There are a ton of great pro or near pro players all over the US. Almost all of these players started playing pool at a very young age. For example Shane Van Boeing started when he was about 4 years old. Has anyone heard of any stories about players starting pool at an older age (19-22) and ending up becoming great players? Was it natural talent or did they work at it with drills and practice? I havent really heard of anyone starting around 18 years or older, going to college and getting a career and ending up becoming a great player. Most players that did go to college and are great players started at a very young age. Anyone have any stories?
How some players became great players...
- Thread starter salam4
- Start date
Didn't Ginky start at 18?
The only factor age plays is, kids and teenagers can focus all of their time and efforts into learning the game. By the time you are in your twenties school, family, career etc. become more important and keep a person from putting too much time into it. I adults tend to approach the game with "realistic" goals, which holds them back (You can't be realistic if you want to be great at something).
FWIW in Golf I believe there are plenty of professionals who started at a later age. But the difference is, there are actually viable career options for a professional golfer, even if your not a touring player.
The only factor age plays is, kids and teenagers can focus all of their time and efforts into learning the game. By the time you are in your twenties school, family, career etc. become more important and keep a person from putting too much time into it. I adults tend to approach the game with "realistic" goals, which holds them back (You can't be realistic if you want to be great at something).
FWIW in Golf I believe there are plenty of professionals who started at a later age. But the difference is, there are actually viable career options for a professional golfer, even if your not a touring player.
While this doesn't really fit the category of stories you are looking for, I still think its a pretty cool story...
My dad started playing pool when he was 7 years old. The first time he ever picked up a cue (my grandfather and great-uncle were playing) he ran 10 balls while they watched. My grandfather and uncle were amazed.
Soon after, my grandfather (a very hardworking Irishman in north jersey - was a janitor by day, and parked cars at night in Newark) purchased a pool table and put it in the basement. The basement was too small for a pool table, so my dad could never really develop a "normal" stroke. However, by age 12 he could run over 100 balls. My grandfather used to take him to the local corner bar and beat the regulars for $5-$20/game when he was 12-13 years old. My grandmother did not share her husbands enthusiasm for gambling,often she would come in and make my dad (then just a child) return the money and drag him home. He played constantly, day and night. My uncle used to wake up in the middle of the night and hear the balls "clicking" in the basement...
This is why I believe in natural ability. Yes, you have to work to develop your talent, but some people are just born with it. They may go their whole life without discovering it, but once they do, it still has to be developed. I may very well be the world's best basketweaver, but I'll never know it because I don't plan on weaving baskets anytime soon
My dad started playing pool when he was 7 years old. The first time he ever picked up a cue (my grandfather and great-uncle were playing) he ran 10 balls while they watched. My grandfather and uncle were amazed.
Soon after, my grandfather (a very hardworking Irishman in north jersey - was a janitor by day, and parked cars at night in Newark) purchased a pool table and put it in the basement. The basement was too small for a pool table, so my dad could never really develop a "normal" stroke. However, by age 12 he could run over 100 balls. My grandfather used to take him to the local corner bar and beat the regulars for $5-$20/game when he was 12-13 years old. My grandmother did not share her husbands enthusiasm for gambling,often she would come in and make my dad (then just a child) return the money and drag him home. He played constantly, day and night. My uncle used to wake up in the middle of the night and hear the balls "clicking" in the basement...
This is why I believe in natural ability. Yes, you have to work to develop your talent, but some people are just born with it. They may go their whole life without discovering it, but once they do, it still has to be developed. I may very well be the world's best basketweaver, but I'll never know it because I don't plan on weaving baskets anytime soon
Jack hynes had a late start & played pro speed after just 2 years...Started green as can be & his mom & Dad put him thru pool lessons for almost 2 years..so he started off with no bad habits..."speaking of pool habits mind you" ....so was able to learn the right way.
I doubt any of you have heard of him yet....
My bro is on his way to becoming a top player and he is already an A player.
He didn't start playing until he was 22. He's now 27 and for the last couple of years has been a strong player. He's placed in the money in the last couple of swannee memorials and the main thing that's kept him from really jumping out there is being active military and deploying or training and not being able to play in as many tourneys as he should.
Jaden
As for me, I can't say anything because even though I didn't start REALLY taking it seriously until I was 19, I was playing since I was 10 and my father was a louisville road player in the 60's.
My bro is on his way to becoming a top player and he is already an A player.
He didn't start playing until he was 22. He's now 27 and for the last couple of years has been a strong player. He's placed in the money in the last couple of swannee memorials and the main thing that's kept him from really jumping out there is being active military and deploying or training and not being able to play in as many tourneys as he should.
Jaden
As for me, I can't say anything because even though I didn't start REALLY taking it seriously until I was 19, I was playing since I was 10 and my father was a louisville road player in the 60's.
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Henry Brodt, who just came to pool school a month ago, is a two-time national champion. He started playing in his 30's, and got serious about it right away. He's now in his early 50's, and obviously plays very well. Why did he come to pool school? Because, like Tiger Woods, he knew he could become even better. You can too!
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
That would be pretty awesome if it is true. Wasn't he a collegiate champion?
... I may very well be the world's best basketweaver, but I'll never know it because I don't plan on weaving baskets anytime soon
You need to get your priorities realigned then. Stop being silly, make us a basket and we will see...
Bill "Weenie Beenie" Staton, was in his early 20's before ever picking up a cue. He wasn't a great player, but he got pretty damn good.
Jaden,
I am in the same boat with your brother. I am 25 and have been playing seriously since I was 18. Have been deployed twice so thats two breaks in training each a year long. Even though the deployments have hurt my development, I have always gotten better than I was before I deployed. I plan on terrin it up on the Desert Classic Tour in 2010. i have finally settled down and wont be deploying again for a while so I can really bear down and train and compete. The next two years will be full of solid practice and quality instruction. If you dont see me at the open or Derby by 2011, then I am dead or have been kidnapped.
I am in the same boat with your brother. I am 25 and have been playing seriously since I was 18. Have been deployed twice so thats two breaks in training each a year long. Even though the deployments have hurt my development, I have always gotten better than I was before I deployed. I plan on terrin it up on the Desert Classic Tour in 2010. i have finally settled down and wont be deploying again for a while so I can really bear down and train and compete. The next two years will be full of solid practice and quality instruction. If you dont see me at the open or Derby by 2011, then I am dead or have been kidnapped.
Not really. If a kid starts playing at a young age the brain is more adept at picking up the knowledge and muscle memory used for pool. If you start later on in life when the brain is fully developed the reality is that it is flat out harder for you to absorb the information then it would have been when you were young.
It is the same reason that young children pick up multiple languages WAY easier then it ends up being trying to learn them as an adult.