Is there such thing as too much pool?

[randallt6]

Instructors: do you think there's such thing of too much pool? I'm playing 6 days a week and find I am getting frustrated more and more some nights when I don't play as well as I can. Do you think playing less pool would be more beneficial? Or do you think having a more structured practice regimen is in need?

Thanks for your time

 

[The Renfro]

Your issue is not too much pool... Your issue is that you are playing 6 nights... I may misunderstand your statement but there is no mention of practice......

Playing will develop certain skill sets but it will not allow you to work on things you are weak in because there is a lack of repetition....

I need 2 hours a day to be in top form.... OF PRACTICE...... I can play sets every single night and without the practice I will basically stagnate at whatever level I am at... There will be small improvements but there will be no finding a new gear or finding and staying in the zone for weeks.....

Evaluate the time you are spending and investing in the game... I would suggest 50/50 split on play vs practice if you are at the point of frustration.... Once you have had a chance to work hard on your game without having to deal with socializing or competition then maybe you can adjust to 25/75........

This is a very hard thing todo in the beginning... You walk into the room and your friends or the guys you gamble with are ready to play.... But do this for yourself.... Walk in and go get a table and set a time limit for your practice session...

If someone walks up and wants to play tell them the truth.... You need to hit balls and you intend to do exactly that until x minutes are up... If they haven't found someone to play with or gamble with when that clock runs out you'll be super happy for them to join you....

DO NOT break this rule for anyone... even my best friend knows the drill and he sometimes will sit and watch me practice and point out things he notices and sometimes he will find someone to knock em around with until I am done....

You will never progress without practice just like you will never progress without competition... It's upto you to figure out how much of each is right for you to get better....

 

[softshot]

I look at pool practice like weightlifting.. you can't walk in day one and bench 400lbs..

you start with a benchmark.. can I bench press my own weight?

can I shoot a perfect stop shot with the balls 4 diamonds apart?

the answer is yes or no.. so you have an immediate goal..

if you do nothing but that .. every single day nonstop... you will just burn yourself out... many try that approach and most quit...


on the other hand.. if you realize you own limitations.. and understand that you will not be equal to SVB next week.. and not even the week after that

give yourself a goal and a limit... I want to make X shot 10 times in a row.. but I will not make more than XX attempts ..

then work on something else come back to that specific shot and goal.. 3 4 or 5 days later.. and try again...

let your muscles have a chance to learn what you are trying to teach them

work on a rotation of specific goals.. every other day spend an hour on something..

trying to do everything at once accomplishes nothing.. this is a process and it takes time..the better you become the harder you have to work to get to the next step..

and it never ends....

it takes YEARS of hard work to become a quality pool player.. and anyone who tells you different is selling something..

slow and steady wins this race..

give your muscles a chance to learn what you are teaching them..

 

[Ratta]

I look at pool practice like weightlifting.. you can't walk in day one and bench 400lbs..

you start with a benchmark.. can I bench press my own weight?

can I shoot a perfect stop shot with the balls 4 diamonds apart?

the answer is yes or no.. so you have an immediate goal..

if you do nothing but that .. every single day nonstop... you will just burn yourself out... many try that approach and most quit...


on the other hand.. if you realize you own limitations.. and understand that you will not be equal to SVB next week.. and not even the week after that

give yourself a goal and a limit... I want to make X shot 10 times in a row.. but I will not make more than XX attempts ..

then work on something else come back to that specific shot and goal.. 3 4 or 5 days later.. and try again...

let your muscles have a chance to learn what you are trying to teach them

work on a rotation of specific goals.. every other day spend an hour on something..

trying to do everything at once accomplishes nothing.. this is a process and it takes time..the better you become the harder you have to work to get to the next step..

and it never ends....

it takes YEARS of hard work to become a quality pool player.. and anyone who tells you different is selling something..

slow and steady wins this race..

give your muscles a chance to learn what you are teaching them..

You made some very good points softshot :thumbup:
To notice and to keep results is a must have in my opinion. But it s hard to pray that to the most ppl. To note really each result in practice means also to be 100% serious with yourself.

Many underestimate how much hard work it needs to practice concentrated. the quality of practicing is more important than the quantity,

lg
Ingo

 

[FranCrimi]

Instructors: do you think there's such thing of too much pool? I'm playing 6 days a week and find I am getting frustrated more and more some nights when I don't play as well as I can. Do you think playing less pool would be more beneficial? Or do you think having a more structured practice regimen is in need?

Thanks for your time

Give us an example of your typical week of playing pool. What does it look like?

 

[randallt6]

Give us an example of your typical week of playing pool. What does it look like?

Sun- play against various friends at my local pool hall, maybe shoot a few racks by myself

Mon- local 9 ball tourney

Tues- CPA league

Wed- play myself for about 2 hours, usually trying to run each rack out (no structured practise like there should be)

Thurs- in house league

Fri- sometimes practise by myself or with a buddy, once and a while getting lessons from local pro's and so on

Sat- shooting by myself for about an hour or 2, no structured practise like there should


After typing all that I realize I have no structured practice routine, which is something I need to work on immediately, anyone have a link to a good practice routine?

 

[krupa]

Caveat: I am not an instructor.

Here's my routine (I have no idea how long this takes. I don't keep a clock in my basement and I just practice until I want to stop:

1. Warm up by rolling out the balls and shooting them in. I usually try to play position on the next shot but it's not critical; I'm just trying to loosen up.

2. Practice some progressive drills, stop, follow, draw. Usually I choose one of them, shoot a rack of balls then move on to the next thing.

3. Choose (from the many options) a shot I "always" miss. I'll shoot a rack of those.

4. Shoot a rack of 9-ball or 14.1 for a break.

5. Repeat 3 with a different shot.

6. Play a few racks of either 9-ball or 14.1.

I keep a journal of shots I miss a lot, safeties I flubbed, or general things I want to work on. Usually after league or pick-up matches, I'll write things down.

For step 3, the shots may include flubbed safeties, badly played position, or literally just some shot I miss a lot.

Anecdotal proof that this works. Tuesday night I practiced a rack of side-pocket cut shots. When I started the rack, it typically took 3 attempts to get the ball in the hole. By the end I was drilling them in on the first attempt. Wednesday night in league, I was faced with the EXACT SAME SHOT. Making it means I'm on the hill, missing it means I'm done for the night. Needless to say, I made the shot and went hill-hill (where I lost because I scratched on the break and my opponent ran-out.)

-matthew

 

[randallt6]

I look at pool practice like weightlifting.. you can't walk in day one and bench 400lbs..

you start with a benchmark.. can I bench press my own weight?

can I shoot a perfect stop shot with the balls 4 diamonds apart?

the answer is yes or no.. so you have an immediate goal..

if you do nothing but that .. every single day nonstop... you will just burn yourself out... many try that approach and most quit...


on the other hand.. if you realize you own limitations.. and understand that you will not be equal to SVB next week.. and not even the week after that

give yourself a goal and a limit... I want to make X shot 10 times in a row.. but I will not make more than XX attempts ..

then work on something else come back to that specific shot and goal.. 3 4 or 5 days later.. and try again...

let your muscles have a chance to learn what you are trying to teach them

work on a rotation of specific goals.. every other day spend an hour on something..

trying to do everything at once accomplishes nothing.. this is a process and it takes time..the better you become the harder you have to work to get to the next step..

and it never ends....

it takes YEARS of hard work to become a quality pool player.. and anyone who tells you different is selling something..

slow and steady wins this race..

give your muscles a chance to learn what you are teaching them..

this makes alot of sense, do you know where I can find more info on how to practice like this ? or do I have to create my own kind of routine (practicing certain shots, runouts, safteys, position etc)

 

[dearnold]

Cappelle

this makes alot of sense, do you know where I can find more info on how to practice like this ? or do I have to create my own kind of routine (practicing certain shots, runouts, safteys, position etc)

Phil Cappelle: Practicing Pool has a lot of good things.

Google the internet and you'll find many more.

The Dr. Dave materials are great. VEPP.

 

[RobMan]

The Dr. Dave materials are great. VEPP.

Take a look at his web site. There are a number of example drills in video. Also you can download some nice 9 ball drill sheets. I do not have the DVD set, but if I ever get my room addition, I will! :thumbup:

 

[The Renfro]

Simple first step is to start carrying a notebook with you.. Write down the shots you missed or safes you flubbed and begin there.... Most people shy away from practicing what they are not good at and will only shoot the shots they have success with because it's easier on the ego....

Address your weaknesses first and as they disappear you move forward.... How much time should you invest in this? It's not weight lifting... You cannot exhaust your muscles over a few reps of ten....

It all comes back to this... An amateur practices a shot until he can make it... A pro practices it until he cannot miss it....

I think you may need help from someone Like Fran or Scott or Randy in developing a plan....

I shoot drills.... I shoot the same shot 100 times before I move on but that is at the extreme end of the spectrum... I decided this to be my routine because I decided if I could not make a shot of my choosing 100 times I had no chance or running 100s in 14.1....

One benefit of choosing a number is when you deal with a shot you hate or have trouble with you just don't get to say screw it and move on..

You actually will eventually not just know the shots but you will own them... forever... and they will be in your toolbox forever... You may have to take them out of the box from time to time to maintain them and keep them sharp but they will be truly yours once mastered......

 

[The Renfro]

And in response to your sig... I play with phenolic.... Since I bought the Kamui .98 I haven't miscued once =P... I just wish the oompa loompa Kamui was using to churn out the chalk could make it faster and cheaper LOL

 

[randallt6]

Simple first step is to start carrying a notebook with you.. Write down the shots you missed or safes you flubbed and begin there.... Most people shy away from practicing what they are not good at and will only shoot the shots they have success with because it's easier on the ego....

Address your weaknesses first and as they disappear you move forward.... How much time should you invest in this? It's not weight lifting... You cannot exhaust your muscles over a few reps of ten....

It all comes back to this... An amateur practices a shot until he can make it... A pro practices it until he cannot miss it....

I think you may need help from someone Like Fran or Scott or Randy in developing a plan....

I shoot drills.... I shoot the same shot 100 times before I move on but that is at the extreme end of the spectrum... I decided this to be my routine because I decided if I could not make a shot of my choosing 100 times I had no chance or running 100s in 14.1....

One benefit of choosing a number is when you deal with a shot you hate or have trouble with you just don't get to say screw it and move on..

You actually will eventually not just know the shots but you will own them... forever... and they will be in your toolbox forever... You may have to take them out of the box from time to time to maintain them and keep them sharp but they will be truly yours once mastered......

Thnx for the advice, got a lesson from lee brett today and shot a few drills that I def need to work on, speed control is my biggest issue, now I know what to practise! Thnx

 

[The Renfro]

Thnx for the advice, got a lesson from lee brett today and shot a few drills that I def need to work on, speed control is my biggest issue, now I know what to practise! Thnx

I could try and say something bad about Lee but I am completely blank... Aside from the fact that it looked like he has been growing some facial hair since Derby.......

Speed control is about grip pressure in the end.... If he has you on the V grip that will take care of itself..... Another trick/method for speed control is something I am not aware of in Lee's teaching.... He may cover it or he may not...

You know the part where Lee talks about inside of the box and outside the box??? When you are outside the box work your practice strokes...

U are using the outside of the box to make all of your decisions so get the cue moving.... Learn to feel the speed you need before you ever step within 3 feet of the table.......

The more you do this and trust your decision you made before you get down on the shot the more faith and confidence you will develop....

Once inside the box you are not allowed to think.... Speed control is thinking... handle it before you get to the table.......

 

[RWOJO]

Practice

3 Types of pool and all 3 are equally important.
1) Play to play - this is just playing with friends, family or such and having fun
2) Practice - this is structured and purposeful. Working on problem areas and drills.
3) competition - whether league, tournaments, sets with someone equal or better than you

Now what I've found is almost all players spend most of their time doing 1 and some of their time doing 3 but rarely see players doing 2. The players I do see practicing are the ones that tend to be improving.

The 'bring a note book' idea is a great idea. I've done this off and on for years. After anytime you play pool take a few minutes to reflect and write about it. Note the date, time, table, opponent, and then delve deeper. How do you think you played overall? Strengths and weaknesses for that day. Problem shots (draw them to the best you can remember) and include position you were trying to get. I am willing to bet if you kept this information for weeks or months you will notice patterns of similiar problems and weaknesses.

With that done you can practice with purpose. Work on any problem areas you had. Start to structure your practice (however long) to get the most out of it.

An example of a random day of me practicing. Usually starts with me telling eveyone that comes up to me that I don't want to play, I am going to practice by myself. Start with practicing speed. Shoot 15 balls at 1 table length speed, 15 at 2 speed (2 table lengths or lag) and then 15 at 3 speed. Then I shot 10 to 15 straight in shots. Start medium distance and work to longer and longer. Then maybe 10 to 15 cut shots. I may even do 10 to 15 bank shots (short or long rail). By now my arm is loose and I feel ready to play. I usually work some on progressive Stop, Draw or Follow. Follow as example : 5 shots from 1 diamond away - straight in - follow the cue ball 1 diamond. Then 5 from same distance but follow 2 diamonds and then 3 and 4 and 5. Then go through follow but with the object ball 2 diamonds away (do follow 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 diamonds). Maybe take a short break. Then play a set against the ghost in 9 ball. Break, take ball in hand if if i run out i get a point, if i miss the ghost gets a point. After the set I go back to a couple more drills (i've got hundreds of them).

A big thing to notice is that when you start losing focus you need to take a break, refocus and then come back. Initially your 'focused practice' may only be 30 minutes. It will take work to be able to do focused practice for longer and longer.

Anyone striving to improve should seek out an instructor. They will help with fundamentals and setting up a practice routine and drills to work on. After a week or two the instructor should be able to notice improvement or help with any questions/problems you are having.