Are you maintaining or improving?

Question

Is your personal prime in the past, present, or future? Does everyone have the potential to be great, or are some people the best they'll ever be at average? Why?

Answer 1

JUST LOOKING FOR jOHNNY BUT DO WHAT YOU CAN DO

Answer 2

Ablity Yes Desire not so much I remarked at the bottom of a question a few days ago now its like watching a movie 25 times no matter how good the movie you just dont want to watch it right now or quit watching in the middle of it

I still can but it just dont mean as much as it used to I know people i played 10-15 years ago and their game has not improved in that time they reach a level and never advance one bit the rest of their days on the table

If a player on the level i was on at 25 or before were to play me right now i would not stand a chance

But if i bear down and get my stuff togeather we would go to the hill with a coin toss for the set

But Eightbreaker covered that a day or so ago when the going gets tough we get going Tell me who would get to pick the movie today i still like that answer

I dont think I added much to Straights answer  but ILL take the 2 points

not used to typing this much i forgot the whole question I guess just hanging in there

                                        Later Johnny

Answer 3

Don't know really. My stamina and strength are prob not as good as 20 yrs ago. The vitality of my game is less but my stroke and game perception is much better. I "see" the table better as to layout and I am smarter playing and matching up than I used to be. If I was a betting man I would prob put my money day in and day out on the current me. Youth and vigor will always be overcome by age and treachery.

Luck

K

Answer 4

You have some very good questions, Lea?  This is actually one of the things that I think about myself on a regular basis.  I think that everybody has the ability to improve, but not everybody has pool greatness within them.  Some people just have more natural talent and aptitude than others.  Let me give you an example.  We all know that guy (I'm using the male pronoun to simplify things) at the local pool hall or tavern who tends to dominate when he's at the table.  Let's say he's middle-aged.  He's probably been playing his whole life.  He'll tell you how his father or grandfather showed him how to play, etc.  What he won't tell you and probably doesn't even realize, is that he's been playing at more or less the same skill level for the past 20 or more years.  Guess what, at the rate he's going, he'll be playing at the same level 20 years from now.  What separates a player like this from a professional is not natural talent.  Both players have tons.  The professional is a true student of the game.  They have the humility to accept advice and to break down their game over and over again.  The pros trust their instincts but they also work on their fundamentals.  The local champ very often tends to play almost completely on instinct, and this is where they limit themselves.  To be sure, they've picked up a few things over the years through trial and error, but they'll never reach their full potential.  Incidentally, this kind of player can often be a pool instructor's nightmare.  You just can't tell them anything.  This is why I don't feel too bad when I meet one of these players and lose.  I know that I'll be steadily progessing because I know what I'm working on.  I have set goals for myself and I know what I have to do to achieve them.  One day, if I keep practicing, I know'll that I'll surpass players like this.  On the other hand, there are those players who could practice for hours every day and just barely be able to run three balls.  I'll never try to discourage a person like this if they're getting enjoyment from playing.  That's what really matters most to them.  Still, the fact remains that they'll never be world-beaters, and they probably know it and don't really care.  Very often, it's players like this that show the highest level of improvement when viewed as a percentage.  I hope this answered your question.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 5

Good question and often ask myself just that same question....could I be great at it......I really think that it is true that you have to have some natural ability....but the "heart" is what makes or break someone....no matter what anyone tells you......read all of the answers....but I truely believe that I could take some one with no playing knowledge of the game and make him a "pro" if he had the heart and desire.....saying that let me qualify it as well.....I DO NOT have all of the expertise and technical kowledge to be the one to do that....I think that I am that person and truely believe that it could be me if I had the time to do it ....but "LIFE" keeps me from doing this.....I am truely an "old dog" but feel that I could and will always want to learn new tricks.....I do not want to know how it is done but I want to be able to know as to why it did what it did......I am a "baby boomer" and have not hit my prime just yet.....maybe "Straight" or "Johnny" can take me there......but this idea should be the way your life should be "a 2 minute warning" from the time you get up to get after it and be the best that you can be.....run each day with this attitude (2 minute warning) and you will not ever settle for being average......I am in sales and can not operate otherwise.....not worried about wearing out......there are time outs and commercials to give me time to catch my breath and get some new ways to get to the goal line......if you are good enough to be "average" then you are not doing enough........I truely want to be a "Mickey Mantle" of what ever I do!!!