Developing Stamina, any tips?

center pocket

center pocket

It's just a hobby, but a fun one.
Silver Member
First, I did a search on this topic before starting this thread and did not find much

So here is some background. I have been playing a pretty good player every Tuesday for a couple months now gambling cheap 10 ball sets. At first he beat me but started breaking even and now I am winning sometimes, but feel I should win a lot more. Tonight for example, I have been practicing a lot lately on my break and CB control and it showed big time. Our first two sets I beat him 5-0 and 5-1! I was playing the best I ever have and felt for the first time like I had the CB “on a string!” Problem was I started breaking dry and then started missing occasionally and not hitting good safes. I took a 5 hour energy at the start because I am in the Army and wake up at 05:00AM; we start gambling at 1900 (07:00PM) and usually finish around 22:00 (10:00PM) which is typically 4 sets. My hands started to feel shaky and I think it caused me to start missing. I took it because I usually start getting tired after a couple of sets and start playing worse, and of course he comes back and gets even with me.

So to my question, what is the best way to build up stamina? I need to build some stamina to last at least 4-5 sets. I think maybe a part of it is I might be mentally relaxing after playing so well and it bites me on the a$$. I want to be able to last without using energy or caffeine products because they make me jittery and it affects my stroke.

Does anyone have some suggestions? Maybe never mentally relaxing, but how?
 
Work out using the repetition method. Reps build stamina, weight builds strength.
 
I wouldn't call 4 or 5 sets an endurance match. Sounds like you broke down for other reasons. Lack of food doesn't give you the shakes. Neither does mentally relaxing. You can try fruit, nuts, or power bars....but I would also consider mental aspects of the game.
 
Keep workouts to a minimum, or not at all. Improving muscle strength can have a negative effect on your stroke. Instead, improve your nutrition.
Eat healthier foods (especially not the kind found at the pool hall). Less red meat. More leafy green vegetables. More good oils like Olive, and coconut.
Take a multi-vitamin, and increase your intake of vitamin D3.
Supplementation with fish oil, Magnesium, B-complex, vitamins A and C, is always good.
And for crissakes, no smoking! :)
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Keep workouts to a minimum, or not at all. Improving muscle strength can have a negative effect on your stroke. Instead, improve your nutrition.
Eat healthier foods (especially not the kind found at the pool hall). Less red meat. More leafy green vegetables. More good oils like Olive, and coconut.
Take a multi-vitamin, and increase your intake of vitamin D3.
Supplementation with fish oil, Magnesium, B-complex, vitamins A and C, is always good.
And for crissakes, no smoking! :)
Click to expand...

Working out boosts your testosterone and in effect your stamina. I still think doing all the things you suggested will be helpful too. I do calisthenics mainly and no weights but know pros who do lift and do just fine.
 
Eat a regular Snickers bar just before the 2nd set is over. That won't build stamina but it should give you the energy needed to keep going for a couple of hours.

It will not only help you maintain for the pool game, it will prepare you for Fast Lenny's work out. :grin:
 
Thank You for all the replies. I will definitely take Lenny's advice!!! I have been eating like crap the last few days and not working out as much as usual.
 
center pocket said:
First, I did a search on this topic before starting this thread and did not find much

So here is some background. I have been playing a pretty good player every Tuesday for a couple months now gambling cheap 10 ball sets. At first he beat me but started breaking even and now I am winning sometimes, but feel I should win a lot more. Tonight for example, I have been practicing a lot lately on my break and CB control and it showed big time. Our first two sets I beat him 5-0 and 5-1! I was playing the best I ever have and felt for the first time like I had the CB “on a string!” Problem was I started breaking dry and then started missing occasionally and not hitting good safes. I took a 5 hour energy at the start because I am in the Army and wake up at 05:00AM; we start gambling at 1900 (07:00PM) and usually finish around 22:00 (10:00PM) which is typically 4 sets. My hands started to feel shaky and I think it caused me to start missing. I took it because I usually start getting tired after a couple of sets and start playing worse, and of course he comes back and gets even with me.

So to my question, what is the best way to build up stamina? I need to build some stamina to last at least 4-5 sets. I think maybe a part of it is I might be mentally relaxing after playing so well and it bites me on the a$$. I want to be able to last without using energy or caffeine products because they make me jittery and it affects my stroke.

Does anyone have some suggestions? Maybe never mentally relaxing, but how?
Click to expand...

Avoid aging, at all costs.
 
center pocket said:
First, I did a search on this topic before starting this thread and did not find much

So here is some background. I have been playing a pretty good player every Tuesday for a couple months now gambling cheap 10 ball sets. At first he beat me but started breaking even and now I am winning sometimes, but feel I should win a lot more. Tonight for example, I have been practicing a lot lately on my break and CB control and it showed big time. Our first two sets I beat him 5-0 and 5-1! I was playing the best I ever have and felt for the first time like I had the CB “on a string!” Problem was I started breaking dry and then started missing occasionally and not hitting good safes. I took a 5 hour energy at the start because I am in the Army and wake up at 05:00AM; we start gambling at 1900 (07:00PM) and usually finish around 22:00 (10:00PM) which is typically 4 sets. My hands started to feel shaky and I think it caused me to start missing. I took it because I usually start getting tired after a couple of sets and start playing worse, and of course he comes back and gets even with me.

So to my question, what is the best way to build up stamina? I need to build some stamina to last at least 4-5 sets. I think maybe a part of it is I might be mentally relaxing after playing so well and it bites me on the a$$. I want to be able to last without using energy or caffeine products because they make me jittery and it affects my stroke.

Does anyone have some suggestions? Maybe never mentally relaxing, but how?
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Drink a lot of water. Stay away from caffeinated sodas & coffee. Eat small snacks as you play. Mostly you have to have the enthusiasm to play long sets. Many players are anxious to win and it does not always go that way. You have to have the confidence to stick with a game you like sometimes even if you are losing. Honestly, years ago long sets were common, you played till one player quit. Often as long as 24 hours or more.

You never seem to see this anymore. I used to drive 200 miles about twice a month to play in a ring game. It would start around early evening on Friday and not stop till Sunday night. I often played the whole time. There would be maybe 75 or more players in and out of the game over the weekend. The better players, who I was humbly one of, if you stayed with the game you could take out a pretty good amount. With so many players donating no one really got hurt.
Today it is almost impossible to get a guy to play a third set even if the first two sets went hill hill, the loser will still want a spot. We live in a new culture I guess.
 
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Sounds like you might have low blood sugar and just generally being tired.
Happens to us all.
Drink water and have som fruit or power bars with you for long sessions if good food is not available where you play.
I always keep aspirin or similar in my bag, long sessions has a tendency to induce headaches...
 
center pocket said:
First, I did a search on this topic before starting this thread and did not find much

So here is some background. I have been playing a pretty good player every Tuesday for a couple months now gambling cheap 10 ball sets. At first he beat me but started breaking even and now I am winning sometimes, but feel I should win a lot more. Tonight for example, I have been practicing a lot lately on my break and CB control and it showed big time. Our first two sets I beat him 5-0 and 5-1! I was playing the best I ever have and felt for the first time like I had the CB “on a string!” Problem was I started breaking dry and then started missing occasionally and not hitting good safes. I took a 5 hour energy at the start because I am in the Army and wake up at 05:00AM; we start gambling at 1900 (07:00PM) and usually finish around 22:00 (10:00PM) which is typically 4 sets. My hands started to feel shaky and I think it caused me to start missing. I took it because I usually start getting tired after a couple of sets and start playing worse, and of course he comes back and gets even with me.

So to my question, what is the best way to build up stamina? I need to build some stamina to last at least 4-5 sets. I think maybe a part of it is I might be mentally relaxing after playing so well and it bites me on the a$$. I want to be able to last without using energy or caffeine products because they make me jittery and it affects my stroke.

Does anyone have some suggestions? Maybe never mentally relaxing, but how?
Click to expand...

Actually to me it is just the opposite. If you put a lot of stress on yourself it wears you down. So just play to run out and control the table.

General condition and diet aside, I think stamina is most influenced by stress. Ever see a boxing match where a guy just puts all his energy into the 6th round and doesn't get the knockout? He is usually fatigued and arm weary for 2 rounds. Most pro boxers could run for hours without tiring. Still somehow the effects of the threat of the man you are competing against causes the stress. But it's really how you view it that makes the difference.

When I play long sessions I take a small break or two, eat something decent and try to not get to excited or ahead of myself. I can play for 8-10 hours and it will feel like 3.
 
The type of stamina discussed by the OP is, in my thinking, mainly psychological.

Set your time limit for your "A" game and that is what you will play. It is no different than what you would do for a physical requirement. Know the distance and then act accordingly. With mental things I tell myself what the reward will be if I maintain my stamina through the end of the activity. For me coffee is the best of stimulants when I need a high level of concentration over an extended period of time. This approach helped me earn a PhD. Later, I taught it to others who also found that it works. Coffee and a meaningful reward (whatever that might be). Note I get rewarded for staying at a high level for an extended period of time, not for winning or losing.

Sometimes the mental effort has to be in chunks. In the case described. Perhaps I would work at a high level for two hours then take a 15 minute break -- a real break might include closing your eyes or even sleeping for a few minutes.

In any case the sustained effort has a real start and end point and there is no lying to yourself or next time that other side of you won't believe you. If I told my self that quitting time was 11:00 PM then that is when the game is over.

I think people have different solutions for their physical needs. A high level of blood sugar works best for me when there are physical requirements. A candy bar or glass of fruit juice is good for an hour's worth of effort.
 
Can you beat the guy just freewheeling? If you can, it helps conserve mental stamina a lot. I do it against opponents I know I will beat so that I am not worn out for when I have to play stronger opponents.
 
Maybe this could be good advise, at almost 60 if I couldn't play for 24 hours on a natural I would quit!
 
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