longest test, another 3-4 years. Now you see a teacher once every 2 or 3 months, you read books and buy teaching DVD's, you're all over the internet for whatever bit of info you can find. You whatch the pros on TV. You understand the game, you have aquired A+ level theoretical knowledge but your game in competition is still ranging between D+ and B- at first and then mor like C+ to B you're catching up to the overwhelming knowledge from your studies. Some concepts take a lot of time to sink in.
From B to B+ or A- maybe another 3-4 years. Here it depends on how you practice. Is it all quality and concentration all the time (2 hours of this should be drainning). You spend more time competing in tournaments (no more league) you also play for some money 9the amount should be just enough for you to be uncomfortable). You're ability to excel in the finer points of the games is what seperates you from the top players. Pin point cue ball control, dead safties, comming out of safties, controlled break, you understand your percentages in 90%+ of the situations you face and you make the right decisions etc...
The next three years for me are all about the finer points of the game, i hope to reach my goal by year 12 ( now am approaching year 9).
Here's my little journey (9-ball), I figured for a normal joe (has a job, wife, kids, responsabilities etc...) who loves the game and practices and competes regularly it would take about 10-12 years to get to high B or good A (here A level play could rival short stop) pro rated players are a ball above this level.
From nothing to D player: These would be formative time where the only thing that should matter is the fondamentals (now and forever). Advice was given to you earlier about getting a coach/teacher, if you do have the extra cash and want to jumpstart your game to C status relatively quickly do it, it will also send you towards the B level. So D to C take 1-3 years. You will tink like a C but perform like a D for most of the time after year 1 and it will take time to bring your C game to competition at the same rate as your knowledge of the game. Practice 2-3 hours 4+ times week, compete at least once a week and play 1 or 2 times weeks.
Going from C to B will be the hardest and longest test, another 3-4 years. Now you see a teacher once every 2 or 3 months, you read books and buy teaching DVD's, you're all over the internet for whatever bit of info you can find. You whatch the pros on TV. You understand the game, you have aquired A+ level theoretical knowledge but your game in competition is still ranging between D+ and B- at first and then mor like C+ to B you're catching up to the overwhelming knowledge from your studies. Some concepts take a lot of time to sink in.
From B to B+ or A- maybe another 3-4 years. Here it depends on how you practice. Is it all quality and concentration all the time (2 hours of this should be drainning). You spend more time competing in tournaments (no more league) you also play for some money 9the amount should be just enough for you to be uncomfortable). You're ability to excel in the finer points of the games is what seperates you from the top players. Pin point cue ball control, dead safties, comming out of safties, controlled break, you understand your percentages in 90%+ of the situations you face and you make the right decisions etc...
The next three years for me are all about the finer points of the game, i hope to reach my goal by year 12 ( now am approaching year 9).
