"Pro" or "Amateur"

This has been debated here a lot already. It seems these days just labeling yourself as a professional on Facebook gets you there. Or consorting with professionals does. But the classic and proper definition for anybody who understands English is as follows: Professional - "to be engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime."

And the corollary word: Amateur - "a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis."

So if a line of work/profession is your primary source of income, you are a professional. It has nothing to do with how good you are at that work/profession. A lot of people conflate the level of talent with being a professional, but they don't actually go hand-in-hand. In the common reality, amateurs can in fact get remuneration, but it would not be their main source of income.

For example, my friend Sara is a great actress who only does it part time for fun; she is not a professional actress, but she is a medical professional and that is her main source of income... She's hot too. George Clooney, who sucks as an actor, is a world famous professional actor as it's his main line of income (not counting investments and business ventures).
 
Last edited:
Being a professional means it's your profession and you make a living at it. If that's not the case, then you are something else.
 
I'm thinking of a Jeff foxworthy routine:

...if you have ever complained about late fees....you might be a pro.

....if you have ever been banned or uninvited to an event....you might be a pro.

...if your friends rant about why you didn't make the mosconi cup team...you might be a pro....
 
measureman said:
So this means we have 3 or 4 real pro players.
Click to expand...

Yeah.........

Edit: I think we have more than that. Justin Hall, Justin Bergman, SVB, Rodney, Hunter Lombardo, Toasty, Dechaine, etc. Even strong shortstops like Josh Roberts who do nothing else but play pool I consider a pro.
 
Last edited:
In golf you lose your amateur status if the accept ANY financial reward for playing a round of golf.

If you accept $10 juice from your Calcutta buyer...you lose your amateur status.

An amateur golfter can accept a very limited amount of free equipment but cannont advertise or promote the equipment in any way.

Pretty tough rules when you consider that losing your amateur status means you can no longer play in any amateur events.
 
Its a weird subject. I work in a pool hall and make my living there and playing pool. So technically I could claim the professional title......however I am not. Playing is my main source of income but until the moderators here give me the pro accolade I won't claim it :)


Sent from my RM-917_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk
 
So for instance, just because I know this to be true, Hennessee hasnt made his living for at least the last 6-8 months at playing pool. He has a pool room that has paid his bills through this time. So is he still considered a pro?
 
BIGWERM88 said:
What determines a player being a pro or an amateur?
Click to expand...

If you can pay rent and buy food by playing pool, you are a pro. Even if you suck and just play people that suck worse to win the cash.

To actually play at a Pro level you need to be able to run 2-3 racks of 9 ball more often than you shower.
 
that's b.s.

abs said:
This has been debated here a lot already. It seems these days just labeling yourself as a professional on Facebook gets you there. Or consorting with professionals does. But the classic and proper definition for anybody who understands English is as follows: Professional - "to be engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime."

And the corollary word: Amateur - "a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis."

So if a line of work/profession is your primary source of income, you are a professional. It has nothing to do with how good you are at that work/profession. A lot of people conflate the level of talent with being a professional, but they don't actually go hand-in-hand. In the common reality, amateurs can in fact get remuneration, but it would not be their main source of income.

For example, my friend Sara is a great actress who only does it part time for fun; she is not a professional actress, but she is a medical professional and that is her main source of income... She's hot too. George Clooney, who sucks as an actor, is a world famous professional actor as it's his main line of income (not counting investments and business ventures).
Click to expand...

Sorry that's just not appicable to many sports...

There are many people who are independently wealthy or own their own businesses that run themselves and their primary occupation is the sport they play while their primary income is something completely different.

In pool being a professional is based almost solely on skill level.

People who compete and cash in most open events they play in are professionals, imo.

Jaden
 
abs said:
This has been debated here a lot already. It seems these days just labeling yourself as a professional on Facebook gets you there. Or consorting with professionals does. But the classic and proper definition for anybody who understands English is as follows: Professional - "to be engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime."

And the corollary word: Amateur - "a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis."

So if a line of work/profession is your primary source of income, you are a professional. It has nothing to do with how good you are at that work/profession. A lot of people conflate the level of talent with being a professional, but they don't actually go hand-in-hand. In the common reality, amateurs can in fact get remuneration, but it would not be their main source of income.

For example, my friend Sara is a great actress who only does it part time for fun; she is not a professional actress, but she is a medical professional and that is her main source of income... She's hot too. George Clooney, who sucks as an actor, is a world famous professional actor as it's his main line of income (not counting investments and business ventures).
Click to expand...

Worded perfectly, abs!
Your definitions of professional and amateur as they pertain to pool playing are spot-on.

I even agree with your assessment of Mr. Clooney's acting prowess—or lack thereof.
The actors (and pool players) with "star power" aren't always the best technicians in their respective fields.
 
Last edited:
I gotta agree with Jadens answer the best. From the little I know about professional pool it seems like its a very tough job if that is your only source of income. I think if you sell in maybe the top 25% of the calcutta in say a $10k to win tournament maybe you can be considered a pro?
I know that when we were racing it did not take a very high pay check for uncle sam to be after you for his % of tax $$$. Its not unheard for weekly racers to gross $30k a year, you know, just regular guys with full time jobs.
 
abs said:
This has been debated here a lot already. It seems these days just labeling yourself as a professional on Facebook gets you there. Or consorting with professionals does. But the classic and proper definition for anybody who understands English is as follows: Professional - "to be engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime."

And the corollary word: Amateur - "a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis."

So if a line of work/profession is your primary source of income, you are a professional. It has nothing to do with how good you are at that work/profession. A lot of people conflate the level of talent with being a professional, but they don't actually go hand-in-hand. In the common reality, amateurs can in fact get remuneration, but it would not be their main source of income.

For example, my friend Sara is a great actress who only does it part time for fun; she is not a professional actress, but she is a medical professional and that is her main source of income... She's hot too. George Clooney, who sucks as an actor, is a world famous professional actor as it's his main line of income (not counting investments and business ventures).
Click to expand...

So by this definition someone like Steve Mizerak was not a professional pool player because he was a full time school teacher?

Since there is no money in pool I think you have to go by a player's speed. This can't be compared to golf because a player can win a million in one PGA event. Even the guys kicking it around on mini tours make more than Shane.
 
I was going to take a cheap shot at an individual that calls themselves a pro.

I decided to take the high road and leave that person alone. (notice at no point in time did I mention gender)
 
In my opinion, there are more categories than just pro or amateur. Here are the designations that I use to classify players:

A professional pool player is someone who is attempting to (partially, at least) earn a living off of their skill as a pool player.

A tournament pro is someone who has a reputation for playing competitively in major open tournaments. Saying that someone plays at a pro level implies that they could be a successful tournament pro if they chose to.

A top pro is someone that is considered the favorite to win an open tournament without other top pros playing, and a threat to win any open tournament, regardless of the participants.

A house pro is a player who is designated (and possibly employed) at a particular pool hall for the purpose of marketing, giving lessons, and/or competing on the behalf of that pool hall.

A hustler is a player that takes advantage of other players through deception and/or sharking in gambling situations.

A pool professional is someone who makes a living providing services related to pool: providing lessons, running a pool hall, making or maintaining cues, etc. Some of these people play at a fairly high level, some don't. Some are former professional pool players.

An amateur is someone who doesn't play pool as a career, regardless of skill level. Some amateurs play as well as some pros, but generally don't have the time to maintain their skills at a top pro level.
 
Last edited:
nine_ball6970 said:
So by this definition someone like Steve Mizerak was not a professional pool player because he was a full time school teacher?
Click to expand...
I would say that he was both a professional pool player and professional teacher because he was counting on the supplemental income to maintain his lifestyle. He would also fit in some of the other categories I mentioned in my previous post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top