Can you become a great pool player later in life rather than in your teens?

Question

I started playing at 15 and am ranked a 7 in APA. I know that I can get better, but I was told by the "best" player in our area that at 30 years of age, I could not get any better....basically never as good as he. Just would like some input.

thanks,

Answer 1

With practice, you can always get better.  I learned by shooting the same shot over and over for almost eight hours a day.  There is always room for improvement.

Answer 2

I was 41 when I joined the APA in 1984. I bought a table, got serious about learning the game and six years later I was elevated to a '7'. But, and let me emphasize this, I had a very good instructor. And I listened to everything he told me and practiced everyday.

Indian Johnny is right, no other sport can boast older champions than Pool-Billiards-Snooker.

Answer 3

Practice, practice, practice and believe in yourself!  You can do anything you want.  Work hard and good luck!

Answer 4

i've seen a few old dudes shootin pool, every once in a while there are comptetitions on tv, the old dudes can kick butt too

sounds like the guy u talked to has an ego

Answer 5

Pool lasts a lifetime.

And if you keep playing pool, your hand-eye motor coordination will remain strong, well into your later years. I wish I had started when I was your age.

Me, I've got 20-20 vision, but need reading glasses. This causes some problems.

But there are plenty of pros out there in their 50's that can do amazing things, and probably plenty in their 60's and 70's. (But they're out there on the golf course where tall tales seem to loom larger.)

I firmly believe that billiards forces neural connections to be continually made and strengthened. I would not be surprised if pool players have less incidence of dementia in old age, as opposed to TV addicts. But then, that's just another research study, and some input.

Congrats on you standings, and keep up with the discipline of pool and billiards. I'm rooting for you all the way...

(Now, sharpen your skills and beat his condescending a$$!)

Answer 6

Well, the only way he is right is that you can't get to be better than ranked a 7 in APA because that is the highest handicap that you can have.  Other than that, the guy is full of it!  He must obviously be older than you and have a few more years of experience under his belt, and sounds a bit egotistical to me.

You can get better by practicing and practicing some more.  Run drills, whatever it takes to help you with your consistency.  The more you practice the better you can be.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you CAN'T be something!  Find out if there are other leagues other than the APA in your area.  The BCA usually has a higher caliber of players.  You also get to shoot against 5 people on the opposite team instead of the other team's 7 or whoever they sacrifice against you.  When playing in the APA it can sometimes keep you stagnant where there isn't much of a challenge at times due to the lack of players in your skill level.  Maybe you are just used to playing the same people over and over again like one of the other posters mentioned.

Get out there and check out different tournaments and everything in your area.  Find out what other leagues there are to play on.  Don't limit your skills to just playing in the APA.  And DON'T believe that you can't get better.  Find better people to challenge you other than the "best" player in your area and don't let what he said hold you back!!  There is always room to improve and enhance your skills!!!

Good luck & hope this helps!

Answer 7

I have seen players get better in their 40s before. Actually I am good friends with a man who just turned 40 and he has been playing since he was a teen. He has gotten much better over the last few years than he ever was. That player was wrong in my opinion. You are still plenty young enough to get better. Use his words for motivation to get better

Answer 8

30 ?? I have T shirts older than that

Pool has the oldest Champions of any sport

I just turned 60 May the 1st  as soon as I get back home from Vegas tell your freind he is on if he ever gets around Bogies  In N.Houston Tx

Answer 9

It's good to see another APA player here. Yes, you can definitely improve your game even after the ripe old age of 30. If your area is like mine, there are a limited number of SL7's to play with and you've probably played them all. So much so, that both of your games have become stale from knowing each others strengths and weaknesses.

I would suggest you get out of your area to try and find some different players to pick up some new ideas and to sharpen your game.

There have to be some professional players at least close to you that you can take lessons from or you can attend one of the pro tour tournaments that come through and make some inquiries from some of those players.

Anyone that says you can't teach an old dog new tricks when it come to pool.....well, it just ain't so! Ray Martin plays in our area and I wish I knew just 10% of half of everything he's forgotten about how to play the game.

Answer 10

Of course you can get better.  I guaranty I know plenty of guys over 50 that will have the "best player" in your area leaving the pool room with no shoes.  The link below is 1 of the better ones on the list.  He was in the color of money. And started playing pool at age 16. Mr. Willie Munson.

Answer 11

you will probably peek in your 40's. If you stay with it,thats about the age most pros are at there best.