A couple drinks???
- Thread starter tigerseye
- Start date
You'll see a bunch of posts, on both sides of your question. And this question has been battered around on AZB before...
My opinion is that one or two for many folks shouldn't be a big deal, and might in fact help them loosen up a bit. Others will disagree.
It does, of course, vary with the individual, and their tolerance for alcohol. For me, one or two light beers isn't going to alter me perceptably. More than that, perhaps. Some folks shoot better, from lack of tension/pressure/over-thinking. The trick, of course, is knowing where to draw the line, something that isn't easily determined while drinking.
My opinion is that one or two for many folks shouldn't be a big deal, and might in fact help them loosen up a bit. Others will disagree.
It does, of course, vary with the individual, and their tolerance for alcohol. For me, one or two light beers isn't going to alter me perceptably. More than that, perhaps. Some folks shoot better, from lack of tension/pressure/over-thinking. The trick, of course, is knowing where to draw the line, something that isn't easily determined while drinking.
Drink up. Especially if I am in the same tournament.
Seriously I think it all depends on your tolerance. Some are affected by one drink and others aren't.
This was posted by someone else on another thread and makes a lot of sense.
"If you can't shoot when sober what makes you think you can when drunk?"
Seriously I think it all depends on your tolerance. Some are affected by one drink and others aren't.
This was posted by someone else on another thread and makes a lot of sense.
"If you can't shoot when sober what makes you think you can when drunk?"
Because everyone is different, you may need to test this out to figure out if a couple of drinks will help or hurt you.
I personally cannot play pool well when I have been drinking. I know that a shot of liquor may calm my nerves, but I also know that I would rather try and experience the nervousness to try and learn to get over it on my own. That way, I wont depend on drinking to calm me down and instead will learn how to handle it for the future.
Good luck and keep us posted!
I personally cannot play pool well when I have been drinking. I know that a shot of liquor may calm my nerves, but I also know that I would rather try and experience the nervousness to try and learn to get over it on my own. That way, I wont depend on drinking to calm me down and instead will learn how to handle it for the future.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Many people have the false impression that they can perform better after a couple of drinks. That's probably why NASCAR drivers will down a couple of beers before a race, or why NBA coaches spike the Gatorade cooler during games.
Oh, wait! They don't do that!!! I wonder why!
Steve
Oh, wait! They don't do that!!! I wonder why!
Steve
excellent point!
...
I find there is a zone when I am playing and drinking where I do really well ....but that disappears as I drink more ....
I wonder if practicing drunk would make you a better player sober? ....probably not, because no muscle memory would develop ....in fact no memory may develop....
I find there is a zone when I am playing and drinking where I do really well ....but that disappears as I drink more ....
I wonder if practicing drunk would make you a better player sober? ....probably not, because no muscle memory would develop ....in fact no memory may develop....
I have in the past nursed a glass of whisky during a match. It takes the butterfly's away. But we're talking about one glass though.
My girlfriend and i had a heap of drinks the other day, homemade cocktails, spirits etc
We sat down to watch a bluray movie, Eat Pray Love. Now man this was the most boring movie i have ever seen, my gf wanted to keep watching so i decided to shoot some pool whilst she finished the movie off. I was really pretty maggoted/wasted/blotto. I couldnt pot anything, i was staggering round the table, it was quite funny actually
So i know i can't shoot well drunk, even slightly drunk.
Now there is this young guy who is one of the best players in our area, and he plays as well drunk (and i mean very drunk) as he does sober and that's really good.
We sat down to watch a bluray movie, Eat Pray Love. Now man this was the most boring movie i have ever seen, my gf wanted to keep watching so i decided to shoot some pool whilst she finished the movie off. I was really pretty maggoted/wasted/blotto. I couldnt pot anything, i was staggering round the table, it was quite funny actually
So i know i can't shoot well drunk, even slightly drunk.
Now there is this young guy who is one of the best players in our area, and he plays as well drunk (and i mean very drunk) as he does sober and that's really good.
The reality of it is that Steve is right, alcohol inhibits us, so most folks cannot function as well after drinking as they would otherwise. No argument.
The "other" reality is a matter of how much drinking affects us, versus how it affects other parts of our world. Meaning stress, anxiety, tension, nervousness... Sometimes the real world comes crashing in and we're not at our mental best when we arrive at the pool room. A bad day at work, problems at home, any numbers of other factors. Should we be able to put those concerns aside, and play to the best of ability, yup. Can those issues affect us and our ability to concentrate, and/or relax, yup.
Drinking to mask those (or any other) issues isn't necessarily the best answer. But in the real world, a small amount of alcohol might just take the edge off your day, and let you play the way you might otherwise. In moderation.
And one more time, Steve is right. Alcohol will inhibit anyone, depending on their tolerance and how much they imbibe. The question is, how much is too much?
I play to enjoy myself. If I'm all tense and wound up, I am not going to shoot my best. I will have a small drink to loosen up, and let me think about pool, not the problems of the day. Many nights I won't drink until I'm done playing, because I'm feeling fine and am having a fine old time as it is. Depends on the night. I don't come strolling in, getting a drink before anything else...and I don't want it to be a crutch, meaning that I "have to have a drink in order to play."
This is league play I'm talking about, or our small in-house tournaments.
I'm pretty sure were I to ever play in any sort of "big" tournament, I'd be keeping the consumption to a minimum, if any at all. Hopefully I'd have the rest of my world in it's proper place going into it that day.
The "other" reality is a matter of how much drinking affects us, versus how it affects other parts of our world. Meaning stress, anxiety, tension, nervousness... Sometimes the real world comes crashing in and we're not at our mental best when we arrive at the pool room. A bad day at work, problems at home, any numbers of other factors. Should we be able to put those concerns aside, and play to the best of ability, yup. Can those issues affect us and our ability to concentrate, and/or relax, yup.
Drinking to mask those (or any other) issues isn't necessarily the best answer. But in the real world, a small amount of alcohol might just take the edge off your day, and let you play the way you might otherwise. In moderation.
And one more time, Steve is right. Alcohol will inhibit anyone, depending on their tolerance and how much they imbibe. The question is, how much is too much?
I play to enjoy myself. If I'm all tense and wound up, I am not going to shoot my best. I will have a small drink to loosen up, and let me think about pool, not the problems of the day. Many nights I won't drink until I'm done playing, because I'm feeling fine and am having a fine old time as it is. Depends on the night. I don't come strolling in, getting a drink before anything else...and I don't want it to be a crutch, meaning that I "have to have a drink in order to play."
This is league play I'm talking about, or our small in-house tournaments.
I'm pretty sure were I to ever play in any sort of "big" tournament, I'd be keeping the consumption to a minimum, if any at all. Hopefully I'd have the rest of my world in it's proper place going into it that day.