Pool vs. Life

bankshot76

bankshot76

I got a skinny shaft!
Silver Member
I was just wondering how other people go about practicing when they don't have a table at home, and also when you've got a family. I've found myself over the last couple of years trying to become a stronger player but with the expenses of a family and the restraints on table time it's been very difficult to better my game. I was going to lunch at my favorite pool hall everyday for a long time but I've received a promotion at work and now that's out. I guess this is more of me venting than asking for advice. As bad as I want to be a better player I've also got an obligation to my family and right now that is more important. I've heard other players talk about the same thing, so I guess this just kind of goes with the point I'm at in my life and maybe down the road I'll be able to free up some time and hit the tables a little more. Thanks for listening, at least now I feel like I've gotten something off my chest.
 
I have a table at home and I still find myself up at the pool hall everyday! I am married but no kids so I still have the time to shoot and I'm using it to my advantage.

I'm sure when the time if right for you, you will be ready to put the time in at the table again!
 
I find your subject very good.
Thats also something what is on my chest for a long time.

And i am wondering how other Players manage that.
I have almost absolutely no time for my favourite hobby...and i dont even have a Family !!!!!!

The time is just running out of my hands. The worst part is that i am a very talented Player and i could achive by far more than right now.

The bad thing on Pool is just that it is very time consuming.
I can really understand you. Maybe its just that we are not 20 years anymore and have many other things to manage in our daily life.

sad but true.
 
bankshot76 said:
I was just wondering how other people go about practicing when they don't have a table at home, and also when you've got a family. I've found myself over the last couple of years trying to become a stronger player but with the expenses of a family and the restraints on table time it's been very difficult to better my game. I was going to lunch at my favorite pool hall everyday for a long time but I've received a promotion at work and now that's out. I guess this is more of me venting than asking for advice. As bad as I want to be a better player I've also got an obligation to my family and right now that is more important. I've heard other players talk about the same thing, so I guess this just kind of goes with the point I'm at in my life and maybe down the road I'll be able to free up some time and hit the tables a little more. Thanks for listening, at least now I feel like I've gotten something off my chest.
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I was watching Barack talk last night on sixty minutes, he mentioned, going to his fav barber shop, and he likes going on long walks, now he can't, but he also said, it goes with the job. I too chose this path, but I'd already been playing 20 years, so I expected less when I played less.
Your first job is family and raising your children only "ONCE" no one likes taking care of their offspring once they are of legal age, if you have to babysit your kids throughout their adult lives...you've no one to blame but the dude in the mirror :wink:
 
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It is all a matter of priorities and you ahve to decide for yourself where yours lie.

Imagine a time when you can only sit in a chair. What are you going to regret- that you didn't play emnough pool, or that you missed out on family?
 
Thankfully...my kids are grown and I spent a ton of time with them growing up. I didn't start playing until they were out of high school.

Nowadays, I play 5-7 days a week depending on how my week looks. Sundays are always at least 3 hours, yesterday was 5 1/2. I have a table at home but prefer to go to a hall because I focus better there.

I play league 3 nights a week and on two of those nights I might sit. All in all about 15 to 20 hours a week of pool. It's hard to fit in because it really doesn't leave time for a whole lot of other things, especially during the week. But since I've been doing it I've seen a big change in my game.

I still have a long way to go to even be considered good but I enjoy it and the time seems worth it to me.
 
Why do you think pro players have a very high divorce rate or they never get married at all? It probably has a higher divorce rate than policemen. Pool takes up too much of their time. You can't not work, get up at noon, then hang at the pool room until it closes.There are very few women that will put ut with that now a days. Johnnyt
 
If I had limited time to develop my game I would: 1) Use my table time to build my stroke. I bought the book "The Best Damn Pool Book Period" and it has some good stroke-builder exercises; and 2) Dream about making shots. The movie, "Any Given Sunday" about pro football has a line that I just love. Al Pacino (the coach) tells Jamie Foxx (his young quarterback) something like "First, see it happen...then do it". I don't think this can be over emphasized. Like in golf, you'll never hit that perfect shot over the sand trap into the center of the fairway unless you first visualize it. Same with pool...and it takes no table time, and it can be done while the wife and kids are talking to you if you learn to nod your head while daydreaming.
 
I am not married nor do I have any kids but I got a new job and that has taken away a major amount of my playing time. I used to play 7-10 hours a week now I am lucky if I get 4-5 hours in and the saddest fact is that I have my own table!
 
Gurnee_Steve said:
If I had limited time to develop my game I would: 1) Use my table time to build my stroke. I bought the book "The Best Damn Pool Book Period" and it has some good stroke-builder exercises; and 2) Dream about making shots. The movie, "Any Given Sunday" about pro football has a line that I just love. Al Pacino (the coach) tells Jamie Foxx (his young quarterback) something like "First, see it happen...then do it". I don't think this can be over emphasized. Like in golf, you'll never hit that perfect shot over the sand trap into the center of the fairway unless you first visualize it. Same with pool...and it takes no table time, and it can be done while the wife and kids are talking to you if you learn to nod your head while daydreaming.
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I think I might have to find that book! :)
 
I would suggest going out one night a week during the week if you can. I play every day at lunch like you used to but if that's out of the question I definitely suggest doing a BCA league or something one night a week. If you can't do that then do one or two Sundays a month. Fight for your right! lol. I have a new baby coming so for the first 20 days I'm not going to be playing any pool, but when I go back to work it's back to the tables every day at lunch. My wife knows pool is part of who I am :)
 
No Success at pool is worth a failure at home. Balence is the key.

bankshot76 said:
I was just wondering how other people go about practicing when they don't have a table at home, and also when you've got a family. I've found myself over the last couple of years trying to become a stronger player but with the expenses of a family and the restraints on table time it's been very difficult to better my game. I was going to lunch at my favorite pool hall everyday for a long time but I've received a promotion at work and now that's out. I guess this is more of me venting than asking for advice. As bad as I want to be a better player I've also got an obligation to my family and right now that is more important. I've heard other players talk about the same thing, so I guess this just kind of goes with the point I'm at in my life and maybe down the road I'll be able to free up some time and hit the tables a little more. Thanks for listening, at least now I feel like I've gotten something off my chest.
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I have three kids and a table at home. I am trying to teach my little ones how to play and respect the game. I love my kids and really enjoy seeing their progress. I let each of them choose a cue from my collection to be their own and that has really meant something to them. I think my 7 and 9 year olds may have some of the most expensive cues for kids ever:p .
 
I have been juggling family and pool for several years now. I have a wonderful wife that will let me know when too much pool is not enough time being spent at home. ;)

My son is 8 and loves going to the tournaments on Friday night. He is ready to go home after a few hours but I enjoy having him there. Besides, if you can run out on your opponent with an 8 yr old in your ear you are mentally tough!! :D No book needed for that!!

My little girl is 4 and it is hard being away from her even when my son is with me. You know the daddy's little girl thing!! She makes every step I do at home and is actually much more competitive than my son. So she may be the next player. LOOK OUT!! She got MAJOR attitude too!!

I don't have a table at home so I make the most of my workout time at the pool room. I don't aspire to be a greater pool player than a father so I know where I stand. Although when the bug bites hard it can pull you apart sometimes.

My advice = enjoy the game for what it is. Be as competitive as you can be. And when some jerk gives you a hard time about how much you suck, forget about it!! And when the competitive spirit comes calling remember it is much more difficult to be a good parent than a great pool player!!

No trophy could ever replace your children!!:bow-down:


Gary
 
Ky Boy said:
I have been juggling family and pool for several years now. I have a wonderful wife that will let me know when too much pool is not enough time being spent at home. ;)

My son is 8 and loves going to the tournaments on Friday night. He is ready to go home after a few hours but I enjoy having him there. Besides, if you can run out on your opponent with an 8 yr old in your ear you are mentally tough!! :D No book needed for that!!

My little girl is 4 and it is hard being away from her even when my son is with me. You know the daddy's little girl thing!! She makes every step I do at home and is actually much more competitive than my son. So she may be the next player. LOOK OUT!! She got MAJOR attitude too!!

I don't have a table at home so I make the most of my workout time at the pool room. I don't aspire to be a greater pool player than a father so I know where I stand. Although when the bug bites hard it can pull you apart sometimes.

My advice = enjoy the game for what it is. Be as competitive as you can be. And when some jerk gives you a hard time about how much you suck, forget about it!! And when the competitive spirit comes calling remember it is much more difficult to be a good parent than a great pool player!!

No trophy could ever replace your children!!:bow-down:


Gary
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Well said Gary, No trophy can replace the joy of raising something that is a

part of you. I know that you don't get that instant high like winning a

tournament, (that only lasts until the next tournament). But, when you

look into your childs eyes and see that they are a part of you, it is a way

longer and fulfilling enjoyment than any short lived tournament win. I'ts

all a balance in life. To much pool = divorce! Trust me I know.
 
Perhaps my experiences may help another of the guys out there grab a hold of life and make it work.

I think it is a matter of priorities. I raised five kids and usually had a second or third job that was my "hobby." I always tried to make my hobby pay for itself so I did not take away from the family. In my life I have always needed what I call quiet time or as my family call it "Dad time." This is time for me to be me. I suppose that I am lucky because I am somewhat of an introvert and my hobbies were things I did alone.

When I was a professional photographer, I went to college part time, for fun.
When I got a Ph.D., my fun time was writing scientific articles.
Later as a professor I took up a new hobby, writing diagnostic computer software.
After that I wrote books for awhile.
Hobbies to me are things you do for yourself because you like them and no one tells you what to do.

Each hobby fed into the things I liked and my family could benefit from.

Each new hobby had to be practiced on my time, after work, and after the family needs were met. This was often from midnight to 4 AM and one day beginning early in the AM on the weekend. Friday nights belonged to my wife.

I firmly believe that you need your own time to be who you are. I used to tell my first wife (who died in 1992) that unless I get my quiet time I am a lousy husband, father and provider. I just get angry doing what everyone else needs. The trick is to balance all of these needs, including my own so I can be who they need me to be. My hobbies were always late at night or early in the morning. I "worked" at them and probably put more effort into my hobbies than I did the work for which I was being paid. Later, my hobby became either my new occupation or a secondary source of income.

In my thinking, you bet on yourself. Determine what you are, or could be good at and then put maximum effort into that area as time and circumstance permit.

In this way I have had much fun, raised a great set of kids, I am sincerely proud of everyone of them, and I made a good income.

I think that many people do not have the inner direction and confidence in their own abilities or potential to branch out and take on new challenges.

Currently playing pool is my new hobby and I have more time to devote to it, though fewer years to accomplish something. Even now I have made a little money with my ball polisher, counter beads (my daughter makes) and currently am writing some things that may be of use to others.

Yes it is about priorities, one of which is, How much sleep do you really need? I almost never watch TV and my family laughs at how little I know about the world of television, movies and in general pop culture. Some things are just more important than others and it is a matter of how you get it all together and make it pay forward.

In the eyes of many people I am a highly successful man who came from the relm of public welfare and orphanages with all that entails and yet at the end of my life I return to the streets, playing pool and just another one of the guys. What a great challenge, to start all over again at the age of 65.

Now if you think about it and you really like to play pool and have a family then you have to get a pool table at home. Used tables are inexpensive when you consider what "hobbies" cost. Of course this may mean that you have to get your own place first, and so it backs up until you get to where you need to be. One of the great things about pool is that unlike golf (which I liked for short itme until I realized there was noting other than business contacts in the offing) is that you are home -- no travel time, few expenses, and you are home when needed. When you get good enough the trips to tournaments are short and if arranged right are vacations for the family or weekends for you and the wife. There is some money to be made if you think it through. There are lots of really cool people. It is not always about being a champion, though that would be good. It is about a life style and looking for the opportunities that will make your hobby pay for itself.

I have been back to playing for about a year this time and have made a couple of grand so far. It is a matter of taking your hobbies seriously.
 
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