How long have you been playing?

Banks

Banks

Banned
I see so many people on here and hear so many stories from a while back, that I was wondering just how long have you guys and gals been playing and about how long did it take you to reach your higher level of play?

At the constant risk of criticism.. I've been playing APA for about a year and a half and have run across many people that seem to have been playing for years and years, yet some of them just don't seem to have that much of a game (of course, what they do have is pretty consistent). This makes me wonder how much is due to a lack of desire, natural talent or whatever other reason there may be. The Pacific NW folks may be able to answer this better, but is the same generally true for BCA/TAP/etc?

I almost played an 8-ball 7 the other night for money (I'm a 6), but my game's been iffy the last couple of weeks. Almost any other night I would have thought I had a good chance (he turned down an offer of opposite-handed), but it still left me somewhat bewildered questioning the true ability of these players. Is it that I'm more or less playing in a C-rated (and below) league/division at best?

I hope I don't offend anyone, I'm just curious about it. I know much also has to do with time/money/etc. I am impressed with the quality of people here in ability, knowledge and also in general, so I think here I would probably get the best answer to all of the above. Thanks.
 
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I personally have played for about 26 years. The last 10 or so have been on crappy bar tables in a small town with no real competition. Even playing poorly I can best most anyone in this town. However, when I go to the big city to play, I realize how much I have let my game slip. My position play is solid, but my shot making leaves alot to be desired. I think it all comes down to this, If a person doesnt put the practice time in like they should, their ability shows it pretty plainly no matter how many years a person has under their belt. I played a young gun in the city the other night, hell of a shot maker... pretty good position player. Lacked something in the experience area though.... it showed in his decision making when it came to which position to play, patterns etc.
So there is a balance. Inexperience and trying to look flashy, or experience and moving on the cloth only as much as necessary.
Chuck
 
I think you will find that most people who have been playing for a long time (several years or longer) only play once or twice a week, usually in a league that only lasts a few months out of the year, with little other practice or competition. These are the players that you observe whose game never really moves from where it is. My observation has been that the better players either own a table or at some time spent many hours over a period of a few to many years honing their talent and continue to practice enough to keep their game up to a high standard. There are some players who own a table but don't put in the time necessary to improve. There will also always be a group of players that because of physical and/or mental limitations will never be what could be termed a world class player no matter how much effort they put into it. I put myself in this category, as I have no desire to be a professional player and will never spend 6-8 hours a day doing drills. I play mostly for the enjoyment of the game and have already achieved a level of play that makes it enjoyable for me most of the time. That's not to say I don't still berate myself for not concentrating enough or that I don't expect my game to still improve as I devote more time to it.
As in any endeavor or sport, there will always be a few people that could be considered to be abnormal in that they can play beyond mere mortals without much effort expended; natural talents or savants if you will.
 
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I've been playing seriously (you know, serious like a heart attack) for 4 years.

I played for a few years in high school and college (know-nothing banger), then gave it up for career and family. Wife promised me a pool table when we got married, 23 years later it arrived.

When I got my table 4 years ago, I fell in with a group of professionals who opened my eyes to the "hidden world" of pool expertise, and gave me at least a rudimentary idea of what it takes to get there. I've had lessons with some of the greats - I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world (well except for that guy that married the rich, beautiful, nymphomaniac, liquor store owner).
 
I played somewhat seriously from the time I was about 12 or 13 years old up until I was a sophomore in high school then golf caught my fancy for a while. I became a mediocre golfer and my pool game went in the toilet. I'm sure several of you out there have experienced this or know someone who has...perhaps even a few high profile members of the pool world. When I was a junior in college I met some guys who started up a pool club here at IU. We became good friends, and I've been taking the game very seriously for about 2 years now.
 
I started playing somewhat while in my late teens, but didn't play much due to there being no pool rooms around. Played a bit more while in the service then back in to the 2 or 3 times a year once I was out of the service.
About 5 years ago when my kids were out of the house and I had more time and money available I started playing more seriously and bought a table with a bonus from work. Since then I just steadly increased my play time.
 
Played off and on since 98', but I think a player who starts young hits his peak after 8-10 years if he learned the right way.
 
I've been playing over 40 years, but not seriously until about 11 years ago. I hope I never hit my peak...I just want to keep learning more and continuing to get better. I find that as I get older and the eyes get a bit weak, and the hands a bit less steady, knowledge is the only way I stay competitive. I may not be able to "out shoot" a lot of players, but I can still out play them from time to time.
Steve
 
I dont think time served has a major correlation to skill level. Some have
unique abilities to pick it up quick and some have the desire to stay with it and grind it out.
Some are very happy banging them around in league play and local events. Others like the practice and a more competitive environment.
In the beggining I think most players are gung ho and play alot. After a while things cans tart to level out for some or stop for others.

Everyone has areas where it seems that they have topped out. Its what the players choose to do at these points that decides their fate.

IMO is unique in that its something that seems to draw most players back
after they have quit. We consider it "getting bit by the pool bug" and that might not be too far from the truth. Something happens.

Myself I have been playing since 88. I stopped for about 5-6 years. I never really totally left as I still went to events and played a few times a year but I rarely went out to play. If I played I just happened to end up there.
I basically have been back playing for almost 3.5 years. I go through
times of playing alot and not playing that much. Right now I play a couple nights a week in league play and probably 8 other nights a month just playing. If there is an event nearby I usually play and sometimes that is frustrating to play while not playing my best.
Lately I seem to have been reinfected with pool flu but dont have the means to put into it.
 
I've been putting effort into studying the game and competing for two years. Before that I have a little bit of a history as a bar banger.

Only recently did I run my first two-pack. Tough game.
 
I have been playing for 2.5 years total. I seem to have a very high level of coordination, 20/10 vision, and am a fairly smart person. Those are reasons I have progressed quickly IMO. A few more years is all I need :)
 
Banks said:
This makes me wonder how much is due to a lack of desire, natural talent or whatever other reason there may be.
Click to expand...

Some people have poor hand eye coordination which is huge barrier for them. But I think more than anything the people who simply stagnate at C and B levels aren't willing to dedicate the neccessary time required to become a Pro or even an A player. To become a truly great player you have to treat pool almost as your part time job.

I have dedicated much of my free time to learning the game and I have sacrificed a great deal in doing so, and I have yet to attain a game that you could call great or even very good IMO.

A lot of people enjoy the game and are able to do so without running 2 093 824 racks.

Anyways that's my guess at your question.
 
Cameron Smith said:
Some people have poor hand eye coordination which is huge barrier for them. But I think more than anything the people who simply stagnate at C and B levels aren't willing to dedicate the neccessary time required to become a Pro or even an A player.
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I agree. I know almost no one who actually practices; meaning, doing more than run racks of 9 ball or whatever game.

Purposeful practice is the only way to avoid stagnation... everytime a player commits an error and doesn't correct it, he's letting an opportunity go by. He'll have to miss that shot 100 times in an actual match before he learns it. Had he practiced that shot for an hour right after he missed it, he'd save much valueable time. Our bodies learn through repetition.

I made a vow to myself. I'll never again shoot a shot lackadaisically, I don't care if I'm playing with my grandmother at a bar. And everytime I make a mistake in practice, I'll immediately take that shot again until I make it with a reasonably high percentage.

My practice sessions have improved a lot once I started planning them in advance, and scoring my drills.

I guess the answer to the stagnation question is... these players in the APA do not give themselves a chance to learn through repetition. And if they don't do that, I don't care how long they play, their game will stall.
 
I've been playing for 22 years...I've played in a few pro tourneys through the years in the Midwest area...I don't play too seriously but I think I'm going to try and make more effort in the future for pro playing...along side with making cues....
________
 
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I don't ever remember not playing as we had a 9'er in our basement growing up. Then we moved, the table was sold, and I didn't play for about 6 years. Then TCOM came out, pool rooms opened everywhere, I started playing again....for real this time.....and got divorced!:eek: ...it's OK, I was lucky enough to find my new sweetie at a new pool room, and we've been together ever since. She like the game as much as I do.

I really didn't become "a player" til I found a real pool room, and was schooled in the finer points of the game. It was kind of like being let into a club or a fraternity or something....like the veil was lifted....

Gerry
 
I started in college, where tables were free, at 17. Played often for 2 years, but not against knowledgable competition. Was soon awarded a low lottery draft number and wound up in the army. After that I only played sporatically for the next few years.

Didn't play at all for ten years after that--career, marriage, golf and tournament fishing all contributed to occupy my time.

In my early 30's, I started playing once a week or so on a bar table for beers. Then one rainy day in Manhattan, I happened by a pool hall--Julian's. What the hell, I thought. I went in and practiced for an hour. God it felt good! Then one of the "fixtures" of Julians asked me if I wanted to play 9-ball. I said, no, how about straight? He said, okay, and we agreed--50 points, 10 bucks and the time. I beat him five straight, and he quit. After we finished, I met George Makula, who had been watching us play. That's when my game went up.

I took a bunch of lessons from George, and we played together often. I learned a lot watching George. He was one of the most incredibly knowledgable and skilled players I've ever seen. I'd kill to have his stroke. But George couldn't handle drink, and after a few months, he went off the wagon, and fishing season started for me. Without George at Julians, I lost interest.

Seven or eight more years passed, and I seldom played. Then Chelsea Billiards opened. George reappeared! Johnny Ervolino came to town. Lots of really good players started showing up. Sixteen year old Jeanette Lee would cut school to play in the afternoon. We had a regular game, Jeanette and I: straight pool--she goes to 25, I go to 100. She didn't know much, but even then she had a good stroke. I'm so glad to see her in the 14.1 event next week. Go Jeanette!

After playing often for another three years, I changed careers, had to go to back to school, never had any money, got divorced, George drank himself to death, and I eventually got really hooked on golf.

My beloved Southwest sat in the closet collecting dust for another ten years. I never even looked at it and never played, even in bars. Ten more years passed, without me touching a cue.

Then one day, I'm stopped at a traffic light in a small town (Springfield) in Oregon. I hear the click of pool balls ... I amazes me how pool, once it's in your blood, never leaves. I turned the corner, parked, and investigated the room.

It wasn't anything special, but it was sure better than Julians. I hit the balls around a little, and while I was damn rusty, the pleasure of the sounds and the feel of being in a pool room again were intoxicating. I soon met the owner, who was a former road player, and we started playing once a week. Then I met a woman who invited me to a bar tournament. Then I joined a BCA league. Team pool? It seemed ridiculous, but it was fun! And how things changed. Layered tips? What the hell were they?

Well, now, I've actually had my longest steady run of playing--5 years. How do I play? I can still run 50 balls, but I don't think I'll ever again reach my high of 82. I still think 9-ball is a stupid game, though I play a lot more of it now. I don't see as well, but my stroke is truer than ever, so it sort of balances out. My knowledge has increased, but my concentration wanes quickly when I ease up. My back gets tired after 3-4 hours of practice. But I accept misses without flashes of anger. I guess, on balance, I'm better than ever at short games, but not games requiring sustained concentration such as straight pool.

Nearly 40 years ... joyous ride. Like revisiting a lover every decade and each time finding it still feels great.
 
A long time....

Since I was 5. 44 years now but only seriously for the last 5 or so. Finally getting the table I promised myself 25 years ago. Hope I never lose the love for this game.

Brian in VA
 
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