inside_english said:
Is 40 too late to try to turn pro?
I know the life of a pro pool player is difficult, but I can't seem to get job satisfaction anymore in my current vocation.
A little about me...I am an "average" player. I have never run more than 50 balls in 14.1, and I broke and ran 3 racks of 9-ball a few times in my life. I have been playing "off/on" for 20 years, but have never won anything major, and I have engaged in friendly wagers as well, no "serious" gambling.
I also don't play more than twice a month, which would obviously have to change if I decide to take this path.
Feedback appreciated.
Well, it depends. I agree with the responders who say "follow your dream", and "go for it", IF it really is a burning desire for you.
But, I'm going to offer two points. One is feedback for you, which is admittedly based only on what I know of you from your post. The second is an observation about skill and talent and hard work.
1. I feel that your desire to be pro would have to be VERY LARGE in order to a: be successful, and b: to tolerate the potential hardships of the lifestyle. I mean that the desire to play would burn in you and keep you awake nights dreaming about it. Now here's the feedback... I don't mean to be harsh, but you don't seem to be all that interested in pool. If you had the desire that I'm describing, you would already be playing and practicing for hours every day on your home table or you would be spending hours in a local room practicing and competing. I know, you haven't made it a priority yet and you are considering a larger commitment, but those who really have the drive FIND A WAY no matter what their life situation may be.
2. Contrary to the stories in sappy movies and grade school readers, there is a large aspect of natural talent to skill sports, and if you don't have the talent no amount of dedication or hard work will get you to the elite level. Except in very rare cases, you either have the potential or you don't. It takes a huge amount of work to get there even if you HAVE the talent. Getting there through hard work without the high level of natural skill is almost impossible.
On both of these points I am speaking from direct experience, not in pool, but in water skiing. I compete in slalom at the higher end of the amateur level. I'm forty-four and I've been at it for almost 20 years. To this day, I can lay awake nights dreaming about my next set (yes we call them sets too!) I am absolutely nuts about the sport and I have set my life up to accommodate this.
On the other side of the coin, when I started I displayed a very high level of talent, but over the years I plateaued. Believe me, I have the desire and commitment. I drove 120 miles round trip to the training facility four - five days/week for years (often AFTER a full work day). I keep very fit. I strength train in the off season. I haven't eaten butter on a potato or biscuit more than a handful of times in years. I have spent a lot of money on professional instruction. I could go on and on but you get the picture. The bad news is, I just don't seem to be as talented as the elite athletes, and it's quite possible that I never will be. Make no mistake, I'm very good, but just like in pool there's a huge difference between "very good" and professional. That's a hard fact to accept, but it's reality. It's not necessarily an age thing either, some of the elite athletes in my sport are my age and older.
Only you can assess whether you feel you have the raw ability or not, but even if you do have the talent, you'd better have a burning desire and motivation to practice MANY hours a day to develop the skill that would even marginally support you financially.
It's also true that nothing was ever achieved by a man who believed it was impossible. That's why I've used words like "extremely difficult" and "very rare" instead of "impossible" and "never". Just about anything is possible, but it's important to be firmly grounded and honest with yourself.
Good luck in whatever you choose to do.
Tom
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