Would the last good American pool player please turn off the lights on the way out?

[hang-the-9]

World Junior 9 Ball:

Since 1992 not a single US male has made it to the finals.

The last 3 years (both boys and girls) has had 5 winners from China, 1 Singapore, 1 Taiwan, 1 Poland and 1 Phi. Basically all Asia. The runners up were also all Asia or Europe (mostly Slavic countries).

Since 2004 (when there was a girls division) the US has had 3 girls in the finals with only one winner.

Since Earl, only SVB has been a challenge to the international players consistently, and Earl has done it in the era where Europe and Asia did not really take 9 ball seriously but as a side game to playing snooker.

I fear that the US is becoming a nation of good pool league players and not much more :sorry:

Without a good training program, we just learn how to make some nice shots but not how to stay focused and compete properly with good fundamentals. Too many junior pool players are already A-holes or cocky by the time they are old enough to shave but can't hold composure when losing or stand up to the players from Asia and Europe who are more like small pros than youth players.

 

[Celophanewrap]

Is that about the time everything like an American Pro Tour folded?

 

[hang-the-9]

Is that about the time everything like an American Pro Tour folded?

1992 was the first Junior World championship, but it is about the time that the major events collapsed. And Asia and Europe decided to start playing pool more.

 

[King T]

Your fear is well founded!

.

Since Earl, only SVB has been a challenge to the international players consistently, and Earl has done it in the era where Europe and Asia did not really take 9 ball seriously but as a side game to playing snooker.

I fear that the US is becoming a nation of good pool league players and not much more :sorry:

Without a good training program, we just learn how to make some nice shots but not how to stay focused and compete properly with good fundamentals. Too many junior pool players are already A-holes or cocky by the time they are old enough to shave but can't hold composure when losing or stand up to the players from Asia and Europe who are more like small pros than youth players.

You said it all, we're done.

 

[Carolina_Giant]

The U.S. has PLENTY of talent and good pool players left yet.

What the U.S. does not have is discipline. Want to know why Shane challenges international players consistently (albeit here on U.S. Soil primarily)? It's because he TRAINS (or at least used to) on a regular basis. Taiwan and other Asian countries have schools dedicated to billiards (it is an actual high school class where technique is taught, held to a standard, and implemented outside of school in actual play).

Europe uses their training in straight pool and snooker to make highly tactical rack plans, where USA tends to aim for patches on the table and rely on riskier shots. While that makes pool entertaining, it isn't a formula for winning consistently. Until USA adopts some discipline and learns to channel that fire (which also seems to be missing these days) into creating more precise and tactical pool, we are going to continue to play second fiddle to the rest of the world

 

[hang-the-9]

The U.S. has PLENTY of talent and good pool players left yet.

What the U.S. does not have is discipline. Want to know why Shane challenges international players consistently (albeit here on U.S. Soil primarily)? It's because he TRAINS (or at least used to) on a regular basis. Taiwan and other Asian countries have schools dedicated to billiards (it is an actual high school class where technique is taught, held to a standard, and implemented outside of school in actual play).

Europe uses their training in straight pool and snooker to make highly tactical rack plans, where USA tends to aim for patches on the table and rely on riskier shots. While that makes pool entertaining, it isn't a formula for winning consistently. Until USA adopts some discipline and learns to channel that fire (which also seems to be missing these days) into creating more precise and tactical pool, we are going to continue to play second fiddle to the rest of the world

Yes, this is why the US is falling behind, there is no real learning or training going on past "go gamble to get better". Sure there are teachers but you need to seek them out, and for the most part it's pretty pricey to pay hundreds for just a weekend of training or $50 an hour for a lesson. You can't raise a kid from age 8-18 to become a top player doing that.

 

[Celophanewrap]

The U.S. has PLENTY of talent and good pool players left yet.

What the U.S. does not have is discipline. Want to know why Shane challenges international players consistently (albeit here on U.S. Soil primarily)? It's because he TRAINS (or at least used to) on a regular basis. Taiwan and other Asian countries have schools dedicated to billiards (it is an actual high school class where technique is taught, held to a standard, and implemented outside of school in actual play).

Europe uses their training in straight pool and snooker to make highly tactical rack plans, where USA tends to aim for patches on the table and rely on riskier shots. While that makes pool entertaining, it isn't a formula for winning consistently. Until USA adopts some discipline and learns to channel that fire (which also seems to be missing these days) into creating more precise and tactical pool, we are going to continue to play second fiddle to the rest of the world

Another thing the U.S. really doesn't have is a way to make a living at the game or I should say - at playing the game and really hasn't for years. There's just no money in it if you ever plan to have a family

 

[gxman]

Not enough kids playing pool. Probably just those few with family that has a pool table at home.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Teaching them aiming systems have been disastrous. :grin-square:

 

[PoolBum]

Another thing the U.S. really doesn't have is a way to make a living at the game or I should say - at playing the game and really hasn't for years. There's just no money in it if you ever plan to have a family

Quite frankly, this is the main reason why U.S. players are not up to par with the rest of the world.

 

[Tronpocket]

America has some of the best players on the planet living there......its just that most of them aren't "American " .

 

[Str8PoolMan]

The U.S. has PLENTY of talent and good pool players left yet.

What the U.S. does not have is discipline. Want to know why Shane challenges international players consistently (albeit here on U.S. Soil primarily)? It's because he TRAINS (or at least used to) on a regular basis. Taiwan and other Asian countries have schools dedicated to billiards (it is an actual high school class where technique is taught, held to a standard, and implemented outside of school in actual play).

Europe uses their training in straight pool and snooker to make highly tactical rack plans, where USA tends to aim for patches on the table and rely on riskier shots. While that makes pool entertaining, it isn't a formula for winning consistently. Until USA adopts some discipline and learns to channel that fire (which also seems to be missing these days) into creating more precise and tactical pool, we are going to continue to play second fiddle to the rest of the world

Perhaps Jurgen Klinsmann could help. I hear he's available.

 

[Solomon]

Another thing the U.S. really doesn't have is a way to make a living at the game or I should say - at playing the game and really hasn't for years. There's just no money in it if you ever plan to have a family

I agree. With the exception of a few top sponsored players, it's probably more profitable for someone to work at a pool hall rather than it would be for someone to travel around the country to gamble and compete in tournaments. Especially when you consider gas, food, lodging, etc. Back when we were dominating the Mosconi Cup, the best road players could easily clear $1K on a good night.