What is a "Professional" Pool Player? (Your Definition)

bbb said:
the problem with this "discussion " is there is no consensus which definition below is being used as the criteria
people argue
1)if you make your living at it
2)people argue if you play real good ie skillful
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Appreciated.

I think that my list of "musts" to be a professional pool player are in regard to definition one.

I think my definition of "pro speed" or "pro caliber" fit the meaning of the second.
 
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DieselPete said:
Appreciated.

I think that my list of "musts" to be a professional pool player are in regard to definition one.

I think my definition of "pro speed" or "pro caliber" fit the meaning of the second.
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Not sure what your pool world was like, but in mine, there were more than a few guys who didn't play well at all but gambled well.

They didn't have jobs and pool was their source of income.

Pros?
 
Black-Balled said:
Not sure what your pool world was like, but in mine, there were more than a few guys who didn't play well at all but gambled well.

They didn't have jobs and pool was their source of income.

Pros?
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Professional gamblers who happen to be playing pool, maybe?

A friend of mine was maybe 675 speed (before Fargo), and he made his living for several years by harvesting spare money in bars. I went with him one time about 1980 and he won $400 between 10 and 6 at ring nine ball in a bar. That was pretty good money at that time and would be $1700 now. He gave me 10% for being there, I guess as a body guard, but I don't know how much help I would have been under the table.
 
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I feel like the best comparison to pool as far as being a professional would be compared to bowling. The run of the mill pros make 40-50k a year and have an average of over 200. The top bowlers make several hundred k per year like the top pro pool players.

There are lots of guys in the 750 range who wish they didnt have to work to pay the bills. If pool paid more money from tournaments on a regular basis then these guys would play pool instead.

For that reason, I feel that ability plays a big part in determining who is a pro vs an amateur. To call an 800 an amateur because he has to work a full time job is crazy to me. Wasn't mizerak a schoolteacher? Does that mean he was an amateur?
 
nine_ball6970 said:
For that reason, I feel that ability plays a big part in determining who is a pro vs an amateur. To call an 800 an amateur because he has to work a full time job is crazy to me. Wasn't mizerak a schoolteacher? Does that mean he was an amateur?
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I think there is general agreement that a professional pool player can have another job, but that a fair/substantial part of their income should come from playing pool. For me, that would be from tournament pool, exhibitions/appearances, and endorsement deals.
 
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