Lost my interest and am bored when I play...anyone else feel like that?

[mikeyfrost]

Well Mikey, you need to find a way to get that hunger back again. I think part of the reason you have lost interest is because of the people you have backed around here. They just made you lose interest because you thought they were better than what they are. That can be a let down too. If you need something to something to get you fired up about pool again, I recommend you go to Derby or some tourney where the competition is a few levels above you. Hell, go to Sioux Falls and play Shane for a couple days.

To get the fire back, you have to want to get it back! If you don't, go play poker with Paul Baker or something

You must hate me if you want me to go play SVB for a couple of days. Unless he's offering lessons, I don't quite think I'll go looking for Shane. Maybe I'll go looking for him if I decide to do an autobiography with a camera so that after I go busted I'll have a DVD to sell to help pay my mortgage.

I'd like to go to more different tourneys in the surrounding areas, it's just really boring going to them alone. You'd think a crew would go to each tourney but that's not the case.

Getting to see Earl hit balls always fires me up, see if he still has that huge stroke.

 

[mikeyfrost]

I was the same way. I seemed to have hit a wall as far as skill level and how I was playing. Then I watched a couple of impromptu hustle matches. I'd seen plenty before. But when I watched a guy I have taken apart several times play an out of town pro and win a couple of sets, it rekindled everything I started playing for. I even took a couple lessons from an old school local pro and it really renewed my interest for the game. I can honestly say after being burned out, that I'm more interested in the game than ever. I even went from lurking on this board for several years to actually posting :smile:

I don't really think I've hit a wall though. I like action matches and it's been a while since I've got to sweat a good one. It's just hard to get the enthusiasm back.

 

[jay helfert]

A very interesting thread here. I think most of us "lifers" can relate. From my mid 30's until my mid 40's I often felt like I needed a career change, away from pool into another line of work/play. I made several forays into other endeavors and other sports (golf) and gave up fairly quickly on each one. Finally at about age 45 I realized that pool is my life and my career. I might as well accept this fact and make the most of it.

There are so many avenues open to us who love the sport of pool. Most of the posts on here have focused on playing pool or teaching pool. All good, but there are many more options. For example, if you own a poolroom you will be consumed with the business end of it and still get to hang out in a fun (most of the time) environment every day. Nothing like being in a poolroom to rekindle your interest in playing too. The last time I really got in stroke was when I had my last poolroom (four years ago now).

Other options that I have availed myself of include tournament officiating and directing, tournament promoting, staking players, making pool videos, buying and selling cues and tables, doing commentary and writing about pool for magazines and newspapers. None of the above required me to make a ball, but kept me close to the game. And I even made some money doing them. :wink:

Currently what keeps me most involved in the sport is AZ Billiards. Yes, my involvement with these forums is what keeps me most in tune with the world of pool. It's funny, I have a beautiful Diamond table in my game room that sometimes sits idle for months at a time. But I never cover it up or use it for a work bench or anything other than it's intended purpose. If you come to my house you will see a table ready for play, ALWAYS! Because I know that some day I will feel like playing again.

I have just begun to hit a few balls every day preparing for DCC. Not much at first, only 30-45 minutes at a time. Just trying to get loose and find my stroke. IT'S SO HARD TO GET BACK IN STROKE! Why do I let myself get out of stroke? I've asked myself this question a million times with no answer yet. But one fact remains for me. I am a pool player! Even if I never hit another ball, I am a pool player. Just like Freddie and yes, just like Chris Bartram. I will never again play like Toupee Jay, who had a rep, but I can still play the game regardless. It still feels good to zing a couple of banks cross corner or fire in a long shot off the end rail. I just don't do it as often anymore. :smile:

So my point, if I had one, is that you can maintain your interest in pool without actually playing pool. And when you're ready, you will play again. I'm working on my fiftieth comeback now. :grin:

 

[mikeyfrost]

A very interesting thread here. I think most of us "lifers" can relate. From my mid 30's until my mid 40's I often felt like I needed a career change, away from pool into another line of work/play. I made several forays into other endeavors and other sports (golf) and gave up fairly quickly on each one. Finally at about age 45 I realized that pool is my life and my career. I might as well accept this fact and make the most of it.

There are so many avenues open to us who love the sport of pool. Most of the posts on here have focused on playing pool or teaching pool. All good, but there are many more options. For example, if you own a poolroom you will be consumed with the business end of it and still get to hang out in a fun (most of the time) environment every day. Nothing like being in a poolroom to rekindle your interest in playing too. The last time I really got in stroke was when I had my last poolroom (four years ago now).

Other options that I have availed myself of include tournament officiating and directing, tournament promoting, staking players, making pool videos, buying and selling cues and tables, doing commentary and writing about pool for magazines and newspapers. None of the above required me to make a ball, but kept me close to the game. And I even made some money doing them. :wink:

Currently what keeps me most involved in the sport is AZ Billiards. Yes, my involvement with these forums is what keeps me in tune with the world of pool. It's funny, I have a beautiful Diamond table in my game room that sometimes sits idle for months at a time. But I never cover it up or use it for a work bench or anything other than it's intended purpose. If you come to my house you will see a table ready for play, ALWAYS! Because I know that some day I will feel like playing again.

I have just begun to hit a few balls every day preparing for DCC. Not much at first, only 30-45 minutes at a time. Just trying to get loose and find my stroke. IT'S SO HARD TO GET BACK IN STROKE! Why do I let myself get out of stroke? I've asked myself this question a million times with no answer yet. But one fact remains for me. I am a pool player! Even if I never hit another ball, I am a pool player. Just like Freddie and yes, just like Chris Bartram. I will never again play like Toupee Jay, who had a rep, but I can still play the game regardless. It still feels good to zing a couple of banks cross corner or fire in a long shot off the end rail. I just don't do it as often anymore. :smile:

So my point, if I had one, is that you can maintain your interest in pool without actually playing pool. And when you're ready, you will play again. I'm working on my fiftieth comeback now. :grin:

Thanks Jay for the words. I do agree with a lot of what you had to say. I think it's all about finding a balance. I just feel like everything around me is slow right now. I'm a project manager so naturally in the beginning of the year they are trying to finalize budgets and timing to cash flow new projects, in other words until I get a green light I pretty much sit idle at work all day, that's boring. So when I get off I go to the pool room some days and it's the same old same old. It's nice to go in somedays and just see something going on that isnt normally going on. I sweat everything. I don't care if people are good players or not so good players, it's irrelavent to me. I like to watch the fight. For 2010 I am going to do a lot differently to keep myself interested and motivated as I realize I no longer get the natural rush just out of playing.

A great friend of mind named Danny Odom, he owns King Street Billiards in Fayetteville,NC, called me at 6:50 AM this morning. He told me he heard about the thread and wanted to talk to me. We talked for a half hour before his morning hike in the mountains. He filled me in on everything and everybody and whats been going on back there. He told me the guys all sat and talked about me for a while last night and everyone misses me and wishes I was still back there. He reminded me of a lot of things I used to do that I realized I no longer do. I was very involved there and I know that kept my head and heart in it. He's always been a good mentor in life, sweet man that must have more time in his day than the rest of us because he gets so much done each day. He's going through it too now and the moral of the story is we are all human and we just need to take time.

 

[jay helfert]

Thanks Jay for the words. I do agree with a lot of what you had to say. I think it's all about finding a balance. I just feel like everything around me is slow right now. I'm a project manager so naturally in the beginning of the year they are trying to finalize budgets and timing to cash flow new projects, in other words until I get a green light I pretty much sit idle at work all day, that's boring. So when I get off I go to the pool room some days and it's the same old same old. It's nice to go in somedays and just see something going on that isnt normally going on. I sweat everything. I don't care if people are good players or not so good players, it's irrelavent to me. I like to watch the fight. For 2010 I am going to do a lot differently to keep myself interested and motivated as I realize I no longer get the natural rush just out of playing.

A great friend of mind named Danny Odom, he owns King Street Billiards in Fayetteville,NC, called me at 6:50 AM this morning. He told me he heard about the thread and wanted to talk to me. We talked for a half hour before his morning hike in the mountains. He filled me in on everything and everybody and whats been going on back there. He told me the guys all sat and talked about me for a while last night and everyone misses me and wishes I was still back there. He reminded me of a lot of things I used to do that I realized I no longer do. I was very involved there and I know that kept my head and heart in it. He's always been a good mentor in life, sweet man that must have more time in his day than the rest of us because he gets so much done each day. He's going through it too now and the moral of the story is we are all human and we just need to take time.

Please tell Danny hi for me next time you talk to him. I really enjoyed the time I spent with him last year. He barely knew me and gave me his daughter's car to drive while I was there, so I wouldn't have to walk several blocks from the motel to the poolroom. By the way, the food at King St. Billiards is as good as any you'll find in any pool room in America.

P.S. Some days I walked anyway for exercise and curiosity. I like to get out and discover new things. I found a small cemetery with graves dating back nearly two hundred years within two blocks of the pool room. Not one of the regulars (Danny included) had any idea it was there. On another walk, I also found a small plaque that told the history of the area before it was known as Fayettesville. There was a different name for the community back then. I forgot it now but no one in the pool room had any idea that there was a previous name for their city. I had to tell them where the plaque was, so they could read it themselves. :wink:

 

[mikeyfrost]

Please tell Danny hi for me next time you talk to him. I really enjoyed the time I spent with him last year. He barely knew me and gave me his daughter's car to drive while I was there, so I wouldn't have to walk several blocks from the motel to the poolroom. By the way, the food at King St. Billiards is as good as any you'll find in any pool room in America.

P.S. Some days I walked anyway for exercise and curiosity. I like to get out and discover new things. I found a small cemetery with graves dating back nearly two hundred years within two blocks of the pool room. Not one of the regulars (Danny included) had any idea it was there. On another walk, I also found a small plaque that told the history of the area before it was known as Fayettesville. There was a different name for the community back then. I forgot it now but no one in the pool room had any idea that there was a previous name for their city. I had to tell them where the plaque was, so they could read it themselves. :wink:

Will do in telling Danny you said hi. That's the kind of guy he is, always lending a hand out. Hell he treated me like a son from Day 1 and I always appreciated it. Funny quick story about Danny...I was going to a tournament where the break and run pot had reached $600/ball. I told Danny I'm buying 300 tickets and running out, he says I'll take half. Well this is 3 or 4 days before the tourney and he never gives me the money. I called him day of and he didnt answer. Anyway I buy the tix and get drawn, then I run out for a $5400 payout, buy the bar a round of drinks and tip big and get the hell out of the place before anyone has a chance to set me up. Anyway I head to King Street to bring him his half of the money, I said Danny I ran out, he said "Keep it." I said didn't you say you had half, he tells me a man never has half of anything until he pays. I told him I knew he was good for it, he said its his fault he didnt make good on it. Literally wouldn't take the $2500 I was trying to hand him. You tell me how many guys you know that wouldnt have taken the cash. Stand up guy there.

 

[Ktown D]

I had the exact same problem so I decided to take up a new hobby-- remote control jet airplanes.

When I first decided to get into this hobby, I went out and bought a pretty large F-18 Hornet with a 70mm ducted fan (pretty big). I also went out and bought a virtual reality helmet and a tiny color camera that sends an RF signal to a receiving box (where I plug my glasses into). I spent a TON of cash on this stuff. The concept was to fly around the neighborhood (basically 2500' range) at 130 mph from a first-person person perspective (like I was 2" tall in the cockpit).

The very first time I got everything ready--- I took it to a HUGE park. Elevators...check. Ailerons...check. Rutter...check. Throttle....check. V/R Goggles.....check. OK....I full-throttled the F-18 and WOWWWWW.....that thing took off like the REAL thing......REAAAALLY fast. UH OH...REAAAAAAAALLY FAST!!! OH SHIT!!!! TOO FAST!!! TURN LEFT ... NO, UH RIGHT!! DOWN!!! I MEAN UP!!!!

*CRASH*

I picked up the pieces like the dad picked up his Leg Lamp (Major Award) in the movie A Christmas Story and put it back in my car. When I got home, I tallied the receipts and spent nearly $100 / second on my entertainment for the day.

Before you know it, I was re-invigorated with pool.

Don't get me wrong, I'm gonna buy another one shortly.... but I no longer think the grass is greener on the other side (hobby-wise).

Dave

Here's what I was flying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRcoENctZg&feature=related

Man.....here I thought that $8/second fun I had that time was pricey.

 

[Ktown D]

Mikey,

I am kinda in the same boat you are in. I lost the desire to practice long ago so I don't expect to get better than I currently am. I am a fairly good player when I can motivate myself and concentrate on playing. I just don't have that "drive" to win like I used to. I guess having a family and only getting to play once every week or two doesn't help but even when I go it usually just leads to frustration. I am playing a ball or two under what I know I should be and I know it is because I don't put in the time but it is still irritating. I don't care enough to practice but I don't want to lose.......catch 22.

Hopefully DCC will re-invigorate me to want to play more and get back in stroke.

 

[ykndoit]

Come play poker Friday night. That will help you get your mind off of pool for a few hours! Then afterwards, maybe we can head to big dogs and hit some to get you back in the mood!

 

[Tom In Cincy]

almost 100 years ago... from Brunswick Billiards

The classic book, MODERN BILLIARDS, states that it is a
"SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMENT". The first two paragraphs of the
INTRODUCTORY in the 1912 copyright by THE
BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER CO. expresses it very
eloquently:

"APART from its inviting to moderate and wholesome exercise,
billiards, as popularly played, is pre-eminently a mental
pastime. Nearly all its exponents of approved skill, whatever
were the drawbacks of their youth, are intellectually quick and
bright. This is due in some measure to the ready mathematical
requirements of the play as a routine, but in a much greater
degree to its taxing the eye, stimulating the fancy, and
disciplining the mind by imposing watchfulness, invention, and
analysis. Slowness is costly, and hence, as an early habit, an
eager alertness of vision, alacrity of step, and promptitude of
decision."

"Regarding billiards as a spectacle, its physical requisites to
perfection are keen sight, level head and steady hand; but they
are by no means essential to enjoyment of it as a leisure-hour
diversion en amateur. In this sense, its charm lies altogether in
participation, which is all the more agreeable and healthful
because never needing to be exhausting."

 

[mikeyfrost]

Come play poker Friday night. That will help you get your mind off of pool for a few hours! Then afterwards, maybe we can head to big dogs and hit some to get you back in the mood!

You know I am an Earl Fan, no way can I miss him at Big Dogs tomorrow. I just need to see about 3 big draw shots and force follows and I'll be a happy man. Hope he shoots some "wing" shots too, he hits those like a champion. Gotta see the Earl and Schmidt show, I hope JS can run a 100 balls on our equipment, that'll be the nuts.

 

[mikeyfrost]

The classic book, MODERN BILLIARDS, states that it is a
"SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMENT". The first two paragraphs of the
INTRODUCTORY in the 1912 copyright by THE
BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER CO. expresses it very
eloquently:

"APART from its inviting to moderate and wholesome exercise,
billiards, as popularly played, is pre-eminently a mental
pastime. Nearly all its exponents of approved skill, whatever
were the drawbacks of their youth, are intellectually quick and
bright. This is due in some measure to the ready mathematical
requirements of the play as a routine, but in a much greater
degree to its taxing the eye, stimulating the fancy, and
disciplining the mind by imposing watchfulness, invention, and
analysis. Slowness is costly, and hence, as an early habit, an
eager alertness of vision, alacrity of step, and promptitude of
decision."

"Regarding billiards as a spectacle, its physical requisites to
perfection are keen sight, level head and steady hand; but they
are by no means essential to enjoyment of it as a leisure-hour
diversion en amateur. In this sense, its charm lies altogether in
participation, which is all the more agreeable and healthful
because never needing to be exhausting."

The author of that was too smart for his own good!

 

[mikeyfrost]

Pretty cool last night I walked in the pool hall and before I got my coat off John Schmidt and Mark Cantrill asked to be introduced to me. They were very cool guys. Looking forward to the show Earl and John Schmidt are putting on tonight at Big Dogs.

Got a nice PM from Demi Jelatis and he's on the road to Fargo now. He's gonna give me a call and tell me about a couple similar situations he's gone through. It's always nice when people share their experiences so everyone can learn from them. That's what makes this forum what it is, people being open about real topics and situations and letting others take positives away from negative situations.

Any more stories or advice out there....air it out, it feels better to get it off your chest.

 

[OUSooner]

Its been awhile since you posted this. Just seeing if you still feel this way. You seemed to be having fun when I met you. How has it been since?

 

[asbani]

I felt like this 10 years ago, at that time, whenever I held a cue to play, it's only 10mins then I throw it away, which led to me quitting pool for 7 years at that time.

I know a way of stopping this, if you like, PM me.

 

[mikeyfrost]

Its been awhile since you posted this. Just seeing if you still feel this way. You seemed to be having fun when I met you. How has it been since?

It's come around. I found a little more balance with it. I just play when I want to and not get too wrapped up in things that don't involve the table.

I felt like this 10 years ago, at that time, whenever I held a cue to play, it's only 10mins then I throw it away, which led to me quitting pool for 7 years at that time.

I know a way of stopping this, if you like, PM me.

If you know the way, you should post it up. Lots of us go through these stages.

 

[The_Rookie]

Quit for a few weeks.. or get your @ss handed to you embarrassingly in front of important people, that always seems to do the trick.

That worked for me.

 

[JoeyA]

Will do in telling Danny you said hi. That's the kind of guy he is, always lending a hand out. Hell he treated me like a son from Day 1 and I always appreciated it. Funny quick story about Danny...I was going to a tournament where the break and run pot had reached $600/ball. I told Danny I'm buying 300 tickets and running out, he says I'll take half. Well this is 3 or 4 days before the tourney and he never gives me the money. I called him day of and he didnt answer. Anyway I buy the tix and get drawn, then I run out for a $5400 payout, buy the bar a round of drinks and tip big and get the hell out of the place before anyone has a chance to set me up. Anyway I head to King Street to bring him his half of the money, I said Danny I ran out, he said "Keep it." I said didn't you say you had half, he tells me a man never has half of anything until he pays. I told him I knew he was good for it, he said its his fault he didnt make good on it. Literally wouldn't take the $2500 I was trying to hand him. You tell me how many guys you know that wouldnt have taken the cash. Stand up guy there.

That is a stand up guy.

I had a great time at King Street Billiards a couple of years ago. In fact, it is probably the same tournament that Jay was talking about.

 

[Fatboy]

Am I the only person that just is bored with playing right now? Maybe I have lost interest or something. I’m bored when I play good instead of normally feeling some semblance of accomplishment. I forfeit out of tournaments on a regular basis without losing just cause sometime between sign up and after winning a couple matches I decide I no longer care about the outcome and just quit. I gamble with people fairly regularly and instead of baring down and focusing, I just don’t care. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose, either way by the time I pay or get paid I don’t care. I even picked up playing one pocket to try to get my interest back up and that only lasted a good couple weeks.

Bottom line is I’m bored when I play and don’t have much interest anymore. I think I play out of routine more than genuinely wanting to go get some good practice in or match up. I like to gamble and even that isn’t making it exciting for me. I’m just not feeling it right now. I have leagues I am in and I skip them as frequently as possible because I don’t even feel like shooting so no way am I going to sit and watch others shoot. I’m competitive and don’t care about winning or losing in pool. Nothing is revving the engine.

Anybody else get like that sometime? If so, how did you get out of the funk?

Go play some $2000 sets and see if you lose interest. If your hitting them good and feel confident that much $$$ will put your head right. I have done it, it only didnt work one set, one time. Then I took some time off as there was no cure, hit up the gym and get your mind intouch wioth your body(thats what I'm gonna do soon) and when you come back to pool(and you will) you will feel good about yourself. Pool is so negative and frustraiting its hard to play full time all the time, I admire the guys who can.

The longest I ever played with out a break of more than 3 or 4 days was 4 years, and believe me I got sick everytime I went to the pool room for a month and just looking around the pool room made me sick, finally after that month I took time off. I took months off one time off, and another I took 6 years out of the pool room at that point I hated pool, I did start to play at home a year later, So a year without hitting a ball(it didnt really hurt my game much-I forgot some moves and safty play) its happened 2 times in 25 years, I awalys knew I'd be back but I had to get away.

best to you

Eric

 

[smoooothstroke]

A good friend of mine preaches balance in life.She has been around the pool seen and known many players.She has seen many players burn out and flame out.One thing she says is"you need to have all your ducks in a row".Also she tells me I have to have balance in life meaning a life other then just pool.

Lets face it pool can be an addiction for most of us.To keep it a healthy addiction we have to keep it in perspective with the rest of the world.

Also sometimes we all just need a break from the game.For me summer is the best time to go weeks without hitting a ball.In the summer there are many outdoor things to do so its a great time for a break.