Do you drink alcohol while you practice?

[Baxter]

Do you drink alcohol while you practice? I'm talking about practicing alone, whether that be playing the ghost, hitting balls, doing drills, or however else you might practice. Please also make clear where you do most of your practicing, whether that be in a pool room, a bar, or at home.

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Never, while practicing. All my practice is at home.

 

[Bill812]

I have a bar that I built in my basement/mancave where I do all of my practicing. I'm more likely to have a drink or two there rather than when I go out to shoot league. Much more cost effective and no worries about drinking and driving (not to mention smoke). I still don't drink often during practice or play.

 

[bigshooter]

I used to drink continually but waking up in jail started getting old and expensive.

 

[Luxury]

I take a swig every time I beat the ghost. Don't get too drunk that way.

 

[Txstang1]

At home, almost never. At the pool room , yes usually. In action or a tourny, almost always.

 

[Chopdoc]

Do you drink alcohol while you practice? I'm talking about practicing alone, whether that be playing the ghost, hitting balls, doing drills, or however else you might practice. Please also make clear where you do most of your practicing, whether that be in a pool room, a bar, or at home.

NO!

I put my drink down! Good gawd man, one could spill a drop or two if one attempted to drink while practicing. Put the drink down...take your shot...then pick the drink up again. Get the order right and you should be fine.



.

 

[justadub]

No table at home, so all my playing and practicing is out. Most of it at the fraternal club that i belong to, which technically is a bar like environment, but not your standard bar atmosphere.

When practicing alone, I will buy one beer, and nurse that. I feel that I should be supporting the room, even if only a little. And I like beer.

On league nights, or just out playing socially, I will probably have 2-3 over the course of the evening, but usually only the first one till my match on league night is over.

 

[sfleinen]

At home, almost never. At the pool room , yes usually. In action or a tourny, almost always.

Interesting, I do the exact opposite.

• If I'm in action or in a tourney, I NEVER imbibe -- I want to have all my facilities "there" and no edge taken off (I'll deal with nerves on my own without outside substances dulling my edge). After the match or set is over, and there's no more gambling, yes -- to unwind, and to support the room.
  
  
• At the pool hall, if it's practice or a friendly match, I might have a Guinness or a microbrew (specialty beer) to be social, and, if it's like the session-ender or a crucial match to determine team placing, it helps take the edge off -- but it's not like being in action or in a tourney where I don't want my edges to be "dulled" with alcohol. It also helps to support the room on league night, when there are unfortunately a lot of cheapskates all in one place.
  
  
• At home, I'll have a cocktail or a Guinness in practice, because there's no danger of drinking and driving, as well as not having to live up to "perform" in front of people.

-Sean

 

[21whiskey]

you cannot fly if you're high



being crisp, that's what i think it's all about, like a brand new dollar bill

 

[Shaky1]

I almost never drink at home where I practice.
I will have a few beers on league night.

 

[framedglasshadd]

For me, absolutely not... Although I hardly drink anything alcoholic at all unless it's a special occasion, meaning a few times a year. I practice at a billiard hall. Even if I did drink on a regular basis, I think it would make me too relaxed to focus well.

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

I shoot better when I've had a few, but I learn better when I am sober. So, no drinking while practicing. Besides, I do almost all my practicing during the day before the wife gets home. I rarely drink before dinner is done anymore. 60 year old livers need more rest that younger ones do.

 

[CoachDitka2001]

No table at home, so practice at the pool hall. Two beers every time I go is a given.

 

[matcase]

I vote sometimes....however, sometimes I play pool while I practice drinking alcohol. It's all good.

 

[frank]

Never! I can barely see as is and everything becomes blurrier when I do drink. I drink when I play socially, so I'm better when nobody is watching me play, essentially.

 

[bender_lu]

NO!

I put my drink down! Good gawd man, one could spill a drop or two if one attempted to drink while practicing. Put the drink down...take your shot...then pick the drink up again. Get the order right and you should be fine.


.

HAH! get one of theeeeese (hope the pic works).

 

[Goldcues]

Play first, drink later.

No drinking until the playing is over.
Mostly practice at home and compete on the road, but don't like to have a drink until done shooting.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Alcohol, no thanks...

No drinking until the playing is over.
Mostly practice at home and compete on the road, but don't like to have a drink until done shooting.

I agree.

To qualify my response, let me say that I had a serious drinking problem from age 15 to age 30. It came back at age 35. The last time I was drunk was 1986 (also my last traffic ticket).

I made a substantial amount of $ drinking and playing between 1968 and 1971. But then I realized that I was only beating the rum-dums. I had to restrict my drinking till after the action to beat anyone who could really play.

Playing sober is perhaps the main reason why I've finished a pool season with high league average 47 times...

I've sent people home who showed up for a pool lesson either drunk or stoned.

Now, before AZers start hurling stones in my direction, I'm not advocating alcohol-free billiard centers! Just intelligent control of such things.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor

 

[pwd72s]

Diabetic diet allows so little booze I figured why bother? So, Haven't had a drink in years...:frown:

On the plus side, (if there is one) friends always have a designated driver.