How often do pros "practice"? What is enough?

[LG9BallFan]

Saw a video of someone interviewing the current members of our Mosconi Cup team. The question posed to the members was 'what is one thing a person can do to improve?' Three of them answered with 'practice'. I only play once a week (in my 7th decade now). If I play poorly, I will take some time and practice before I play the next week. It always pays off.

I practice and use the same routines but practice using routines. I add to this shots that I played poorly the last time I played. I look at playing professionally as a job. And the pros IMO are either playing or practicing the same amount of time as any other job. Playing better requires putting in the time on the table and in a methodical way. The best players in my pool room are those who are there every day.

 

[Chili Palmer]

I started playing again last year after about 10 years of not playing, got a practice table at the end October so it's been about 3 1/2 months since I have been able to practice every day, I find PRACTICING everyday has raised my game quickly, I love to compete but when I take the time to find my mistakes both physically and mentally I make less of them when I compete, I practice about 1 hour to 11/2 hours a day, missed a couple here and there but I really like hitting balls everyday.

I got back into it after 14 years, bought a table for the living room and practiced almost every day for at least an hour, it didn't take long to play better than I ever had, I hated practicing before but after seeing the results I was hooked. Now, when people ask for help I simply explain to them - practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

 

[Chili Palmer]

Saw a video of someone interviewing the current members of our Mosconi Cup team. The question posed to the members was 'what is one thing a person can do to improve?' Three of them answered with 'practice'. I only play once a week (in my 7th decade now). If I play poorly, I will take some time and practice before I play the next week. It always pays off.

I practice and use the same routines but practice using routines. I add to this shots that I played poorly the last time I played. I look at playing professionally as a job. And the pros IMO are either playing or practicing the same amount of time as any other job. Playing better requires putting in the time on the table and in a methodical way. The best players in my pool room are those who are there every day.

Not trying to be jerk or a negative nancy but, if practicing before league, I don't call that practicing (for me), it's simply warming up, IMHO. My practice is done alone, without interruptions or other distractions, then I warm up to play. Just my personal experience.

 

[justnum]

That's some wild internalized misandry there.

Men out number women in terms of prison population. Its about 20 men in prison for every 1 woman. In Russia the distribution is more balanced, everyone gets arrested, there is no favortism.

 

[ShootingArts]

The secret is to put more effort into every shot I believe. When I was gambling nightly I shot for spot shape with the cue ball, over ninety-five percent of shots. The only exception I can think of immediately were the table length razor thin cuts where you have to fire the cue ball very hard just to get the object ball to the pocket.

However, as a general statement, spot shape on the cue ball. I also always picked a lane into the pocket for the object ball. Better players might use seven lanes, I used five. Center pocket, against the inside walls, and halfway between these extremes. If I didn't put the cue ball on the spot within an inch I knew I had missed even if nobody else did. Likewise if the ball fell in the pocket but didn't use the lane I intended, I knew I had missed even if nobody else did.

Seeking perfection almost every single shot minimizes the need for practice. Also, while perfection isn't obtainable, trying for perfection gives a much larger margin of error than trying for good enough.

A friend was shooting iron sights at a thousand yards for Uncle Sam between wars long ago. The practice session was still open but most had got on target and called it a day. My friend was spotting for another shooter who was struggling a little. A competitor passed by. "Having trouble getting into the five?" "No, working on staying in the V." That would be the ten ring and X ring today. Aim small, miss small. It applies on a pool table too.

Hu

 

[Mensabum]

Not a pro, but maybe some perspective...

When I was cutting my teeth, I lived on a snooker table. I'd wager I put in +6hrs a day 7 days a week, (avg'd out). Did that for a few years.

Did that during my teens and have been riding those fundamentals ever since. Transitioned to pool and played maybe another 10yrs at maybe 20hrs a week. After a long 10yr break and these days at +30yrs later, I maintain my 680 game with one night of league and a tourney once every couple of months. I have zero doubt that I could hit that 700 ceiling if I really wanted to bother.

I'm not special. No unique talent or natural ability. Just a guy that put serious time in early.

That said, I have zero doubt the elite will live on a table when something isn't right. Otherwise I highly doubt many treat it as a 9-5 must do.

If it's your job, treat it as such. Do the work. Put in the hours. Esp if you need the coin. Lol.

 

[The_JV]

Not trying to be jerk or a negative nancy but, if practicing before league, I don't call that practicing (for me), it's simply warming up, IMHO. My practice is done alone, without interruptions or other distractions, then I warm up to play. Just my personal experience.

100%... My only goals pre-league are to loosen up my arm and make the adjustment the pockets require, as compare to my home table.

That said, I don't practice at all by nearly anyone's definition here on AZB

 

[ShootingArts]

If it's your job, treat it as such. Do the work. Put in the hours. Esp if you need the coin. Lol.

100%... My only goals pre-league are to loosen up my arm and make the adjustment the pockets require, as compare to my home table.

That said, I don't practice at all by nearly anyone's definition here on AZB

I think you are both right. I knew a fishing guide that had not fished for two days out of the last four years. Pro players should treat pool much the same. An occasional day off isn't the end of the world but if they aren't putting in forty hours plus a week they are probably hurting themselves.

When I had spot shape down I shot pool for over sixty hours a week, for years. Spot shape is tough to master but quite doable when my average shot was with 16-24 inches between cue ball and object ball and on the right angle.

Hu

 

[Chili Palmer]

The secret is to put more effort into every shot I believe. When I was gambling nightly I shot for spot shape with the cue ball, over ninety-five percent of shots. The only exception I can think of immediately were the table length razor thin cuts where you have to fire the cue ball very hard just to get the object ball to the pocket.

However, as a general statement, spot shape on the cue ball. I also always picked a lane into the pocket for the object ball. Better players might use seven lanes, I used five. Center pocket, against the inside walls, and halfway between these extremes. If I didn't put the cue ball on the spot within an inch I knew I had missed even if nobody else did. Likewise if the ball fell in the pocket but didn't use the lane I intended, I knew I had missed even if nobody else did.

Seeking perfection almost every single shot minimizes the need for practice. Also, while perfection isn't obtainable, trying for perfection gives a much larger margin of error than trying for good enough.

A friend was shooting iron sights at a thousand yards for Uncle Sam between wars long ago. The practice session was still open but most had got on target and called it a day. My friend was spotting for another shooter who was struggling a little. A competitor passed by. "Having trouble getting into the five?" "No, working on staying in the V." That would be the ten ring and X ring today. Aim small, miss small. It applies on a pool table too.

Hu

When I was playing regularly I would get upset if I didn't hit the side of the pocket I was aiming for, usually center of pocket but not always. I wasn't worried so much about the spot shape, I was paying more attention to the lane. In most cases 6-8" short/long isn't much if you're approaching the OB at the appropriate angle/lane.

 

[ShootingArts]

When I was playing regularly I would get upset if I didn't hit the side of the pocket I was aiming for, usually center of pocket but not always. I wasn't worried so much about the spot shape, I was paying more attention to the lane. In most cases 6-8" short/long isn't much if you're approaching the OB at the appropriate angle/lane.

I agree with you. If you are approaching the shooting lane on an angle you should be a few inches shouldn't matter for that shot. It may matter for the next one or the one after.

I type spot shape enough that my keys on my keyboard are slick. A good way to demonstrate how effective it is try playing every shot with ball in hand. Spot shape is a chain reaction. If you are within an inch of perfect on one shot, getting spot shape is easy on the next shot. Spot shape on that one makes it easy to shoot all the way through the money ball. I think everyone knows to pick a spot for the cue ball to stop when shooting the money ball, that shot should be like all the rest.

Hu

 

[easy-e]

100%... My only goals pre-league are to loosen up my arm and make the adjustment the pockets require, as compare to my home table.

That said, I don't practice at all by nearly anyone's definition here on AZB

Every time I read one of your posts I swear we're the same person in terms of how we approach the game.

 

[Poolmanis]

Around 2000 I was competing in Eurotour and I got in play and talk with many top pros like Feijen, Van Den Berg and Souquet.
I asked from Ralf: How much he practice?
His answer was that he don´t practice. He said if he practice he said he would be too numb and not sharp enough to play competition good. He told that when he try practice his tournament play go badly.
He said his practice was playing tournaments every week.
I said I understand but that won´t tell me how you first got good.
"I practiced 10 years 8 hour per day when I was young"

 

[Chili Palmer]

I agree with you. If you are approaching the shooting lane on an angle you should be a few inches shouldn't matter for that shot. It may matter for the next one or the one after.

I type spot shape enough that my keys on my keyboard are slick. A good way to demonstrate how effective it is try playing every shot with ball in hand. Spot shape is a chain reaction. If you are within an inch of perfect on one shot, getting spot shape is easy on the next shot. Spot shape on that one makes it easy to shoot all the way through the money ball. I think everyone knows to pick a spot for the cue ball to stop when shooting the money ball, that shot should be like all the rest.

Hu

100%, come up 6" short and you may not be able to get around another ball. Similar to what I eluded to earlier, is where the ball hit's the pocket. If you're aiming for center pocket and you fade it right you either hit the OB too fat or too thin, either one can affect the outcome of the position on the next ball. Just because you made it, doesn't mean you made it how you want - just like your philosophy. I chuckle when I see someone miss a ball and say "but I had a perfect leave". LOL, they wouldn't have that perfect leave if they hit the last ball correct. I've thought about recommending to @dr_dave to do an "anatomy of a miss" video showing how missed contact on the OB affects the leave. Doesn't have to be a missed ball, just missed contact on a pocketed OB. It doesn't always affect the game but, it can.

 

[Gatz]

Top players are playing everyday for a number of hours. Josh Filler for example in an interview says he breaks his training up 4hrs then break and then another 4 hours. I'd bet the top elite are at least doing 4hrs per day.

 

[dr_dave]

100%, come up 6" short and you may not be able to get around another ball. Similar to what I eluded to earlier, is where the ball hit's the pocket. If you're aiming for center pocket and you fade it right you either hit the OB too fat or too thin, either one can affect the outcome of the position on the next ball. Just because you made it, doesn't mean you made it how you want - just like your philosophy. I chuckle when I see someone miss a ball and say "but I had a perfect leave". LOL, they wouldn't have that perfect leave if they hit the last ball correct. I've thought about recommending to @dr_dave to do an "anatomy of a miss" video showing how missed contact on the OB affects the leave. Doesn't have to be a missed ball, just missed contact on a pocketed OB. It doesn't always affect the game but, it can.

I think the topic is already covered fairly well here:

pocket cheating effects​

especially in this video from Adam Bishop, one of my BU Boot Camp instructors:

 

[dquarasr]

Problem is most men are lazy and stupid and likely to be a criminal deviant or have criminal tendencies.

This has to be the dumbest thing you’ve ever written on here. Oh, wait. Maybe not.

I have you on ignore for a reason but sometimes it’s fun to see just what the hell you’re thinking.

 

[Chili Palmer]

This has to be the dumbest thing you’ve ever written on here. Oh, wait. Maybe not. - Not a chance!

I have you on ignore for a reason but sometimes it’s fun to see just what the hell you’re thinking.

I also have him on ignore and you made me look damn it! LOL

 

[justnum]

When I wanted to be pro, my calculations for interval training went like this:

A race to 11 is about 99 balls.

When I first started shooting I did the three ball drill exercise in the Byrnes book.

Once that got easy, I started putting the three balls in different spots to learn basic positioning.

Three balls a day until you master position play. If you do too much in the beginning, you develop too many deficiencies that are complex to correct.

That is why I encourage only 3 balls a day. Draw, follow and stun.

The above is good advice for someone thinking about putting the time in.

If you think I am funny I am also single and cook and clean. I am 5 10 ft or 178 cm tall and allergic to non marine pets.

Pool is not like lifting weights.

Pool is more like setting up the physics experiments in school, or cooking food properly. You need experience to recognize situations.
Experience is not always easy to earn.

Self study and practice is good, the gatekeepers of the game are the only ones that can guide you.

 

[The_JV]

I also have him on ignore and you made me look damn it! LOL

I won't do it

 

[The_JV]

Top players are playing everyday for a number of hours. Josh Filler for example in an interview says he breaks his training up 4hrs then break and then another 4 hours. I'd bet the top elite are at least doing 4hrs per day.

Definitely playing daily, or very close to it. I would doubt beyond a small handful of hours unless they were trying work something drastic into their games.

It doesn't take much to maintain. I'd be surprised if it was any different for the elite