senior players?

oldplayer

oldplayer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i entered the senior age a few years back. my skill level is certainly different than when i got started! generally speaking, i am sure the other seniors here experience the same problem. i find it a little harder beating the young "whipper snappers". what age do you think the pool paying seniors should be? 55 years, 60, 65? what do you think? i am also wondering how big of a group of senior players we have here on the forum, hundreds, thousands?
 
oldplayer said:
i entered the senior age a few years back. my skill level is certainly different than when i got started! generally speaking, i am sure the other seniors here experience the same problem. i find it a little harder beating the young "whipper snappers". what age do you think the pool paying seniors should be? 55 years, 60, 65? what do you think? i am also wondering how big of a group of senior players we have here on the forum, hundreds, thousands?
Click to expand...

I think its different for everybody, maybe it has alot to do with vision. The majority seem to fade out after 60. My partner is 66 though, can still run 100 or more balls. I also remember john ervalino running hundreds into his 70's. Gene nagy too, hundreds.

But I suppose these guys I mention are naturals. Other guys I see, the mortals....some of em turn to more strategy based games like 1 pocket. Not because they cant stroke well, these guys can still play! I'm told its mostly because they have trouble seeing the longer distance shots.
 
There are two State Tournaments in Iowa. One says you need to be 50 and the other 55. I think 50 is too young. 55 is on the edge. I believe a Seniors event should start at 60 and a Super Seniors should start at 70.

One of the reasons that the ISPA started a Seniors event was because of endurance issues. It's not that a 60 Y.O. can't compete with a 25 Y.O., but if they have both been standing and playing pool for 12-15 hours, who do you think the winner will be? The ISPA limits the Senior events to about a 10 hour day. That might change slightly when the numbers of entrants increase, but I doubt you will never see them start at 9AM and schedule the last match at 12AM. There is consideration for the players involved. I think that is an important factor to consider.

I am a Senior in both tournaments and I love the atmosphere during those events. Slowed down, laid back and fun. Nobody running around the table like it's a timed race. And not too many personality conflicts...not too many hot headed, fat headed seniors around anymore, we've kinda grown outa that.

Whew, I'm kinda tired now, I think I'll go get a glass of Metamucil and take my Geratol before my nap now. When I wake up, I think I'll stoll down to the pool room and knock some balls around.

L8R...Ken
 
I also play in Iowa although i didnt last year . One of the things players have aloud to happen is horrible lighting. Just because we are on bar tables we still deserve good lights. 40&60 WATT BULBS IS******.Gambling all night is one thing but playing tournament pool at 2-3am getting up and having to play at 9amtill the evening when you play on the natch is bull****. Old guys can play just look at guys like seco vanni from mn. FRANK THE BARBER, BOB VANOVER JAY H. WOOPS SORRY jay.
 
thanks for the feed back. since there is appoximately 36,000+ members on the az forum, i wonder what percent is "senior"?
 
saw a reference to "ispa".......did a google search for that....no results for any pool related organization. what is "ispa"?
 
At the Super Billiards Expo at Valley Forge they have a Seniors event and the age is 55 and older. Several hundred players enter each year and, to be honest, it is one of the hardest tournaments at the expo to win. The talent of the senior crowd is amazing.

BTW, they also started a Super Senior event a couple of years ago for the 65+ crowd.
 
Rich R. said:
At the Super Billiards Expo at Valley Forge they have a Seniors event and the age is 55 and older. Several hundred players enter each year and, to be honest, it is one of the hardest tournaments at the expo to win. The talent of the senior crowd is amazing.

BTW, they also started a Super Senior event a couple of years ago for the 65+ crowd.
Click to expand...

I believe the seniors event is 50 and over. :thumbup:
 
I'm almost 65 and I can still play at a high level.But as others have said I tend to fade sooner now then in the past.I can play my top speed for about 5 hours then I'm done. :thud:
 
I would think that having senior events be for people age 55 is pretty fair and beginning 65 move into supersenior status also to be a pretty good idea. I am turning 60 in about 5 months and still play pretty well at least I feel that way.. In the league I am part of there are many very strong players over 50 and the younger guys know it and appreciate having us around. I think it is good for the younger guys to see that it's possible to still be very competitive in pool as you age. Personally I feel like I can play well and enjoy pool into my 70's barring any serious illness or calamity of some sort.
 
55

Last couple of years have changed the way I approach large tournaments. Still have a good game just comes with a little more discomfort. Not played a senior tourny yet but would like to if you could play in open as well.
 
What is it?

Is there a common issue with seniors and the limits to their play? Generally speaking is it the eyes, the physical fatigue, the mental fatigue or what? The eyes can be corrected but eye fatigue could still play a part. Physical fatigue is a matter of conditioning which becomes more and more difficult as age increases. Mental fatigue appears to be the great unknown as far as prevention goes.

So again, does there seem to be a common failing among most seniors or is it a mishmash of all of the above?
 
oldplayer said:
thanks for the feed back. since there is appoximately 36,000+ members on the az forum, i wonder what percent is "senior"?
Click to expand...

An indication of the senior percentage can be had from these threads:


It looks like the more recent poll had a considerably higher percentage of seniors responding, and the median age of the responders was higher.
 
Last edited:
Physical

2 back surgeries, sciatic nerve pain, swollen ankles, knife pain between shoulders and bifocals that are not usable on the table. No comment on mental issues. But would match up in a heart beat. Not sure if it's common but It's all good.
 
oldplayer said:
i entered the senior age a few years back. my skill level is certainly different than when i got started! generally speaking, i am sure the other seniors here experience the same problem. i find it a little harder beating the young "whipper snappers". what age do you think the pool paying seniors should be? 55 years, 60, 65? what do you think? i am also wondering how big of a group of senior players we have here on the forum, hundreds, thousands?
Click to expand...

I hit 60 this past nvember and I now take Viagra to keep form falling out of bed!!
 
Senior

The BCAPL has men senior at 55+ and super senior at 65+.
These divisions grow every year and the action is tough!

We do try to limit the daily hours of play because we can get complaints if the day is too long.

The women senior starts at 50 years old.

I personally believe these ages are all too low! but the senior fields get larger every year. I 'think' we have around 300 in the senior men division.

Mark Griffin
 
Mark Griffin said:
The BCAPL has men senior at 55+ and super senior at 65+.
These divisions grow every year and the action is tough!

We do try to limit the daily hours of play because we can get complaints if the day is too long.

The women senior starts at 50 years old.

I personally believe these ages are all too low! but the senior fields get larger every year. I 'think' we have around 300 in the senior men division.

Mark Griffin
Click to expand...
Mark, the women out live us by an average of 7 years. I think our numbers should be switched.:D
 
I'm 85 and have been playing on and off since 14. Most of my playing is on 9 ft tables but my home table is a pro 8. I don't care to play on 7 ft tables at all. My game isn't much and hasn't changed much for a long time. My lifetime high run is 29 which I did at home about 35 years ago. I have hit 28 twice recently on 9 footers but that 30 continues to elude. I've given up taking lessons and reading books and just play for the enjoyment. If I ever hit that 30 it will be sheer serendipity.

Dave Nelson
 
God bless you, Don. Besides straight pool, what game(s) do you like to play? How can you stand the cold weather in Racine?
 
good for you Dave! keep shooting 'em! i know a guy that is 84 and he still shoots pretty well. it is all for the love of the game! :thumbup:
anybody know about what percent "senior" players on the az forum?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top