It's ALL mindset. Natural talent is a naturally good mindset.
The examples of people being able to not play for 10 years and come back are valid. We've all seen them. I quit for 10 years and just started back up again about a year ago. I don't have my highest gear back yet - but I can beat almost every single person that I could beat when I quit. One got really good. The rest stayed roughly the same relative to me.
The key thing about pool is that people already play at the level they want to play at. That's it. You can practice your butt off, get to the pool hall and play tournaments all the time but if you don't see yourself as being a better player - you won't be.
We all know players that have been missing the same back cuts down the rails for 20 years. Why? Because part of their identity is that they miss *those* shots. That's it.
Pool players see themselves playing at a certain level, work their ass off to get there and then stay there the rest of their lives - unless they are able make a mental shift.
So you want to play better? Visualize how you want to play. Own it. Internalize it. The path will reveal itself once you see it. You will find the way to play at that level.
Everybody reading: How would you describe your level of play?
Write down your answer. Your first instinctive answer. Did you write down: Can beat everyone at the bar? Competes in tournaments and wins a few? Good regional player?
Think about your answer. Do you practice your ass off all the time so you can be a good local player? If so then stop. You already have achieved your goal.
The reason Shane wins so much is because he knows he is the best player and because he knows he is the best player he practices like he believes the best player should practice. It's a feedback loop. When one part is stagnant, the feedback is just noise. Not progress.
I know a player who plays very infrequently. When he does play though he can show up and win a tournament with a strong field including pros. And he does this virtually every time he comes out and plays.
I talked to him about it one time and he said "Pool is easy. I can just see how to hit the shot to make it and so I do. All I have to do is make the balls and I win the money. It's easy."
He sees the reward and isn't screwed up by all the negative thoughts. He assumes he is going to win because he sees the way to win. His mindset is so strong that he sees himself as the best and just believes that he can dust off his cue and beat everybody with a little bit of warmup. And he does. That's natural talent. Natural mindset talent.
People who start younger have a better natural mindset because children aren't as negative when they miss or lose so they tend to just laugh it off and try harder next time.