Pool of course is the practice level I am referring to. What ever level you play pool at now is what the subject is about. Thanks for your input.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
How much practice does it take to mantain your current level of playing?
- Thread starter Lock N Load
- Start date
My game is pretty grooved now. Once I'm in stroke, for maintainence purposes, I'm going to say two one hour sessions a week will keep me sharp.
I can get in pretty decent stroke with 3 or 4 one hour sessions on successive nights - even after laying off for 3 or 4 months..
I can get in pretty decent stroke with 3 or 4 one hour sessions on successive nights - even after laying off for 3 or 4 months..
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Curious what is your current playing level ? Pro,Open,A,B,C
I'd say I'm a B player, and I almost never actively practice... I occasionally do practice-type games though, like Safeties or Six Pocket. I'd probably play target pool if I had a set.
I dunno if practice is needed to "maintain" a level, rather it is for reaching the next level.
I can bring my usual game pretty much at will, without practice, because I'm shooting with buddies several times a week, plus league.
I dunno if practice is needed to "maintain" a level, rather it is for reaching the next level.
I can bring my usual game pretty much at will, without practice, because I'm shooting with buddies several times a week, plus league
No practice for me. Just play. :smile:
Practice?
I rarely if ever practice. Playing is very good practice to keep you in tune. I do work something out if I've lost control of something or if something pops up that I do not want. But... everyone is different. If you need to practice 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7 days a week, so be it. Someone just told a story how Earl Strickland said that when he was young say 16, he would practice 16 hrs. a day, everyday. Practice 16, sleep 8, everyday. Pool is kind of like riding a bike, once you know how , you never forget. You might wobble a bit at first but you straighten out fairly quickly. But... if you want to win a bike race, you better train for it. At what level do you want to be? That will tell you how much you need to practice. A good example: Paul Newman, AKA Fast Eddie, The Color of Money.
I rarely if ever practice. Playing is very good practice to keep you in tune. I do work something out if I've lost control of something or if something pops up that I do not want. But... everyone is different. If you need to practice 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7 days a week, so be it. Someone just told a story how Earl Strickland said that when he was young say 16, he would practice 16 hrs. a day, everyday. Practice 16, sleep 8, everyday. Pool is kind of like riding a bike, once you know how , you never forget. You might wobble a bit at first but you straighten out fairly quickly. But... if you want to win a bike race, you better train for it. At what level do you want to be? That will tell you how much you need to practice. A good example: Paul Newman, AKA Fast Eddie, The Color of Money.
Minimum 30, preferably 40++++++++....
Edited below on 9-11@ 3:33PM
But it doesn't keep me playing at my current level which is the thread title, I keep getting better, so why would I want to play less?
Edited below on 9-11@ 3:33PM
But it doesn't keep me playing at my current level which is the thread title, I keep getting better, so why would I want to play less?
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mr8ball
Active member
I have always heard the more you play the better you get but for me that is not true. I use to practice all the time and got to be a pretty good player but I got board with it. Playing when you are board is the worst thing you can do for your game. When you feel yourself doing this it is time to back off. If it does not keep you attention you are doing it to much. Best of luck
If I am playing good a few hours a day maybe 5 days a week. To push improvement it takes more. This also has to be coupled with some mental practice. Just thinking about playing helps me keep in stroke. I play in my mind all the time. Sounds nuts but it works for me.
Practice
To play well, and be able to execute when it counts practicing 8 hours a week does it for me. The difference between that and 3 hours a week may be slight, but certain. Inevitably I will miss something that makes me shake my head, knowing that if I were in better stroke it would have been different.
I play AA speed, only a few other players my speed or better locally. The problem is that when I am out of stroke it is harder to carry the big handicaps in tournaments or gambling. The wild 7+8 and a game are tough to give when you aren't playing up to your rating. Sometimes you just lose, but having that excuse because you haven't been playing is just that, an excuse. Summer is the weakest I play. Now that it is essentially fall, I'm coming out swinging.
I've been practicing more the past 3 weeks and now will start just playing the ghost with BIH after the break. In a race to 5 I expect to win at least 1/2 the time. If you can do that you can compete with 98% of players. It's the best practice to push your runout ability.
The hardest part is finding the motivation to practice. I enjoy being able to play my best though. Having a home table helps. This allows me to work on all aspects of the game and maintain a level of concentration that leads to improvement. When I go to a pool hall to play I never practice much, then it's time to compete, either gambling or tournament play. To me nothing keeps you in stroke more than the pressure of matcing up for money. It keeps my focus. Just can't play for funsies much anymore.
To play well, and be able to execute when it counts practicing 8 hours a week does it for me. The difference between that and 3 hours a week may be slight, but certain. Inevitably I will miss something that makes me shake my head, knowing that if I were in better stroke it would have been different.
I play AA speed, only a few other players my speed or better locally. The problem is that when I am out of stroke it is harder to carry the big handicaps in tournaments or gambling. The wild 7+8 and a game are tough to give when you aren't playing up to your rating. Sometimes you just lose, but having that excuse because you haven't been playing is just that, an excuse. Summer is the weakest I play. Now that it is essentially fall, I'm coming out swinging.
I've been practicing more the past 3 weeks and now will start just playing the ghost with BIH after the break. In a race to 5 I expect to win at least 1/2 the time. If you can do that you can compete with 98% of players. It's the best practice to push your runout ability.
The hardest part is finding the motivation to practice. I enjoy being able to play my best though. Having a home table helps. This allows me to work on all aspects of the game and maintain a level of concentration that leads to improvement. When I go to a pool hall to play I never practice much, then it's time to compete, either gambling or tournament play. To me nothing keeps you in stroke more than the pressure of matcing up for money. It keeps my focus. Just can't play for funsies much anymore.
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It takes a pretty strong player to beat me. I would describe myself as an A player. I only play 9 ball and 10 ball competitively and I prefer tight tables.
I play about 3 hours every 6 weeks. This maintains my current level of play.
Freddie <~~~ D-
So Little Practice?
Actually, I'm rather shocked by how little people are indicating that they practice. Pool is a muscle-memory game. I had heard that if you don't play in 3 days, you do indeed start going backwards and start losing some abilities.
I would say that I practice 1 hour every night after work, and usually play 2-3 hours on Saturday and Sunday.
I've been the high average in my city-league division the last few years and I place in the money in the state tournament every year as well.
Actually, I'm rather shocked by how little people are indicating that they practice. Pool is a muscle-memory game. I had heard that if you don't play in 3 days, you do indeed start going backwards and start losing some abilities.
I would say that I practice 1 hour every night after work, and usually play 2-3 hours on Saturday and Sunday.
I've been the high average in my city-league division the last few years and I place in the money in the state tournament every year as well.
I used to have to play a lot more myself to stay sharp. The last 3 or 4 years I found I could stay in relatively decent stroke with minor amounts of play.
You can definitely get out of "competitive" stroke. If I have just practicied and not played competitively, I find that I'll get nervous the first couple of matches until I settle down. If I'm competeing a lot, I am better out of the gate.