In grad school, I had access to a pool table and played nearly every day with a classmate who was already highly skilled. We were very competitive, and soon equally matched.
A couple of years later, after going separate ways, we met up at a pool hall. After a few games, it wasn’t even close.
Neither of us had played much for a few years. The difference was my friend’s sharp skills had deteriorated, whereas my advantage had often been from taking “creative” higher-risk/higher-reward shots—a “skill” that didn’t suffer as much from lack of practice.
A couple of years later, after going separate ways, we met up at a pool hall. After a few games, it wasn’t even close.
Neither of us had played much for a few years. The difference was my friend’s sharp skills had deteriorated, whereas my advantage had often been from taking “creative” higher-risk/higher-reward shots—a “skill” that didn’t suffer as much from lack of practice.