How Most Top Players Got There

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
What do most of the top pool player’s then and now have in common?

1)At an early age 4-10) they had a table at home with someone around that was a good player teaching him the basics. Or someone in the family or friend owned a poolroom and they could play for free and had some of the better players there teach him the basics.

2)From around 12 to 16 he played better players than himself for money and moved up to the next tier as he could beat them.

3)Somewhere along the way he had a pro or pros teaching him how to play at a top level and all the moves to use and the ones to be aware of.

4)Most that became top players went on the road at an early age with a backer or older road dog.

5)They all had natural talent for the game and were around good players from an early age that taught them how to get better fast. Almost ALL hit a million balls by a very young age compared to the average player.

6)Start at young age/ all free table time with good players teaching him/ played better player than himself until he made it to the top/ hit a million balls early and with coaching. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
What do most of the top pool player’s then and now have in common?

1)At an early age 4-10) they had a table at home with someone around that was a good player teaching him the basics. Or someone in the family or friend owned a poolroom and they could play for free and had some of the better players there teach him the basics.

2)From around 12 to 16 he played better players than himself for money and moved up to the next tier as he could beat them.

3)Somewhere along the way he had a pro or pros teaching him how to play at a top level and all the moves to use and the ones to be aware of.

4)Most that became top players went on the road at an early age with a backer or older road dog.

5)They all had natural talent for the game and were around good players from an early age that taught them how to get better fast. Almost ALL hit a million balls by a very young age compared to the average player.

6)Start at young age/ all free table time with good players teaching him/ played better player than himself until he made it to the top/ hit a million balls early and with coaching. Johnnyt
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Hey,I'm pretty sure i've done every bit of that to a tee.Cept having alot of talent and being a top player.My free table time though was winning the games and keeping the table.Put your quarter up.LOL John B.
 
improving in pool

Same way, as getting to Carnegie Hall.

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!!!! and when done, Practice some more!!!

Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
If you want to be a top player/ Pro...it mean you will be playing pool for a living. I think all the pro I know that plays seriously spent no less than 6 hrs a days practicing and they're probably log more hrs through playing than an average Joe working 40 hrs at a cubicle. Not to mentioned all that you've listed will probably apply in one way or another.

Like poker, I mean you hourly average have to be good for you to justify playing as a pro (you need to be a winning player). Given the economy that we're in and the state of pool, I really don't know how some of these pro pool players survive? No surprise that most really talented players have already moved to playing poker and other works...where the hourly average is much better.

Regards,
Duc.
 
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I say "youth" even over practice...

take a newbie 12 year old, let him practice 4 years.
take a newbie 35 year old, let him practice 15 years.

All other things being equal, I suggest the "16" year old beats the "50" year old.....(despite 11 more years of practice by the 50 year old)

I guess its like the dog/human years analogy, 1 year of teenage practice is worth 7 years of adult practice?
 
michael4 said:
I say "youth" even over practice...

take a newbie 12 year old, let him practice 4 years.
take a newbie 35 year old, let him practice 15 years.

All other things being equal, I suggest the "16" year old beats the "50" year old.....(despite 11 more years of practice by the 50 year old)

I guess its like the dog/human years analogy, 1 year of teenage practice is worth 7 years of adult practice?
Click to expand...

Only if the 35 year old Is only playing once a week. If you give them both 6 hours a day of practice and competition the 50 year old would likely be a huge favorite. The problem is, it's a rare 35 year old who can dedicate 6 hours a day to practice, and of that small group even fewer have the capability (whether it be ability to learn or access to instruction or whatever) to get to a professional level. For most 12 year olds, the only thing keeping them from practicing 3-6 hours a day is circumstance (access to a table) and dedication.
 
Johnnyt said:
What do most of the top pool player’s then and now have in common?

1)At an early age 4-10) they had a table at home with someone around that was a good player teaching him the basics. Or someone in the family or friend owned a poolroom and they could play for free and had some of the better players there teach him the basics.

2)From around 12 to 16 he played better players than himself for money and moved up to the next tier as he could beat them.

3)Somewhere along the way he had a pro or pros teaching him how to play at a top level and all the moves to use and the ones to be aware of.

4)Most that became top players went on the road at an early age with a backer or older road dog.

5)They all had natural talent for the game and were around good players from an early age that taught them how to get better fast. Almost ALL hit a million balls by a very young age compared to the average player.

6)Start at young age/ all free table time with good players teaching him/ played better player than himself until he made it to the top/ hit a million balls early and with coaching. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

i am not so sure there is any rhyme oreason why some are just better than others.
I was pretty athletic and have hung around some really good athletes who wanted to play good pool. Some couldn't launch a ball into the Atalantic from the Statue of Liberty. Others could have learned but just had no interest.
I had the chance to hang around with Greg Stevens. he could or was subject to make any ball from anywhere anytime. As Grady once said here, "position just sort of got into his way"!
i then watched Buddy in Shreveport in his great hayday and he and Greag were such a contrast instyles. Buddy was the perfectionist and Greag only wanted to see the ball.
Then I saw Ed kelly and loved everything he did. His stance, stroke, Bridge, everything was just awesome.
Then comes Mike Davis?? A nice guy and a very good player, but my God I felt he was going to fall over with every shot.
Same with Allen Hopkins. A great player and one of my favorites picture book? Not hardly, but very effective.
Youth over age? Absolutely. I din't agree with this until I turned 60 last November!!
I wonder what they will say about today's players 50 years from now?
 
Johnnyt said:
What do most of the top pool player’s then and now have in common?

1)At an early age 4-10) they had a table at home with someone around that was a good player teaching him the basics. Or someone in the family or friend owned a poolroom and they could play for free and had some of the better players there teach him the basics.

2)From around 12 to 16 he played better players than himself for money and moved up to the next tier as he could beat them.

3)Somewhere along the way he had a pro or pros teaching him how to play at a top level and all the moves to use and the ones to be aware of.

4)Most that became top players went on the road at an early age with a backer or older road dog.

5)They all had natural talent for the game and were around good players from an early age that taught them how to get better fast. Almost ALL hit a million balls by a very young age compared to the average player.

6)Start at young age/ all free table time with good players teaching him/ played better player than himself until he made it to the top/ hit a million balls early and with coaching. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Except maybe for Harold Worst. I heard he excelled in lots of other sports before taking up billiards at a comparatively late age (???). Not so sure on this one.
 
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