What age is a Poolplayers prime?

Eric.

Eric.

Club a member
Silver Member
So, I had some time to sweat the Turning Stone stream this weekend. Great matches! At one point, someone in the chat room threw out a bold statement saying "someone under 34(yrs old) will definitely win this". I didn't agree with that statement and was interested in getting a bet, taking the 34 and older group for the win. FWIW, this was during the final 16 round or so. I also wanted Corey Deuel in my group because I wasn't sure exactly how old he was, but knew he was close to 34. We couldn't come to an agreement on that, so no bet, but that is neither here nor there at this point.

So, who was in the finals? A 33/34 yr old and a 36 yr old! For the sake of argument, my group of picks would have included: Hatch, Moore, Archer, Strickland, Putnam, Deuel(?)and Zuglan.

That brings me to the question of "how old can you be and still be a top Poolplayer"?


Eric >not a top poolplayer
 
Efren is 55 or thereabouts. Seems like age isn't a determining factor as long as the eyes hold out.

I haven't hit my prime yet and I'm 53. :D

Merry Christmas Eric!

Brian in VA
 
I played my best between the ages of 35-45. I'm not what I used to be but I'll take the way I'm playing, right now, at sixty.

I still feel good at the table and I still duck with the best of them.
 
:DThere are just way too many "Life" Factors that people go through to determine a general Prime age.

Some kids start out in their teens and progress from there. Some people don't play till after they get divorced :eek: or their kids grow up. :D

Some people have natural talent and/or gifted coaches and teachers. Others have to fight to simulate natural talent.

Many players don't have the job/career that allows them to peak at a certain age.
 
tom mcgonagle said:
I played my best between the ages of 35-45. I'm not what I used to be but I'll take the way I'm playing, right now, at sixty.

I still feel good at the table and I still duck with the best of them.
Click to expand...

Hey Tom,

I got to watch your match against Max the other day. Great playing
 
I would say that the years between 35-45 are the years when youthful stamina and ability form the most potent combination with experience...older guys may know more, but can't execute as well; younger guys may shoot straighter, but don't pick the right shot as often.

And I'll probably catch hell for this, but I think women peak earlier, maybe 30-35.
 
A pool player's prime can last 2 decades or more provided they don't get distracted by other activities. The great thing about this game is that increased knowledge can make up for shooting slightly less straight.
 
I'm 44 and playing the best I ever have. I really didn't start playing seriously til around 23 with a couple of 2 or 3 year lay offs in there. I attribute my better play as of late to having a nice table in my basement!

We used to talk about this at the pool room and some of the older guys said a pool players prime was 40 to 55 especially playing 14.1 and 1P. They would say younger guys have more energy/shot making/empty pockets to keep their attention.....older guys have experience/patience and money! for piece of mind :D

G.
 
I agree with Gerry's points here. Playing like a champion is a mindset, not an age!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Gerry said:
I'm 44 and playing the best I ever have. I really didn't start playing seriously til around 23 with a couple of 2 or 3 year lay offs in there. I attribute my better play as of late to having a nice table in my basement!

We used to talk about this at the pool room and some of the older guys said a pool players prime was 40 to 55 especially playing 14.1 and 1P. They would say younger guys have more energy/shot making/empty pockets to keep their attention.....older guys have experience/patience and money! for piece of mind :D

G.
Click to expand...
 
I think it depends on the individual as previously mentioned so many factors come into play. As a genera rule the younger guys typically have an edge in 9 ball because most often they have a more powerful break (assuming a soft break isn't working) and many times make more of the long shots (yes, there are definately exceptions to these). In one pocked as kind of a general rule from years past, is that I would favor the older players because of the time required to learn the game well. Again there are definately exceptions.. just look at Scott or gabe in one pocket for example. So everything I said is "kind of a typical rule", as a whole.. but not always.
 
A Poolplayers Prime

Eric. said:
So, I had some time to sweat the Turning Stone stream this weekend. Great matches! At one point, someone in the chat room threw out a bold statement saying "someone under 34(yrs old) will definitely win this". I didn't agree with that statement and was interested in getting a bet, taking the 34 and older group for the win. FWIW, this was during the final 16 round or so. I also wanted Corey Deuel in my group because I wasn't sure exactly how old he was, but knew he was close to 34. We couldn't come to an agreement on that, so no bet, but that is neither here nor there at this point.

So, who was in the finals? A 33/34 yr old and a 36 yr old! For the sake of argument, my group of picks would have included: Hatch, Moore, Archer, Strickland, Putnam, Deuel(?)and Zuglan.

That brings me to the question of "how old can you be and still be a top Poolplayer"?




Eric >not a top poolplayer
Click to expand...


I've always said 35-45 yrs., then your eyes go, nerves start to show, and after that your stamina goes, you may see players have really great days after that age, but they are few and inbetween.


David Harcrow
 
The really great players are usually excelling by the time they are in their early 20's. Miz, Hopkins, Rempe, Keith, Cole, Earl, Corey, Rodney, Johnny etc. These are the champions though. Most good players peak in their 30's and can remain a good player until their 50's. Maturity makes a big difference for many of them. As they age, motivation becomes a big factor. Our priorities change and we move away from pool. As you all know, to play well takes a certain amount of practice on a regular basis.

A few players manage to have long careers, longer than athletes in other sports, except for golf. Nick Varner and Buddy Hall stayed on top for over thirty years. A twenty five year career for a pro is about average. Forty years is possible if they remain healthy and motivated. Jimmy Moore played top level pool for well over fifty years! Lassiter easily had forty years as a top player. Irving Crane played at least 40+ years of top flight pool, winning titles in his 60's. Danny Diliberto is another one who played great pool into his 60's. I've seen so many good players in their late 50's and early 60's, too many to name them all.

It seems like the early to mid 60's is when many top players finally lose it, the ability to play at the top level. It can be a combination of things, like failing health or lack of motivation that finally brings them down. Jimmy Rempe went out on top after nearly forty years of playing top flight pool. Hopkins still plays good and he is nearing the forty year mark as a player. I'm in my 60's now and if and when I get in stroke I can still beat the average shortstop. I have no fear of playing guys half my age. :wink:
 
Jay, there is an English snooker player who is now living in Pattaya that ran over me in a 9-Ball tourney in Bangkok in August. He was 70 at the time.
 
Eric. said:
So, I had some time to sweat the Turning Stone stream this weekend. Great matches! At one point, someone in the chat room threw out a bold statement saying "someone under 34(yrs old) will definitely win this". I didn't agree with that statement and was interested in getting a bet, taking the 34 and older group for the win. FWIW, this was during the final 16 round or so. I also wanted Corey Deuel in my group because I wasn't sure exactly how old he was, but knew he was close to 34. We couldn't come to an agreement on that, so no bet, but that is neither here nor there at this point.

So, who was in the finals? A 33/34 yr old and a 36 yr old! For the sake of argument, my group of picks would have included: Hatch, Moore, Archer, Strickland, Putnam, Deuel(?)and Zuglan.

That brings me to the question of "how old can you be and still be a top Poolplayer"?


Eric >not a top poolplayer
Click to expand...

I think that a great deal of what determines a persons prime is how they treat themselves. Do they eat well, do they use Drugs or Alcohol on a regular basis, do they stay in good or bad physical condition.

I think these factor's will determine a players prime much more than their age!!!

JIMO
 
I saw about a 70 yr old beat Corey badly at GSBT Championship about
a year or 2 ago. I think his name was TF Whittington but not positive.
He passed away last year I think. He played great until he left the poolworld.
 
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