Talent Roulette

[pottr]

Hi guys,

Not posted in forever but I'm keen to get back into playing properly after a few years of not really caring/practising/trying.

Has anyone else on here ever regained respectable form at 40?

Every time I pull the cue out of the case to play, I have no idea whether the next 10 frames will leave me with a high break of 30 odd or I'll have made two or three tons. I find it so frustrating.

I know the answer is to just practice properly but I just figured I might post on here and try and engage in a few posts to reignite something in me.

Are there any practice video challenges that folk are still posting? I used to like bossing those on here

[Nifty50]

Welcome back Pottr. Your contributions have been missed. 40 is the new 21 lol.

[Cue crafty]

Wahoo Jacks back in town!! Nice to know you're well and just a lazy bugger snooker wise.

[pottr]

Thanks for the love.

You've hit the nail on the head, Crafty. If I want it, I'll stop making excuses and just get on with the hard work of playing.

[itsnoteasy]

Great to see you post again.
Being in your forties shouldn't be a hindrance, maybe motivation will be but the ability should still be ok.
Wait till your nearly sixty and you get down on a shot and forget what your doing as your mind wanders, that's a bugger!.

[pottr]

Thanks INO

I know the ability is still there, it's just killing me not knowing what level I'm going to be at each time I take the cue out of the case, It sounds really brattish to say but I feel embarrassed when I don't just play at my level.

I had 15/20 years of playing where most of the time, I couldn't miss if I tried and now some days, it really takes a momumental effort just to play to my average standard.

Wait till your nearly sixty and you get down on a shot and forget what your doing as your mind wanders, that's a bugger!.

Got to be lucky enough to get there.

Poor me

[itsnoteasy]

I practiced with an ex pro, for about a year, he had nearly twenty years out the game, when he came back it took him about six months before he knocked a 147 in, of course I was in awe of him but he was the same as you, he said he never got above seventy percent of what he was like back in the day and it used to frustrate him.
Just to add, that was my favourite time ever playing snooker, he really brought my game on and I became a top class ball picker

[vmax]

You've been away since the pandemic Jack, was your business affected badly ?

[Cue crafty]

Thanks for the love.

You've hit the nail on the head, Crafty. If I want it, I'll stop making excuses and just get on with the hard work of playing.

Yeh, jokes aside mate, at your ability level you're going to have to ask yourself what it is that you want from the game.... Probably difficult for you to just play for fun I would guess, having said that if you can start to enjoy the "me time" factor of simply doing something for yourself, you might find the love and inspiration to do some line ups etc and build up from there.

Best to forget about tons and concentrate on good cueing, funny how breaks then happen anyway. Last thing to add, is snooker stays in your blood, it's a lovely thing in life to be gifted at something, 40 is very young and you're a long time dead, embrace what you've got while you can but most importantly find joy doing it.

[pottr]

You've been away since the pandemic Jack, was your business affected badly ?

Hey Vmax, to be honest pal, business has gone from strength to strength and I'm making more money than I've ever made. I know that's taken away from my ability to play for a time coz I was working 12/16 hour days, 6 days a week.

You've got to do what you've got to do though.

Probably difficult for you to just play for fun I would guess

You've hit the nail on the head. That's it! I can't just play for the fun of it anymore and I can't see how I ever will be able to.

line ups etc

Autopilot still engages there... Can clear them in my sleep.

[Cue crafty]

Maybe it's time (not sure if you've entered before) to have a crack at Q school. Couple of guys I know entered last year and they really enjoyed the whole experience of preparing and playing in what looked and felt like a professional event. There's quite a few players with disposable income who aren't really trying to get on tour but enter for the experience.

Probably difficult to find the time I know, but you've worked hard so must deserve to do something for yourself..

[pottr]

Maybe it's time (not sure if you've entered before) to have a crack at Q school.

Impossible for me to guarantee any dates. I don't even bother with local tournys anymore as a result.

[Cue crafty]

Impossible for me to guarantee any dates. I don't even bother with local tournys anymore as a result.

I hear ya Pottr, it's difficult to step off the hamsters wheel and get out of the cage BUT it is REALLY important to try! There's always a way, it might involve offloading tasks and delegation to others which is scary and puts you out of a comfort zone because it's difficult to get good people you can trust etc.

But at the end of the day, all work and no play makes Pottr a dullard!!

[vmax]

Hey Vmax, to be honest pal, business has gone from strength to strength and I'm making more money than I've ever made. I know that's taken away from my ability to play for a time coz I was working 12/16 hour days, 6 days a week.

You've got to do what you've got to do though.

How much is enough and why do I need even more are the questions you need to ask yourself mate. It's your life too you know.

[pottr]

The answer for me has always been 'more' unfortunately. I can't sit still.