Why is pool a young mans game???
- Thread starter CaptiveBred
- Start date
How about a young women's game, lol
Well, at my level of play, I see the young women coming up and they're gunning for us oldsters all the time. They have the eyesight and they have the desire, but as Cuaba stated, they have no fear either. They are also being how to play the right way just from the get-go.
I think the more you know about how many things can go wrong with a shot instead of just shooting the shot, the more fear you have. You are trying to get pinpoint shape and play the right pattern and then sometimes you miss the shot because of that, when they are just banging blissfully away and make the shot. Just make the doggone ball!!!! They worry about shape later.
The older you are, as stated earlier, the more responsibilities you have too, especially single women with kids.
Well, at my level of play, I see the young women coming up and they're gunning for us oldsters all the time. They have the eyesight and they have the desire, but as Cuaba stated, they have no fear either. They are also being how to play the right way just from the get-go.
I think the more you know about how many things can go wrong with a shot instead of just shooting the shot, the more fear you have. You are trying to get pinpoint shape and play the right pattern and then sometimes you miss the shot because of that, when they are just banging blissfully away and make the shot. Just make the doggone ball!!!! They worry about shape later.
The older you are, as stated earlier, the more responsibilities you have too, especially single women with kids.
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I guess I'll have to get older to see for myself. As of right now, I just don't see how pool (a non physical game) could have an age factor within reason /shrug
Like I said, if you are in decent health (eyes included) how could your game go down? I see my game getting better as time goes on. I assume I'll be much better with 20 more years of experience under my suspenders...
For those who talk about stamina - How could you not play top speed for a race to 11? What gives? We are talking a 45 minutes match
maybe its just the current old timers... Maybe the next generation will fold around 75 years old
instead of 50
Like I said, if you are in decent health (eyes included) how could your game go down? I see my game getting better as time goes on. I assume I'll be much better with 20 more years of experience under my suspenders...
For those who talk about stamina - How could you not play top speed for a race to 11? What gives? We are talking a 45 minutes match
maybe its just the current old timers... Maybe the next generation will fold around 75 years old
instead of 50 
knowledge is one thing,,,,execution is another. so pool is no different than any other game/sport. yeah, you get more knowledge as you get older,,,but you don't execute as well. sigel said your eyes start to go at 34. i don't know about that, but you get the point. maybe all the old players should start teaching.
using reyes, or any one or few "very special players", is not a convincing argument. so who would YOU rather face...grady or hohmann?
using reyes, or any one or few "very special players", is not a convincing argument. so who would YOU rather face...grady or hohmann?
I personally at 39 feel I'm playing my best pool ever...
bruin70 said:...sigel said your eyes start to go at 34. Thats about the worste thing I could have read lol I am 33
so who would YOU rather face...grady or hohmann? Would it really matter?
I can see the arguement for what it takes to play at the top. I am not top player but I do know that the ammount of mental energy required is, pretty much, unexplainable to those who have not been there or close...
At my skill level (I ran a 4 pack and a 3 pack last night) I don't see how I will ever play worse. I guess I need to get over the last hump of the mental game to see what impact age will have on the next level of play. In other words, I may not know what I am talking about
why.......
Pool is a young man's game because of one thing basically...STAMINA!! I play better now at 30 than I did just 5 years ago, but can't play as long as I used-to. I either get bored, or my feet start to hurt from standing so long in a shooting position. I'm not as young as I used-to was ya' know! lmao
Pool is a young man's game because of one thing basically...STAMINA!! I play better now at 30 than I did just 5 years ago, but can't play as long as I used-to. I either get bored, or my feet start to hurt from standing so long in a shooting position. I'm not as young as I used-to was ya' know! lmao
Age affects the game play thats for sure. I saw Earl strickland in younger age, and I see him now. is he the same player? No I think not. back in between 1983-1997 he was a really hard player to beat. But now he miss alot of balls. Why? Maybe age.
- Thats in my point of view ofcourse.
- Thats in my point of view ofcourse.
CaptiveBred said:so who would YOU rather face...grady or hohmann? Would it really matter?
)
yes it does matter, especially if you're going to play $10 a point to 1,000 points. grady will let you back on the table, and thorsten will run more xxx's.
That would be no...it's because he is slowly going insane...asbani said:
Perhaps it is a disadvantage to start the game too early in life. You peak too soon
I played for a couple of years when I started working. Learned by trial and error. Moved and rarely played for about 30 years. Retired. Then I started playing again.
Information (good and bad) on internet. Youtube for instruction and matches. Live snooker tournaments on the web. Thanks to the members here for making me aware of these resources. Some matches on TV.
Now I have the prerequisites - time, money, information - to improve. Bought some books. Visited Randy G - again, thanks to info found here. Had cataract surgery - eye-sight 20/20. Live in a big condo - billiard room with good tables - and residents who play a variety of games at varying levels. Regular snooker matches twice a week and whatever I can arrange at other times. Sometimes import pigeons . Practice whenever I want to without paying for table time in a pool room that never closes.
So, personally, I expect to continue to improve with age, since I started so late at such a mediocre level
As for the physical deterioration, it is your choice. I started riding a bike when I was 4. Have been riding ever since. My bike club has members well into their 70s who regularly crank out 100 miles on club rides. And the oldsters are in their 80s.
I played for a couple of years when I started working. Learned by trial and error. Moved and rarely played for about 30 years. Retired. Then I started playing again.
Information (good and bad) on internet. Youtube for instruction and matches. Live snooker tournaments on the web. Thanks to the members here for making me aware of these resources. Some matches on TV.
Now I have the prerequisites - time, money, information - to improve. Bought some books. Visited Randy G - again, thanks to info found here. Had cataract surgery - eye-sight 20/20. Live in a big condo - billiard room with good tables - and residents who play a variety of games at varying levels. Regular snooker matches twice a week and whatever I can arrange at other times. Sometimes import pigeons
. Practice whenever I want to without paying for table time in a pool room that never closes.So, personally, I expect to continue to improve with age, since I started so late at such a mediocre level
As for the physical deterioration, it is your choice. I started riding a bike when I was 4. Have been riding ever since. My bike club has members well into their 70s who regularly crank out 100 miles on club rides. And the oldsters are in their 80s.
CaptiveBred said:Seems as though I read this all the time... I don't see how it is possible if you are in decent health...
It just makes no sense to me since pool is a game of knowledge. How could age affect your game if you remember all you learned?
The latest AH thread got me thinking this again... about him testing the waters... What is there to test? He is a world class player and should be as good as he could have ever been... What would have changed over the years? Either you know the correct shot or you do not... It appears that simple to me... /shrug
Afterall, who would you rather play; Efren Reyes or Cesar Morales? I know, both could give me the 6 but still, Efren is not showing signs of weakness in his age...
So, why do the older guys claim to have played better at a younger age. They must be losing their memory since high level pool is played in your head
Since playing pool is not really a good career choice for most avid players. It's not just the pay, but also the lifestyle that comes with it. When they reach a certain age when reality starts smacking their faces, most people will choice a different career path and hopefully raise a family.
Buddy Hall & Minnesoata Fats
What are the implications of the careers of Buddy Hall & Minnesota Fats for the relationship between physical conditioning & playing pool?
TATE said:It's the odds. The older you are, the more likely people will have health issues, cataracts, nervous disorders, bad backs, strokes, arthritis - it all adds up.
I'm 54 and I play a lot better now than I did when I was 30 because I practice and study the game more. So far I'm fortunate not to have physical problems and I have have a regular exercise regimen.
Some of the old guys say they don't play as good, then ask you for weight.As long as your eyes are good, you are relatively physically fit, and your nervous system is healthy, there is no reason for anybody's game to decline.
Truthfully, in the middle years you really have to work at it to stay fit. I think every person over age 40 who is in decent health should examine their lifestyle. Most would benefit immensely by devoting a certain amount of time every day or two to fitness. I don't care if it's walking the dog, riding a bike, swimming, running or working out, healthy physical activity is vital to quality of life once you hit the middle to advanced years.
For those serious about exercise and nutrition, it is possible to retain close to your peak fitness level until well into the 60's and I've personally seen some do it until their mid 70's.
Chris
What are the implications of the careers of Buddy Hall & Minnesota Fats for the relationship between physical conditioning & playing pool?
Pool is a young man's game, EXCEPT not always! There you have it, the definitive answer to this age old question.
I have seen many great older players (those over 50) who could still compete on even terms with anyone. Typically, they still had #1. DESIRE! #2. DESIRE! #3. DESIRE! And they also kept themselves in reasonably good shape, and never had quit playing pool for any extended period of time. It seems that once a player "retires" and hangs up his cue for several years, his chances of ever getting back on top are slim and none.
One advantage older players often have over their younger opponents is quite simply maturity. In this case the ability to handle adversity such as bad rolls, bad conditions, immature opponents, outside distractions etc. etc. A mature player keeps a more even disposition, an essential to playing well at the top level. Volitility and emotional fluctuations are a big "No No" for top flight pool. Anything that you allow to upset you will adversely affect your game. You must remain calm to play well. PERIOD!
I can't tell you how many times I have seen a straight shooting youngster get upset about something and then watched as his game deteriorated. A good example of this is the fading career of Earl Strickland. Earl gets mad, Earl loses! Of course, he is an extreme example.
As proof I offer the careers of Nick Varner, Jimmy Rempe, Buddy Hall, Allen Hopkins, Danny Diliberto, Jimmy Moore, Jimmy Caras, Luther Lassiter and most glaring of them all, Irving Crane. These men all played championship pool well into their 50's and in some cases like Diliberto, Moore and Crane well beyond. Joe Balsis was perhaps the most unique "older" player. He DID hang it up at age 24 and retired from pool for nearly 20 years, coming back in his mid 40's to amass a Hall Of Fame career that stretched well into his late 50's and early 60's.
But I hasten to add that these men are the exceptions, rather than the rule. For the most part, Pool (like other sports) has been the domain of men in their 20's to 40's. Only the few exceptional older players have managed to remain competitive with the next generation, and only as long as they maintained the desire to compete, and the discipline to do what is required to remain competitive.
It can be done, providing you were a great player to begin with and still have the desire to win. Not many do. I think it is more about this than about keen eyesight or peak conditioning. These things help but are not essential to playing well. IMO the most important attributes of an "older" champion are still TALENT and DESIRE!
In closing I like to mention the great Onifrio Laurie, a brilliant player from the Greenleaf era. He was a great 14.1 player who competed with the likes of Greenleaf, Ponzi, St. Jean, Irving Crane, Mosconi, Caras and Cranfield. He was a contender in the elite Straight Pool Championships from the 30's on, rarely winning but always acquiting himself well. In the 1960's 9-Ball took over as the major tournament game. Laurie, who had never retired, honed his skill at this game.
At the age of 69, he WON a major 9-Ball tournament held in Weenie Beanies pool room in Arlington, VA. His competiton included the best young players of that era. Men like Ed Kelly, Richie Florence, Ronnie Allen, Jack Breit, young Steve Mizerak, Johnny Ervolino, Richie Ambrose, Jim Rempe, Danny Diliberto, Boston Shorty and Luther Lassiter of course. Laurie beat a stellar 64 man field of young guns and mature champions at 9-Ball! He was the oldest player in the field by over 15 years. It can be done, if you play good enough and still have the desire. Laurie did!
I have seen many great older players (those over 50) who could still compete on even terms with anyone. Typically, they still had #1. DESIRE! #2. DESIRE! #3. DESIRE! And they also kept themselves in reasonably good shape, and never had quit playing pool for any extended period of time. It seems that once a player "retires" and hangs up his cue for several years, his chances of ever getting back on top are slim and none.
One advantage older players often have over their younger opponents is quite simply maturity. In this case the ability to handle adversity such as bad rolls, bad conditions, immature opponents, outside distractions etc. etc. A mature player keeps a more even disposition, an essential to playing well at the top level. Volitility and emotional fluctuations are a big "No No" for top flight pool. Anything that you allow to upset you will adversely affect your game. You must remain calm to play well. PERIOD!
I can't tell you how many times I have seen a straight shooting youngster get upset about something and then watched as his game deteriorated. A good example of this is the fading career of Earl Strickland. Earl gets mad, Earl loses! Of course, he is an extreme example.
As proof I offer the careers of Nick Varner, Jimmy Rempe, Buddy Hall, Allen Hopkins, Danny Diliberto, Jimmy Moore, Jimmy Caras, Luther Lassiter and most glaring of them all, Irving Crane. These men all played championship pool well into their 50's and in some cases like Diliberto, Moore and Crane well beyond. Joe Balsis was perhaps the most unique "older" player. He DID hang it up at age 24 and retired from pool for nearly 20 years, coming back in his mid 40's to amass a Hall Of Fame career that stretched well into his late 50's and early 60's.
But I hasten to add that these men are the exceptions, rather than the rule. For the most part, Pool (like other sports) has been the domain of men in their 20's to 40's. Only the few exceptional older players have managed to remain competitive with the next generation, and only as long as they maintained the desire to compete, and the discipline to do what is required to remain competitive.
It can be done, providing you were a great player to begin with and still have the desire to win. Not many do. I think it is more about this than about keen eyesight or peak conditioning. These things help but are not essential to playing well. IMO the most important attributes of an "older" champion are still TALENT and DESIRE!
In closing I like to mention the great Onifrio Laurie, a brilliant player from the Greenleaf era. He was a great 14.1 player who competed with the likes of Greenleaf, Ponzi, St. Jean, Irving Crane, Mosconi, Caras and Cranfield. He was a contender in the elite Straight Pool Championships from the 30's on, rarely winning but always acquiting himself well. In the 1960's 9-Ball took over as the major tournament game. Laurie, who had never retired, honed his skill at this game.
At the age of 69, he WON a major 9-Ball tournament held in Weenie Beanies pool room in Arlington, VA. His competiton included the best young players of that era. Men like Ed Kelly, Richie Florence, Ronnie Allen, Jack Breit, young Steve Mizerak, Johnny Ervolino, Richie Ambrose, Jim Rempe, Danny Diliberto, Boston Shorty and Luther Lassiter of course. Laurie beat a stellar 64 man field of young guns and mature champions at 9-Ball! He was the oldest player in the field by over 15 years. It can be done, if you play good enough and still have the desire. Laurie did!
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young
son age takes a lot out of your pool game and a lot more!!! got apill for that but have not found one for my pool game[70 yr] and still can be competive in one field, and i love it!!!!!CaptiveBred said:Seems as though I read this all the time... I don't see how it is possible if you are in decent health...
It just makes no sense to me since pool is a game of knowledge. How could age affect your game if you remember all you learned?
The latest AH thread got me thinking this again... about him testing the waters... What is there to test? He is a world class player and should be as good as he could have ever been... What would have changed over the years? Either you know the correct shot or you do not... It appears that simple to me... /shrug
Afterall, who would you rather play; Efren Reyes or Cesar Morales? I know, both could give me the 6 but still, Efren is not showing signs of weakness in his age...
So, why do the older guys claim to have played better at a younger age. They must be losing their memory since high level pool is played in your head