I Used To Play Real Good....
- Thread starter Fast Lenny
- Start date
I'm actually serious. 
I did. But that was before my eyesight went south, before the Big C took a major toll upon me physically, before the addition of about 100 lbs of flab, before three major breakdowns took their toll on my nerves (along with all the treatment medications), before 15 years or so of no playing at all, and well before my last birthday.
Recently played a little bar table pool (bar tables are the ruin of the game) and I don't know that you could have told that I had ever played well.
My main game was snooker way back when and the only one that ever bested me at the game was a Canadian of some accomplishment (I did win 3 of 4 sessions even against him). I used to play snooker like it was 9-ball, running 3 consecutive racks at one point.
In all modesty, I used to play real good but can't break an egg now.
I did. But that was before my eyesight went south, before the Big C took a major toll upon me physically, before the addition of about 100 lbs of flab, before three major breakdowns took their toll on my nerves (along with all the treatment medications), before 15 years or so of no playing at all, and well before my last birthday.Recently played a little bar table pool (bar tables are the ruin of the game) and I don't know that you could have told that I had ever played well.
My main game was snooker way back when and the only one that ever bested me at the game was a Canadian of some accomplishment (I did win 3 of 4 sessions even against him). I used to play snooker like it was 9-ball, running 3 consecutive racks at one point.
In all modesty, I used to play real good but can't break an egg now.
I was at a tournament one time and a player broke and ran out, and I said man that was a nice run out. And a guy standing by me said, hell anyone could have ran that rack, they were all easy. Daaa you think, some people just don't get it.
Tbeaux....the Bunde story was funny...
Tbeaux....the Bunde story was funny...
I've only been playing seriously for maybe three years now. I'm not great yet, but i can run a rack now and then. I played in a local bar league last year and my father was on my team. He's been on this team for years. He's not very good, and i'm sure his age is part of it (he's 63). I win pretty much every game we play against each other, but he's told me several times that he use to win money and I wouldn't have had a chance back then.
He doesn't just miss balls, which he does badly. His shot selection is questionable, position and speed are bad too. Not to mention the complete lack of ability to stop, draw, follow, or put any english on the cue ball at all. I know some players prefer not to use a lot of english, but not to this extent. Anyway.. As some of you have said about being able to tell if someone was really any good, it's sometimes hard not to just tell him he's full of crap.
I guess there's really no point to this story. Some of the posts just made me think about it. I don't care how bad he plays or how much b.s. he talks, I love playing with my dad and will do so as long as I can. Sorry for the long post.
Think I'll go have lunch with him now
He doesn't just miss balls, which he does badly. His shot selection is questionable, position and speed are bad too. Not to mention the complete lack of ability to stop, draw, follow, or put any english on the cue ball at all. I know some players prefer not to use a lot of english, but not to this extent. Anyway.. As some of you have said about being able to tell if someone was really any good, it's sometimes hard not to just tell him he's full of crap.
I guess there's really no point to this story. Some of the posts just made me think about it. I don't care how bad he plays or how much b.s. he talks, I love playing with my dad and will do so as long as I can. Sorry for the long post.
Think I'll go have lunch with him now
I've played guys who actually used to be very good and the fact is, they still are. Just not as sharp. This includes an a gentleman who is in his late 60's early 70's who makes some of the smoothest breaks on the snooker table.
Unless you got run over by three consecutive trains and a fat dog, your skill level is not going to drop from Pro - D or even C.
Unless you got run over by three consecutive trains and a fat dog, your skill level is not going to drop from Pro - D or even C.
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I don't think it is a big deal unless you need two inch thick goggles.
I have a weak prescription (not sure exactly what it is), but I don't wear glasses to play. That said, long potting is my strong point. I think after a certain point you just get used to a little blurriness.
It can be a big deal, depending upon what sort of vision problems you have. The ability of the eyes to work smoothly together is at least as critical as fuzzy edges. My eyes simply won't do the deed these days and I found myself shooting more from memory than vision alone (if that doesn't make sense to you, you aren't old enough). Approach to the table can become very awkward when your physical self is radically changed. My stroke tends to be jerky because of nerves and lack of play.
But I'm going to get back at it a little at a time and see if some of the old feeling doesn't return. I always felt there were two kinds of players (good players) - the mechanics and the artists. I would have to say that a good mechanic that is very methodical can perhaps play more consistently but never as well as the artist when he's in tune. And there are a few players that are perhaps a mix of both - watch out!!
It's funny that someone mentioned in another thread the worth of practicing the long bank and having the cue ball return precisely to your tip. I had a practice routine as a young teen that included that shot and several others. One thing I did was stroke into a coke bottle repeatedly with varying speed while never contacting the lips of the opening. I think that helped develop stroke and timing.
My big problem is now one of distance as my home town no longer has a single public business with a pool or snooker table of any sort. It's 15 miles to the nearest bar table, hardly worth even that drive.
In the old days this little town had two full-time pool halls, both had 4 snooker tables (10') and 2 pool tables. Wish we still had even one.
Rich Tefertiller - southwest Missouri.
But I'm going to get back at it a little at a time and see if some of the old feeling doesn't return. I always felt there were two kinds of players (good players) - the mechanics and the artists. I would have to say that a good mechanic that is very methodical can perhaps play more consistently but never as well as the artist when he's in tune. And there are a few players that are perhaps a mix of both - watch out!!
It's funny that someone mentioned in another thread the worth of practicing the long bank and having the cue ball return precisely to your tip. I had a practice routine as a young teen that included that shot and several others. One thing I did was stroke into a coke bottle repeatedly with varying speed while never contacting the lips of the opening. I think that helped develop stroke and timing.
My big problem is now one of distance as my home town no longer has a single public business with a pool or snooker table of any sort. It's 15 miles to the nearest bar table, hardly worth even that drive.
In the old days this little town had two full-time pool halls, both had 4 snooker tables (10') and 2 pool tables. Wish we still had even one.
Rich Tefertiller - southwest Missouri.
I think many people who say this aren't lying to themselves or others, they really think that.
The vast majority of average players I meet have the same problem: they are "body-blind". What I mean by that is, as most people here know, to play really straight, you have to stay within a narrow margin around the perfect body position, for each type of shot. Outside of that margin, you may play okay, but you can only play great when you position yourself almost perfectly. If your position gets out of whack, then your brain loses its angular references because the results of the hits are inconsistent with the original lines of aim, etc...
My theory is that body-blind players aren't aware of how their body works, and how to position themselves properly. They don't know the feedback mechanisms to find the right positions each time they drop down on a shot. As a result, most of the time their game is mediocre. However, once in a while, by sheer luck, they position themselves well, and all of the sudden they're unstoppable. It lasts several days, a week, two weeks... and eventually their body positioning slips out of true and they go back to being mediocre.
I think that's what players mean by "I used to play great": they know what it feels like to hit every ball just right, run out, win matches without letting the opponent play. They've done it, but they don't know why the magic always goes away. They know they can play better, but they don't know why it never lasts, and that's what's so frustrating to them.
The vast majority of average players I meet have the same problem: they are "body-blind". What I mean by that is, as most people here know, to play really straight, you have to stay within a narrow margin around the perfect body position, for each type of shot. Outside of that margin, you may play okay, but you can only play great when you position yourself almost perfectly. If your position gets out of whack, then your brain loses its angular references because the results of the hits are inconsistent with the original lines of aim, etc...
My theory is that body-blind players aren't aware of how their body works, and how to position themselves properly. They don't know the feedback mechanisms to find the right positions each time they drop down on a shot. As a result, most of the time their game is mediocre. However, once in a while, by sheer luck, they position themselves well, and all of the sudden they're unstoppable. It lasts several days, a week, two weeks... and eventually their body positioning slips out of true and they go back to being mediocre.
I think that's what players mean by "I used to play great": they know what it feels like to hit every ball just right, run out, win matches without letting the opponent play. They've done it, but they don't know why the magic always goes away. They know they can play better, but they don't know why it never lasts, and that's what's so frustrating to them.
I live in a pool wasteland
Most players in my area don't know what good is. They think a Lucasi is a top of the line cue. Most all play bar table 8 ball. A few play bar table 9 ball. Actually most of these players think if you pay more than $25. for a cue you're crazy. There are only a couple of guys in my area that know what good is, and they are all around my age, 59. I think this is sad.
I believe Nick Varner is in his 60's and still plays pretty good. I played pretty bad when I was younger. I'd say I might be a B player now. I have a friend who's a little younger then me and still manages to cash in almost all of the tournaments he plays in.
The players that say they used to play good give me a laugh but you never know. There might be one or two that really did and still can. That could turn a good day into a bad one.
Most players in my area don't know what good is. They think a Lucasi is a top of the line cue. Most all play bar table 8 ball. A few play bar table 9 ball. Actually most of these players think if you pay more than $25. for a cue you're crazy. There are only a couple of guys in my area that know what good is, and they are all around my age, 59. I think this is sad.
I believe Nick Varner is in his 60's and still plays pretty good. I played pretty bad when I was younger. I'd say I might be a B player now. I have a friend who's a little younger then me and still manages to cash in almost all of the tournaments he plays in.
The players that say they used to play good give me a laugh but you never know. There might be one or two that really did and still can. That could turn a good day into a bad one.
Did you ever hear anybody say, I used to play like shit and I still do? Never, that'sis something I hear in the poolrooms it seems like every week. You will see a C player spouting off that he used to play really good or I wish I could play like I used to. I am not saying that is untrue for some of the older guys or people who might have been injured in some sort of way. I mean I was in a car accident and have a bad back, see a chiro once a week, my health is not the greatest either but I will not use any of that as a crutch. I do know that health problems can affect your game so this post is not directed at people who really suffer as I feel your pain too.
I think most of us out there with any kind of smarts will know from looking at someone whether they have game or used to have game simply by shot selection, pattern play, knowledge and position for the most part. At the moment I have a go off who has been away from the game for a few years who plays like a D player but says he used to play really good, I just cant see it since he overlooks simple safes, does not play for position where 99 out of 100 would play it.
I know I am wet behind the ears still playing in poolrooms for about 4-5 years now but it just irks me when I hear this crap, get real and just play pool. Sorry I am venting about this but if you have been playing for 30 years and are a C player it is okay as long as you love the game and are having fun but why say you used to be an A player, if you were and you got hit by a bus you would atleast be a B player!
I guess when I am an old man or a 30 something year old who stopped playing for awhile I will talk about how good I used to play and how I ran 200 balls and 15 racks of 9 ball and only stopped because I had a hot date with a Playmate at Wendy's.
because we humans like to look our best in the front of others. Most of the time, it
requires a lie or two. It's that simple.
I have heard people say they cant play and never could, sometimes its true and sometimes they are trying to hustle. :smile:
There are exceptions.
just for me
I know I used to mutter that .Then when I got a little more serious and
started practicing more I tried to quit making excuses .Sometimes I just
play bad and am not focused .Playing more ,practice(the right kind)and
listening to the right people will be the only thing I know that will really
help my consistency . I do know when I was young I could run out from
anywhere on a bar box at times. I knew nothing about shape or strategies
I was just a good shot maker.
About the eyesight , I know I got lasik and it helped me to some degree
on longer shots. However I know one older guy that can barely see the other
end of the table and he gets out all the time.
I know I used to mutter that .Then when I got a little more serious and
started practicing more I tried to quit making excuses .Sometimes I just
play bad and am not focused .Playing more ,practice(the right kind)and
listening to the right people will be the only thing I know that will really
help my consistency . I do know when I was young I could run out from
anywhere on a bar box at times. I knew nothing about shape or strategies
I was just a good shot maker.
About the eyesight , I know I got lasik and it helped me to some degree
on longer shots. However I know one older guy that can barely see the other
end of the table and he gets out all the time.