Sport Today

by **Elijah Fayerma** » Mon, 26 Jan 2004 17:28:28

"I think you gonna find... when all this shit is over and done -- I think
you're gonna find yourself one smilin' mother***er. The thing is, Butch,
right now... you got ability. But painful as it may be, ability... don't
last. And your days are just about over. Now, that's a hard mother***in'
fact of life. But that's a fact of life your ass is gonna have to get
realistic about. You see, this business is filled to the brim with
unrealistic mother***ers. Mother***ers who thought their ass would age
like wine. If you mean it turns to vinegar... it does. If you mean it gets
better with age... it don't. Besides, Butch, how many fights you think you
got in you anyway?
Hmm? Two? Boxers don't have an old-timers' day. You came close, but you
never made it. And if you were gonna make it, you would have made it before
now."

The above said might be all true for such sports as boxing. However, it
seems to be the very opposite in pool. Many people do get better with age in
pool! But my question is as follows:

I was wondering if you know any good players (A level and above) who started
to play pool very late in their twenties or even later than that? I hear all
about the top pro pool players, and they all started to play when they were
little kids. I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started
very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else before.
I hope I didn't offend anyone with the introduction (Pulp Fiction).

Thanks,
Elijah.

by **Vincen** » Tue, 27 Jan 2004 00:12:39

I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started

Quote:

> very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else

before.

I'm sure it has been and can be done. I think the determining factor is how
many hours you can practice. Most of us who got serious later in life are
prevented by our job and family life from being in the pool room twelve
hours a day. If you could cast everything else aside and spend a couple
years living pool and had access to a good instructor, you could probably
get really good. After building a base like that, it would probably be a
matter of continued practice, more experience, and heart.

by **Fast Larry Guning** » Tue, 27 Jan 2004 15:13:31

Quote:

> I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started
> > very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else
> before.

> I'm sure it has been and can be done. I think the determining factor is how
> many hours you can practice. Most of us who got serious later in life are
> prevented by our job and family life from being in the pool room twelve
> hours a day. If you could cast everything else aside and spend a couple
> years living pool and had access to a good instructor, you could probably
> get really good. After building a base like that, it would probably be a
> matter of continued practice, more experience, and heart.

Hi this is Fast Larry, you said the key to this, have access to a good
instructor, that is what I do, my web site is www.fastlarrypool.com.

by **Stev** » Tue, 27 Jan 2004 21:15:20

Quote:

> I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started
> > very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else
> before.

> I'm sure it has been and can be done. I think the determining factor is how
> many hours you can practice. Most of us who got serious later in life are
> prevented by our job and family life from being in the pool room twelve
> hours a day. If you could cast everything else aside and spend a couple
> years living pool and had access to a good instructor, you could probably
> get really good. After building a base like that, it would probably be a
> matter of continued practice, more experience, and heart.

25 is very late? I guess if you want to be a pro maybe. Try getting
first serious about the game at 55, that's late. With my 58th birthday
a couple of weeks away I think of 25 as quite early. ;-)
Steve.

"Better to wear out than to rust out".

by **Stev** » Tue, 27 Jan 2004 21:27:04

Quote:

> > I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started
> > > very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else
> > before.

> > I'm sure it has been and can be done. I think the determining factor is how
> > many hours you can practice. Most of us who got serious later in life are
> > prevented by our job and family life from being in the pool room twelve
> > hours a day. If you could cast everything else aside and spend a couple
> > years living pool and had access to a good instructor, you could probably
> > get really good. After building a base like that, it would probably be a
> > matter of continued practice, more experience, and heart.

> Hi this is Fast Larry, you said the key to this, have access to a good
> instructor, that is what I do, my web site is www.fastlarrypool.com.

Easier said than done. Assuming you are a good instructor (I've no
reason to doubt you) you are by practicality restricted to a
relatively small geographic area. I know you travel and a person could
take a lesson from you as you passed through, but I think an extended
relationship is neccessary to really improve a persons game. Finding a
good instructor in a particular geographic area can be difficult.
First of all being a good player does not neccessarily a good
instructor make. Secondly, matching an instructor and a pupil can be
sometimes like dating, there's got to be some chemistry. What's right
for a 50 something trying to improve an okay game is not right for a
15 year old trying to get started. The two really need entirely
different instructors. I've found good instructors, but really none
that meshed with me that were geographically practical. I've frankly
improved by game more through reading and videos(followed by practice
obviously) than any other single factor.
Steve.

by Ro » Fri, 30 Jan 2004 01:43:55

Quote:

> I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started
> > very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else
> before.

> I'm sure it has been and can be done. I think the determining factor is how
> many hours you can practice. Most of us who got serious later in life are
> prevented by our job and family life from being in the pool room twelve
> hours a day. If you could cast everything else aside and spend a couple
> years living pool and had access to a good instructor, you could probably
> get really good. After building a base like that, it would probably be a
> matter of continued practice, more experience, and heart.

Actually, I don't think it has been done, at least not with the
current crop of male pros. I think the latest start by a pro level
player was from Buddy Hall--and he started at age 12!

Rob

by **Elijah Fayerma** » Fri, 30 Jan 2004 13:47:52

Quote:

> Actually, I don't think it has been done, at least not with the
> current crop of male pros. I think the latest start by a pro level
> player was from Buddy Hall--and he started at age 12!

> Rob

Thank you for your answer, Rob. You seem to be the most realistic person who
replied to my question. I'm not saying there shouldn't be any hope or
positive attitude about one's abilities to get better. I was more
interested if it has been done before. So far, no one came up with any
names.

Thanks again,
Elijah.

by **Stev** » Fri, 30 Jan 2004 21:23:16

Quote:

> > Actually, I don't think it has been done, at least not with the
> > current crop of male pros. I think the latest start by a pro level
> > player was from Buddy Hall--and he started at age 12!

> > Rob

> Thank you for your answer, Rob. You seem to be the most realistic person who
> replied to my question. I'm not saying there shouldn't be any hope or
> positive attitude about one's abilities to get better. I was more
> interested if it has been done before. So far, no one came up with any
> names.

> Thanks again,
> Elijah.

IMO the point Vincent made is the most telling. You can start a 25 and
become professional level, but you have to make up for all those hours
that the other pros have had on the table since age whatever. I think
12 years of age is too late for it to be a stage of development
related thing and it could be overcome with great dedication. The big
problem at 25 is how long it takes to find out whether or not you have
what it takes. A kid that starts at 12 will pretty much know by 18 if
he's got a chance and by 25 will know if he has made it. If he didn't
make it he still has time to redirect his life. Whereas with you
starting at 25 you'll probably be at least 30 before you have a good
sense as to whether or not you can make it and a little older than
that before you know if you did. At that age it becomes a little
harder to redirect you're life and you have a lot of wasted time to
compensate for. For instance, I didn't have a "real job" until I was
31 (really did enjoy those 20's). Now at 58 I'm paying the price, no
retirement money, no security (does anyone have that these days),
still putting kids through college, etc. Like any sport an extremely
small percentage of extrordinary players make it to the "big time" and
in pool the "big time" isn't all that big.
The question you have to ask yourself, is it worth the risk? Or as
Dirty Harry said "You've got to ask yourself one question...Do I feel
lucky? Well, do ya punk?" Good luck.
Steve. <- When all is said and done, still glad he enjoyed his 20's.

by **Glenn Denewet** » Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:25:35

Quote:

> IMO the point Vincent made is the most telling. You can start a 25 and
> become professional level, but you have to make up for all those hours
> that the other pros have had on the table since age whatever. I think
> 12 years of age is too late for it to be a stage of development
> related thing and it could be overcome with great dedication. The big
> problem at 25 is how long it takes to find out whether or not you have
> what it takes. A kid that starts at 12 will pretty much know by 18 if
> he's got a chance and by 25 will know if he has made it. If he didn't
> make it he still has time to redirect his life. Whereas with you
> starting at 25 you'll probably be at least 30 before you have a good
> sense as to whether or not you can make it and a little older than
> that before you know if you did.

Most people have developed their life's interests by 25, those people
after that age that are exposed to the sport just do it for recreation, so
it's unlikely to see those people get good enough in pool to become
professional. I beleive that if someone at age 25/30/40 decided to play
pool seriously, I would think they should develop faster than someone 12
years of age. Those people should comprehend more of the underlying
principals of pool just through life experience than any 12 year old, which
in turn should expidite there progress.

At that age it becomes a little

Quote:

> harder to redirect you're life and you have a lot of wasted time to
> compensate for. For instance, I didn't have a "real job" until I was
> 31 (really did enjoy those 20's). Now at 58 I'm paying the price, no
> retirement money, no security (does anyone have that these days),
> still putting kids through college, etc.

Not to beat you down... but you did have 27 years to save, many people blow
their 20's and retire at a normal retirement age.

Glenn

by **cycopa** » Sat, 31 Jan 2004 01:57:07

Quote:

> > I am interested in becoming real good, even though I started
> > > very late (25 y.o.). I'm not sure if it has been done by anyone else
> > before.

> > I'm sure it has been and can be done. I think the determining factor is how
> > many hours you can practice. Most of us who got serious later in life are
> > prevented by our job and family life from being in the pool room twelve
> > hours a day. If you could cast everything else aside and spend a couple
> > years living pool and had access to a good instructor, you could probably
> > get really good. After building a base like that, it would probably be a
> > matter of continued practice, more experience, and heart.

> Actually, I don't think it has been done, at least not with the
> current crop of male pros. I think the latest start by a pro level
> player was from Buddy Hall--and he started at age 12!

> Rob

John Schimdt didn't pick up a cue until he was 19 yrs old. Look at him now.

by **Steve Elli** » Sat, 31 Jan 2004 07:17:41

Quote:

>> IMO the point Vincent made is the most telling. You can start a 25 and
>> become professional level, but you have to make up for all those hours
>> that the other pros have had on the table since age whatever. I think
>> 12 years of age is too late for it to be a stage of development
>> related thing and it could be overcome with great dedication. The big
>> problem at 25 is how long it takes to find out whether or not you have
>> what it takes. A kid that starts at 12 will pretty much know by 18 if
>> he's got a chance and by 25 will know if he has made it. If he didn't
>> make it he still has time to redirect his life. Whereas with you
>> starting at 25 you'll probably be at least 30 before you have a good
>> sense as to whether or not you can make it and a little older than
>> that before you know if you did.

> Most people have developed their life's interests by 25, those people
>after that age that are exposed to the sport just do it for recreation, so
>it's unlikely to see those people get good enough in pool to become
>professional. I beleive that if someone at age 25/30/40 decided to play
>pool seriously, I would think they should develop faster than someone 12
>years of age. Those people should comprehend more of the underlying
>principals of pool just through life experience than any 12 year old, which
>in turn should expidite there progress.

I agree for the most part.

Quote:

>At that age it becomes a little
>> harder to redirect you're life and you have a lot of wasted time to
>> compensate for. For instance, I didn't have a "real job" until I was
>> 31 (really did enjoy those 20's). Now at 58 I'm paying the price, no
>> retirement money, no security (does anyone have that these days),
>> still putting kids through college, etc.

>Not to beat you down... but you did have 27 years to save, many people blow
>their 20's and retire at a normal retirement age.

Not when you're raising 4 kids, sending them to private high school, sending them to
college, and believing that one of the parents should stay home with the kids until the
youngest was out of Junior High. I make a pretty good salary and I saving like hell now,
but I started with absolutely nothing and I didn't always make good money. I think we did
a pretty good job just getting where we are. We were literally rolling pennies to buy food
the first year my wife left work for the kids. As a result I have some damn good kids,
fortunately very little debt, but unfortunately not much money. I'm not ***in' mind you,
I've had nothing all my life and could have nothing again, but my wife I think deserves
better.
C'est la vi, she could have married for money instead of looks. ;-)
Of course, this has nothing to do with pool, I was just using it as an example of the risk
he runs if he makes the dedicated effort required to play pool at the level he wants to
play.
Steve.

- Show quoted text -

Quote:

>Glenn

by **Bob Jewet** » Sat, 31 Jan 2004 07:36:04

[about becoming a champion after starting late]

Quote:

> John Schimdt didn't pick up a cue until he was 19 yrs old.
> Look at him now.

Well, yes, but, he is not yet the best in the world, and I wouldn't be
surprised if he averages 8 hours a day of play.

My general rule of thumb for all fields of human endeavor:

Start at 7 -- be the best the world has ever seen
Start at 14 -- be the best in your generation
Start at 21 -- be among the best of your generation

I think that anyone who starts playing at 25 (as the original
poster mentioned) has a good chance to be the best in his city if
he has talent for the game, but should give up any hope of being
another Greenleaf or de Oro.

The other aspect is that the original poster may have lots of
enthusiasm but little talent for the game. Even if he practices
for eight hours a day for a year, it may be that he'll never get
past C-player status. Of course, if he enjoys the game, there's
nothing wrong with that, finances permitting.

--

Bob Jewett
http://www.sfbilliards.com/

by **Newspos** » Sat, 31 Jan 2004 16:06:25

Quote:

> my web site is www.fastlarrypool.com.

On it ... Fast Larry sez ...

"Holder of 20 world records in pool, 3-cushion Billiards and Snooker."

May I inquire as to what 3-cushion world records you hold or have held?

by **Mike Pag** » Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:14:12

Quote:

> [about becoming a champion after starting late]

> > John Schimdt didn't pick up a cue until he was 19 yrs old.
> > Look at him now.

> Well, yes, but, he is not yet the best in the world, and I wouldn't be
> surprised if he averages 8 hours a day of play.

Perhaps. But I'd like to know if this is true about John Schmidt.
These things have a way of getting embellished. If it's true, I think
it's pretty significant.

I mean if you collect together all the players in this country who
have a chance getting the six ball from John Schmidt, I suspect the
overwhelming majority of *them* started as kids...

Sport Today

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?

Pool: start late and get eminently good?