How long does it take for you to get back in punch if you lay off for over a month? What did you do to get back the fastest? Do you think its possible to knock off the rust with 15 hrs of really dedicated practice?
Getting back in punch.
- Thread starter 5ballcharlie
- Start date
In 2005 I joined the army and all but quit playing completely. A few games here and there with the guys, but never anything I took to seriously.
Now on my second deployment to Iraq, for some reason unknown to me, I got bit by the bug. Bought some cues and waited for my opportunity to go on R&R, that time has come and gone recently as I just got back to Iraq a few days ago.
I was surprised how much knowledge I actually retained after taking so much time off away from the game. I spent the better part of the first three days I was home at the pool hall: Thursday 2pm-4am, Friday and saturday 2pm-11pm. Played only on 9-footers those first three days, shot drills for the better part of 5-6 hours on thursday also playing some one-hole with a couple friends on hereand a few sets of 9ball when they left. Friday was more one-hole, and saturday wasw a one-pocket tourney (which I knew I was donating to).
In total of the 15 days I was home, I hit balls nearly every day for at a minimum of 4 hours after those first three days.
After all was said and done, I feel I was playing within about two balls of where I used to be. My speed control and touch were the hardest things for me to get back while my ability to see the patterns in 9ball and 8ball were the quickest for me to get back...I still feel somewhat uncomfortable with my fundamentals, but I believe that to be more muscle memory that is lacking as under video review my fundamentals appear quite sound. My cue ball control is not where it should be, but I am able to put a rack together most of the time. I am sure once I get stateside again I will be able to work through these remaining issues and get my game back to where it used to be, and actually much further beyond that.
Now on my second deployment to Iraq, for some reason unknown to me, I got bit by the bug. Bought some cues and waited for my opportunity to go on R&R, that time has come and gone recently as I just got back to Iraq a few days ago.
I was surprised how much knowledge I actually retained after taking so much time off away from the game. I spent the better part of the first three days I was home at the pool hall: Thursday 2pm-4am, Friday and saturday 2pm-11pm. Played only on 9-footers those first three days, shot drills for the better part of 5-6 hours on thursday also playing some one-hole with a couple friends on hereand a few sets of 9ball when they left. Friday was more one-hole, and saturday wasw a one-pocket tourney (which I knew I was donating to).
In total of the 15 days I was home, I hit balls nearly every day for at a minimum of 4 hours after those first three days.
After all was said and done, I feel I was playing within about two balls of where I used to be. My speed control and touch were the hardest things for me to get back while my ability to see the patterns in 9ball and 8ball were the quickest for me to get back...I still feel somewhat uncomfortable with my fundamentals, but I believe that to be more muscle memory that is lacking as under video review my fundamentals appear quite sound. My cue ball control is not where it should be, but I am able to put a rack together most of the time. I am sure once I get stateside again I will be able to work through these remaining issues and get my game back to where it used to be, and actually much further beyond that.
thanks............................
I don't know why you would need that much time. If you have a dependable accurate, and repeatable process already ingrained, there is no reason for it to take more than an hour or so, to get "back in stroke"...even after laying off a month.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I havent been playing that much over the past two months (new job) but everytime i do go play (about 8 times in this span) it only took a few racks to get in gear.
I think it comes down to how long you've been playing. I knew guys that would hit two balls as a warmup and proceed to string together 3 racks. My game at the time required me to get there early and play for about a solid hour to really get in stroke.
Its different for everybody but i truly believe once you get to a certain level your game never really leaves you. You just have to do some mantinece every once and awhile to upkeep your game.
Local or weekly events i take about 15-20 minutes of warm-up. Bigger events or tour stops i like to warm-up for at least 45 minutes and up to one hour. Just to get use to the equiment and the room itself. Hope this helps ya :thumbup:
I think it comes down to how long you've been playing. I knew guys that would hit two balls as a warmup and proceed to string together 3 racks. My game at the time required me to get there early and play for about a solid hour to really get in stroke.
Its different for everybody but i truly believe once you get to a certain level your game never really leaves you. You just have to do some mantinece every once and awhile to upkeep your game.
Local or weekly events i take about 15-20 minutes of warm-up. Bigger events or tour stops i like to warm-up for at least 45 minutes and up to one hour. Just to get use to the equiment and the room itself. Hope this helps ya :thumbup:
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I've been off for over 28 months and it's proven alot harder to get back in stroke than I ever thought it would be. The last thing I am finding the hardest to get back in my comfort and confidence at the table. I feel that I am always second guessing my stance, stroke, grip, and everything else. I think I am on the right track but it's going to take more time than I ever expected.
Advice...
I was given a bit of advice from one of the older players one night when it comes to getting back into stroke. He said "Just play like you did when you stopped, It'll all come back." I've taken breaks from the game, weeks to months at times, and have used this bit of advice finding that I could regain almost 100% in one session. Good luck...
Kai
I was given a bit of advice from one of the older players one night when it comes to getting back into stroke. He said "Just play like you did when you stopped, It'll all come back." I've taken breaks from the game, weeks to months at times, and have used this bit of advice finding that I could regain almost 100% in one session. Good luck...
Kai
Definitely not 15 hours or something. I hope you weren't talking 15 hours in a row... practice over a long time gets you bored; you play worse than someone who just practices in short bursts.
I never found much trouble getting back in stroke. The actual stroke part is pretty simple and should be something you can do at any time. Mostly it's mental - you don't remember how a correct cut looks so you might miss it. You get stuck thinking about how you're hitting them instead of planning your out. Seeing the balls on the felt as something new instead of something you're used to seeing every night distracts you a little.
I never found much trouble getting back in stroke. The actual stroke part is pretty simple and should be something you can do at any time. Mostly it's mental - you don't remember how a correct cut looks so you might miss it. You get stuck thinking about how you're hitting them instead of planning your out. Seeing the balls on the felt as something new instead of something you're used to seeing every night distracts you a little.
I might be a really bad example, but I took almost 10 years off and came back 1 1/2 balls better than the best that I ever shot.
get some video of yourself playing your best...during the layoff take a peek at it every once in a while that will help you keep your pace and rhythm
then after a layoff..video yourself again..
and compare the two..
I have found it to be EXTREMELY effective at maintaining your game when you aren't playing as much..
I took about 6 weeks off not too long ago and it took me about 2 hours of playing to get comfortable again,I know this doesnt sound like much but its kind of like riding a bicycle ,I started by throwing 15 balls out and just pocketing balls,I doubt its the same 4 everyone but thats how it worked 4 me
> I believe that the key to getting back in stroke,IS the stroke.
You can take players from all over the spectrum,from elite world-class,all the way down to B and C players,and I believe this same statement holds true.
The more moving parts in your stroke,the longer it takes to recover from a prolonged layoff. Think of the players with real flamboyant strokes like the Filipinos,as compared to Ralf or Thorsten.
Charlie,your stroke is closer to the Ralf/Thorsten end of the line. I've seen enough of yours to say I don't see much to suggest it should take more than an hour or 2,or some tough action.
On the other hand though,how do you of all people get OUT of stroke?
You live with a crazy-tight GC,lol. Tommy D.
You can take players from all over the spectrum,from elite world-class,all the way down to B and C players,and I believe this same statement holds true.
The more moving parts in your stroke,the longer it takes to recover from a prolonged layoff. Think of the players with real flamboyant strokes like the Filipinos,as compared to Ralf or Thorsten.
Charlie,your stroke is closer to the Ralf/Thorsten end of the line. I've seen enough of yours to say I don't see much to suggest it should take more than an hour or 2,or some tough action.
On the other hand though,how do you of all people get OUT of stroke?
You live with a crazy-tight GC,lol. Tommy D.
Thanks Tommy. Well I have been spending to much time fishing and working out to hit many balls. I'm hitting them about 75% the only shots that are throwing me off are inside English shots. You coming to the catfish tourny tomm?
ulikastr8pool
Registered
everyone is different. My suggestion is to gamble.
That is the way I feel when I'm off the game for a while.
To get back in stroke, here is what I do.
I watch professional pool on tv/internet and I look carefully at what they are doing...for some reasons, it inspires me.
I think about what my mentors taught me (which comes automatically when you are in stroke)
I hit the the cue ball without any object ball and I listen to the sound because I know how I make my cue sound when I'm in the zone.
I exaggerate the follow-through.
I frequently go long periods without hitting a ball, several months is normal. When I try to play again, it feels HORRIBLE! The first day back I don't feel like playing at all, I'm so rusty. I may only hit balls for 20-30 minutes. The second day a little longer and maybe by the third day I hit balls for an hour or more. Usually within a week of this regimen I start to find my game (and my stroke) and then it becomes fun to play again.
I always tell myself when I'm playing decent pool, not to let myself get out of stroke. And days turn into weeks and weeks into months, and I'm not playing. Then when I'm ready to play, I have to start this ugly process again of finding my stroke, and the proper aiming points on various shots. My opinion is that if you are playing fairly well, then an hour or two a few times a week will keep your stroke (and your game) solid. You don't lose your knowledge of the game, only the rhythm and feel of a good solid stroke. And the confidence that goes with it.
There is an excellent player staying at my house right now. He will go un-named because he may be looking for games soon. Trust me, he's high speed. If you must know, PM me. He finally convinced me to play him some Banks the other day. After I came back from the Philippines three weeks ago, I got sick and didn't hit a ball for the next two weeks. Anyway I know that the only game I have any chance against him is Banks.
The good thing about Banks is you don't need perfect cue ball control. Just make the ball and keep the cue ball in play. We start playing and he wins the first couple of games easily. I'm not comfortable playing such a good player. It is intimidating and will put a hitch in your stroke. It must have taken me five or six games to relax and just let myself play. The games started getting close and I finally won a game. We played for hours, at least twenty games of short rack Banks. I think I won four or five games, maybe six.
When it was all over I felt good. He killed me, but I was competitive, making him work for it. And I did finally hit him with some threes and fours. I never did run five, but neither did he. I will say this. This session got me in stroke! Now if I can just remember to stay in stroke.
I always tell myself when I'm playing decent pool, not to let myself get out of stroke. And days turn into weeks and weeks into months, and I'm not playing. Then when I'm ready to play, I have to start this ugly process again of finding my stroke, and the proper aiming points on various shots. My opinion is that if you are playing fairly well, then an hour or two a few times a week will keep your stroke (and your game) solid. You don't lose your knowledge of the game, only the rhythm and feel of a good solid stroke. And the confidence that goes with it.
There is an excellent player staying at my house right now. He will go un-named because he may be looking for games soon. Trust me, he's high speed. If you must know, PM me. He finally convinced me to play him some Banks the other day. After I came back from the Philippines three weeks ago, I got sick and didn't hit a ball for the next two weeks. Anyway I know that the only game I have any chance against him is Banks.
The good thing about Banks is you don't need perfect cue ball control. Just make the ball and keep the cue ball in play. We start playing and he wins the first couple of games easily. I'm not comfortable playing such a good player. It is intimidating and will put a hitch in your stroke. It must have taken me five or six games to relax and just let myself play. The games started getting close and I finally won a game. We played for hours, at least twenty games of short rack Banks. I think I won four or five games, maybe six.
When it was all over I felt good. He killed me, but I was competitive, making him work for it. And I did finally hit him with some threes and fours. I never did run five, but neither did he. I will say this. This session got me in stroke! Now if I can just remember to stay in stroke.
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I frequently go long periods without hitting a ball, several months is normal. When I try to play again, it feels HORRIBLE! The first day back I don't feel like playing at all, I'm so rusty. I may only hit balls for 20-30 minutes. The second day a little longer and maybe by the third day I hit balls for an hour or more. Usually within a week of this regimen I start to find my game (and my stroke) and then it becomes fun to play again.
I always tell myself when I'm playing decent pool, not to let myself get out of stroke. And days turn into weeks and weeks into months, and I'm not playing. Then when I'm ready to play, I have to start this ugly process again of finding my stroke, and the proper aiming points on various shots. My opinion is that if you are playing fairly well, then an hour or two a few times a week will keep your stroke (and your game) solid. You don't lose your knowledge of the game, only the rhythm and feel of a good solid stroke. And the confidence that goes with it.
There is an excellent player staying at my house right now. He will go un-named because he may be looking for games soon. Trust me, he's high speed. He finally convinced me to play him some Banks the other day. After I came back from the Philippines three weeks ago, I got sick and didn't hit a ball for the next two weeks. Anyway I know that the only game I have any chance against him in is Banks.
The good thing about Banks is you don't need perfect cue ball control. Just make the ball and keep the cue ball in play. We start playing and he wins the first couple of games easily. I'm not comfortable playing such a good player. It is intimidating and will put a hitch in your stroke. It must have taken me five or six games to relax and just let myself play. The games started getting close and I finally won a game. We played for hours, at least twenty games of short rack Banks. I think I won four or five games, maybe six.
When it was all over I felt good. He killed me, but I was competitive, making him work for it. And I did finally hit him with some threes and fours. I never did run five, but neither did he. I will say this. This session got me in stroke! Now if I can just remember to stay in stroke.
same for me jay i take 6 weeks off play a lil one day then the next 4 days i feel good.
then i miss 1 day turns into 2 then its 2 weeks without hitting 1 ball.
then do it all over again.
in 5 days im ready to play a big money match .
Chris, even the best players (you included) get out of stroke when they haven't been playing. It's no different than being a golfer or tennis player. A pool player MUST practice to stay on their game. Man, I remember when Earl was on top. I was running a lot of tournaments back then. He would be the first one there when I opened the room for practice and the last one to leave at night. He was literally in action all day long, either playing a match or practicing. Earl LIVED on the pool table!
Shane is like that now. He blew me away a couple of years ago when he stayed here for a week. I would wake up to the sound of him hitting balls on my table and go to sleep at night and he was still banging away. It was nothing for him to shoot one shot fifty or a hundred times. He wasn't happy until he made it ten times in a row. And I'm talking hard shots here.
yes you have to put so much time in to play your best and such lil money in it.
these days for me just not worth it.