How often do pros "practice"? What is enough?
- Thread starter 1pocketguru
- Start date
I think we all could benefit by seeing how you practice. Maybe you could make a video of the JustNum practice routine. I think it would be with its weight in gold.
When you say men play better than women, that is like saying men are better at cooking and cleaning because they have more muscles.
Problem is most men are lazy and stupid and likely to be a criminal deviant or have criminal tendencies.
Yes sir .. practice with a purpose.
I would say right now I’m only getting to play in 1 league each week and 1 tournament a month. On average I play about 2 hours a day when doing either and that’s really not enough. My biggest gain since coming back was getting A tight pocket table and it forced me so spend a lot of time rebuilding my stroke.
I know svb will seem to take a month off a year to fish and recharge his battery’s . I always say I’m going to take a day off to do the same but that damn Diamond in my table just calls out to me. I put the work in but it never feels like it because 30 years and I’m still addicted to this damn game.
I'd like to think pros have A) enough skills to keep refreshed and B) a good reason to go over them. I could spend 12 hrs a day at pool for a while but only come out under 5% efficiency/effectiveness/sanity.
Could not agree more.
I found that if I wasn't spending 20 hrs a week minimum - on my game, I would waste 2 days out of the next week just getting back to square.
Either improve by playing more or keep playing catch-up.
Yup, and the older you get, the faster you lose that focus.
I can recall one practice session when I was a teenager and improving in leaps and bounds. The school bus dropped me off at 3:25, I immediately wolfed down something to eat and when down to the basement to practice. I knew I was there late but I didn't realize how late until the school bus was sitting in front of my house blowing the horn for me the next morning. I ran out and got on the bus with the same clothes and no sleep. That practice session was 16 hours or so and I didn't want to quit. 16-year-olds can do that physically and mentally. Now, I'm lucky to get in 45 minutes before I get bored.
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I don't think most realize how powerful focused practice is. One time I missed a spot shot in a nine-ball ring game. We were playing for 20 a man so instead of winning 60, I lost 20. A $80 swing to the teenage me in the 1980's was like 10K to me today. I went home and shot 150 spot shots in each corner. It only took a few hours and for years after I shot spots shots as well as anyone. It's funny how spot shots are the only shot you'll ever encounter the exact same way every time and so few people practice it. If I was a serious one pocket player, I'd still be shooting 150 in each hole every day.
Eklent Kaci back in 2018 started to win almost anything he entered and in one interview he was asked what made the difference for him to turn himself from talented young kid to a killer/tournament winner he became. Eklent smirked and answered: "I stopped to practice 3-4 hours a day and started to practice 7-8 hours a day, thats all." You can make it quite far with 2 hours of dedicated practice a day but definitely not all the way, there are simply too many super talented players willing to practice 8-10-12 hours a day to be able to succeed with 2 hours a day practice regime..
I would imagine the top pros have to practice full time like, well, any skilled employee learning and improving at one's job or maintaining their skills. It is a fulltime job, after all.
For lesser players and amateurs, there's no such thing as a right amount. Different for everyone.
In my case, I find it's better to do specific things over a shorter period than a longer but less focused practice session. I do a few drills every day, then each day get specific drills for only that day of the week. If I am tired mentally or physically I cut it short. If I have more energy, I go longer.
For lesser players and amateurs, there's no such thing as a right amount. Different for everyone.
In my case, I find it's better to do specific things over a shorter period than a longer but less focused practice session. I do a few drills every day, then each day get specific drills for only that day of the week. If I am tired mentally or physically I cut it short. If I have more energy, I go longer.
Zerksies
Well-known member
Alot of these pros are just natural talents at the game. Some just work at it harder then others. Talent only get you so far too.
My coach years ago he could take a few months to a year off from pool walk in the door and just run a rack out of nowhere's. Me i take a few weeks off and i'm starting all over with basic fundimentals and my rating is over 700
My coach years ago he could take a few months to a year off from pool walk in the door and just run a rack out of nowhere's. Me i take a few weeks off and i'm starting all over with basic fundimentals and my rating is over 700
Absolutely!!!
I think anyone playing over 3 straight hours should take a break and stretch or walk around Outside for a bit. Or sit. Whatever works 4 ya.
The brain isn't designed to remain in analytic mode (focus) for extended periods of time like that without O2 replenishment and fluid/fat intake.
Go drink a soda or bottle of water, eat a candy bar or some french fries. Take a cat nap, take a dump. Whatever works to rejuvinate your powers of observation and focus, DO.
My ball selection goes in the shitter after 3 hours. I start making newbie-type errors and doing Goofy stuff that interferes w my PSR.
And for some reason, I'll talk.
I'm normally stoic and quiet. When tired, the 'gift of gab' falls upon me. I start to socialize instead of playing shape.
*Disclaimer... (Only when playing for Shits and Giggles.)
Money matches are a horse of a different color.
Those can go on for days!! Arrgh.
Thank God only a couple of those occurred over the years.
This old body couldn't take one now!!
Probably applies to quite a few of us old heads now that used to think nothing about playing for 8 to 12 hrs straight!!
Just the thot of that makes my eyes (and back) hurt.
I’m no pro of course. But everyone who became a pro spent every waking breath at the pool hall for 5 years as a teenager.
Many of us (me included) did the same. We topped out wherever we did.
Now, if you are past that initial teenage period, and you DID put in those 5 years, and have been playing for decades since, practice I think will keep you in stroke and at your best. I don’t think it will improve you significantly beyond your current best.
If you never had that period of 5 years non stop play when a teen, and are now much older, I do think you’d make significant improvements if you did it now.
Pros have to be at their best from the first ball of a tournament. If they are not in stroke, they lose and don’t have a dayjob for other income.
If you want to be at your best, every time you get into a game cold, I think you’d need 3rs a day every day. IMO
Many of us (me included) did the same. We topped out wherever we did.
Now, if you are past that initial teenage period, and you DID put in those 5 years, and have been playing for decades since, practice I think will keep you in stroke and at your best. I don’t think it will improve you significantly beyond your current best.
If you never had that period of 5 years non stop play when a teen, and are now much older, I do think you’d make significant improvements if you did it now.
Pros have to be at their best from the first ball of a tournament. If they are not in stroke, they lose and don’t have a dayjob for other income.
If you want to be at your best, every time you get into a game cold, I think you’d need 3rs a day every day. IMO
Not a pro, but maybe some perspective...
When I was cutting my teeth, I lived on a snooker table. I'd wager I put in +6hrs a day 7 days a week, (avg'd out). Did that for a few years.
Did that during my teens and have been riding those fundamentals ever since. Transitioned to pool and played maybe another 10yrs at maybe 20hrs a week. After a long 10yr break and these days at +30yrs later, I maintain my 680 game with one night of league and a tourney once every couple of months. I have zero doubt that I could hit that 700 ceiling if I really wanted to bother.
I'm not special. No unique talent or natural ability. Just a guy that put serious time in early.
That said, I have zero doubt the elite will live on a table when something isn't right. Otherwise I highly doubt many treat it as a 9-5 must do.
When I was cutting my teeth, I lived on a snooker table. I'd wager I put in +6hrs a day 7 days a week, (avg'd out). Did that for a few years.
Did that during my teens and have been riding those fundamentals ever since. Transitioned to pool and played maybe another 10yrs at maybe 20hrs a week. After a long 10yr break and these days at +30yrs later, I maintain my 680 game with one night of league and a tourney once every couple of months. I have zero doubt that I could hit that 700 ceiling if I really wanted to bother.
I'm not special. No unique talent or natural ability. Just a guy that put serious time in early.
That said, I have zero doubt the elite will live on a table when something isn't right. Otherwise I highly doubt many treat it as a 9-5 must do.
This is literally my pool playing experience....lol
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
I dunno. Define obsession I guess lol. Tony Robles spoke about his transformation from an ok player to a full blown pro... it took him full days for 3 and a half years.... tho I may be misremembering his story while he was commentating a match. If we look at how long it takes to get 10k hours of solid practice in, 5years is about right if fully committed. But then to get to the top of the top? SVB or Orcollo and their insane level of practice hours gives us some indication.
5 years is enough. If you don't get it by then, you never will, even if you live on a pool table for the rest of your life. Take any pro, the whole world knew they were champions by the time they were 16 or 17. Corey, Archer, Shane, Alex, etc etc. Corey even started at 14, and by the time he was 16, Billy I. knew he was a national level player.
That's some wild internalized misandry there.