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

[JoeW]

I think some of the comments about how old one can be to turn pro rings a little hollow.

They have the "Senior" touraments for the older guys (in pool and other sports) because the older guys have the desire but have lost the edge. If older guys still had their prior level of ability we would see these people who compete in senior tournaments playing in the open touraments and they would be winning. They have more years of experience. Pool technique and the equipment have not changed much, excepting that equipment is better now.

It would be interesting to see the average age and the range of ages for those who place in the top ten for some of the major tournaments. I think the age range would be somewhere in the area of 30 - 45 with an average age somewhat younger perhaps 35 or so. There are probably a few younger and older guys among such a group but not many -- they go play on the senior tour.

 

[gpeezy]

Seeing how some pick up a cue and are soon running out within the next year or so. I would say the talent and determination would be the deciding factor rather than age. Unless vision or other alements are considered.(not to say everyone older can't see and are ill...)

 

[lee brett]

i going to give people the most valuable advice ever,because most believe natural ability has little to do with being a pro at pool or any other sport.

i got a news flash for that guy the guys on pga tour practiced as much as
jack,tiger,and phil at golf ,they just dont have it between the ears or physically or both.their awesome but those other 3 have more natural talent.
also the pro poolplayers practiced as much as archer but 99 percent of the propoolplayers cant win like him.
its called natural ability.

everybody knows that one guy growing up who was great at every sport he played.thats called natural ability .

qouted from john schmidt.

all these quotes refer to natural talent, its number 1 key factor.

ive had students i coach at snooker asking do you think i can make it, and i have to let them down gently as to say the best have a god given talent and are natural, when i say in 3 months i had a 69 break and in 6 months 100+ break at snooker they then realise very few have natural talent and its what determines how far in any sport you will go, so pool world watch out im now coming to get you having changed sports and getting dedicated playing 8 hours a day beware lee brett is here

 

[john schmidt]

hi

i know your awesome at snooker. with all your experience at snooker why not stick with that ,more money.

 

[ShootingArts]

talent

in 3 months i had a 69 break and in 6 months 100+ break at snooker they then realise very few have natural talent and its what determines how far in any sport you will go, so pool world watch out im now coming to get you having changed sports and getting dedicated playing 8 hours a day beware lee brett is here

Lee,

I consider you one of the good guys and there is no question that you can swing a cue stick. I'm still going to put you on the spot a little bit!

I think you are in your mid-thirties now. So tell me, had you not picked up a cue stick until now, would your natural talent have evaporated and would you be cursed to be a banger for life?

Hu

 

[Scott Lee]

Another fine post Blackjack! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Now, to the question about how late of an age can you start and ascend to pro level status.

Everybody is different. Some people are sponges. They learn quickly. Some people have A LOT of natural ability, but surround themselves with the wrong people.

It's a combination of a lot of factors - and the best way i can describe it - is to ask John this question -

If you only had your natural ability, and you never met Bobby Hunter - and his influence was erased from all areas of your game and your life - would you have gotten as far as you have?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not pretending that I know the answer to that question - I just believe that our influences, as well as the people we allow into our world - has a great effect on who you become as a player and a person. I believe it also shapes your development more than people give it credit for. I Would just be interested in your take on that angle, John, because I think that is what a lot of people don't take into consideration.

Jennifer has eclipsed everybody's expectations because she is a great competitor - a warrior - and she always strives to get better at whatever she does. That can't be taught. It's one of those X factors. You either have it or you don't.

 

[Scott Lee]

JoeW...I'm guessing that you have never been to a Senior Tour event. Otherwise you wouldn't make that statement. Those guys can PLAY. Guys like Squirrel, Eddie Taylor, Vern Elliot, Luther Lassiter, and a ton of others, were still playing championship pool (for the cash), well into their 60's.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I think some of the comments about how old one can be to turn pro rings a little hollow.

They have the "Senior" touraments for the older guys (in pool and other sports) because the older guys have the desire but have lost the edge.

 

[paksat]

You've been playing snooker all your life so it doesnt count. But i'd still say it'll be hard to be a pro in 6 months. Good luck though.

Yeh, i'm kinda chuckling about it because it seems every single post he has to boasts about his abilities.

Nothing personal.

 

[lee brett]

i know your awesome at snooker. with all your experience at snooker why not stick with that ,more money.

new game, new challenge, new start, money is not what im interested in, i love it over here and this is the game to play, wont be easy but i will enjoy the journey, and hopefully we can make the game bigger with more money that it deserves.

 

[Spimp13]

and hopefully we can make the game bigger with more money that it deserves.

Good luck with this....one of the problems with trying to become a pro pool player. Not even the same sport of pay as other games/sports.

 

[lee brett]

Yeh, i'm kinda chuckling about it because it seems every single post he has to boasts about his abilities.

Nothing personal.

paksat i like a challenge, best way is to put urself on the spot and then handle it, shows a true champion, wanna bet me on this feel free to pm if you wanna bet, and if you know me im not someone who goes around saying things, ive had enough of the grief of people saying wasting my talent and cant do it and all this, so time for me to put up and shut people up. no offence, but isnt the game better with characters

 

[lee brett]

Lee,

I consider you one of the good guys and there is no question that you can swing a cue stick. I'm still going to put you on the spot a little bit!

I think you are in your mid-thirties now. So tell me, had you not picked up a cue stick until now, would your natural talent have evaporated and would you be cursed to be a banger for life?

Hu

hu

good point who knows, but in my opinion if you have natural talent then it never goes away, it stays there waiting to be unleashed

 

[paksat]

paksat i like a challenge, best way is to put urself on the spot and then handle it, shows a true champion, wanna bet me on this feel free to pm if you wanna bet, and if you know me im not someone who goes around saying things, ive had enough of the grief of people saying wasting my talent and cant do it and all this, so time for me to put up and shut people up. no offence, but isnt the game better with characters

Is the game better with characters? I could do without earls antics if you ask me. Alls swell and good when he wins, but if he doesn't, then he's just quite often a disgrace to this sport.

Tiger woods would be hated if he was like that.

As for you turning pro, what tier are we talking about here? Top 20??

I'm sure you are well aware that ronnie sullivan hasn't done the things you plan to accomplish in pool. I'll go out on a limb, even though I haven't seen you play, and say he's probably a bit better then you yet failed to translate his game over.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jennifer has eclipsed everybody's expectations because she is a great competitor - a warrior - and she always strives to get better at whatever she does. That can't be taught. It's one of those X factors. You either have it or you don't.

Actually, I have another theory on why Jennifer got better late although not completely unrelated to what you were saying. I wouldn't label her as a "warrior", at least no more so than a lot of people I know. However, she's an expert in other things and I believe THAT can have a huge impact.

As most of you probably know, she's a former body-builder (used to compete) and expert snow boarder. There's a lot of work that goes into anything. Having already gone through the process of becoming an expert at something gives you a formula to follow in any other endeavor. It also gives you a bit more patience for slumps, doubts and all the other trials a progressing pool player might go through.

It's funny. I'm 37 now and playing softball for the first time in years. I'm hitting the ball better than I did as a kid. I attribute it to being more sensitive to subtle changes in my approach - an attribute I probably acquired by my constant push to become a better pool player.

 

[ShootingArts]

my point exactly!

hu

good point who knows, but in my opinion if you have natural talent then it never goes away, it stays there waiting to be unleashed

Lee,

That was my point exactly. Had you taken up snooker now it might have taken you a little longer to get to the same place but I strongly believe that if you had attacked it with the same dedication you would get to the same place.

If you accept that a pool table is not a snooker table but that it offers it's own challenges I am quite sure you will do well at pool even starting at your advanced age!

With your background in competition I would even bet you could be successful at many things you have never tried before that don't involve a cue stick. Many of the things that make up a competitor apply to anything they compete at.

Hu

 

[driz86]

Either I'm doing something right, to help players to improve, or I've got the biggest hypnotic trance game going out there! LMAO Mr. Schmidt and I are on the same page. It's you who are obviously out of touch, sir!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

it's probably a combination of the two. Basically you market to the suckers. Anyone on here with half a brain knows who I'm talking about. And I suppose I am out of touch with your thinking. Actually it's a fact, because I could never dream about charging $500 a day to provide what you have to offer. But yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night.

 

[mikeyfrost]

This was a funny thread

 

[Spimp13]

Sick 2 year bump Frosty...some good jabs between people on here for sure, like the Pacquiao/Bradley fight with rigged scoring lol.

 

[Chadk]

This has always been a concern of mine. At age 42, I started shooting pool just shy of one year ago. I am "ate up" with the bug and play all I can. I am in the first few weeks of my third APA session. The end of this session will signify one year of playing. I started off as everyone does as a SL4, but was a SL3 by the end of the first session. Decided to take a lesson with Randy G. Bought a Table. Worked my way up to a SL5 next session where I sit now. I still think I am a weaker 5 sometimes, but I can give most 6's a run.
I have a table at home and play, read, watch, everything i can get my hands on regarding pool. I absolutely see my self in the SL6 range by next year at this pace.
I knew from the beginning that I'm playing against most players who have 10-20 years of experience on me. I MUST do anything I can to help speed that learning curve up.

 

[mikeyfrost]

Sick 2 year bump Frosty...some good jabs between people on here for sure, like the Pacquiao/Bradley fight with rigged scoring lol.

Lol I know, I randomly remembered this thread last night and found it. I was laughing at this shit at 1AM. It's funny how most people think they're starting original threads or saying original comments when in reality its been done and said before.