Is it never too late to become a great player?

J

justinb386

Banned
I am now 35 years old, and really have not played that much pool within the last 10 years.

I think that is mainly because I have never lived in an area that I felt had a very strong pool scene (other then mostly the boring apa pool scene, which I never cared for).

I love the game so much though, and if I lived in an area that had a very lively pool scene, then I am sure that I would be out shooting every day.

Anyway, back to the question on the title of my thread .

Is it never too late to become a great player?

I played at a pretty strong A level speed when I was in my late teens (other then having kind of a weak defensive game, and a very weak bank game, so mostly just a very strong offensive rotation game).

I just wonder if it is too late for me now (and I am just too old) to ever become really great.

I would be happy just just be able to become a very solid all around A speed player, and would just like to know what kind of dedication I would need in order to get to that level possibly (if I have the skill within me).

How many hours a day and how many days a week would I need to practice, and could you guys recommend a great book or DVD video on drills that some of the elite pro level players did to get to their level?

I know that I will never get better by just shooting around.

I am sure that I need to practice by doing drills, but I just do not know what the best drills are out there to do, and any type of routine to do.

I do not have money for lessons, so I think maybe a good DVD video would be best for me.

Any recommendations?

Thanks a lot for any thoughts, or advice on a really good DVD (books are okay too, but I am kind of lazy about reading to be honest, and I think a video would help me the best).

Thanks again.
 
I don't know what it takes because I don't shoot pro speed, but I've thought about this topic a lot because I have a lady friend who wants to be a pro-level player (super talented, I think she'll get there), but she first picked up a cue at age 27 and asks this question a lot when she hears about people learning to really play at 10 years old. If you have the time to practice enough I think the rest is all a physical and psychological limitation...eyesight, hands, joints, back/neck, feet/legs, mental stamina, ability to cope with stress, perseverance, etc. If you are/were an athlete this seems more doable. A lot of the pros say how important it is to hit the gym regularly for this reason. It's an unexpectedly physical game when played for long periods.
 
If you're talking a solid A level player then I don't think it's too late at all. Getting to truly Pro speed in the men's game however is different I think, but solid A level is attainable. Doesn't mean everyone has what it takes to get there, but I think some certainly do and can make it happen starting later in life.

I would guess things might be a little easier for females just due to the smaller pool of players.
 
Check out Zero-X System on utube. I've been shooting pool for 35 years and picked up some more knowledge. Best part is it's free!!! I liked it so much I bought some of his computer downloads. Money well spent.
 
Definitely NOT too late. Pool is one of the most longevity-friendly sports out there. Talent doesn't disappear. And if you were truly playing A-speed in your teens, then it's still in there provided you haven't had a major injury to your body that would prevent you from excelling again.

The time commitment is the big question. Hard to say how much time you'll need to invest, depends on your definition of "great", and what your ceiling truly is. But "how" you spend that time is a different story.

If you were like many aspiring teens with a strong game, then you played 9-ball and 8-ball well, but stunk at straight pool and one-pocket (I was one of those)....and doing drills. You might place priority on learning those games to round out your skillset. Go on a quest to run 100 balls in straight, and see how long it takes you.

You can always keep learning. The wealth of information available today to accelerate your learning in the game is the best that it's ever been. We used to have to pay $40-$50 a pop for Accustat matches if we wanted to watch pros patterns. Now there's Youtube, and it's free. This forum is free. Books are cheap for knowledge they provide, especially if it's a game you don't know very well yet.

The good news is at your age now you probably have a more honest assessment of your game and what it needs. Take advantage of that. In our teens, we all thought we were champions until someone else cleaned us out. We had to go broke to learn our true speed :-)

Good luck
 
Nah. I am going to be 58 in April, at least if I remember, I am, and going to turn Pro on the 16th.

No, Justin. People are very capable of doing many things late in life, I seriously doubt that becoming a Pro later on is one of them. Not saying that a person can't.

One can pick up a musical instrument and learn at any age. It is just one of those things that do require concentration, dedication, stamina to a certain extent, focus and reflexes.

All things that we tend to start losing later on in life. Now, that said, there is nothing stopping a person from picking up the game and becoming very good at it.

I would bet that Johnny T still has it and could give anyone a run, but, he started at a younger age also.

I feel very fortunate that when out playing a few games, take a washroom break and don't half piss myself in the process.
 
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Spanish Mike is an example of someone who turned pro in his 40's (I believe) If I am wrong I am sure I will be corrected.

He is also the oldest man ever to win the US Open 9 ball.

It can happen, it is not common.
 
DJ14.1 said:
Definitely NOT too late. Pool is one of the most longevity-friendly sports out there. Talent doesn't disappear. And if you were truly playing A-speed in your teens, then it's still in there provided you haven't had a major injury to your body that would prevent you from excelling again.

The time commitment is the big question. Hard to say how much time you'll need to invest, depends on your definition of "great", and what your ceiling truly is. But "how" you spend that time is a different story.

If you were like many aspiring teens with a strong game, then you played 9-ball and 8-ball well, but stunk at straight pool and one-pocket (I was one of those)....and doing drills. You might place priority on learning those games to round out your skillset. Go on a quest to run 100 balls in straight, and see how long it takes you.

You can always keep learning. The wealth of information available today to accelerate your learning in the game is the best that it's ever been. We used to have to pay $40-$50 a pop for Accustat matches if we wanted to watch pros patterns. Now there's Youtube, and it's free. This forum is free. Books are cheap for knowledge they provide, especially if it's a game you don't know very well yet.

The good news is at your age now you probably have a more honest assessment of your game and what it needs. Take advantage of that. In our teens, we all thought we were champions until someone else cleaned us out. We had to go broke to learn our true speed :-)

Good luck
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Agreed.

Every player should go on the quest to run a 100 balls in straight pool. Straight pool will come back into vogue eventually...and we'll all be better off for it.
 
You have nothing to lose from turning pro, apart from, you may be hungry due to lack of funds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I played at a pretty strong A level speed when I was in my late teens
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Can you clarify this? I mean, if you really did play at a pretty strong A level, then you'd know what it takes.

Freddie <~~~ doesn't know an A from a C sometimes
 
impossible

world champions and world class talent can barely crack top fields nowadays
guys like Earl Strickland, Mark Tadd, too many to count
 
I have to ask, can a person of any age play at a strong A speed, yet have a weak defensive game and a very weak bank game?

I think the goal should be to just see if you can improve, and go from there.

Good luck.

PS I'm not near as old as Hog, only 58 in August, and my game is better than it was last year. Not pro but I have seen them play on the internet.
 
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justinb386 said:
I wonder where all in the USA they hold 14.1 (straight pool) leagues? Anyone know? Just curious.
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Have one in Portland. Mostly retirees, i think. It wasn't easy to find a match time that fit a 9-5 schedule, except early on the weekends and those two words don't belong together.
 
Cornerman said:
Can you clarify this? I mean, if you really did play at a pretty strong A level, then you'd know what it takes.

Freddie <~~~ doesn't know an A from a C sometimes
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Well, I was a naturally talented player (started taking the game seriously at around 14, and become a pretty strong player by age 16). Was winning all of the local tournaments that the university pool room held. Won a lot of pretty big local tournaments in my teens, and there were a lot of very strong players around back in those days. The thing is, that I never had a teacher, or any guidance. I never did any drills either (just loved to shoot). That is why I know I never surpassed a certain level in my game, and after my local pool room closed down in around 99, or early in the year 2,000 (I forget exactly when), then I never really played as much after the pool hall closed down, and just played at the local bars (which I am sure really hurt my game). So, I am sure I never got better (past a certain speed) because I did not do drills. I take back what I said about being a really strong A player in my late teens. I was more like a really strong B player (considering that there were aspects of my game that were weak, like banking, combination shots, and defense). I was just a very strong offensive rotation player, and I always played shape really well. Was a really great ball maker too (any shot except for banks). I can still shoot pretty well (my eye sight is still good), but I do not think I am at the same level that I was at in my late teens, which was not really that great anyways (always lost all of my money when going on road trips to St. Louis for example, but wow, those St. Louis MO locals were strong, and I was just not on the same level as some of them).
 
Maxx said:
I have to ask, can a person of any age play at a strong A speed, yet have a weak defensive game and a very weak bank game?

I think the goal should be to just see if you can improve, and go from there.

Good luck.

PS I'm not near as old as Hog, only 58 in August, and my game is better than it was last year. Not pro but I have seen them play on the internet.
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Yeah, you are right, I never played at an A level (unless you count an A level offensive game playing rotation pool). The A players that I knew back then played all aspects of the game at an A level, and that is why I could never beat them. They would lock me up behind a ball, and I could not kick my way out of it. So, no, I was never really an A player in my opinion (feel silly now for saying that I was). I did put a 6 pack on an 8 foot Valley once playing 9 ball, and back in those days, I could get out from anywhere (if I had a shot on the object ball, and I was a very consistent rotation player). Just never did any drills, and I think that is why I never got any better.
 
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