No Reason To Peak At Pool

[Johnnyt]

I don't believe there is any reason other than health issues that should make a good pool player that still puts quality time into his/her game peak at the age of most other sports. I think with most top tier players that quit, it's because they get tired of the grind for the little money in return. Keeping that killer instinct for 30, 40, or 50 years is tough. Making the game 4 to 8 hours a day of your life for all those years is also hard to do. Johnnyt

 

[C.Milian]

It's just not worth it. The time and health you lose does not equal the money. Your body goes through so much change in the process. Personally, I've spent 1000s of hours, and I'm not even half way there. If I knew this I never would have devoted so much time and money. I could have spent that time on something like....well lots of things. As life becomes more demanding as you age, there is little time to finish what you have started. So if you want to become a pool player, you better be prepared to give your entire life to it for the first 10-15 years. Screw up and you will be in no man's land, unfinished ....just another hack that never got there...like me.

(Sucking on a shotgun barrel...and a 22 through the ear) J/k.

 

[LuckedOut]

Playing pool in the effort to be good can't be all about money, especially the defacto paper "money" in circulation today.

Can anybody name one great player out there who did it for the money and not the love of the game?

Nobody becomes great at pool for the money without praising the god moloch <<=========and if they did what a hollow pity.

I don't see anything wrong with peaking at pool the day before you die, as long you enjoyed it.

Paper money is a scam, don't be loured in by it's lack of true shiny substance or taint the greatness of the game by saying it's not worth it.

True wealth is in between your ears.

 

[Maniac]

Playing pool in the effort to be good can't be all about money, especially the defacto paper "money" in circulation today.

Can anybody name one great player out there who did it for the money and not the love of the game?

Nobody becomes great at pool for the money without praising the god moloch <<=========and if they did what a hollow pity.

I don't see anything wrong with peaking at pool the day before you die, as long you enjoyed it.

Paper money is a scam, don't be loured in by it's lack of true shiny substance or taint the greatness of the game by saying it's not worth it.

True wealth is in between your ears.

What kind of whacky-backy is it that they grow up in them Oregon forests :thumbup:???

Maniac

 

[LuckedOut]

What kind of whacky-backy is it that they grow up in them Oregon forests :thumbup:???

Maniac

Probably the same stuff our countries forefathers grew, they were not fooled by paper money either.

Seriously though, pool is a game there is no reason you can't keep getting better at unless your eyes go or your body falls apart.

 

[C.Milian]

Playing pool in the effort to be good can't be all about money, especially the defacto paper "money" in circulation today.

Can anybody name one great player out there who did it for the money and not the love of the game?

Nobody becomes great at pool for the money without praising the god moloch <<=========and if they did what a hollow pity.

I don't see anything wrong with peaking at pool the day before you die, as long you enjoyed it.

Paper money is a scam, don't be loured in by it's lack of true shiny substance or taint the greatness of the game by saying it's not worth it.

True wealth is in between your ears.

I don't think that is entirely true. It sounds so genuine and nice to discover all of life's riches, but as you grow whats between your ears, you'll understand that money will keep most of life's troubles away. Some people aren't susceptible because they are beyond well off. But even then, money can help with the most important thing in life.....health. So if your number one motive is to live a prosperous healthy life....get mo money. Or you can become the many champions with zero in the bank, a bad back, and barely a place to sleep.

 

[Johnnyt]

I don't think that is entirely true. It sounds so genuine and nice to discover all of life's riches, but as you grow whats between your ears, you'll understand that money will keep most of life's troubles away. Some people aren't susceptible because they are beyond well off. But even then, money can help with the most important thing in life.....health. So if your number one motive is to live a prosperous healthy life....get mo money. Or you can become the many champions with zero in the bank, a bad back, and barely a place to sleep.

I agree. Money can take away 99% of lifes problems. I've been poor and i've been a bit more than comfortable...I'll pass on the poor. Johnnyt

 

[LuckedOut]

I don't think that is entirely true. It sounds so genuine and nice to discover all of life's riches, but as you grow whats between your ears, you'll understand that money will keep most of life's troubles away. Some people aren't susceptible because they are beyond well off. But even then, money can help with the most important thing in life.....health. So if your number one motive is to live a prosperous healthy life....get mo money. Or you can become the many champions with zero in the bank, a bad back, and barely a place to sleep.

Point taken.

I was just trying to say I don' think money has ever really driven a great player of any sport without them being in love with the game they play.

Yes, it's good to stay out of the gutter and paper promissory notes will help.

I just hope my eyes and back don't go so I can keep getting better. Because thread starter johnnt is right, there's no reason to peak at pool unlike many other games.

 

[C.Milian]

Point taken.

I was just trying to say I don' think money has ever really driven a great player of any sport without them being in love with the game they play.

Yes, it's good to stay out of the gutter and paper promissory notes will help.

I just hope my eyes and back don't go so I can keep getting better. Because thread starter johnnt is right, there's no reason to peak at pool unlike many other games.

He's right. You don't peak. It is the nature of your body to become stronger as you age. It's your vital organs that get weak, then you die. Once you are there (regarding pool) there is no turning back, it is with you forever.

You don't need good vision to play pool. You just need to get to a point where your percentages are so high you don't have to rely on aiming. That is where I want to be or I will hate pool. And believe me, it is possible to get there. The pain and misery you have to go through to get there I imagine is worth it. I can't do it. I can't even tell someone how to do it for fear of putting them through the same BS I went through even if the kid shows extreme love for it. I wouldn't want to be responsible.

So here I am after years and years of playing and I can't even hang with a short stop...whats to love about that? Try harder? Give it another 5 years of my life? Then what die of liver disease because I can't afford health insurance by then? I rather get a measly job, that offers some kind of benefits and leave it all behind. I mean why else try to become good at something if "really good" means you can't beat the guys that are struggling to get by?

So that's what I meant. To be really good you have to get it done and over with and that takes 10-15 years of intense training and practice. Then you can make your 2000$ a month beating all the local champs. I can do that opening packages of shirts for a department store. If I did it 15 years ago instead of playing pool, I'd be rich! I love this game! WEEEEEEEEE!

 

[Poolwiz99]

Does anybody on these forims answer the question that was ask I will ,I started playing serious at age 28 am now 45 and every year I am becoming a better player and can play at a pretty high gear if I may say so myself ,but also agree you have to love the game and not worry about the time it takes to get good at it

 

[WardS]

I don't remember the quote but it says to be the best at something you first have to be a slave to it. Pool is no different.

JMO

 

[berlowmj2]

millionaire pool players

Playing pool in the effort to be good can't be all about money, especially the defacto paper "money" in circulation today.

Can anybody name one great player out there who did it for the money and not the love of the game?

Nobody becomes great at pool for the money without praising the god moloch <<=========and if they did what a hollow pity.

I don't see anything wrong with peaking at pool the day before you die, as long you enjoyed it.

Paper money is a scam, don't be loured in by it's lack of true shiny substance or taint the greatness of the game by saying it's not worth it.

True wealth is in between your ears.

Have any pool players become millionaires?

If so, were they hustling rather than playing tournaments?

 

[C.Milian]

I'm a lot older and wiser and nothing I want in life will be given to me by pool. HAHAHahahahahha.....ah.

(click)

 

[duckie]

I've been playing this 3 cushion guy in race to 3 8 ball games for beers the past few weeks. We are both one mistake players, meaning if one of us makes a mistake, the other usually wins, very close in skill level. And with short races, you have to be on more than off your game. Tough training really.

We play on 9ft tables with tight pockets and a the corner pockets are set up to rattle quite easy. So far in our ongoing series, he is two beers ahead of me. This guy can just get out from anywhere, plays a wicked safety, excellent speed control of the CB. He has one of the sweetest touches with a cue stick I've seen and can bank.

I'm slowly finding bout this guy. So far, I've learned he's gonna be 70 soon, played all the pocket games well before he took up 3 cushion which he plays quite well. In other words, he been at it for quite awhile and it shows in his game. Plus he shows no sign of ever slowing down.

His level of play at almost 70 has inspired me to keep at it and forget about whatever time is needed to truly master pool games. He also is my next goal in being able to win against more often in our race to 3 8 ball series.

Money doe not keep troubles away, just makes it easier to deal with most of them. The best way to keep the majority of troubles away is making the right decisions about most things, knowing how to live within your means and just plain ole common sense.

I'm going backwards in that, I'm making my life simple. Getting rid of things that I just thought I needed. Re-evaluated what the meaning of what life is about and for me, it's not what I own, the job I have/had,the size of the my wealth portfolio, the size of my house, but can I live with myself with the way I am living.

Money is needed for everyday living, but is over valued in its importance to a wholesome life. Like in pool, its between the ears that matters most.

 

[C.Milian]

(click)

Goodbye Az......

Godarnit the locks were on.

 

[King T]

The Money????

If you love the game, the people that you play with and all that goes with the game, then its worth it. The friends I've made across the country.., no way I would trade them in for money. If money is your goal, way try to get it from pool. Bowler's.., Chess player's.., Dart player's dont get paid and the list goes on and on..., table tennis players...,

If its about money, its about work, not pool..., if its about pool, the best in the game did it for the love of the game

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

I agree. Money can take away 99% of lifes problems. I've been poor and i've been a bit more than comfortable...I'll pass on the poor. Johnnyt

"I heard a long time ago that money can't buy happiness; and I realized that unless you have money you can't make that statement"...Berry Gordy.

 

[The Renfro]

In many instances the limiting factor sets in long before age ever enters into the equation..... The factor is the closing of the mind to new knowledge, techniques and ideas...

I have met players who have been playing for 20+ years that have likely played at the same level for the last decade... They won't improve and they are now mentally locked in....

You mention something new to them like a "new" aiming system, Back Hand English, advanced stroke technique, or improvements in cue, tip, and chalk technology and you get responses along the lines of calling all of it a bunch of snake oil......

If you have been playing seriously for more than a few years and you still aren't even close to getting there, HAMB definitely isn't you answer... It's not like you are going to hit that 1,000,000th shot and suddenly break thru....

It may be a lack of talent but I am more than betting it is a lack of using that 6 inch space between your ears and trying a new road... The old one won't ever get you there.......

As you get older changing roads does get harder... It is very hard to admit to yourself that you have been doing something the wrong way for years... No one ever wants to chalk that much time up to being wasted...

The problem is that if you keep your mind closed you are just going to waste more time and you will end up older, disillusioned and bitter and in the end arguing with everyone on AZ who doesn't agree with you ......

No one is ever so old that they cannot learn something new... They just get to a point that they refuse to...

 

[C.Milian]

If you love the game, the people that you play with and all that goes with the game, then its worth it. The friends I've made across the country.., no way I would trade them in for money. If money is your goal, way try to get it from pool. Bowler's.., Chess player's.., Dart player's dont get paid and the list goes on and on..., table tennis players...,

If its about money, its about work, not pool..., if its about pool, the best in the game did it for the love of the game

If I'm not good enough to play under extreme pressure conditions, I'm getting a job with benefits. I absolutely do not care for anything else that comes with getting good enough to get the money. The prestige of being a tournament player does nothing to compensate for the torture I've put my body through. I have thrown away a decades worth of good health to play this game.

Everything has a life. Your body is like that of a remote control. Click it enough times and you will burn out. Training for years and not getting there at the same time destroying your muscle and surrounding tendons is not something I would choose had I known at the beginning. There is not enough love for anything to forsake your health. If I could i would trade my next million dollars for the damage I've done to be reversed.

 

[rrick33]

effects of age

Perhaps some of you should refresh a previous post on a book called "The Talent Code". Apparently there is a substance called Myelin that coats the neural pathways in the brain. As we program our muscle memory, this substance ensures that the electrical impulses remain insualted within the neural pathways.

As we age, the amount of Myelin drops off and if we do not consistently reinforce the necessary neural pathways, our ability to re-establish that insulating material becomes more difficult.

So, to answer the initial question .....yes, you can peak and reach a point where it becomes increasing difficult to recapture the performance you had in your younger years.

Fortunately, Myelin doesn't significanly begin to decrease until after 50-60 years of age. While we do produce Myelin throughout our life, the reduction has an impact on our ability to establish new pathways and reinforce existing pathways.

It seems that you really can't teach an old dog new tricks.