Though he did not focus on the sport until the late 1950s when in his mid twenties, Jim Poole went on to have a remarkably long career in high level badminton.
He probably played the best doubles of his career while approaching forty in the late 1960s and early 1970s, during an eleven-season partnership with fellow left-hander Don Paup.
They reached the finals of the U.S. Open five times in nine tries, winning twice, while capturing all five of the closed national championships that they contested as a team.
Noted for his shot-making accuracy and consistency, and for his tactical astuteness,[2] Poole was a member of seven consecutive US Thomas Cup (men's international) teams from 1958 through 1976.
[4] From 1975 to 1995 he officiated National Football League games, wearing number 92 and working in two Super Bowls as a back judge.