Do you practice at home?

Do you practice when you're at home?

  • Yes, I practice on my pool table.

    Votes: 66 86.8%

  • No, I don't use my pool table to practice on.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, I practice without a pool table.

    Votes: 4 5.3%

  • No, I have better things to do at home.

    Votes: 6 7.9%
  • Total voters
    76
arsenius

arsenius

Nothing ever registers...
Silver Member
Just wondering who all practices at home. I'm especially curious about who else is compulsive enough to practice without a table. :) Methods of doing that have been discussed here before, I'm curious if anyone uses them.

[EDIT]
Just wanted to add, that I don't care if you play on your table at home. I was wondering if you practice. Stroking, pocketing, position, breaking, whatever! But not playing... And I'm assuming that you're not playing if you don't have a table, but if you figured out a game you can play with just a cue stick, let us know!
 
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Just got a table recently and I play on it every day for varying amounts of time. Actually I only play on it on Thursdays when I have some people over and the rest of the days are for running drills or practicing breaks, etc. My game has much improved since the purchase.
 
I voted Yes but I should play on my table much more than I actually do.

BVal
 
As often as possible. Normally 10-12 hours per week. I have a couple of regular sparring partners that come over on a semi-regular basis. One being our own Renard.. He is quite a player too! As a matter of fact, he plans to come over tonight to trash me, I believe.

I actually really enjoy practicing the game. I like to make up games that make practicing fun. Makes it seem less like work but with results, normally.
 
With all of the pool halls around here going out of business, I find myself using my home table more and more, which doesn't bother me in the least. The ghost and I get along pretty well. :)

I didn't see the thread about practicing without a table, but I actually used to do this when I first started playing. I was in my teens, and the only place to play was a bowling alley that had a few 8' tables. Problem was, they were closed for weeks at a time during the summers, and I had nowhere else to play. I was so hooked on the game that I would knock balls around (I had a partial set of old, crackly balls) on the floors, tabletops, and any other unoccupied surface. I also, and this is really sick, spent hours in front of my dresser-mirror (with a cue, not a comb), trying to train my body to use the form/stance recommended by Willie Mosconi in his little red book. Later, after I acquired a few videos, I spent even more hours in front of the same mirror trying to imitate Buddy Hall's mechanics.

Then I met a girl....
 
I play every night for an hour or two, mostly going against the 9 ball ghost, or 6 ball ghost. However, you really need good competition to get you "A"game.
 
I mostly do drills and work on my break at home. I usually go out some place to play other people.
 
I haven't been playing with myself that much anymore. I swear.

In seriousness- about 1hr is about the max I've ever been able to focus when playing alone. No more than 6 hrs/ wk and the most.
 
Every day I practice for at least 18 hours in my mind, and possibly more if I have pool dreams. I am an addict.
 
I have had a home table since I was 15. My dad bought me an 8ft Valley bar table and I used it regularly until I was 18. I sold it around 25 or so and got a Gandy 8ft. At 34 I got a 9ft Diamond and have practiced on it fairly regularly for 10 years with a few years break when my daughter was born. I'm bad about just playing the ghost though. I really need to practice drills and shots that I remember missing in tourneys. One thing I'm beginning to do is practice defensive pool where every shot has to be a defensive move. My defensive game has improved a lot in the last couple of months and I'm much better at playing the percentages. If I could just develop the discipline to do drills....:D
 
I have a 9 footer and probably spend about 75% of my "alone" time practicing. One of my favorites is Bert Kinister's number 1 shot. Place the cb on the 2nd diamond, OB on the 2nd diamond at the other end of the table and shoot straight into the pocket. I agree with Kinister in that it is the best stroke developer.

It seems to me that this shot does not require a table just the cloth and a hole for a pocket. Someone else pointed out that a couple of bungee cords on a 2 X 4 (on either side of the pseudo corner pocket) is all that would be needed. I wouldn't even need a ball return as I think it best to reposition the ball after each shot so I have to go through the whole pre-shot routine every time.

When I get done practicing I play 14.1 against the ghost to try and beat my high run.
 
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Be it ever so humble....I'd rather play at home than anywhere. There are no pool halls near by and, though I play on them from time to time, I don't like bar tables.
 
I would argue that this site is not representative of people with pool tables at home. The majority (imho) are seldom used. The people on this site however are much more likely to be 'fanatical' about pool. Therefore you will find a much higher percentage then most home owners with a table.
 
JoeW said:
I have a 9 footer and probably spend about 75% of my "alone" time practicing. One of my favorites is Bert Kinister's number 1 shot. Place the cb on the 2nd diamond, OB on the 2nd diamond at the other end of the table and shoot straight into the pocket. I agree with Kinister in that it is the best stroke developer.
Click to expand...

Joe, I also focus a lot on Bert's #1 shot on my 9' Brunswick. I have a couple observations and maybe you can give me your response.

1. It looks like he's doing the shot on an 8' with about 5"-5.25" pockets, do you agree?

2. Doing the shot close to the rail like he does causes me to bobble a few due to my 4.5" pockets (need to hit pocket speed yet still stop the cue ball)

It's somewhat difficult on my table, but on an 8 footer with 5" pockets, could do it all day blind folded.
 
Aaron_S said:
With all of the pool halls around here going out of business, I find myself using my home table more and more, which doesn't bother me in the least. The ghost and I get along pretty well. :)

I didn't see the thread about practicing without a table, but I actually used to do this when I first started playing. I was in my teens, and the only place to play was a bowling alley that had a few 8' tables. Problem was, they were closed for weeks at a time during the summers, and I had nowhere else to play. I was so hooked on the game that I would knock balls around (I had a partial set of old, crackly balls) on the floors, tabletops, and any other unoccupied surface. I also, and this is really sick, spent hours in front of my dresser-mirror (with a cue, not a comb), trying to train my body to use the form/stance recommended by Willie Mosconi in his little red book. Later, after I acquired a few videos, I spent even more hours in front of the same mirror trying to imitate Buddy Hall's mechanics.

Then I met a girl....
Click to expand...

I hope she helped your stroke. :D
JoeyA
 
Tim5000 said:
Joe, I also focus a lot on Bert's #1 shot on my 9' Brunswick. I have a couple observations and maybe you can give me your response.

1. It looks like he's doing the shot on an 8' with about 5"-5.25" pockets, do you agree?

2. Doing the shot close to the rail like he does causes me to bobble a few due to my 4.5" pockets (need to hit pocket speed yet still stop the cue ball)

It's somewhat difficult on my table, but on an 8 footer with 5" pockets, could do it all day blind folded.
Click to expand...

To tell the truth (which I do not often do :D ) I did not notice. But I would not be surprised if his video is on an 8 foot table.

I tend to shoot towards the fat side of the pocket and find that I don't bobble it too often. Lots of practice helped me get to a repeatable shot. Oh -- 5 inch pockets may make the difference.

I also like that slow rolling shot to the corner (#3?). If I had known it was on an 8 foot table I probably would have had more difficulty with it:cool: . But it works just fine for me and I like practicing the speed control.
 
Why is the Kinister #1 shot considered particularly important as opposed to a stop shot or drawing a few inches?
 
I think it is because you have to hit it perfect to get that half ball roll. Seems to me that you have to be dead center and with just the right stroke. Once you get it you feel like your stroke is where it should be. What a wonderful delusion.
 
I practice probably about 15hrs a week. Play at least an hr to two a day and as much as possible on the weekends. I'm a junkie:D
 
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