I’ve been basically practicing solo for 2020 with no more tournaments scheduled in our room and very few matchups against other similar skill level players. As I’m no spring chicken at nearly 64, I figured it was about time to start playing some matches to see where my competitive game was at. Over the last week or so I’ve matched up with three of the top players in this area, all considerably younger. I managed to come out on top in all three, although I played well only in spurts. My game as well as their games was very inconsistent throughout the sessions.
There is a very talented 16-year-old player in this area whose game has just taken off like a rocket, even though he’s only been playing what one would call seriously for the last year. I’ve known his dad for nearly 30 years, who was a top player and road player, but he had to quit playing entirely due to health issues. His dad has worked extremely hard with him on his fundamentals and his stroke, and I’ve never seen better fundamentals in a 16-year-old player who has played for such a short time in my life. Obviously the young man has a tremendous natural talent / gift for the game and on top of that he loves the game.
His dad was in here with him yesterday working for hours on drills and shots, and I chimed in as well. He’s the kind of extremely courteous and well mannered kid you want to do all you can to help him progress his game.
Shortly before closing, I told him I’d play a set of 9-ball with him on our super tight pocket table - 4” corners and 4-5/8” sides, just to see how he would handle it. I knew he was a straight shooter, but I figured those tight pockets would surely slow him down and that I could out think him in a defensive battle.
Well, he won the first 4 games and drilled me 7-3. I was the one that was choking on the tight pockets and he was nailing shots and running out from everywhere, like he was playing on a Valley bar box. His safety game was also surprisingly strong and he prevailed most of the games that we had safety battles.
We will be playing again and I know I can play better, but it was indeed a humbling experience. More than anything, it was a shocking reminder to me that pool is a young man’s game. There is no way I will ever have the stroke or the shotmaking confidence that this young man has. The only thing I have left is my knowledge and experience, and occasionally if I’m lucky brief spurts of a dependable stroke like I had 40 years ago.
If you combine youth with textbook, disciplined fundamentals and a ridiculous amount of natural talent, it really doesn’t take long for a young player to get very good at this game, even playing on an extremely tight pocket table! I’m very interested to see if this young man can keep up the pace of improvement he’s been showing this past year. One thing is for sure - he’s going to have to step up his level of competition and play against top players, and his dad is well aware of that.
There is a very talented 16-year-old player in this area whose game has just taken off like a rocket, even though he’s only been playing what one would call seriously for the last year. I’ve known his dad for nearly 30 years, who was a top player and road player, but he had to quit playing entirely due to health issues. His dad has worked extremely hard with him on his fundamentals and his stroke, and I’ve never seen better fundamentals in a 16-year-old player who has played for such a short time in my life. Obviously the young man has a tremendous natural talent / gift for the game and on top of that he loves the game.
His dad was in here with him yesterday working for hours on drills and shots, and I chimed in as well. He’s the kind of extremely courteous and well mannered kid you want to do all you can to help him progress his game.
Shortly before closing, I told him I’d play a set of 9-ball with him on our super tight pocket table - 4” corners and 4-5/8” sides, just to see how he would handle it. I knew he was a straight shooter, but I figured those tight pockets would surely slow him down and that I could out think him in a defensive battle.
Well, he won the first 4 games and drilled me 7-3. I was the one that was choking on the tight pockets and he was nailing shots and running out from everywhere, like he was playing on a Valley bar box. His safety game was also surprisingly strong and he prevailed most of the games that we had safety battles.
We will be playing again and I know I can play better, but it was indeed a humbling experience. More than anything, it was a shocking reminder to me that pool is a young man’s game. There is no way I will ever have the stroke or the shotmaking confidence that this young man has. The only thing I have left is my knowledge and experience, and occasionally if I’m lucky brief spurts of a dependable stroke like I had 40 years ago.
If you combine youth with textbook, disciplined fundamentals and a ridiculous amount of natural talent, it really doesn’t take long for a young player to get very good at this game, even playing on an extremely tight pocket table! I’m very interested to see if this young man can keep up the pace of improvement he’s been showing this past year. One thing is for sure - he’s going to have to step up his level of competition and play against top players, and his dad is well aware of that.
