How long does it take you to get in stroke for a big match?

lets think about this

first you need a good jerk-off session. feel relaxed.then go to pool hall.take out 9-ball cue.go to snooker table.hit tough shots all over. 2 hours straight.you are now ready for the black widow or shane.:thumbup:
 
First I need to be in my regular routine of playing a little bit everyday.

Then I need to look for someone to play with for a little money. Doesn't have to be alot. $100 or $200 sets. If I can't find someone my speed to play I will give someone a big spot that they will have to want to gamble a little.

By playing the cheaper sets we can play longer. Nobody gets hurt and wants to quit.

It usually takes me about 3 or 4 days of playing like this to get ready for a tourny.

Need to have a reason to make the balls and not get lazy. Total focus on every shot.

The bigger tournys that I have done this for in the last 2 years I got two - 2nd place finishes and two first places.

Why don't I do it all the time? It's hard to dedicate this time of doing nothing else but playing pool.

Plus I'm finding out that it is really hard to stay in stroke when your teaching alot. Other good players that teach have told me how tough it is. I'm learning.

The older I get the harder it is to play 8 hours a day for 3 or 4 days.

But if you want to play well you have to pay the price. You need to be in great shape to get through these tournys.

Have a great day geno............
 
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How is everything going for you over there where you live? Are you playing a lot of pool? What is your favorite game? I appreciate hearing from you. Good post! Thanks again.
Regards,
Lock N Load.

There are some good shooter here like there are anywhere but in general, there aren't many middle of the road shooters (read...casual). People are either drunkin bar shooters or degenerate gamblers. For the most part, the table suck. It's like pulling teeth to find a decent one. It's about impossible to get work done on a cue. But, I get to play a lot because I can play at lunch time on one of the few Brunswicks around. Korean's are notorious for taking another companies product and remaking it with their own name on it. Their Brunswicks here aren't called Brunswicks, they are Hollywoods. And, they suck for the most part.

But, at least I get to keep in stroke and my game isn't suffering too much. I look forward to getting back to Maryland.... land of great leagues and great players!

Have a good one.

Greg
 
3 to 4 days of action........

Some people call it warming up for a big pool match up. I call it getting in stroke. A big match meaning a high dollar, tournament or bragging rights match! Thank you for your input.
Regards,
Lock N Load.

Doesn't have to be real big action. Even $100 or $300 sets. Just enough to make a difference.

Mostly getting the mindset in gear...........

Used to do it alot. I'd go to a tourny and they'ld say, Where did this guy come from......

But eventually it wasn't as big of surprise.

Alot of fun..........
 
Nice input, Geno.

First I need to be in my regular routine of playing a little bit everyday.

Then I need to look for someone to play with for a little money. Doesn't have to be alot. $100 or $200 sets. If I can't find someone my speed to play I will give someone a big spot that they will have to want to gamble a little.

By playing the cheaper sets we can play longer. Nobody gets hurt and wants to quit.

It usually takes me about 3 or 4 days of playing like this to get ready for a tourny.

Need to have a reason to make the balls and not get lazy. Total focus on every shot.

The bigger tournys that I have done this for in the last 2 years I got two - 2nd place finishes and two first places.

Why don't I do it all the time? It's hard to dedicate this time of doing nothing else but playing pool.

Plus I'm finding out that it is really hard to stay in stroke when your teaching alot. Other good players that teach have told me how tough it is. I'm learning.

The older I get the harder it is to play 8 hours a day for 3 or 4 days.

But if you waht to play well you have to pay the price. You need to be in great shape to get through these tournys.

Have a great day geno............

Good post. I like what you said when you said what you said!!
Thanks for your input, Geno.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
If it was a TAR match..

assuming it's a 9 ft diamond

about 4-5 hours of breaking for the first 2 days to get dialed in.

after that a couple positional drills I do to get a feel for the speed of the table... not long though, probably only a half hour at a time.
 
More great information, Antfarm.

There are some good shooter here like there are anywhere but in general, there aren't many middle of the road shooters (read...casual). People are either drunkin bar shooters or degenerate gamblers. For the most part, the table suck. It's like pulling teeth to find a decent one. It's about impossible to get work done on a cue. But, I get to play a lot because I can play at lunch time on one of the few Brunswicks around. Korean's are notorious for taking another companies product and remaking it with their own name on it. Their Brunswicks here aren't called Brunswicks, they are Hollywoods. And, they suck for the most part.

But, at least I get to keep in stroke and my game isn't suffering too much. I look forward to getting back to Maryland.... land of great leagues and great players!

Have a good one.

Greg

I like your info. Good to get another response from you as well. I am glad you can stay in stroke too. Even though you are so far from home. Maybe you should join my Lock Society, and get yourself a Lock name! Thanks again. Their are Locks all over everywhere.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Prepping

Usually for weekly tournaments, I do not warm up. I just relax for 10-15 minutes prior getting my mind ready to play. If I play in a big tournament
(32 or more players), I will warm up for 15-20 minutes prior, especially if I have a tough first match coming up. I probably spend 5 minutes just shooting balls, and the rest on banking and breaking a time or two.

Note on breaking: When I plan on breaking with the 2nd ball break, I like to know if the table is a left handed table or not, which means breaking from the right side means no balls on the break, but breaking from the left side means balls made and a good layout. I call these tables left handed tables.
 
Geno, having fun while you are playing pool is important!

Doesn't have to be real big action. Even $100 or $300 sets. Just enough to make a difference.

Mostly getting the mindset in gear...........

Used to do it alot. I'd go to a tourny and they'ld say, Where did this guy come from......

But eventually it wasn't as big of surprise.

Alot of fun..........

It helps you play better if you are having fun too! Anything you enjoy doing you tend to do it better. Thanks Geno, for more good info and input. Get well soon!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Very good input.

Usually for weekly tournaments, I do not warm up. I just relax for 10-15 minutes prior getting my mind ready to play. If I play in a big tournament
(32 or more players), I will warm up for 15-20 minutes prior, especially if I have a tough first match coming up. I probably spend 5 minutes just shooting balls, and the rest on banking and breaking a time or two.

Note on breaking: When I plan on breaking with the 2nd ball break, I like to know if the table is a left handed table or not, which means breaking from the right side means no balls on the break, but breaking from the left side means balls made and a good layout. I call these tables left handed tables.

I like what you said, Snapshot9. Thanks.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Warming up...

My warm-up for a big match begins at least the day before we play. Success comes from being prepared: physically (eat right, sleep right, exercise and stretch and hydrate) and mentally (be positive, seek calmness of mind and spirit and enjoy the challenge without anxiety).

Idealy, about 30 minutes of actual table time. I begin without using any balls: stroke with open bridge on top of side rail, keeping cue straight back and thru about 2 minutes. Then I just hit the cue ball to get a feel for the table speed and banking angles, about 3 minutes. Then I put a few balls on the table, sink them each with ball in hand; maybe set up a few easy 3-ball runs. I want to make every ball in warm-up (especially if my opponent is watching) and take a few stroke shots to get the arm ready.

League play typically gives your team 30 minutes to warm up. Let each player have the table for 5 minutes, alone (don't play games...or no one will be warmed up. If teammates insist on playing a game, play 9-ball with no safeties and try to find a stroke).

Properly prepared and warmed up, shake hands and get into the rhythm of this beautiful game...
 
Getting ready for the next big game!

Some people call it warming up for a big pool match up. I call it getting in stroke. A big match meaning a high dollar, tournament or bragging rights match! Thank you for your input.
Regards,
Lock N Load.


Every pool player goes about getting ready for a big game in their on way, if your already an acomplished or skilled player it may not take a lot of table time to get ready, this could also mean that you are more in tune to your own psychic than the next player, I do believe that!

It's been said often that you "play the table and not the player", well that is NOT necessarily true, if you can't handle the Ego/Charactor or Persona of a person, whatever you want to call it, your beat even if your maybe a slightly/ to alittle better player than this person.

Take me for instance, I play much better against a loud, ball banging person, just the opposite of most players rather than the "quiet guy", why, well one reason I already know what the loud guy is all about, so they can't get there, but the quiet guy is sneaky and always calculating every strategy of the game.

I guess that's why I alwaysed played much better in the bars than in a big pool room, in the bar I'm used to loud talk , music, or a flying chair, I like everything moving around me to play my best and concentrate at pool.

Players are getting ready for the next big game everyday in their own little way, I for one know for sure if I need to hit balls in order to play good, if I have to force myself to go play then my table time is counter productive for me.

When I can't wait to get to the tables and hit balls, thats when my practice time is more rewarding and my pool playing is stellar!, then I'm ready for the next big game!


Here's one for ya Lock!, before I take off!:thumbup:


David Harcrow
 
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Hey Catpool9, you make a thread worth putting on AZB!

Every pool player goes about getting ready for a big game in their on way, if your already an acomplished or skilled player it may not take a lot of table time to get ready, this could also mean that you are more in tune to your own psychic than the next player, I do believe that!

It's been said often that you "play the table and not the player", well that is NOT necessarily true, if you can't handle the Ego/Charactor or Persona of a person, whatever you want to call it, your beat even if your maybe a slightly/ to alittle better player than this person.

Take me for instance, I play much better against a loud, ball banging person, just the opposite of most players rather than the "quiet guy", why, well one reason I already know what the loud guy is all about, so they can't get there, but the quiet guy is sneaky and always calculating every strategy of the game.

I guess that's why I alwaysed played much better in the bars than in a big pool room, in the bar I'm used to loud talk , music, or a flying chair, I like everything moving around me to play my best and concentrate at pool.

Players are getting ready for the next big game everyday in their own little way, I for one know for sure if I need to hit balls in order to play good, if I have to force myself to go play then my table time is counter productive for me.

When I can't wait to get to the tables and hit balls, thats when my practice time is more rewarding and my pool playing is stellar!, then I'm ready for the next big game!


Here's one for ya Lock!, before I take off!:thumbup:


David Harcrow

You get exactly to the true points in your post. I appreciate this input very much. A person could learn a lot from your post. I hope you have a great trip, and all goes well for you! Thanks again for adding fire to my thread!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
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