what does it take to be a pro
- Thread starter jcpoolgod
- Start date
Definition of a Professional Pool player:
1) Natural ability
2) Nerves of steel
3) Practice, Practice, Practice
JIMO
There are quite a few signs of a pre-pro.
1. Ability to obtain "loans" from the people who would never loan a dollar to anyone.
2. Negotiation ability that Donald Trump is still trying to learn.
3. An old van. (Gotta have a place for him and his running mate to sleep)
4. An uncanny ability to call "foul, you moved the ball." when the opponent isn't even near the ball he's talking about. You MUST keep an honest and straight face. The REAL pro has this one down to an art.
5. Rackamundo ability. Your opponent should never, ever make a ball on the break.
6. The ability to operate with absolutely no sleep.
7. You can never have cash. Never. Even if you do, it's in your van beneath the week's washing that is yet to be done.
8. A gas card. Very hard to obtain with no credit.
9. A TAR shirt.
10. A Dominoe's shirt with your name on it. (for obvious reasons)
11. Gotta be able to make a ball or two, also.
12. Smell out the lambs within three minutes of walkin' into the poolroom in another state.
1. Ability to obtain "loans" from the people who would never loan a dollar to anyone.
2. Negotiation ability that Donald Trump is still trying to learn.
3. An old van. (Gotta have a place for him and his running mate to sleep)
4. An uncanny ability to call "foul, you moved the ball." when the opponent isn't even near the ball he's talking about. You MUST keep an honest and straight face. The REAL pro has this one down to an art.
5. Rackamundo ability. Your opponent should never, ever make a ball on the break.
6. The ability to operate with absolutely no sleep.
7. You can never have cash. Never. Even if you do, it's in your van beneath the week's washing that is yet to be done.
8. A gas card. Very hard to obtain with no credit.
9. A TAR shirt.
10. A Dominoe's shirt with your name on it. (for obvious reasons)
11. Gotta be able to make a ball or two, also.
12. Smell out the lambs within three minutes of walkin' into the poolroom in another state.
Well, I'm glad someone finally asked this because I have THE answere. Divorce you wife, quit your job and hit a million balls.
A lobotomy.....
Okay, seriously....it takes having the desire to win and be the best rather then the desire to be rich.
Having time to practice enough to stay at a top level. And if you don't have the time, have the determination to put in a little time no matter how hard it seems to make time.
Being able to win under extreme pressure.
Love of travel and living out of a suitcase for long periods of time. Not always staying at the nicest places or eating the best food.
Being happy with seeing the inside of a pool room or casino rather then seeing the sites that the new city you are visiting has to offer.
Living vampire-like hours.
Being able to form a few true friendships in this crazy way of life.
Those are a few that I can think of at this time. When it comes down to it the real answer is having the guts to give your dreams a chance!
Sarah
Okay, seriously....it takes having the desire to win and be the best rather then the desire to be rich.
Having time to practice enough to stay at a top level. And if you don't have the time, have the determination to put in a little time no matter how hard it seems to make time.
Being able to win under extreme pressure.
Love of travel and living out of a suitcase for long periods of time. Not always staying at the nicest places or eating the best food.
Being happy with seeing the inside of a pool room or casino rather then seeing the sites that the new city you are visiting has to offer.
Living vampire-like hours.
Being able to form a few true friendships in this crazy way of life.
Those are a few that I can think of at this time. When it comes down to it the real answer is having the guts to give your dreams a chance!
Sarah
Number 1 should be a girlfriend or wife....with a JOB! you know....to cover them down times...like when the "Pro" is "BROKE"
Glen
Crawfish, you missed one.
The ability to eat at Rotten Ronies 4 times a day and still shoot pool.
The ability to eat at Rotten Ronies 4 times a day and still shoot pool.
a professional
By definition: A 'professional' is simply a person who makes a living at whatever trade they are doing. So, as long as you can make a living playing pool... you're considered a professional.
But a back up girlfriend and the Dominos shirt DOES help.
By definition: A 'professional' is simply a person who makes a living at whatever trade they are doing. So, as long as you can make a living playing pool... you're considered a professional.
But a back up girlfriend and the Dominos shirt DOES help.
Well said young lady!!
ANYBODY technically can call themselves a pro. All you have to do is put up $500 and you're playing in the U.S. Open. For many years I've seen some fairly weak players participating in professional events. After they get eliminated (usually two and out), they then offer an explanation of how close they came to actually winning a match. "The score was 3-2 and I had an easy run out, but the cue ball got kissed in the side pocket. It would have been tied up with me breaking." RIGHT!!! Or, "He beat me 11-5, but I GAVE him four games. It should have been a lot closer." RIGHT again!!
There may only be a handful of professional players that actually make a decent living out of pool. These are the ones who have sponsors and/or endorsement deals. Plus a few get financial help from their respective governments. While I was in the Philippines, I read about a subsidy program for elite athletes. Rubelin Amit gets 20,000p a month (about $450) in expense money. That would be like an American player getting maybe $2-2,500 a month over here.
The players you see jet setting all over the world are the true pros. Mika, Ralf, Shane, Efren, Dennis, Django, Darren, etc. etc. The women would include Allison, Karen, Jeanette, Yu Ram, Ga Young and a few others. Maybe a couple dozen true pros in all of professional pool.
There may only be a handful of professional players that actually make a decent living out of pool. These are the ones who have sponsors and/or endorsement deals. Plus a few get financial help from their respective governments. While I was in the Philippines, I read about a subsidy program for elite athletes. Rubelin Amit gets 20,000p a month (about $450) in expense money. That would be like an American player getting maybe $2-2,500 a month over here.
The players you see jet setting all over the world are the true pros. Mika, Ralf, Shane, Efren, Dennis, Django, Darren, etc. etc. The women would include Allison, Karen, Jeanette, Yu Ram, Ga Young and a few others. Maybe a couple dozen true pros in all of professional pool.
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Maybe a couple dozen true pros in all of professional pool.[/QUOTE said:
Come on Sarah you know the answer to this question: If you come to NYC and you stay at BrooklynJays pad you are a PRO. And you better be a good pro he don't let chumps stay with him and the Monkey.