You are now 50 Years Old. The Last 35 Years

One of the replies to that video can be applied to pool as well as guitar. Here it is:

WhyCatholic2 months ago

I had dinner with Tommy Emmanuel one night before he performed. He is one of the nicest, humblest, human being you will ever meet. I have played guitar on and off since my teens and I am now in my fifties. Tommy asked me if I wanted to play his guitar and I told him I wasn't that good and would be embarrassed, Tommy said: "nonsense mate you play for fun and because you like the guitar right? I said well yes Tommy but I can't play like you and he responded "I couldn't play like me either, it took me years to be able to play they way I play". Then he asked "how often I practice?" and I said an hour or so a day but not everyday. He responded: "I play 8-10 hours a day EVERY day. the only thing I know how to do is play guitar I cant do anything else, thank God people pay to come listen to me otherwise I would be broke"

There it was, that was the answer that alluded me for years. I have friends that went on to play professionally and I could never really grasp why I wasn't as good as them. Its the time commitment, the love, and passion. What Tommy taught me in that moment was that while I love guitar it isn't the same passion he has, I have other interests that distract me from that type of commitment and that is OK. Tommy taught me to just appreciate the guitar for what it does for me in the time I have.

So for those that feel intimidated like I did watching someone of Tommy or Richard's caliber play, remember they are more than likely spending way more time perfecting their craft its a full time passion for them. Play the best you can and enjoy every moment.

There is nothing in the world like being able to pick up an instrument and make music whatever level you are at
 
pwd72s said:
One of the replies to that video can be applied to pool as well as guitar. Here it is:

WhyCatholic2 months ago

I had dinner with Tommy Emmanuel one night before he performed. He is one of the nicest, humblest, human being you will ever meet. I have played guitar on and off since my teens and I am now in my fifties. Tommy asked me if I wanted to play his guitar and I told him I wasn't that good and would be embarrassed, Tommy said: "nonsense mate you play for fun and because you like the guitar right? I said well yes Tommy but I can't play like you and he responded "I couldn't play like me either, it took me years to be able to play they way I play". Then he asked "how often I practice?" and I said an hour or so a day but not everyday. He responded: "I play 8-10 hours a day EVERY day. the only thing I know how to do is play guitar I cant do anything else, thank God people pay to come listen to me otherwise I would be broke"

There it was, that was the answer that alluded me for years. I have friends that went on to play professionally and I could never really grasp why I wasn't as good as them. Its the time commitment, the love, and passion. What Tommy taught me in that moment was that while I love guitar it isn't the same passion he has, I have other interests that distract me from that type of commitment and that is OK. Tommy taught me to just appreciate the guitar for what it does for me in the time I have.

So for those that feel intimidated like I did watching someone of Tommy or Richard's caliber play, remember they are more than likely spending way more time perfecting their craft its a full time passion for them. Play the best you can and enjoy every moment.

There is nothing in the world like being able to pick up an instrument and make music whatever level you are at
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Good for you to meet Tommy. Both of these guys are the best in the world in my opinion. I just wanted to share this video of Richard. As Tommy says, no one can play that song like that. Of course, I'd rather play the guitar and I tried for 4 years but could not get great at it so I gave up. "Could not be at "one" with the music. I could show 11 c7 cords and all of them up the peg board but couldn't strum right. Too analytical. Engineer here.
But the point of my post: A fantastic pool player in his 50's probably spent as much time practicing as Tommy or Richard.
 
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Prairie dog said:
You could have practiced pool for 35 years (maybe you did) and could have become Earl in all his glory today or practiced something else. Which do you wish you had done?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCGGG9piAGY&start_radio=1&list=RDRCGGG9piAGY
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In 1950 my grandparents moved from Iowa to California. Grandpa had a 9 footer in the basement while living in Iowa. After they moved, grandpa stopped playing pool and started bowling. Sure, he had his 300 game trophy's. More than one. Plus all the MVP and other bowling related stuff. But, what if? What if grandpa had stayed with pool instead? Instead of only playing pool for 3 years at age 48, I would have been playing since age 5. He probably would have shown me a trick or two, even though we were opposite handed. I'm sure he would have made a box for me to stand on and probably shorten a cue for me. My dad was always good at pool, bowling, darts, marbles, etc. One time I was playing my dad a game of 8 ball. He called a shot where he hopped the cue ball onto the rail, traveled down the rail and pop the object ball in the corner. Makes me wonder how good grandpa was. Sometimes I wish I had got into pool earlier, but would I still be interested in it the way I am now? At least I know I'm not getting burned out yet, and maybe never will. If I had started back then who knows if I'd be interested now.
 
pwd72s said:
One of the replies to that video can be applied to pool as well as guitar. Here it is:

WhyCatholic2 months ago

I had dinner with Tommy Emmanuel one night before he performed. He is one of the nicest, humblest, human being you will ever meet. I have played guitar on and off since my teens and I am now in my fifties. Tommy asked me if I wanted to play his guitar and I told him I wasn't that good and would be embarrassed, Tommy said: "nonsense mate you play for fun and because you like the guitar right? I said well yes Tommy but I can't play like you and he responded "I couldn't play like me either, it took me years to be able to play they way I play". Then he asked "how often I practice?" and I said an hour or so a day but not everyday. He responded: "I play 8-10 hours a day EVERY day. the only thing I know how to do is play guitar I cant do anything else, thank God people pay to come listen to me otherwise I would be broke"

There it was, that was the answer that alluded me for years. I have friends that went on to play professionally and I could never really grasp why I wasn't as good as them. Its the time commitment, the love, and passion. What Tommy taught me in that moment was that while I love guitar it isn't the same passion he has, I have other interests that distract me from that type of commitment and that is OK. Tommy taught me to just appreciate the guitar for what it does for me in the time I have.

So for those that feel intimidated like I did watching someone of Tommy or Richard's caliber play, remember they are more than likely spending way more time perfecting their craft its a full time passion for them. Play the best you can and enjoy every moment.

There is nothing in the world like being able to pick up an instrument and make music whatever level you are at
Click to expand...


How about a little Kalamazoo action

https://youtu.be/PvNuigQrFM8
 
I never picked up a two piece cue until I was 60. Do I regret no learning the game sooner? Absolutely not!

A world beater got me interested and I cherish my table time with her. As well as every lesson learned (and yes, that includes every dollar lost).
 
I'm noticing more and more of the older guys, just quit coming around.
I have even considered it many times myself, it just isn't enough fun for the bs anymore.
I go to the poolroom to relax ,play a little and have fun .
It always turns out to be a bunch of C players screaming at each other over 5 dollar races to 7 .
Even the guys who play for nothing, are doing everything they can, to shark each other ,just so they can say , oh I beat jerry, he's not all that.
It disgusts me how some of them act and it annoys me so much , I would just as soon be doing something else with my precious time.
I am nearly to the point where I wish I never picked up a pool cue, not because of the game , but because of the people involved in it.
 
book collector said:
I'm noticing more and more of the older guys, just quit coming around.
I have even considered it many times myself, it just isn't enough fun for the bs anymore.
I go to the poolroom to relax ,play a little and have fun .
It always turns out to be a bunch of C players screaming at each other over 5 dollar races to 7 .
Even the guys who play for nothing, are doing everything they can, to shark each other ,just so they can say , oh I beat jerry, he's not all that.
It disgusts me how some of them act and it annoys me so much , I would just as soon be doing something else with my precious time.
I am nearly to the point where I wish I never picked up a pool cue, not because of the game , but because of the people involved in it.
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I think having a nice table at your house and only inviting over those you think your wife might not have a problem with is the way to go. I love to improve whatever game I'm playing whether it be golf, tennis, racket ball, etc. Golf was my passion until I could not play it anymore. I do miss the sunshine. So at this old age, pool is my game. I take lessons twice a month to learn and support a master's master teacher. The three guys that come over have all played pool for 50 some years constantly. But me, I took 45 years off with the other sports but I'm almost up to them now with constant practice and instruction. Improvement is the key to enjoyment.
 
I don't think there's a necessary correlation between number of years played and skill level.

I will say this, though, the earning power of even just an above average pool player far exceeds that of his equal in just about any sport or game other than maybe online poker in its heyday.

For example, there are so many guys out there who play just below or even at pro-speed basketball who will never make a dime doing it.
 
PhilosopherKing said:
I don't think there's a necessary correlation between number of years played and skill level.

I will say this, though, the earning power of even just an above average pool player far exceeds that of his equal in just about any sport or game other than maybe online poker in its heyday.

For example, there are so many guys out there who play just below or even at pro-speed basketball who will never make a dime doing it.
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Actually, those good ball players will play in amateur tourneys, leagues, and win a lot of them. also, play in Europe in their pro and semi-pro leagues to make a living. Also, many will get a free college education if they are just below pro-speed, which in this day and age is worth $100K. Then add the job they get because of it, and they do OK. That's of course, if they follow up and do everything right ;)
 
It boils down to the fact that all we really have is the time we have on earth. Everybody has their own value system on how to spend that time. I spent most of my productive years working, saving, and investing. This means that my wife and I are financially secure, But...there wasn't a lot of "play time" during those years.

So, in some ways, this "ant" envies the "grasshoppers" in the pool world for all the years they had being free spirits. In many other ways, I don't.

We all make our choices. We all have to live with them.
 
I once thought I may have had a chance to get there, but that was largely rooted in ignorance.

I dont have it in me. I find that I have a real hard time caring significantly where the ball goes.
 
Epictetus's ENCHEIRIDION

The Greek philosopher Epictetus, in his "Handbook" (=ENCHEIRIDION), says that you should not be jealous when you see someone able to do something extremely well, because that person's ability at that activity came about only because he deprived himself of other pleasures which you, by contrast, have enjoyed. I'm all right with that usually, but then you have people like Mozart in music or Magnus Carlsen in chess who could apparently perform at grandmaster level very young. I don't envy the water-drinkers--the guys who had to struggle to learn their craft; I envy the wine-drinkers--the guys to whom their skill came naturally. And, yes, I know all about Malcolm Gladwell and the ten thousand hour claim. I've certainly played pool ten thousand hours in my life, but I'm still dead money!
 
5o years

If i practiced 35 years trying to be like Earl I dont know how well i could play .But were i live id had several nose and jaw surgeries.
 
I know that I can enjoy watching the ones who put the time in,
and get almost the same amount of happiness, minus the work....
so I'll opt for that. I have witnessed Segovia a couple of times,
and Earl too..... both were moments of beauty!

td
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Actually, those good ball players will play in amateur tourneys, leagues, and win a lot of them. also, play in Europe in their pro and semi-pro leagues to make a living. Also, many will get a free college education if they are just below pro-speed, which in this day and age is worth $100K. Then add the job they get because of it, and they do OK. That's of course, if they follow up and do everything right ;)
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I've been saying for a while now, if every college in the ACC added billiard teams (like Mosconi Cup format) and have 5 scholarships out to those players...you would see a TON of kids playing and playing well. Table sales would go through the roof from parents getting the best equipment for training.

My son trains in fencing and you should see the money parents dump into their kids...with absolutely zero chance of making pro money...but the college scholarship is what is at the end of everyone's rainbow.

Going to Washington DC at the beginning of February for a national fencing tournament: 1,600 fencers registered. Unbelievable turnout in that sport.
 
Cardigan Kid said:
I've been saying for a while now, if every college in the ACC added billiard teams (like Mosconi Cup format) and have 5 scholarships out to those players...you would see a TON of kids playing and playing well. Table sales would go through the roof from parents getting the best equipment for training.

My son trains in fencing and you should see the money parents dump into their kids...with absolutely zero chance of making pro money...but the college scholarship is what is at the end of everyone's rainbow.

Going to Washington DC at the beginning of February for a national fencing tournament: 1,600 fencers registered. Unbelievable turnout in that sport.
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Good for you. Any athletic endeavor keeps the kids out of drugs and into college. My own son played college golf. Is now about to be the CEO of a major company. Hired partially because he can play scratch golf. His old boss loves golf.
 
PhilosopherKing said:
I don't think there's a necessary correlation between number of years played and skill level.

Yes, I have to here agree. I recall watching Grand Rapids MI phenom Mark Bielfuss (late 70s) playing 14.1 run rack after rack after rack under the most intense pressure at 16 years old. Heck, if he had played his entire life (at that time) it might have been 8 or 9 years. Man, it was amazing to watch. He was a regular tournament player at Joe Farhat's Velvet Rail in Lansing.
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