Bad habit forming due to poor practice

[Snorks]

I was at the hall last night and a good player/teacher comes up and says, "your just banging balls around, what are you practicing?"
Me- Hun?
Him - Tell me you don't do this at home. You are forming some really bad habits by not focusing when you practice.
Me: Oh OK.

So now that I have been probably practicing incorrectly for a year, what do you guys do to improve your practice? I guess the point of this post is to remind people to have a specific goal in mind before practicing. I am going to have to start doing this for sure.

If anyone has some specific tips on how to increase concentration, maintain a sharp focus etc, during practice sessions the would be much appreciated.

 

[pooltchr]

First of all, you have to know what you are trying to accomplish. Problems with your stroke require specific drills designed to work on mechanics. Are you having problems with alignment? You need drills that address alignment. Getting unwanted spin on the ball? Yep, there are drills to work on this. Aiming problems? Ditto.

I think you get the point. You need to be very specific in what your practice sessions are planned to do for you. Otherwise, you are not really practicing...you are just playing by yourself.
Steve

 

[Dhakala]

Your bad habit is mindlessness. You need only practice mindfulness. Just play the game while paying full attention to the miracles unfolding before you.

 

[desert1pocket]

First of all, you have to know what you are trying to accomplish. Problems with your stroke require specific drills designed to work on mechanics. Are you having problems with alignment? You need drills that address alignment. Getting unwanted spin on the ball? Yep, there are drills to work on this. Aiming problems? Ditto.

I think you get the point. You need to be very specific in what your practice sessions are planned to do for you. Otherwise, you are not really practicing...you are just playing by yourself.
Steve

Very sound advice. I decide on what I need to work on before even putting balls on the table, and then I choose an appropriate drill. If you don't have a goal, it is tough to accomplish anything.

 

[mthornto]

If anyone has some specific tips on how to increase concentration, maintain a sharp focus etc, during practice sessions the would be much appreciated.

I keep records for part of my practice. For example, I usually start with 25 straight in shots and record how many I make. I should make all 25, but I end up with a lot of 23s and 24s. If I don't focus the whole time I end up with even lower scores. Keeping score when practicing really dose make a big difference for me.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I was at the hall last night and a good player/teacher comes up and says, "your just banging balls around, what are you practicing?"
Me- Hun?
Him - Tell me you don't do this at home. You are forming some really bad habits by not focusing when you practice.
Me: Oh OK.

So now that I have been probably practicing incorrectly for a year, what do you guys do to improve your practice? I guess the point of this post is to remind people to have a specific goal in mind before practicing. I am going to have to start doing this for sure.

If anyone has some specific tips on how to increase concentration, maintain a sharp focus etc, during practice sessions the would be much appreciated.

Hey, Snorks. How are ya?

Practice is only wasted if you are not concentrating on every shot. As long as you are hitting balls and ensuring that you don't get lazy with your fundamentals, your still achieving something.

There are a few alignment drills that I like to do (when I am not lazy). Well really just one. I line all 15 balls across the center of the table, side pocket to side pocket. I put the cue ball on the head string, and line up straight in shots. Make the ball and draw back to the cushion nearest to you.

And of course I enjoy throwing 15 balls on the table and running them out. This one is great for concentration, cue ball control and consistency. And it's fun.