Added pressure when practicing.

[nathandumoulin]

I tend to lose interest (and concentration) when practicing. I start off strong, and then slowly start banging balls around. After 15 minutes, I'm useless.

In attempt to solve this dilemma, I started practicing 14.1 and the Ghost. This helped me a bit, as it gave me a goal while practicing. Even still, I found I'd get a few games up on the ghost and then end up losing in the long-run as I lost focus.

Then recently I bought myself a nice little HD camcorder and a video lighting kit (for work purposes). Just for kicks I set it up tonight and recorded myself playing the 8-ball Ghost.

What a difference! Being taped added just enough pressure to keep me focused. I pretended people would be watching the tape later, and crushed the Ghost 9-5 (I rarely beat the 8-ball ghost in longer races).

For all those who experience similar difficulties while practicing, I highly recommend dropping a few bucks on a camcorder. Even a budget one will suffice. The added pressure (plus the ability to watch it later and analyze your mistakes) is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[ShootingArts]

probably won't work long

Although the video cam is well worth the money to be able to study what you really do as opposed to what you think you are doing, it probably won't last long as a goad to keep you focused. I set goals or focus on an event or match with someone that I really want to win. I have practiced intently for eight hours or more thinking about playing someone I really wanted to beat. My practice is always better when I am practicing for a particular event instead of just practicing to tune up or get better. Keeping records can help too because you are always battling yourself to constantly improve.

Hu

I tend to lose interest (and concentration) when practicing. I start off strong, and then slowly start banging balls around. After 15 minutes, I'm useless.

In attempt to solve this dilemma, I started practicing 14.1 and the Ghost. This helped me a bit, as it gave me a goal while practicing. Even still, I found I'd get a few games up on the ghost and then end up losing in the long-run as I lost focus.

Then recently I bought myself a nice little HD camcorder and a video lighting kit (for work purposes). Just for kicks I set it up tonight and recorded myself playing the 8-ball Ghost.

What a difference! Being taped added just enough pressure to keep me focused. I pretended people would be watching the tape later, and crushed the Ghost 9-5 (I rarely beat the 8-ball ghost in longer races).

For all those who experience similar difficulties while practicing, I highly recommend dropping a few bucks on a camcorder. Even a budget one will suffice. The added pressure (plus the ability to watch it later and analyze your mistakes) is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[nathandumoulin]

Although the video cam is well worth the money to be able to study what you really do as opposed to what you think you are doing, it probably won't last long as a goad to keep you focused. I set goals or focus on an event or match with someone that I really want to win. I have practiced intently for eight hours or more thinking about playing someone I really wanted to beat. My practice is always better when I am practicing for a particular event instead of just practicing to tune up or get better. Keeping records can help too because you are always battling yourself to constantly improve.

Hu

This makes perfect sense. I'm quite different though, as I'm not competitive....at all. I play pool for myself, and couldnt care less about who I beat. This lack of aggressiveness often makes it difficult to improve my game, particularly when practicing.

 

[chazdillon]

yeah if u actually made a video diary of yourself would be nice. it would be nice to watch myself play 2 years ago....Id probably wanna gamble with myself hopefully and think its a lock. Or i would be mad that i havent gotten better.....jk. Anything you do too much will overkill it though. if you video everyday then it will become routine.

Try recording yourself every month and focus your non recorded practices around becoming better to better the next film. If you dont see improvement over a few months then I dont know what to do at that point. Its a great idea you have and id love to try it myself

 

[gunzby]

I typically start off strong, lose interest and then get dead on after missing a few. This happens because I realize that I'm wasting my time by not taking things seriously.

 

[DaveK]

Keeping score in practice sessions also works well, imo. If you start your session with 10 spot shots, as an example, write down your make/miss results. Do this in every session and for every shot/drill/pattern you do, and it will add pressure. You will see in no uncertain terms when you are performing poorly, the numbers will tell you. BTW, keeping score in your head will NOT work, your mind tends to give you breaks that a pencil and paper will not.

Dave

 

[JoeW]

Play a race to 10. Keep track of the number of balls you make before you lose to the Ghost and the average balls pocketed is your usual score. Next match you are trying to beat your usual score. This creates tension. Number games won / 10 is your win percent.

Diagram each missed shot and this is practiced until you can make it and variations at least three times. This sets up the practice routines for your weak areas.

If you are winning against one ghost move to the next 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, Rotation, 14.1, one pocket points.

One pocket points is played by selecting one corner pocket for all balls. Break and run as many as you can. If, and only if, you pocket all 15 balls in the chosen pocket you get a free rack. Possible score is not limited.

Ted Brown said his high scre was in the 30s on three occassions (34 was his max and that is something to shoot for).