How late of an age can you start pool and ascend to short-stop or pro level?

Da Bank

Da Bank

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'd like to hear some of the later ages in life that the better players have started and how quickly they became factors in the game of pool.

I would say that the grand majority of really good players started playing before they were driving, and playing well.
 
I heard that John Schmidt didn't start playing good until his 20's when he began taking it more seriously. I don't know of many greats that started late, but I hope to change that.
 
It takes as long as it takes. There is no reason someone couldn't take up pool later in life, and with the proper training and practice routines, reach most any level.
We are only limited by the restrictions we place on ourselves.

Steve
 
I didn't start until I was 18...

And though I don't play all that great now, about 15 years ago I would have considered myself a reasonable shortstop...

I would have been in my mid-20's then...
 
Jenn Barretta started around 1999 or 2000. Had her first pro event in 2002 and became a WPBA pro in 2003.
 
I started playing at 13 and slowly progressed and ran my first 100 at 16 and was a pretty fair 30 ball runner and by the 80's had made it to shortstop level and that was it. This game is not that hard and i think a lot of people that start later in life can be pretty good if they have better players to watch and teach them. I credit playing a lot of pool with Neptune Joe Frady from Jersey to my stepping up from pretty good to shortstop level.
 
the good thing about pool is that it can be played by much older people than other sports. So like steve said, it comes down to the restrictions we put on ourselves.

Mike lebron won the us open at like 50 or so, so if you start at 30 years old youve got 20 years to play and practice and still be competitive, 20 years should be enough time for just about anyone to reach shortstop speed. Maybe not US open speed but shortstop speed for sure.
 
ive been playing pool for 2 months and in 6 months i will be at world class level, and i'll be 35 by then.
but ive had a 1000 centuries at snooker and 10 maximums so a lot different i suppose but depends on ur talent and the 5 d's i gave john morra before he went to america

dedication
drive
discipline
determination
and desire
 
John started playing around age 17 and took it more serious a little later. I started when I was 20, and farted around for a long time. I think the main factor here, is if you are a good learner. The advantage kids have over adults at learning anything, is learning how to win. With that, I think it takes 10 years to peak in sports, jobs, etc,.
 
don't know about pool

Da Bank said:
I'd like to hear some of the later ages in life that the better players have started and how quickly they became factors in the game of pool.

I would say that the grand majority of really good players started playing before they were driving, and playing well.
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There is little question in my mind that we learn anything the fastest in our teen years, if we genuinely want to learn it. I started playing pool when I was fifteen so I can't answer that age question here. However I never seriously picked up a pistol until I was about forty. I'd say to shoot well in competition that shooting a pistol is as tough as shooting pool. I set a local record in less than two years that shooters including Masters and Grand Masters had been chasing for fifteen years. I had achieved Master ranking at that time.

I have started several other activities later in life and I definitely don't learn and absorb things as easily as when I was a teen. Our bodies and eyes don't perform as well either so I will say that we need to compare our performance to other players our age that have shot pool all of their lives. Depending on the amount of effort put into it I would guess two to five years to reach very close to maximum potential. I'd also say that it is possible for a person that had the ability as a younger person to still reach into the top 2-5% of players their age.

I have been taken to school by a man that makes Grady look like a young pup. Age alone is only as large a barrier as people let it be in pool.

Hu
 
I don't think you must necessarily take the game up young to be really really good, but I also don't think it is simply a matter of practice and good instruction to reach pro level or even short-stop speed. The difference between an "A" player and a good SS is huge and the jump from there to pro level is light years.

So while I don't think you have to start young to get there, I do believe that, as in golf, there is a certain amount of God given talent involved.
So while people improve at different paces, I would think if you don't show some pretty good speed in the first few years at the tables you probably won't get there.

I've accepted my fate, and I started young. ;)
 
Starting out playing pool later in life

Terry Bell told me he was 21yrs when he first picked up a cue, and he played Pro Level for awhile.


David Harcrow
 
I took up pool seriously at age 18, and after three years of OBSESSION, I was a Shortstop. By obsession, I mean literally playing pool every waking hour all day and all night. I probably averaged 10-12 hours a day on the table back then. I played quite a few sessions that lasted 16-24 hours (yes for money). Those are the ones that really accelerated my learning curve.

I don't see any reason why someone couldn't start even in their 30's and become a good player. All it takes is that kind of dedication, and the wherewithal to survive a few years with no job or income. I don't think there is a shortcut though, other than some good instruction early on and being a keen observer of good players. Those two things may speed up the process by six months to a year.
 
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All things being equal, I don't think it matters how late you start. Problem is, things just aren't equal. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is the mental side of pool. The young ones are full of pipe dreams about how great they are going to be, and just don't have any real idea of just what is involved in it. So, they are free to attain what level they are capable of.

The older guys, while even having the talent to become very good, have the opposite mental attitude. Once they have reached 30-40 years old, they have a pretty good idea of what it takes to make it in this world, and just what they are willing to sacrifice to attain their goals. I think that one would have to have an inordinate amount of natural talent and lack of brains to decide at that age to take up pool for a living. And, to really be competitive today, with so many shortstops out there, you better be a higher level shortstop minimum to make it.

To attain that level, you really have to have the dedication. To have that dedication, you have to have a goal. And, at that age, I just don't know just what goal could inspire one to do what it takes. Fame? Not really there. Money? Not really there either. So, the biggest drawback is incentive. Age - wise, one could do it. Mental wise, I doubt it, but possible with the rare exception.
 
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Cuebuddy said:
Thanks for the great post Jay and thanks for the pic in your avatar I have been a little curious, great looking family.;)
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I met Bunny in the Philippines three years ago, and we have been together every time I go over there (seven times now). Jalo was born on June 11. She is six weeks old today.
 
jay helfert said:
I met Bunny in the Philippines three years ago, and we have been together every time I go over there (seven times now). Jalo was born on June 11. She is six weeks old today.
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Thats way cool June 11 is my Bday also ( and yes you guys forgot ):p;)
 
lee brett said:
ive been playing pool for 2 months and in 6 months i will be at world class level, and i'll be 35 by then.
but ive had a 1000 centuries at snooker and 10 maximums so a lot different i suppose but depends on ur talent and the 5 d's i gave john morra before he went to america

dedication
drive
discipline
determination
and desire
Click to expand...

I thought the 5 d's were
dodge
duck
dip
dive and dodge,,,:confused:
 
poolhound said:
I thought the 5 d's were
dodge
duck
dip
dive and dodge,,,:confused:
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lol

dodgeball.jpg
 
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