Pool player and body building.

[CJ Wiley]

Glucosamine / Chondroitin / MSM

This is where some good core exercises come in! I have worked out off and on while playing pool and think it is a good thing for me. I recently started taking Glucosamine for my join ts and it helps. I try to stretch and do a couple nice core exercises with every workout to stay limber.

I know a "meat head" and he plays ok on the beer table! :thumbup:

I've taking Glucosamine / Chondroitin / MSM combo for a number of years....I never have any joint pain and pretty much feel like I did in my 20's...except actually better because I don't drink anymore Makes the mornings much better for sure :thumbup:

 

[fathomblue]

What is MSM?

 

[Donny Lutz]

Weight-lifting

Lifting hard messes up my game. I've even tried shooting between sets on my table when working out at home to try and get used to the feel but it doesn't work. The funniest though was playing basketball back in the day after lifting.....man, talk about some air balls.

Clearly there are different viewpoints on this.

Pool doesn't require strength, so heavy lifting for bulk and strength may be of limited value. It does however, improve your endurance.

In my experience and that of teammates and friends, exercise such as yoga, tai chai, pilates, etc. does much more for your game, - developing balance, body awareness and flexibility.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor

 

[JoeW]

I've taking Glucosamine / Chondroitin / MSM combo for a number of years....I never have any joint pain and pretty much feel like I did in my 20's...except actually better because I don't drink anymore Makes the mornings much better for sure :thumbup:

I take the same stuff (10 years +) with the same results. The wife buys it from Puritan Pride for a pretty good price.

MSM: methyisulfonyimethane.

 

[mantis99]

I have worked out since I was a teenager and have never found tht it gets in the way of my game. I do naturally have a lean frame, so I really have never been very bulky. I also workout first thing in the am, so I am generally not playing pool right after weight lifting. If I would suggest that any play after a hard workout would be affected for the first 2 hours afterwards.

 

[DeHouser]

Oh, and all you bodybuilders should know who my avatar is?

I'm not a bodybuilder, but I reckon that is Sergio Oliva. Custom shirts for those arms, for sure.

I used to train as a powerlifter, now I work with kettlebells, and run with my wife, who whups my a#$. I don't play long pool sessions often, but I find that my focus is better after a good run or workout.

 

[1on1pooltournys]

I've taking Glucosamine / Chondroitin / MSM combo for a number of years....I never have any joint pain and pretty much feel like I did in my 20's...except actually better because I don't drink anymore Makes the mornings much better for sure :thumbup:

Yep this is the right "mixture" for me as well! I wish I could give up drinking but sometimes I just have the urge for a cold beer. I have to relieve the stress somehow...usually at gym though!

 

[SUPERSTAR]

Work out the day before

I usually work out the day before, or 2 days before i have to play seriously depending.

I do the whole body.

As far as the arms are specifically concerned.

Working up from 35lb to 50lb bicep curls with dumbells. 4 sets, and then dropping down to 25lbs for 2 burn out sets, strickly concentrating on form.

Tricep pull downs on the machine with the chord and the bar or rope attachment to use, doing from 100 to 150lbs for 5 sets, then dropping down back to 100lbs and focusing on form for a burnout.

Chest, shoulders and upper back, all depend on the day, but i usually don't go for lifting a lot. Do medium weight burn outs on whatever machine or free weights i am using for those.

Legs i kill myself on every way possible.

I also run 6 miles if there is a day in between lifting and when i have to play.

If i do this routine, i can play VERY well.
I feel good, and when i feel good, i play good.
I also usually have way more sensitivity of my cueball speed.
And stroking seems effortless.
If i don't do this routine, i play terrible.
I also sleep WAY better if i work out. (big deal if you have to play all day the next day.

Mind you, on the biceps and triceps I try my best to lift mechanically correct so that it doesn't deviate a lot from my actual stroking mechanics.
(i don't use my back or inertia to lift the dumbells or try to twist the weight up, and i don't use my shoulders when doing the triceps pulldowns)

I find that by doing this, my stroke is extra straight.

But at the same time, i am also very used to lifting, swimming, running, TRX training, etc etc.
If i DON'T exercise, i feel like crap when i play. Especially if it's a long day.

Working out puts my mind and body in the right place, and i play better as a result. But i know it's not for everyone.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Pool's Usual Suspects

I usually work out the day before, or 2 days before i have to play seriously depending.

I do the whole body.

As far as the arms are specifically concerned.

Working up from 35lb to 50lb bicep curls with dumbells. 4 sets, and then dropping down to 25lbs for 2 burn out sets, strickly concentrating on form.

Tricep pull downs on the machine with the chord and the bar or rope attachment to use, doing from 100 to 150lbs for 5 sets, then dropping down back to 100lbs and focusing on form for a burnout.

Chest, shoulders and upper back, all depend on the day, but i usually don't go for lifting a lot. Do medium weight burn outs on whatever machine or free weights i am using for those.

Legs i kill myself on every way possible.

I also run 6 miles if there is a day in between lifting and when i have to play.

If i do this routine, i can play VERY well.
I feel good, and when i feel good, i play good.
I also usually have way more sensitivity of my cueball speed.
And stroking seems effortless.
If i don't do this routine, i play terrible.
I also sleep WAY better if i work out. (big deal if you have to play all day the next day.

Mind you, on the biceps and triceps I try my best to lift mechanically correct so that it doesn't deviate a lot from my actual stroking mechanics.
(i don't use my back or inertia to lift the dumbells or try to twist the weight up, and i don't use my shoulders when doing the triceps pulldowns)

I find that by doing this, my stroke is extra straight.

But at the same time, i am also very used to lifting, swimming, running, TRX training, etc etc.
If i DON'T exercise, i feel like crap when i play. Especially if it's a long day.

Working out puts my mind and body in the right place, and i play better as a result. But i know it's not for everyone.

You know the "Usual Suspects"....and you sound like Strong Arm J. . . hmmm, do you also order an extra meal at EVERY restaurant, or just hook an IV up with a protein drink?LoL ... I got up to 215 lifting weights a couple of years ago and the cue felt like a toothpick, I don't see how you do it....I can't touch weights without losing 15% off my game...most of the top pros don't have much shoulder mass that's for sure :shrug:

 

[SUPERSTAR]

You know the "Usual Suspects"....and you sound like Strong Arm J. . . hmmm, do you also order an extra meal at EVERY restaurant, or just hook an IV up with a protein drink?LoL ... I got up to 215 lifting weights a couple of years ago and the cue felt like a toothpick, I don't see how you do it....I can't touch weights without losing 15% off my game...most of the top pros don't have much shoulder mass that's for sure :shrug:

LOL.
No, i'm not Strong Arm John.
But i do need a nights rest to play.

If i were to play pool the same day as lifting, i would either rifle every ball right off the table, or the ball would dribble to a stop without ever reaching the hole because my arm would be so out of whack.

But i do drink a protein shake after workouts.

One thing i do not do, is lift weights or workout to gain mass.
I just do the routine i've been doing for a while now and don't up any weights over previous workouts, so i stay exactly where i am at.
Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard, but i am not interested in getting stronger and stronger and bigger and bigger or potentially hurting myself.
I just like feeling good, and working out does that for me.

And no, i am not a top pro.

But like i said, working out helps me.
But it's definitely not for everyone.

 

[1on1pooltournys]

You know the "Usual Suspects"....and you sound like Strong Arm J. . . hmmm, do you also order an extra meal at EVERY restaurant, or just hook an IV up with a protein drink?LoL ... I got up to 215 lifting weights a couple of years ago and the cue felt like a toothpick, I don't see how you do it....I can't touch weights without losing 15% off my game...most of the top pros don't have much shoulder mass that's for sure :shrug:

Cj,
John has no idea how to turn a computer much less post on AZ:thumbup: Believe it or not though his workouts are pretty intense these days. Got to hand it to a guy that is 60. I've worked out with him several times and he gets the job done.

 

[westcoast]

I'm not a bodybuilder, but I reckon that is Sergio Oliva. Custom shirts for those arms, for sure.

I used to train as a powerlifter, now I work with kettlebells, and run with my wife, who whups my a#$. I don't play long pool sessions often, but I find that my focus is better after a good run or workout.

Oliva was one of the few bodybuilders to beat Arnold in competition

 

[mcesarey]

Back to the original question: Pool players aren't typically fitness enthusiasts, but when I lived in Indiana there was a player from Indianapolis who was a bodybuilder who was called "Big John". From watching him play, I don't think that big muscles necessarily hurt your pool game. He could move the rock about as well as anybody.

 

[jtompilot]

Every March I travel to Phoenix to Mountain Bike. After a 3 or 4 hour ride its tough to play well. The brain needs energy to function well and MTB takes its toll on energy. On the off day my legs are still spent and I generally dont play as well as normal.

 

[CJ Wiley]

quick not well maybe

Back to the original question: Pool players aren't typically fitness enthusiasts, but when I lived in Indiana there was a player from Indianapolis who was a bodybuilder who was called "Big John". From watching him play, I don't think that big muscles necessarily hurt your pool game. He could move the rock about as well as anybody.

That's for sure, he could move the rock around as well AND as quick as anybody :groucho: and certainly can do a lot of "reps"

 

[PistolPat]

if you rely completely on your muscle memory to play ur game then lifting weights will def not help you..everything will feel awkward..but if you have a great understanding of your pool mechanics then it really wont hurt ur game....

Sent from my SPH-M820-BST using Tapatalk 2

 

[CJ Wiley]

Mountain Biking

Every March I travel to Phoenix to Mountain Bike. After a 3 or 4 hour ride its tough to play well. The brain needs energy to function well and MTB takes its toll on energy. On the off day my legs are still spent and I generally dont play as well as normal.

Mountain Biking is my favorite form of exercise and I go in phases here in the Dallas Texas area where I ride every day....there's a lot of great parks around here to ride and it's a great "escape" from the big city's "concrete jungle"

 

[randallt6]

Forgot to mention this, after you guys workout, make sure you take 5-10grams of Glutamine right after your workout. This will GREATLY reduce muscle soreness which will allow you to play your normal game after since you won't be nearly as sore. It's a cheap supplement that works very well. Glutamine is an amino acid and totally safe and natural to take.

 

[richiebalto]

I believe, if you feel good and look good(everybody likes to look good), it will makes us all do everything we do better!

 

[Fatboy]

How many pool player here are also in to bodybuilding(lifting weights) and do you feel like it helps your pool game at all, and how? i would bet that a good amount of players are also involed with training, weather its with weights or some other kind of exercise.

I happen to know piles about bodybuilding
I did it for 15 years.


It's impossible to be a real bodybuilder and real pool at hte same time, it is possible to go to the gym and train and be fit and play great pool, Mika is a prime example.

Same for power lifting(not bodybuilding) the 3 lift discipline of powerlifting and pool dont mix.


Sux because I love both, I havent been able to body build since my beck went out in 05. Success in bodybuilding is much like natural talent in pool, to reach the top you have to be born with something special, no amount of roids will get a regular guy to competitive levels.


That's a whole other discussion, I can talk lots about training and pool. AQctually for a time I was a personal trainer(I'd fill in for my friends who had clients if they got sick or busy) i really enjoy training people. bodybuilding or fitness is what I know. Powerlifting I dont know a a whole lot about training for, however I have spotted (at the time the #1 powerlifeter in the world Anthony Clark) Just happped to be at the right place at the right time.


I end it here, but I love bodybuilding and it paraells pool in many ways.