i have totally revamped my practice time, working out very well

J

judochoke

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i am lucky in that i have a table at home, am retired, and have lots of free time.
i really have no other hobbies, other than going to the gym or the beach walking. so i spend a lot of time playing pool and practicing. normally i just shoot ghost ball 9 ball for hours on end each day, with a little drill here and there, but just the same old ghost ball day in and day out.

and it recently dawned on me that im practicing all wrong. i thought that if i have all this time, why aren't i practicing like a professional would??? or how i think a pro would practice???

so now, i drink my morning coffee, watch some CNN, read the news, then turn on the radio, and just shoot racks, to warm up the back. nothing special, just trying to finish a rack, then rebreak, and try again. this one hour session is usually my worst hour of the three.

then i come back in a few hours, and for one hour, work on three rail shots, side spin, trying to get perfect position on the next object ball, using only three balls on the table.
no ghost ball, no messing around, really focusing on trying to get that perfect position.

my evening session is always my best, i try all types of set ups, three-four ball set ups, and just keep doing them over and over again, then i finally play either 6 or 8 ball ghost ball, always trying to get perfect position.

so instead of just banging balls around playing ghost ball, im really liking my new set up. each session expect for the evening session is timed using a timer, so i might set the timer for 30 minutes to work on frozen rail shots, then 30 minutes on draw shots.

just though i would share this. :):):):):):):):):)
 
Thanks, cue ball position is the name of the game- 14.1 is ideal for honing that skill. I like to combine 14.1 for cue ball position with 9 ball for shot making skills - it works! I guess that is why many old timers considered 9 ball to be too easy a game. No secret that Mizerak, Rempe, Sigel, Varner, and Hopkins were top 9 ball players in their time, even though they all began a 14.1 players.
 
It’s great that you are re enjoying your time at the table.

I don’t think much of The ‘age’ thing as a limitation in billiards. I’m in my mid 60’s and no physical limitations not to play as well as ever, The key is to keep in as good physical shape as possible and lead a healthy lifestyle. I cycle, hike or do something physical everyday...no excuses.

My observation is older top pros lose motivation more so than skills. They just don’t get the needed rush from competition or whatever. It’s a positive that you have an eagerness to get at the table. I’m the same. I usually play about an hour a day, mostly Snooker. Its also good meditation.
 
No doubt that one can play great pool well into their 70s or even, in some cases 80s if you do all the right things physically and are blessed with very good overall health factors. However, competing at a pro level , even in your 60s would be almost impossible - simply because now we are taking about playing several matches a day for multiple days in a row. Beyond a certain age; body and mind just do not have the stamina to continue that grind for several days running; then continue on to the next tournament.

You cannot reasonably expect to just show up an one pro tournament and compete successfully, when everyone else is continually in competition throughout the year. One exception might be 14.1 where , even in pro tournaments today , there is usually only one or two matches a day, and if you are doing well, you are probably out in three or four innings of play.
 
I applaud your efforts, I have shot at home this year more than
ever because of the covid situation, but, have kept in good stroke.
I will admit, even though I feel my stroke is pretty much good, I
am a long way from where I want to be mentally once league and
tournaments may start.
Keep going and hope the time you invested in your new routines pays
off.
 
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