I pose this question, respectfully, solely to experienced instructors who have had a wealth of time with students (like 10 years or more).
For the past couple of years I have wanted to just set aside a month for deliberate practice and I've finally decided to go through with it beginning tonight. Though one could argue that focused practice play could constitute "deliberate practice," I'm referring only to drills. My training regimen would consist of drills from a variety of sources and would be well-rounded. What I'm asking, however, is would cutting out practice play for a month only serve to hamper my progress? In Jack Koehler's "The Science of Pocket Billiards," he posits that the more advanced a player you are the greater percent of the time should be engaging in practice play and less on drills. I know it's hard to gauge a player you can't witness playing, but I can say I have the ability to break and run twice in a row on a bar table. There were two times in the past I had to give up pool due to being injured, once for 3 months and another for 3 1/2 months. Each time I came back, I felt like I was back up to speed within 2 weeks. This gives me confidence that my month of deliberate practice will only serve to help me improve. Based on the general info I've provided, would it be a mistake to cut out practice play completely? Should I at least commit a fraction of my time during this next month to practice play? Just wanted to hear some thoughts from the experienced instructors. Thanks.
For the past couple of years I have wanted to just set aside a month for deliberate practice and I've finally decided to go through with it beginning tonight. Though one could argue that focused practice play could constitute "deliberate practice," I'm referring only to drills. My training regimen would consist of drills from a variety of sources and would be well-rounded. What I'm asking, however, is would cutting out practice play for a month only serve to hamper my progress? In Jack Koehler's "The Science of Pocket Billiards," he posits that the more advanced a player you are the greater percent of the time should be engaging in practice play and less on drills. I know it's hard to gauge a player you can't witness playing, but I can say I have the ability to break and run twice in a row on a bar table. There were two times in the past I had to give up pool due to being injured, once for 3 months and another for 3 1/2 months. Each time I came back, I felt like I was back up to speed within 2 weeks. This gives me confidence that my month of deliberate practice will only serve to help me improve. Based on the general info I've provided, would it be a mistake to cut out practice play completely? Should I at least commit a fraction of my time during this next month to practice play? Just wanted to hear some thoughts from the experienced instructors. Thanks.