How Many Hours a Week?

C

ChrisinNC

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Not counting the hours spent playing in a weekly pool tournament, how many minimum hours a week of practice time or $ sessions do you need to keep your game (if you are 60+ years of age) or to have a realistic chance of significantly improving your game for younger players? 5, 10, 15 or 20 or more hours a week?

I realize that varies based on a number of factors, particularly what level player you currently are, how much natural ability you have for the game, how solid your fundamentals are, how good you are hoping to get, among other things.

I’m thinking a minimum of 10 hours a week over at least 3 sessions, but for those that have the time, 15-20 hours a week should really give you the best shot at getting your game to the next level within 6 months. If you do it for a year and don’t see a significant improvement, I’d say it’s not likely to happen.
 
Zero hours.

I don’t believe in practicing because it is a waste of money and time at this point in my life. My pool fix is tournaments. I guess to reach the next level are 2 hours of practice and that would get me really really good but I have no interest for that. Been playing since I was 16 and the time to reach my max potential was years ago.

I don’t really compete except tournaments and I’m usually not a fierce competitor as I use to be. To be honest I never really “practiced” in my early days and it was just playing with a friend or gambling. I naturally won many weekly tournaments because of it.

Gambling and playing people levels better than you is the best experience and I despise gambling now.

It’s the pay to play system. A good player will not show you everything. He will if you gamble with him. Pay him. Lol

With that said I think knowledge is more valuable than practice. I learned a lot gambling. Things were told and shown to me that practicing won’t. I can make really tough shots look easy that I would have never attempted in practice.
 
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shooter_Hans said:
Zero hours.

I don’t believe in practicing because it is a waste of money and time at this point in my life. My pool fix is tournaments. I guess to reach the next level are 2 hours of practice and that would get me really really good but I have no interest for that. Been playing since I was 16 and the time to reach my max potential was years ago.

I don’t really compete except tournaments and I’m usually not a fierce competitor as I use to be. To be honest I never really “practiced” in my early days and it was just playing with a friend or gambling. I naturally won many weekly tournaments because of it.

Gambling and playing people levels better than you is the best experience and I despise gambling now.

It’s the pay to play system. A good player will not show you everything. He will if you gamble with him. Pay him. Lol

With that said I think knowledge is more valuable than practice. I learned a lot gambling. Things were told and shown to me that practicing won’t. I can make really tough shots look easy that I would have never attempted in practice.
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I agree with you that tournament play, under pressure, is the most valuable form of table time, but you can be at a tournament for 12 hours and only play 2-3 hours of matches, so to me that only counts 2-3 hours of playing time.
 
I practice anywhere from 10 to 20 hours a week, and see continuous small improvements. My bad days are much stronger than they used to be and I've learned how to correct most "problems" in my shot setup rather quickly.

I don't have alot of opportunities for tournament play due to life getting in the way, but when it happens I play extremely well in the beginning but tend to burn out much faster than I did 10 years ago. I need to improve my stamina big time. Coffee helps somewhat along with a steady intake of calories, but still not enough. I'm sure the answer is working out regularly as opposed to drinking beer, but I'm open to any other suggestions 🙂
 
At 66, retired and with a table at home, I probably play maybe 2 hrs a day at most. The closest pool room is 2+ hrs away. About once or twice a month a friend and I will play about a 6 hr session. I still believe I'm improving, although at small increments. Just to keep in stroke an hr a day should be ok.
 
(30) At the moment I play 4/5 times a week, for one or two hours at a time (has been more or less sometimes since I started playing, but pretty consistent at this rate for the last 6months or so) - Usually playing solo or races to 7 for the light (depending on who's at the hall on the day).

I feel like I was already pretty capable when I started playing because of my background in snooker. I could run out tables and take hard shots on with confidence, but my pattern making and shot selection was pretty lackluster and I would miss out on many opportunities to finish because I was learning the patterns and selection of 8/9/10 ball, and that the game is more than just trying to pot your way out of trouble etc).

I spent a lot of time watching players, and playing as many people as I can, and I certainly feel much improved. I think the last 6months, given my work schedule, I have found a good balance between playing for enjoyment and improvement. I get the metro home from work and stop at the hall on my way home before dinner. I am also lucky enough to be given free 'solo practice' time on tables, and highly reduced rates when playing other people which helps things.
 
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ChrisinNC said:
I agree with you that tournament play, under pressure, is the most valuable form of table time, but you can be at a tournament for 12 hours and only play 2-3 hours of matches, so to me that only counts 2-3 hours of playing time.
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Besides other pursuits in life I just can’t practice for hours on end as my pool hall is $20 plus an hour for pool time and I believe $15 on weekdays when everyone is at work. So I forgot to mention the cost of practice for me. I can buy a membership but it also doesn’t make sense as I’m knee deep in gym memberships and television memberships. Those streaming apps add up.

I do agree practice is always better than no practice and it is up to an individual to find out whether that cost is really beneficial. I play well enough to hang in tournaments but practicing more won’t get me over the hump. Maybe winning one match more per night.

I know it sucks but I have to weigh the benefits versus cost. Sadly this is where I am. I quit drinking versus years ago I would stick around playing more pool.
 
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Probobly 2 hours a day. I’m lucky to have a diamond at home. I tend to play the ghost band do stroke drills over anything. I play pretty much every day. I’m still addicted to the game after 30 years of play. I say I’m going to take a day off after a long day of work but that damn diamond is just calling my name. lol. The only day I don’t play at home is if I have leagues or a tournament. I don’t think it’s good to get inline with your own table then have to adjust to another some place else.

I feel for the people who don’t have a table. If I had to go some place to play I wouldn’t be playing every day.
 
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You kind of answered your own question....It is different based on the person - ability and quality of practice....

Some people think they are practicing but in reality are just engraining bad habits...Quality of practice must be defined before "how much practice".

Sure there is physical limitations in different people...but for the most part in pool....You get as good as you (really) want to be.....Only you can answer that question.....The answer will determine the "quality" of your practice and how willing you are to put in the "work" part.

Part of the "work" is seeking out the right instruction (for you).....It may be more than 1 person......You may find you respond better to a different type of instruction......The "best" instructors are ones that can identify the make up (mentality) of the student......Is this person a "need to know why it works like this" person....or are they a "just tell me how to hold it" type person.
 
Sorry it’s long but you put up so many questions. Then I started reminiscing like Greg or Shooting Arts! And then rambled like Boogie! All in one. lol😉😉(and I’m not even drunk tonight!) luv you guys.

At 43 I see the fastest results when practicing around 20 hrs a week. This is with two jobs and kids. 10 hrs is ok. 30 seems to be overkill for me. My problem is practice doesn’t always transfer to tournament play. So I’d say 15-20 hours practice with at least a tournament here and there to get the biggest improvement in my game. And also to get best results I have to skip league for a month. League is for fun, and I treat it that way.


I have natural talent as in I’m good at a lot of things mechanical or sports but to get great at anything takes me time and repetition just like anyone else. And I used to play at a higher level than I can now. Sometimes I wonder if there are other players that don’t get better because they don’t know how to get better. That probably makes sense to some here. As long as you want to get better-The better you get the more you are able to compare your game with stronger players and it gets easier to identify your strengths and weaknesses. That doesn’t mean you can get better faster but it does help you focus on your flaws if you want to.

I’ve only plateaued once and that was in my early 20’s. I couldn’t get any better because I didn’t know how to. I was self taught. Was practicing 8 hrs a day every day at the time. It wasn’t work, it was fun. I worked at the hall and played all day even when not working. But I also wouldn’t have shunned away from any of you on the table then either. Shot everything arrow straight and banked like a champ.

Now though I can recognize that shape has always been my weakness and still is my biggest enemy on the table. Wish I never quit cause it would have been really easy to get at least a bit better back then to where I wanted to be if I knew what I know now all these easier patterns and such. I just used to play, by myself mostly, because at the time the pool scene was dead. And it’s a real bitch to get better with shape now when not making the shots I used to. I was always more of a shot maker, than a shot setter. That’s why I said that about not knowing how to get better-from experience. My go to wasn’t being able to play better shape, it was knowing every bank on the table. Instead of fixing a weakness I hid it by increasing one of my strengths.

And yeah people my dream back then was going to a pro tournament and playing. I never got there. I had the money to go and the time, but I just needed to be a little better to get to the next tier of player and I quit. I wasn’t going to be mocked when I got there nor was I gonna place 1st. I was never meant to be a hustler. I wanted to play my best at all times against all my opponents with money up or not. But also had a friend speed if that makes sense.

So now you all know why when you mock me here I get so pissed. This post caused me to reminisce a bit with “Glory Days” playing in the background. I was right there and had it and just quit. I honestly don’t even want to play normal players anymore. One way or another I will get back there and take that step and I will tear up at least a pro or two while there. The only reason I play now is to get there. Nothing else about pool really matters to me. It’s all practice on my way to where I belong and I don’t really care if I play anymore after.

Kinda like APA league. That was to prove I was a 7 and could get back there in 8 ball. A lot of people doubted me cause they had never seen me play before and getting to 7 isn’t easy in a lot of people’s eyes. Haven’t felt like going since I got locked in. Even told my fiance and the rest of my team that. They don’t get it. Only reason still there is my new goal after not caring the past two sessions and almost being ousted off the team, is not losing any more matches in league. That’s the only thing that keeps me there. Striving to be the best. 7 isn’t good enough. Going for super 7 now. And I could care less about my 9 ball ranking. Beat a 620 about 3 hours ago in 9 ball for the $$$.

I function like this. Goal achieved, move forward, dont let yourself get stuck or you will never achieve the next one. If something is in your way don’t move around it get rid of it altogether.
Sorry those last paragraphs are for me but I’m posting em. Maybe will delete later like I like to do.lolololol.
 
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crazysnake said:
Quality not quantity
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I do alot of open shooting with a friend, and it is good practice, but my best practice comes from playing competitively with players who are above me. Also, on my home table running various exercises, other than just pocketing balls around the table, but exercises that challenge my cue ball control. It's like going to the gym, doing various exercises that tone up various parts of your body, different pool exercises tone up your different aspects/ares of your game. Quality is more important than quantity.
 
ChrisinNC said:
Not counting the hours spent playing in a weekly pool tournament, how many minimum hours a week of practice time or $ sessions do you need to keep your game (if you are 60+ years of age) or to have a realistic chance of significantly improving your game for younger players? 5, 10, 15 or 20 or more hours a week?

I realize that varies based on a number of factors, particularly what level player you currently are, how much natural ability you have for the game, how solid your fundamentals are, how good you are hoping to get, among other things.

I’m thinking a minimum of 10 hours a week over at least 3 sessions, but for those that have the time, 15-20 hours a week should really give you the best shot at getting your game to the next level within 6 months. If you do it for a year and don’t see a significant improvement, I’d say it’s not likely to happen.
Click to expand...

I think you need a combination of practice and competition.

I think of the competitive sessions as the test bed for what I've worked on in practice.

Lou Figueroa
20 hrs a week
 
2 hrs a day is all I can handle by myself. In my 16x20 outback room.
 

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One hour a day first thing in the morning just like going to the gym. With maintenance in mind. When starting out I found that sessions that were too long were not helpful and even promoted short cuts to my prescribed routine. Bad habit.
Two or 3 shorter sessions worked best for me when I had the luxury. When playing small money games nightly after work I had to go with what I had with no chance of improving.
I do agree that there needs to be a balance of practice and competition. Too much of either and I won't improve.
 
I play 6 days a week so I don’t practice much other than before league starts I practice the 10 ball break for about 3hrs in average a night
Getting it very consistent
 
I lost the lag the four games I played on my league last week, I didn't practice the lag at all prior to competition. I feel the lag is very important, allowing the player to secure the break, and being able to choose the optimal suit in 8 ball. The week before I practice the lag and won all the lags and had better outcomes in the game. It was a lesson to be learned for me.
 
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