Why do I play?

pulzcul

pulzcul

"Chasinrainbows"
Silver Member
I've shaped my life around this game. Although I'm good I'll never be great but that Ok with me.I play almost every day with a circle of really great people who have the same interests. I'm the senior in the group at 56 and I have their respect, coming from my skill as well as my "wisdom" at the game.Pool has led me to my most valued friendships and some of my greatest memories.I could go on and on but what I want to know is why you play? What really makes you play this game?? Don:cool:
 
I began playing the game out of bordem. I grew up in a one horse town and it wasnt my horse. Around the age of 15, our little town opened up a pool room/hangout. They had two bar boxes, an 8 footer, and a 9 footer. The guy that opened the place was a decent player and a hell of a nice guy. I picked up the game quick and loved it. It was something constructive for my friends and I to do after ball practice and on the weekends when there was nothing else going on. We forged friendships in that little pool hall that last till this day. We began to venture and playing more in Paducah, KY and the game stuck.

That was 11 almost 12 years ago and I have been playing ever since. I still play the game because I truly love to play. I love the sounds, the smells, and the game is simply fun. I also love all the people that I have met through pool. Some of my best friendships have been forged at Side Pocket Billiards in Paducah, Ky and now at Oliver's Billiards here in Louisville since I moved. When I go to a new town, I always hit up a pool hall. The people in a pool hall will typically accept you and I like that.

It was never about being great for me. I want to play as good as I can but I know my speed. I will always play this game. I will always want to match up for the cash and I will always still just knock em around if you wanna play for free. Most of all...I hope that I will always have friends in the pool world. I consider many of you my AZ friends and thats the reason I come back here.
 
pulzcul said:
I've shaped my life around this game. Although I'm good I'll never be great but that Ok with me.I play almost every day with a circle of really great people who have the same interests. I'm the senior in the group at 56 and I have their respect, coming from my skill as well as my "wisdom" at the game.Pool has led me to my most valued friendships and some of my greatest memories.I could go on and on but what I want to know is why you play? What really makes you play this game?? Don:cool:
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Don
You and I have talked some about pool. I have watched you play:) and people respect you, your game, and your contribution to the younger guys (I know - they talk!) And those guys in Kalispell are a nice bunch - I enjoy them all. You have a passion for the game - same as me. What makes me play - I think at the impressionable age of 14 or so it was the excitement, then the sense of accomplishment (especially after winning a few bucks), then came the obsession we both have - there is nothing better than pocketing all those balls without missing - the challenge:) Cole Dickson called me today --- we talked pool and it is still a passion with him (he started playing very young too). Good luck this weekend!!
 
Two reasons..
1. Competition - love to compete, hate to lose..
2. Beer... OK, I mean fun.. Great going out with the guys for a night, great seeing people improve, great meeting new people. The social aspect is fantastic.
 
was always fascinated by those that could "Outsmart" someone else, and use their wits/wiles to their advantage. be it a chess player, coach, manager, player, athlete, businessman, detective, etc, etc.

for example, remember the old Ellery Queen TV show? Ellery Queen wrote murder mysteries, or "Whodunits" as they were called. piecing the puzzle together, like a chess player, always interested me.

the first ESPN broadcast that got my attention, and spurred me on, was the 1998 Challenge of the Champions match between Oliver Ortmann and Kun Fang Lee. Allen Hopkins and Lon McEachern (sp?) were the announcers, and Lon made a comment along these lines:

"Solving the riddle of this 1st rack, Kun Fang Lee jumps out in front"

when i heard that, and began to see how you plan ahead, think 3 balls in advance, work patterns, etc, i became hooked. sure is a shame i cant get any better though...........:(

DCP
 
I play because I just love to do it. When I am at the table and running balls I get this feeling of power and energy - and adrenaline and endorphinal rush - I've seen myself play "in the zone" on video and it looks as if it was what I was born to do.

I've met so many good people by my association with this game on every level. Where ever I go, like Aaron, I hit the pool halls and I find friends. As a matter of fact, 5 years ago, that is exactly how I met Bomber when I was in Kentucky.

I also love to teach people how to play. I love watching my students learn something new and achieve their goals in competition. My life revolves around my participation in this game as a player, a coach, and as supporter of the pro and regional tours. Every week I am out somewhere meeting new friends and either playing or watching this game. It's a good life, and I can say it has helped me get through the dark times!
 
My Dad took me to a bowling alley when I was 14. They had a few tables and he let me play some. It was love at first sight. I quit playing for almost 25 years and took it up again about 12 years ago. My passion is as strong as ever, even if my game isn't. Isn't it easy to get caught up in winning or losing? To get frustrated? Pool is a game that shows no mercy to short tempers and poor losers.
 
It is the most challenging sport I have played.

I love to learn and there are many things to learn and many different types of learning that are needed (physical, emotional, and mental)

It is very relaxing and enjoyable. When I play all other concerns are not in my head. There just isn't room for anything else if you are really trying to play as well as you can.

I also like the idea that I can play at home, no greens fees, no need to drive, park, and mess with everything else in life. I can (and do) have the most professional of equipment and the only thing that stops me from improving is me.

And then there are the tournaments and the people who play. I seem to like to hang out with pool players more than most other people. I guess they are a breed apart and I like that.
 
It's the one sport I'm good at!

I took to the game very quickly when I was young & have always loved it, I think I love it even more now than when I was a kid. What I love is that every rack is different, you never know what you're going to get. How can you get bored of that?

Some days I think I could beat anyone, other days I couldn't beat an egg!

As others have said, when you're in "the zone" there is no better feeling. Making that feeling last is the challenge, and it's a challenge I love to take on!
 
Why Do I Play?

I play pool because:

I love the sounds of the game, I love the sound the cue makes when striking the cue ball with a perfect stroke, I love the click sound of the cue ball striking the object ball, sending it torwards the pocket to drop with the crisp sound of hitting center pocket to hear the object ball race down the ball return and drop in the return box with a thud that equals the sound of perfection.

I love the sounds of the balls being racked in the wood triangle. A sound that equates a goal was reached and another challenge is getting ready to be laid out on the table as soon as I release a loud, hard, thundering break that echoes throughout the pool room!

I love the feel of the game. I love the feel of the irish linen as I ever so softly cradle the cue anticipating the vibration of a stiff hitting cue striking the cueball. I love how the cloth feels as I make my bridge on the table. I love the fine muscle memory feelings of a smooth fluid stroke, as i confidently send the shot on its path of perfection.

I love the Visualization of the game. After I deliver the perfect stroke, I love to watch, without moving a muscle, the tiny, bright, beautiful, colorful balls travel down the perfectly sited line towards the big pocket. I love to see the colorful ball roll off of the table like the bright yellow sun setting in the grand canyon, a true site of perfection.

I love the emotions of the game. I love the amount of concentration I must have to play well. I love that confident feeling of approaching the table, Knowing I am going to run alot of balls. I have the courage, inner piece and calm to control my nerves and make ball after ball after ball.
 
Scottster said:
I play pool because:

I love the sounds of the game, I love the sound the cue makes when striking the cue ball with a perfect stroke, I love the click sound of the cue ball striking the object ball, sending it torwards the pocket to drop with the crisp sound of hitting center pocket to hear the object ball race down the ball return and drop in the return box with a thud that equals the sound of perfection.

I love the sounds of the balls being racked in the wood triangle. A sound that equates a goal was reached and another challenge is getting ready to be laid out on the table as soon as I release a loud, hard, thundering break that echoes throughout the pool room!

I love the feel of the game. I love the feel of the irish linen as I ever so softly cradle the cue anticipating the vibration of a stiff hitting cue striking the cueball. I love how the cloth feels as I make my bridge on the table. I love the fine muscle memory feelings of a smooth fluid stroke, as i confidently send the shot on its path of perfection.

I love the Visualization of the game. After I deliver the perfect stroke, I love to watch, without moving a muscle, the tiny, bright, beautiful, colorful balls travel down the perfectly sited line towards the big pocket. I love to see the colorful ball roll off of the table like the bright yellow sun setting in the grand canyon, a true site of perfection.

I love the emotions of the game. I love the amount of concentration I must have to play well. I love that confident feeling of approaching the table, Knowing I am going to run alot of balls. I have the courage, inner piece and calm to control my nerves and make ball after ball after ball.
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I love it because, well, pretty much what you said.
 
Jack Madden said:
Don
You and I have talked some about pool. I have watched you play:) and people respect you, your game, and your contribution to the younger guys (I know - they talk!) And those guys in Kalispell are a nice bunch - I enjoy them all. You have a passion for the game - same as me. What makes me play - I think at the impressionable age of 14 or so it was the excitement, then the sense of accomplishment (especially after winning a few bucks), then came the obsession we both have - there is nothing better than pocketing all those balls without missing - the challenge:) Cole Dickson called me today --- we talked pool and it is still a passion with him (he started playing very young too). Good luck this weekend!!
Click to expand...
Thanks Jack, I hear your a cowboy now! Don
 
Why I play

For me it comes down to a few things.
1. I am a very creative.
Pool gives me the opportunity to exercise this part of my nature. There is absolutely nothing about the game that give me more pleasure than ?finding? a legitimate shot when everything tells you there isn?t one.
2. I am very competitive.
Playing pool gives me the opportunity to go head to head with people, some better ? some worse than I. Whatever the case I find each encounter an object lesson both in the game and in human nature and with any luck will walk away a wiser person in both regards.
3. I enjoy learning.
I love all the factors that come into play when I approach the table. Geometry, physics, and psychology .
For me this is not about being the best but being the best that I am capable of. By leaving myself open to that fact I feel that I am in a state of constant improvement.
There are people that I will play and beat tonight that are playing with the same mindset that they were playing ten years ago and they consistently beat my brains in. In my opinion, I made a conscious choice to move on, they didn?t. It?s not a good or bad thing, just different approaches.
4. It gets me out of the house and I like beer!:D
 
I guess it's really all about love!

We play, and I play, this game because we have all fallen in love with the 1500 lb woman in the big green dress with six pockets! :cool:

Ditto to all your comments. The rest of you have truly spoken for me.

Speechless,
The Woim
 
pulzcul said:
Thanks Jack, I hear your a cowboy now! Don
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Yeh,
Drove those 80-90 (most are the neighbors) black angus last Sunday morning from my place down the country roads about 2-3 miles. Nothing like it;) Those mommas are 1200 lbs and the bull was huge. Neighbor will be wintering mine so I won't be playing cowboy until next summer so my gate is now open - come on down and play some with the boys. Had some local guys who used to play at Hardtimes up last weekend. Have a safe trip this weekend.
 
Jack Madden said:
Yeh,
Drove those 80-90 (most are the neighbors) black angus last Sunday morning from my place down the country roads about 2-3 miles. Nothing like it;) Those mommas are 1200 lbs and the bull was huge. Neighbor will be wintering mine so I won't be playing cowboy until next summer so my gate is now open - come on down and play some with the boys. Had some local guys who used to play at Hardtimes up last weekend. Have a safe trip this weekend.
Click to expand...

Boy does that sound cool. Never could talk either of my wives into moving out your way.
 
I love it. Almost everything about it is still exciting for me. I get pissed when I miss shots I know I should make and I get overjoyed when I make shots I shouldn't make. While I am enticed by the sounds, too, I especially love a long, slow roller on the snooker table finally falling off the edge of the slate and into the crocheted pocket without making even a whisper of a sound. While I've always loved playing snooker, I recently decided to practically abandon the pool table and play pool on the snooker table every day. It is so awesome to watch myself start to master the tough shots as I get better and better each day. Actually, that's the joy for me in almost all the endeavors I've undertaken, constantly being able to perform better and better as the hours, days, and years pass. The challenge of being able to bring your skills up to a level where you can compete with the best and gain their respect for your dedication and hard work.
 
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