Being Bested in Veteran Pool

 Shooting pool with a few veterans is a humbling reminder that there are levels to this game. These guys/gals aren't just good—they’re card-carrying pool sharks. They play on a league, travel for tournaments, run circles around other players, and one of them even used to teach the game professionally.

(Illustrative Only)
Being beat 
is a learning
lesson on 
playing pool. 
Lots of good advice. 

Naturally, I thought I was holding my own. I’m not a bad player; I’m comfortably above average. In some ways I think they been eyballing me. One said when I get back from Cali they wanted to teach me a couple tricks. Some of the conversation was on pool playing and teams for tournaments. 🤔

On a good night, I can get in the zone and rattle off three or four wins in a row. But consistency is my kryptonite. The flip side is that I’m just as capable of laying a four-game egg. These guys, on the other hand, are machines.

They took pity on me and handed over a clinic in angles, physics, and strategy—complete with a special training cue ball covered in alignment markings to show exactly how "English" bends the white ball's path. Turns out, mastering the geometry of a pool table takes a little more than just good vibes and blind confidence.

The night ended with my ego firmly packed in my bags and a parting invitation: "Come back next time you want another whipping."

Do I want another whipping? Absolutely. Because even against a crew of hardened sharks, I still managed to sink a few solid shots. And when you're playing guys like that, every ball in the pocket is a small victory.

Support your local veterans.

An interesting video.