How old is too old?
- Thread starter mrsboss
- Start date
Depends. What are your goals? You can play pool for a long time. Although I don't personally know of any top pros that started after their teenage years, if you don't mind not being consistant enough to be a world beater, you can have a lot of success in the sport.
Edit: Didn't realize you were mrsboss...I think the women's game is much less competitive in the middle and much more organized. Give it a go if you got the talent!
Edit: Didn't realize you were mrsboss...I think the women's game is much less competitive in the middle and much more organized. Give it a go if you got the talent!
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Hope your questions is a joke. 
South Dakota had a state tournament recently and one player was inducted into the Hall of Fame at 87 years young. His name is Don Soper for anyone the might care.
I hope I will still enjoy playing pool many decades from now.
South Dakota had a state tournament recently and one player was inducted into the Hall of Fame at 87 years young. His name is Don Soper for anyone the might care. I hope I will still enjoy playing pool many decades from now.
I don't think so. Age is relative. 29 is very young. I suppose it would have been great to start at a very young age, I think it more important that you get a good foundation by enlisting the aid of an instructor. As a pool player, I think that you are really hitting your stride when you are between 35 and 45. The composure and knowlege as you get older will hold you in good form.
All that said, I really feel that you have to shot alot of balls into the pockets to get good.
Regards,
Doug
All that said, I really feel that you have to shot alot of balls into the pockets to get good.
Regards,
Doug
No I am not joking. I have set very high goals for myself. I plan on being one of the top women in a couple of years. It is a very high goal but I am a very ambitious person with a lot of dicipline. Did not have a clue Ewa had only been playing for 7 years.
IMO age is not a key factor in playing good pool; much more important is learning the proper way to play and putting the time in against the best players you can find. If you haven't already done so, check out Jennifer Barretta's site here at AZB and get an idea of what a pro player had to do to get where she is, and what she has to do to stay there or advance. Good luck.
Too Old?????
If you're too old to get anywhere in this game then I'm hopelessly too old at 42 having picked up a cue to play seriously 5 months ago at the ripe old age of 41........ To quit my day job and go pro I'd have to earn in the top 10 right off the bat to make it work..... but that isn't my goal.... My goal is to make anyone who plays me bring their best game if they hope to beat me.....If I can't shoot better than you I'm going to shoot smarter.....If I can't do that then you'll beat me but it'd be ok because you will have beat my best game........If I can pull in a couple grand a year getting in the money in regional tournaments then that's just getting paid for something I love to do anyway
There's always the senior tournaments after I hit 50......
If you're too old to get anywhere in this game then I'm hopelessly too old at 42 having picked up a cue to play seriously 5 months ago at the ripe old age of 41........ To quit my day job and go pro I'd have to earn in the top 10 right off the bat to make it work..... but that isn't my goal.... My goal is to make anyone who plays me bring their best game if they hope to beat me.....If I can't shoot better than you I'm going to shoot smarter.....If I can't do that then you'll beat me but it'd be ok because you will have beat my best game........If I can pull in a couple grand a year getting in the money in regional tournaments then that's just getting paid for something I love to do anyway
There's always the senior tournaments after I hit 50......
Happy Birthday
Oh yeah......Happy 29th......wishing you many many more...
Banger
Oh yeah......Happy 29th......wishing you many many more...
Banger
mrsboss said:
mrsboss...In a single word, NO! One of my fellow instructors is well past 60, and is playing better pool today, than he did at your age! There's no limit to what you can accomplish, if you put your mind to it. Good luck!
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I think the reason most pros learn before their 20's is that they have the time to do so. In order to become as good a player as you need to be, you have to be willing to dedicate much of your free time to the game. I would say 4 to 6 hours of practice a day.
Most people over the age of 20 are already pursuing their career or going to school or training for a career. So they do not have that kind of time to dedicate to the game nor would they want to give up a social life in order to do so.
People in high school and younger on the other hand are more willing to spend so much time on the game. They can afford to skip school (because they may or may not care) to play, or their friends are in the pool halls. Furthermore they may not have chosen a career path yet.
In short my answer is no you are not too old as long as you are willing to spend the time necessary in order to become great at this game. If you have a table of your own, than that will make it much easier.
Most people over the age of 20 are already pursuing their career or going to school or training for a career. So they do not have that kind of time to dedicate to the game nor would they want to give up a social life in order to do so.
People in high school and younger on the other hand are more willing to spend so much time on the game. They can afford to skip school (because they may or may not care) to play, or their friends are in the pool halls. Furthermore they may not have chosen a career path yet.
In short my answer is no you are not too old as long as you are willing to spend the time necessary in order to become great at this game. If you have a table of your own, than that will make it much easier.
Supposedly pool (or anything for that matter) is easier to learn the earlier you start. I don't think age has anything to do with it. A good friend of mine (Sue Lance) who is in her early 40's now started playing when she was 38. Her first year playing she won her first qualifier. I think everything depends upon the person and not upon the age.
I turn 46 next week and my game is better then it has ever been. I was good as a teenager and in to my 20's but didn't play for about 25 years, I picked the game up again about 8 or 9 months ago and it was like ridding a bike. Only now I am much more disciplined at the game.
mrsboss said:
I think you're on a pretty good track.
Age will not be your limiting factor. Your limits will be determined by your natural talent , the means and desire to keep improving, and by your own career management.
Some players get very good young, but they don't necessarily keep improving. In fact, their games decline as they age and burn out.
Intense desire, wisdom, and hard work usually overcome raw talent that's not properly managed.
To evaluate your own performance, it's basically "as long as you keep improving" you are on the right track. The best players hit ceilings too, it's just that their ceilings are very high.
Chris
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AGe don't mean jack...
It doesn't matter when you start but rather HOW you learn.....
If you've been bagning balls for three to four years and are 18 or 19 you have a harder road to travel than a 30 year old who hasn't ever picked up a cue.. provided that the thrity year old starts recieving proper instruction right away....
A buddy of mine is 24 years old and he never really picked up a cue until pHJ came out and I asked him if he wanted to learn how to really play pool.
He's now an APA 9 in nineball and a 7 in eightball... He has beaten players such as Brian Parks and Victor Ignacio in tournaments....
It's how you learn and how many bad habits you have when you start to learn. and your inate levels of intelligence that are applicable to pool that determine how far you can go....
It doesn't matter when you start but rather HOW you learn.....
If you've been bagning balls for three to four years and are 18 or 19 you have a harder road to travel than a 30 year old who hasn't ever picked up a cue.. provided that the thrity year old starts recieving proper instruction right away....
A buddy of mine is 24 years old and he never really picked up a cue until pHJ came out and I asked him if he wanted to learn how to really play pool.
He's now an APA 9 in nineball and a 7 in eightball... He has beaten players such as Brian Parks and Victor Ignacio in tournaments....
It's how you learn and how many bad habits you have when you start to learn. and your inate levels of intelligence that are applicable to pool that determine how far you can go....
Look at all of us oldsters on the IPT! 
Seriously, if you have the passion and drive (and time), age has nothing to do with it. If that is your goal, I have the belief that you will get there.
Make sure to always play better players, get professional lessons and invest in books, tapes, DVD's, etc. Pick everyone's brains. Play in your regional women's tour and all the open tournaments you can (you might consider moving to a BCA league instead of APA) and learn to win and lose graciously, but keep that fire burning in your belly and I'll be asking you for your autograph in a few more years.
Seriously, if you have the passion and drive (and time), age has nothing to do with it. If that is your goal, I have the belief that you will get there.
Make sure to always play better players, get professional lessons and invest in books, tapes, DVD's, etc. Pick everyone's brains. Play in your regional women's tour and all the open tournaments you can (you might consider moving to a BCA league instead of APA) and learn to win and lose graciously, but keep that fire burning in your belly and I'll be asking you for your autograph in a few more years.
Jennifer has been player closer to 9 years now but she did start at 29. To her credit she approached the sport like an athlete and has always worked with a coach. Very key. She never had to relearn bad habits... She also gives it 150%, often training 8 hours a day. Many told her she would never make it to the pro tour and that only made her try harder. The fact that she has not only made it but into the top 16 is proof of the power of sheer will & determination.
It does help to be a woman, there is much more opportunity for women starting late, than men, simply because it is a smaller nut to crack. I think it is getting harder though as the bar is continually being raised but if your determined enough there is no reason not to try.
I also know Ellen Van Buran came back to the sport after a very long hiatus, she is now in her 40's and another powerful example of this.
It does help to be a woman, there is much more opportunity for women starting late, than men, simply because it is a smaller nut to crack. I think it is getting harder though as the bar is continually being raised but if your determined enough there is no reason not to try.
I also know Ellen Van Buran came back to the sport after a very long hiatus, she is now in her 40's and another powerful example of this.