Reyes and Parica over 50 and still amazing

[recoveryjones]

I once read a mike Sigel quote that was something like this:
"Once you are 35 years old in pool, you are too old."

Not sure of his exact quote, however, he was basically saying that your game is starting to go down hill and you are past your prime years.

Reyes and Parica are in their 50's and still going strong as evidenced by Reyes recent IPT win and Parica's strong 2nd place finish at the 2005 US Open.These guys are still playing in MAJOR Tourneys and beating the young guys.

On the other hand USA legends(at a simuliar age) like Varner, Sigel,Davenport, Rempe etc etc (although still good) can no longer compete with the younger players and win at the Major tourneys.

Golf has some players who have done well in their late 40's (Nicklaus won a major) however, in most other sports when you hit 40-50 you are well past your prime and basically washed up.What Parica and Reyes can still do in pool and at their age, is nothing short of amazing.


Motivated by the money of the IPT players like Varner(and other older stars) are now practising hard and working on their physical fitness.I wish him and others the best and only time will tell if they can still compete.

As far as some of our older AZ posters go:
How are you playing in your late 40's-50's...or older?
How much has your game gone down hill?
Can you still compete with the young guys?
Is it still possible to improve at 50?
Is anyone improving with age?
RJ

......RJ,turning 50 this summer and still hoping to kick some butt!!!

 

[TheBook]

I think it depends on your attitude and physical condition. If you make a agreement that old age will affect you then it will. If you don't take care of yourself then you will also pay the consequences.

As you get older your body does breakdown and you may not have the stamina to carry on all day and night plus you may not be as hungry as you were when you were younger. Fred Sanford was told that at his age he can't be burning the candle at both ends and he replied that at his age he not only had to burn the candle at both ends but also in the middle.

I have heard players complain about their vision going bad and needing glasses. I think this is a excuse. I started to wear glasses and it has not affected my game. I still play bad.

I am almost 60 and playing the better than I ever had. I keep working on my game and improving. I will never be a pro but can still be a top level player.

Can I compete with the younger guys? Depends on their ability and not their age. May older players beat me and I can beat many younger.

 

[sjm]

I once read a mike Sigel quote that was something like this:"Once you are 35 years old in pool, you are too old."

A strange comment in view of the fact that his mentor, Irving Crane, was still one of the best straight pool players in the world into his late 60's.

Age affects each pool player in a different way. For most of us, the nerves and the eyesight decline. For most of us, our physical stamina declines, and our ability to concentrate for long periods of time becomes diminshed. For most of us, age has a way of reducing our passion for and willingness to practice. Speaking for myself, I have already experienced all of these symptoms of aging, and I'm not even 50 yet.

Nonetheless, there have always been those able to deter certain elements of the aging process to a point. Efren and Jose are two of them and it's our good luck.

 

[jnav447]

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that players in their 40's, 50's or even 60's can become (or remain) very proficient players. I think the key is loving to play the game (I love the game but don't love to play as much, unless it's a really good 1-pocket matchup) and working on new moves or safeties to compensate for the declining shot-making. I know a player who is in his late 50's, started playing about 4 years ago, is now an accomplished player in all games and gives lessons. He studied the game to the max, and put in years' worth of practice in a short period of time. Now he's the exception, but he proves that it can be done. I agree that the "vision thing" is way overused by a lot of geezers. At the top level, I think vision is very important (Efren may be proving this, and Mike Lebron before him) but, let's face it, when you suck (as 95% of us do) you GOTTA have a good excuse that can be used anywhere, anytime. What better dodge than "can't see them balls way down there, Mabel"? Hey, it beats blaming the cue, table, jukebox, weather, George Bush, etc. If you're "excusin" to someone with good eyes, they don't know better; if you're laying it on to another geezer, well you KNOW they're gonna be your new cheerleader. IMO if people are paying big bucks for Balabushka's, Stutz-Bearcat's and Stradivarious, then I'm screamin' that old is "where it's at".

 

[sasman]

I think it depends on your attitude and physical condition. If you make a agreement that old age will affect you then it will. If you don't take care of yourself then you will also pay the consequences.

As you get older your body does breakdown and you may not have the stamina to carry on all day and night plus you may not be as hungry as you were when you were younger. Fred Sanford was told that at his age he can't be burning the candle at both ends and he replied that at his age he not only had to burn the candle at both ends but also in the middle.

I have heard players complain about their vision going bad and needing glasses. I think this is a excuse. I started to wear glasses and it has not affected my game. I still play bad.

I am almost 60 and playing the better than I ever had. I keep working on my game and improving. I will never be a pro but can still be a top level player.

Can I compete with the younger guys? Depends on their ability and not their age. May older players beat me and I can beat many younger.

i'm 30 y/o but already feel my vision getting worse since the long cut shot that I almost missed every time. been wear glasses almost whole my life but except the long cut shot, my game is actually getting better while I'm older.. I'd think the cue ball control plays a bigger role when you are older, so you dont need to shoot distance shot, and no need for such power draw position shot as well

 

[sasman]

I think it depends on your attitude and physical condition. If you make a agreement that old age will affect you then it will. If you don't take care of yourself then you will also pay the consequences.

As you get older your body does breakdown and you may not have the stamina to carry on all day and night plus you may not be as hungry as you were when you were younger. Fred Sanford was told that at his age he can't be burning the candle at both ends and he replied that at his age he not only had to burn the candle at both ends but also in the middle.

I have heard players complain about their vision going bad and needing glasses. I think this is a excuse. I started to wear glasses and it has not affected my game. I still play bad.
I am almost 60 and playing the better than I ever had. I keep working on my game and improving. I will never be a pro but can still be a top level player.

Can I compete with the younger guys? Depends on their ability and not their age. May older players beat me and I can beat many younger.

that's funny~

 

[demonrho]

Fred Davis, born in 1913 and Joe Davis' younger brother, competed in Snooker and English Billiards in his 60s and 70s. From his bio: "Fred however was still a force in the game and reached three more world semi-finals, the last of them in 1978 at the age of nearly 65. He played his last world championship match at the Crucible in 1984 aged 70 but he still competed in the event, and on the professional circuit, until 1992 when arthritis restricted his mobility. At that time he was, aged 78, the oldest active professional sportsman in the world.
Having been ranked as high as number 4 when the world rankings were introduced in 1976, he went on to captain England in the World Cup and was still in the top 16 at the age of 67. When he was 66 he decided to try and emulate his brother by winning the world English billiards title which he duly did and successfully defended it in 1981."

 

[demonrho]

...complain about their vision going bad and needing glasses....

Fred Davis, the snooker champ who wore glasses and competed in his 70s, said when asked about his vision: "The balls have always been a bit blurry to me all my life and it never bothered me."

 

[TATE]

50? I think it's more like 70. Times have changed. Pool can be played at top level with decent health and an average fitness level.

Efren and Parica are just evidence of that. The reality is most 50 year olds don't want to take the risks involved with their income, so they can't do what these guys do.


Chris

Ps. Today I could spot my 25 year old self 2 balls.

 

[iacas]

In most sports you're done by the time you hit 32 or so. In golf, many golfers are only reaching their peak at 32... but golf sees a lot of variation: PGA Tour winners last year were 22 and 49 (and the 49-year-old won a pretty prestigious event).

But the thing is, just about every other "sport" is more physical than pool. Heck, pool is still considered by most to be a "game" rather than a "sport."

Eyesight as an excuse may have been true 20 years ago, but optics and science have fixed that. If you want good sight and have insurance, it can be yours for a $10 co-pay or something.

What can Corey Deuel's body do that Efren's can't? And, here's the kicker: what can Efren's mind do that Deuel's cannot? I think the experience of years in pool versus the physical abilities of youth comes out in a wash until someone hits their 70s.

"Hunger" is a psychological thing. Young players can lose the hunger, too, and skip tournaments to play golf or something. Oh, wait...

 

[recoveryjones]

50? I think it's more like 70. Times have changed. Pool can be played at top level with decent health and an average fitness level.

Efren and Parica are just evidence of that. The reality is most 50 year olds don't want to take the risks involved with their income, so they can't do what these guys do.


Chris

Ps. Today I could spot my 25 year old self 2 balls.

Thanks for everyone that posted.You old guys are truley an inspiration.I have to agree with Tate, that today I could give my 25 year old self 2 balls.

I just want to be able to give that young cocky whippersnapper, the 7,8,9!

RJ