1 year withouth pool or snooker, how to keep up skills

Straightpool_99

Straightpool_99

I see dead balls
Silver Member
So, I've just been diagnosed with a condition affecting my right arm and shoulder, and the doctor says no more pool or snooker, possibly for a year or more. But he says it's hard to tell at this point..Good news is, I'm likely to make a full recovery.I'm in a lot of pain and have very little if any mobility in my right arm, can't even use it for bridging. Funnily enough my stroke was at it's best ever just 3 weeks ago, but I had seen some deterioration in movement and a bit of pain for about half a year. Then suddenly there was no chance of making any stroke at all.

I could play left handed using a mechanical bridge, but I don't think there is much point to that. I can't use that later, and I can't make a ball that way. I'm thinking maybe teaching myself to play one handed with the left hand, resting the cue on the rail at first? It will be a steep learning curve, especially since I'm VERY right handed. I'd normally even play one handed jacked up, rather than playing left handed. Don't think I can go a full year without my snooker/pool fix, though. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking maybe a spring loaded cue as a backup?

I'm confident I'll come out of this, and I don't want any sympathy or anything. Apart from this thing I'm healthy as a horse and I know many of you have much bigger worries. Anyhow, maybe some of you have been through something like this and have some suggestions for things to try?
 
Straightpool_99 said:
So, I've just been diagnosed with a condition affecting my right arm and shoulder, and the doctor says no more pool or snooker, possibly for a year or more. But he says it's hard to tell at this point..Good news is, I'm likely to make a full recovery.I'm in a lot of pain and have very little if any mobility in my right arm, can't even use it for bridging. Funnily enough my stroke was at it's best ever just 3 weeks ago, but I had seen some deterioration in movement and a bit of pain for about half a year. Then suddenly there was no chance of making any stroke at all.

I could play left handed using a mechanical bridge, but I don't think there is much point to that. I can't use that later, and I can't make a ball that way. I'm thinking maybe teaching myself to play one handed with the left hand, resting the cue on the rail at first? It will be a steep learning curve, especially since I'm VERY right handed. I'd normally even play one handed jacked up, rather than playing left handed. Don't think I can go a full year without my snooker/pool fix, though. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking maybe a spring loaded cue as a backup?

I'm confident I'll come out of this, and I don't want any sympathy or anything. Apart from this thing I'm healthy as a horse and I know many of you have much bigger worries. Anyhow, maybe some of you have been through something like this and have some suggestions for things to try?
Click to expand...

Just get the Tommy John surgery and you'll be making the 9 on the snap every time for the rest of your life!
 
A- follow your dr's orders
Opposite handed is always good, especially in snooker.
And first, a year off might just be good, renew your enthusiasm, ha know. Fix yourself, pool will always be there for you.
And first of all, you are fixing yourself for the long term, a year is nothing.
Plus, first of all, maybe pool can be incorporated as part of your pt.
 
ideologist said:
They make cues for handicapped people. Handi-Cue is one brand.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find it. I found something called a handi-cue-buddy. A sort of bridge for handicapped people. Worth looking into, maybe. I like the fact that you can move it with your cue, so you don't need a brigde stick, per se. Thank you, btw.
 
Black-Balled said:
A- follow your dr's orders
Opposite handed is always good, especially in snooker.
And first, a year off might just be good, renew your enthusiasm, ha know. Fix yourself, pool will always be there for you.
And first of all, you are fixing yourself for the long term, a year is nothing.
Plus, first of all, maybe pool can be incorporated as part of your pt.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yeah, I did consider taking a year completely off. Maybe it won't be so bad, after all. I might have time to brush up on my languages etc. And I could do some training etc.
 
skip100 said:
Hate to say it, but you might just want to take a break.
Click to expand...

That looks like a very real possibility. I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel yet, but I may have to. Not the end of the world, of course, and there is always Accu-stats.
 
Straightpool_99 said:
I couldn't find it. I found something called a handi-cue-buddy. A sort of bridge for handicapped people. Worth looking into, maybe. I like the fact that you can move it with your cue, so you don't need a brigde stick, per se. Thank you, btw.
Click to expand...

http://www.watlacksbilliards.com/handiq.htm

If you have interest in that, let me know and I will see if he has any in stock, and can mail it to you.

Ed lives close enough to me that it is no trouble at all
 
Straightpool_99 said:
Thanks. That device looks a little bit too elaborate for my use right now. Might have to try the handi-cue-buddy first. Maybe a good option if the others don't work out.
Click to expand...

Good luck either way, the thing I linked is made for use with one arm. I'm sure you'll be fine, with any assisted cue.
 
Straightpool_99 said:
So, I've just been diagnosed with a condition affecting my right arm and shoulder, and the doctor says no more pool or snooker, possibly for a year or more. But he says it's hard to tell at this point..Good news is, I'm likely to make a full recovery.I'm in a lot of pain and have very little if any mobility in my right arm, can't even use it for bridging. Funnily enough my stroke was at it's best ever just 3 weeks ago, but I had seen some deterioration in movement and a bit of pain for about half a year. Then suddenly there was no chance of making any stroke at all.

I could play left handed using a mechanical bridge, but I don't think there is much point to that. I can't use that later, and I can't make a ball that way. I'm thinking maybe teaching myself to play one handed with the left hand, resting the cue on the rail at first? It will be a steep learning curve, especially since I'm VERY right handed. I'd normally even play one handed jacked up, rather than playing left handed. Don't think I can go a full year without my snooker/pool fix, though. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking maybe a spring loaded cue as a backup?

I'm confident I'll come out of this, and I don't want any sympathy or anything. Apart from this thing I'm healthy as a horse and I know many of you have much bigger worries. Anyhow, maybe some of you have been through something like this and have some suggestions for things to try?
Click to expand...

Damn, man, I'm sorry to hear it. Please keep posting on AZ...I enjoy having you around.

I've had several interruptions in my playing.

The first was when I moved to the city and was broke...that was three months and it came when I was rebuilding my stance, stroke, PSR, game from scratch.

The second was when I quit to play competitive foosball. That was four years.

The rest were traveling for work from 6-15 weeks at a time.

It really won't hurt you. The fire inside will burn hot. The desire will increase. You will think about pool A LOT! You have to see this for the opportunity that it is: You have a chance to take a year and evaluate your game. You get to trash what sucks about your game and rebuild it in your mind. You get to look into yourself and see what you want from this game and figure out how to pursue that.

You are going to be alright. If you need extra encouragement, hit me at: baconsmokedbacon68@gmail.com

dave
 
Keep thinking about pool, watch it online etc. Play games like virtual pool 4. Not the same thing, but it at least keeps some of the knowledge fresh. That should help some. :thumbup:
 
One year is Ok. Nothing that 2 weeks can´t fix afterwards.
I actually played handicapped tournament after 1 year break and won it(played because i was defending title). I did practice maybe 2 hours before tournament.

I was nearly 5 years(health issue also) off from game too. Everything was still there but I felt I got somebody other hands. I could see and know what to do but i did not have hand eye coordination enough. It did take about 3-4 months to get near my own level before break.
 
Sorry to hear about your condition. When I messed up my shoulder, I couldn't play for 4 months, but it didn't take long to get back into it.

One of the best things you can do to keep your mind in shape is to visualize your mechanics, especially your stroke. In your mind's eye, sense how the cue feels with the motion of your arm, in conjunction with what your eyes are seeing. Do this everyday to keep reminding yourself how your stroke feels.
 
It's hard, but if I were you I'd stay away altogether. Even if you just hang around a pool room and watch, or try to play one-handed, as soon as your arm feels a little better the temptation to hit a few balls could be too strong and you could set yourself back to where you started.
 
That's a huge bummer! But the bright side is that taking a break might be the best that has happened to your game, assuming you make a full physical recovery. My first ever 2 month complete break (no playing, no watching etc.) was followed by the opportunity to get my flaws fixed and pretty soon I was playing the best pool of my life which lasted for 2 solid years. There is no reason to quit entirely for a short period of time, especially if you have trouble staying off the table while watching matches etc. Full abstinence might lead to even greater motivation to the game. At least for me the 2 best years I was filled with enthusiasim every time I had the chance to play. And it made all the difference for my lever of playing rising much higher it used to be.
Hope you have a speedy recovery! Stay strong!
 
I had almost 3 months this summer where I could not play due to upper back and shoulder pain, it is so frustrating. I am now getting back into it, and don't really feel my game has gone backwards. Definitely watch a lot of pool on streams / youtube etc. Just watching the pros can kinda keep your game in sync ;)

I hurt my back 2 days before I received a tascarella I had waited 2 years for, that was the toughest part!!!
 
Thank you to all that offered advice and kind words. The forum is indeed full of good people. I would answer you all individually, but I don't want to spam the forum with this thread. I've read and appreciated every reply in the thread. Have a great day, everyone.:)
 
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