[pwd72s]

Genetics definitely play a role. Remember well, 3rd or 4th grade, a kid names Chuck Miller showing me his heels in a foot race. No way I could have caught him. He went on to be a 4 star college recruit, got a full ride at Oregon. But there? Had to compete against Mel Renfro...whoops. Younger guys here can google Mel Renfro...

The evolution of the game of pool is now in coaching & workshops. Especially in Europe, where the game is taught as if it were an olympics sport. At the top levels, it's become very much a young man's game. Before, it took a lot of time to learn the tricks of cue ball control, how cue speed makes a difference, stun and draw shots, etc. Things the hustlers didn't want to teach for obvious reasons. One of the most difficult games there is, when you consider it involves hitting one sphere with a stick, then it hitting another sphere into a small pocket. Geometry, physics, all the sciences combined. There is a mechanical engineering prof. in Colorado who uses the properties of pool as part of his course. "Dr. Dave" instructional videos can be found on youtube...

(edit) It just amazed me how good Filler was at 13...even at that skill level, I know of only 2 or 3 players in Oregon who could beat him.