what to do when...

dukeboy1977

dukeboy1977

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What do you do when you find yourself at a place where you simply find no reason to play anymore? Its just not as much fun as it used-to be, since I stopped gambling. Don't get me wrong, I'll still play small, like maybe $20 a set to 5, but don't gamble like I used-to. I won't be going home broke anymore, thats for sure! I am in a city where the only action I can find, is our city's best player, or I have to give up so much weight, its not worth playing. I recently tried traveling to Pittsburgh to play, but the city is waaay complicated to get around in, and the pool room there (BREAKERS) isn't nearly as nice as the one in Erie (Gold Crown Billiards). I think that unless someone comes here to play me, I ain't playin'! lol Whats really crappy about this, is I have my last custom cue being built for me right now, and due to me sometime in the next month. Its gonna be SWEET!! I just have other priorities than pool, maybe I'm finally growing up? lol I dunno about that, but I honestly feel no reason to play pool on a consistent basis. I'm more into paying bills, past and current, playing darts :) , and trying to get myself a truck instead of a car...The winters around here can be brutal! Any insight would be appreciated, Jeff
 
chill awhile

Sounds a lot like me when I get too wrapped up in competition. Chill awhile and put the cue stick down. If you find you miss playing pool, go play. The joy will be back. If you find that you only played pool to gamble you had just as soon quit and move on to the things you enjoy more now.

Hu



dukeboy1977 said:
What do you do when you find yourself at a place where you simply find no reason to play anymore? Its just not as much fun as it used-to be, since I stopped gambling. Don't get me wrong, I'll still play small, like maybe $20 a set to 5, but don't gamble like I used-to. I won't be going home broke anymore, thats for sure! I am in a city where the only action I can find, is our city's best player, or I have to give up so much weight, its not worth playing. I recently tried traveling to Pittsburgh to play, but the city is waaay complicated to get around in, and the pool room there (BREAKERS) isn't nearly as nice as the one in Erie (Gold Crown Billiards). I think that unless someone comes here to play me, I ain't playin'! lol Whats really crappy about this, is I have my last custom cue being built for me right now, and due to me sometime in the next month. Its gonna be SWEET!! I just have other priorities than pool, maybe I'm finally growing up? lol I dunno about that, but I honestly feel no reason to play pool on a consistent basis. I'm more into paying bills, past and current, playing darts :) , and trying to get myself a truck instead of a car...The winters around here can be brutal! Any insight would be appreciated, Jeff
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Most of us older guys here on the boards are back to enjoying the game and having fun after very long layoffs. Most of the guys I know found themselves in a rut serious enough to quit the game for an extended time. Myself, I didn't go into a pool room for 20 years. Too many late nights out, too many arguments, not enough good games and not enough fun.

There comes a point where you have to ask yourself where you're going with this. There's a little sign next to my pool table, "I've spent most of my life playing pool, the rest of it I've just wasted." Of course, most people would see it as it's a joke, but a pool player might not see it as a joke at all. For some, it could be engraved on their headstone.

Like any activity, pool can be a diversion from the realities of life. This is both it's strongest attraction and it's greatest weakness. Once you walk through the pool room doors, nothing really matters but how well you play. A local talent can be a big celebrity inside the room, while out there in the real world their lives are going nowhere.

Don't use pool as a reason to change anything else in your life unless you are the one in a million to play in the realm of an Efren or an Archer - it's simply not THAT important.

Chris
 
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I know I have left the game several times only to find myself drawn in again. Each time I seem to stay a little longer, and enjoy and appreciate more about the game than just the actual play.

Sounds to me like a little burn out. Put the cue away for awhile and go live life. The game will be here when you come back.

They always come back.....:D
 
I'd go along with what ShootingArts and Tate said. For myself, I've recently considered quitting and for the first time in a LONG time. I've quit for good from time to time and realized that I'm probably not going to do that. But I haven't played outside my house in a while, now. I played a bit in the room that opened locally about two years ago, but realized that it was not what I had fervently hoped it would be. I'm still in school for this and one more semester and need to devote my time to that, anyway.
Sometimes a lengthy break from the game can change the way you look at it when you return to it. Good luck.
 
JCIN said:
I know I have left the game several times only to find myself drawn in again. Each time I seem to stay a little longer, and enjoy and appreciate more about the game than just the actual play.

Sounds to me like a little burn out. Put the cue away for awhile and go live life. The game will be here when you come back.

They always come back.....:D
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this is great advice and i would say the same;go do something different for awhile.if and when you get ready to play again pool will be there.
 
playing the game

Well, I honestly ask because the reason I even started playing, was to gamble and make a little money on the side. That has since stopped, or slowed down to a crawl at least. Like I posted, I'll still play some $20 sets from time to time, but pool has just reached kind of a plateau for me. I know I'll never be an Efren, or an Archer, I'm too old to even try anymore, so its now time to try and ENJOY playing the game just to play. I have a theory that playing more for fun will improve my attitude about the game, aid me in getting along with the other players better, and actually not care as to whether or not I lose. Its probably not going to help my "game" at all, in fact it will probably suffer, but thats a chance I'm willing to take. I appreciate the kind-hearted comments guys, especially you TATE, I know you don't like me, yet you felt the need to comment nicely. Kudos to you sir!!
 
You have gotten some good advice on here so far. Sometimes putting the game down for a while will rejuvinate your love for it. I would suggest not playing or even going to the pool room until you get that new cue in. You will want to try it out when you get it. Hell, quit gambling for a while all together and search for the true love of the game. I love gambling but I have found that if you can find someone to share the game with, without gambling, it is just as fun. Try to find some players who play your speed and like to play for fun. I have been doing that lately and it has really been fun. We laugh, joke, cutup, but still have pretty fun sessions and nobody gets hurt. My one pocket game has actually come up since I stopped gambling so much because I have been able to test new shots without fear of selling out.

No matter what you do...don't give up the game completely or your local pool room. I can imagine that you have made some great friends at your local room and friendships are more important than the game itself. I have put the game down from time to time, but I always kept up with my pool room buddies. I have met some of my best friends in the world at the pool hall and I would do anything for them...and they would do anything for me.

Good luck with your quest!
 
You are on the edge of transitioning from player to recreational player, where 99.9 % of the pool world is. Yes your game will suffer hitting the felt once or twice weekly in a league or small tourney. But its all a mindset, let the game become an excuse for a social night out, relax and enjoy. You know you are ok with it when on your way to the room the hot wings and onion rings are on your mind instead of the pool game. Help out newbies with their game whenever you get a chance, that can be gratifying at times.
 
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I DO NOT suggest putting the cue down. Sometimes it can be too hard to pick it back up again. I would suggest traveling and playing in some open tournies. This will allow you to still be competetive and see how you size up to the competition and you can still win some money also. Even if you do not cash, stay and watch some of the better players play, it may get your juices for the game flowing again. If I just stayed at my local poolroom all the time and didnt travel a bit to tournies, I would probably have gotten out of pool along time ago. JMO.

Southpaw
 
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