Improvement

Lou you and I have met a few times. Even played a little 3C.
I am also still improving, in my mid 60's. The art of pool just makes more sense to me now.
We need to play sometime for $hits and giggles and get it streamed!
Maybe Ray Hanson? Or Black-Balled, I don't think he streams but it would be a hoot.
Love to see forum members match up. Love seeing all kinds of people connecting through billiards :)
 
Input = output. You can get more out of your game if you put more in than you put in up until that point. Not just more of the same. But if you can do a number of things you haven't done in the past then you can get more out of your game. More sparring against better players. Bigger tournaments. Good coaching. Etc.

The only players who's game have to dip in older age are Efren/Earl types that only can go down because they were #1. For anyone under 700 Fargorate there is no question there is opportunity for your best days to be ahead if you have the desire and put that desire to a higher levels of input. Not just hours. Quality over quantity.
 
Input = output. You can get more out of your game if you put more in than you put in up until that point. Not just more of the same. But if you can do a number of things you haven't done in the past then you can get more out of your game. More sparring against better players. Bigger tournaments. Good coaching. Etc.

The only players who's game have to dip in older age are Efren/Earl types that only can go down because they were #1. For anyone under 700 Fargorate there is no question there is opportunity for your best days to be ahead if you have the desire and put that desire to a higher levels of input. Not just hours. Quality over quantity.
Nobody's "THERE". The learning curve gets logarithmically stiffer as the Fargos rise. I think many aspects might be bricked over too. I have no such concerns. Small steps keep on working...
 
Is it possible to improve significantly (25 Fargo points or more) once you get a little older and have had the same game for a long time?
I’m in my upper 50s and have been playing competitively for 35 plus years. Im about a 650 fargo which is very competitive but lately have been working hard to improve but not having much success. Not sure it is possible to improve a lot once you hit a certain stage of life. Thoughts?
My guess would be that a coach or stronger training partner would be the best way to improve.
Along with practice, but such a partner or coach could help to identify weaknesses and the biggest room for improvement.
And perhaps try to get physically extra fit and work on the mental game.
 
Is it possible to improve significantly (25 Fargo points or more) once you get a little older and have had the same game for a long time?
I’m in my upper 50s and have been playing competitively for 35 plus years. Im about a 650 fargo which is very competitive but lately have been working hard to improve but not having much success. Not sure it is possible to improve a lot once you hit a certain stage of life. Thoughts?
Yes of course, what a silly question. Aim to hit 800 and train accordingly. You’ll fall short and land somewhere in the low or mid 700s. You got 10 years till it all starts going to sht. 10 years is a long time if you train daily and train the right way.
 
Fargo has a problem because ratings never go down.

I've cited how players had outdated ratings.

Fargorate is better as a skill progression tool, not a general rating assessment.

Imagine someone plays 600, why would they drop to a 400?

The decay of pool skill is real, but does not show in the fargo system, because that math was not designed for it back then.

How long it takes to achieve a high fargo, will sound like selling an addiction to upgrade to a black belt at the McDojo.

Absolute measures, did they make the nineball are more important. Or did they choke?
A player complained to me about this just a few days ago. He really believes he’s 690 but is listed around 750. Former #1 in the world but he’s over 70 now. He says he loses but his fargo wont go down.
 
At 62 I run more balls, more often then I ever did.
I believe I elevated my game when I (Own Everything) took full responsibility for every miss,bad shot ,bad position etc.
Once you realize everything that happens on the table is on YOU.
IF YOU CAN MAKE THE BALL YOU CAN BE GOOD
IF YOU CAN MAKE THE BALL AND CONTROL THE Q BALL YOU CAN BE GREAT (IMHO)
 
I believe at your fargo rating you could jump 25 points with a few tweaks to your mental game. I can almost guarantee you're either losing some matches (or not winning some by a big enough margin) because of some pressure issues. You obviously play good enough, you just need to win more games for that thing to climb up.
 
Is it possible to improve significantly (25 Fargo points or more) once you get a little older and have had the same game for a long time?
I’m in my upper 50s and have been playing competitively for 35 plus years. Im about a 650 fargo which is very competitive but lately have been working hard to improve but not having much success. Not sure it is possible to improve a lot once you hit a certain stage of life. Thoughts?
I can think of a few flippant answers. 😉 So I will strive for a well thought out one. Hmmmmm, ouch that's making my brain hurt. So back to the "It will feel better when it quits hurting" answers.
1. Play stronger players. Equally matched players competing can push each to elevate.
2. Deep introspection. "Before you can change a light bulb ......it has to really want to change. 🤷‍♂️ Or something like that. 😉
So the shrink would ask, "Why is this Fargo rate that you speak of important to you.?"
3. Practice practice practice. Well at the 650 elevation you must be doing a lot of things right. Makes it harder to find an aspect of your game to improve. The easy answer is Billiards. The skills required in Billiards games can definitely enhance your pool game.
 
He's a 650 fargo, which is a top local player, he's been competing for decades. He's probably seen and done everything there is to do in pool. Pool is 90% hand eye coordination. 90% mental is a big BS. You can tell how good a player will be quickly when they start out. In very rare cases do experienced players noticeably improve. A 50 point fargo difference is at least the 7 ball spot. Can anyone here give the 7 to a guy they played even with 10 years ago?

Me.

Lou Figueroa
 
Lou you and I have met a few times. Even played a little 3C.
I am also still improving, in my mid 60's. The art of pool just makes more sense to me now.
We need to play sometime for $hits and giggles and get it streamed!
Maybe Ray Hanson? Or Black-Balled, I don't think he streams but it would be a hoot.

CB, I'm your Huckleberry.

Lou Figueroa
 
Just a little more seriously: at a higher level of play, the player knows better than any instructor where their weaknesses are.

From there it's just having the will to work on them.

Lou Figueroa
 
What we lose from aging is often compensated by what we gain, The issue, in this case, is how these losses and gains translate into one's pool game. Much pool ability is simply talent -- a gift from the gods which cannot be attained or acquired. Experience, another essential asset, can be acquired, but requires sacrifice in other aspects of one's life. What you are seeking is never as simple as a change in your glasses rx. Pool, like everything, begins with innate ability and ends with the discipline required to hone and properly apply your talent. Ultimately, the answer to your question is the same as the answer to many of the great questions. What do you have, what do you want, what will you give to get it?

If it is really what you want, find an epicenter of pool and take a deep long plunge.
Above is a great answer to your question- I will add to this from my own experiences as a now 70 year old and playing the best pool of my life. Let's assume good health, reasonable eye sight etc. - to me, then the next greatest factors in improvement at this game considering age are: desire, time, proper focus, and sacrifice.

How much DESIRE do you have to truly improve your game--- How much time are you willing to devote to improving, Can you find the correct methods and identifiable areas for true skill improvement for your game specifically, and lastly- how much of the rest of your daily life are you willing or able to sacrifice for improvement in this game.

If you strip away natural talent and good or bad fortune- most other success factors in life , I believe are attributable to desire, time, focus , and sacrifice.
 
A series of lessons from a reputable instructor combined with puting in a lot of hours, hard work and meaningful practice, would give you your best shot.
I think this is a highly underrated point. I mean, Tiger probably knows as much or more about golf than anyone, but he still has a swing coach, short game coach, etc.

Same for professionals of all sports, pitching coaches, hitting coaches, etc.

I think the problem with pool is, can you make it financially make sense to pay for a coach/lessons if you are not playing big money matches/tournaments. That, and there seems to be an almost aversion to asking other people for help among many pool players.

Example: I have a buddy who is between 670 and 700. Good enough to beat most anyone around here, and good enough to cash/win sometimes in the local tourneys from Birmingham to Nashville. He would like to advance past the 700 level, and when I asked him about getting professional help, his response was "nah, just gotta put in more table time and get in stroke."
 
Can you improve another 25-50?

Short answer: yes.

Lou Figueroa
70 and still improving
I guess father time comes a-callin' for us all...but I think the game can be rewarding for years to come...at least my 46 year old brain wishes for this to be the case. The excerpt below is from Onepocket.org's interview with George "The Trapper" Rood, a legendary player in his own right. Rather than mourning the "failure" to run 90 on his 90th birthday, I find hope that he was even trying! I can only hope for such a fine outcome for myself, though my high run goal at an advanced age will be a touch lower...;) There is a consolation prize in trying one's best regardless...the pursuit can be its own reward regardless of outcome. That's my 2 cents.

"OnePocket.org: Well George, you are an inspiration to all these younger guys that are 9-Ball players and are taking up the game of One Pocket when you were — how old were you when you took up One Pocket?
George Rood: 75 or 80.

OnePocket.org: 75 or 80; so it is never too late!
George Rood: Well at 75 I could still run out the balls pretty well, especially Straight Pool. I haven’t tried lately, but I tried to run 90 on my 90th birthday and I didn’t get it done. I have to admit a failure.

OnePocket.org: Well, maybe you’ll make up for it next year if you run 91.
George Rood: There you go. The last run I made more than my age was 126 a couple of years ago. That’s a pretty good run for an old man. They had a One Pocket tournament the other day and I was playing. I was one in the hole and they had seven. And I made a shot and ran nine and out. The other guy broke the balls and I ran eight and out. I broke the balls, made one on the break and run three more, so I ran 21 balls.

OnePocket.org: So you ran nine, eight, and then four, at 90 years old!
George Rood: Yeah, that’s quite a few in One Pocket."
 
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Is it possible to improve significantly (25 Fargo points or more) once you get a little older and have had the same game for a long time?
I’m in my upper 50s and have been playing competitively for 35 plus years. Im about a 650 fargo which is very competitive but lately have been working hard to improve but not having much success. Not sure it is possible to improve a lot once you hit a certain stage of life. Thoughts?
Of course you can improve!

Post some video in the Ask The Instructor subforum and I and other teachers will chime in to help you.
 
Curious on your thoughts as to why?
It may be difficult, with hurdles that maybe didn't exist to the younger self. I would say the biggest one being self-doubt.
But I see progress possible at all ages in a sport like pool. It's not like sprinting 100m :)
How about the psychological aspects that come with age?

I know when I was young and poor and had few responsibilities, I bet money daily with little care.

Now I'm grown, with money and obligations, and I have little care to bet money.

I find it extremely difficult to always care if I shoot some silly ball into a hole or not.
 
Lou you and I have met a few times. Even played a little 3C.
I am also still improving, in my mid 60's. The art of pool just makes more sense to me now.
We need to play sometime for $hits and giggles and get it streamed!
Maybe Ray Hanson? Or Black-Balled, I don't think he streams but it would be a hoot.
Streaming right now, m-man!
Screenshot_20231130-131153.jpg
 
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I see improvement in two categories...shot making and strategy. This may help in strategy.

Many good suggestions here. Improvement usually comes in steps so here's mine. Next time you play and come to a complex pattern. Take a photo...examine it later and see if there is a better way or if there is a shot you need to work on...then put it on this forum and ask for suggestions. There are good minds here with different approaches.
 
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