Is there such thing as TOO much practicing?

[Maniac]

I do believe there is such a thing as too much practice.

Not in every facet of life. For instance, a man and his lovely wife are planning on having a baby in future years. You CANNOT, imo, practice to much for this !!!

O.k., o.k., I understand that this was about practicing pool. I believe that this is an individual thing, that only YOU can determine how much you need to practice.

Maniac

 

[CrownCityCorey]

I have an interesting question that I have been wondering about for a while. I was wondering if there is a point at which you are practicing too much pool. (i.e. not shooting with anyone, drills, specific shots, rotation, etc.)

I was talking this over with my friend Tin Man, and he had some interesting thoughts on the subject.... He basically said that as long as you are having fun and your attitude doesn't turn sour towards the game then no there is no such thing as too much practice.

I agree to a point with this. I think that, yes if you have a great attitude toward pool then you can practice all you want but I would think that it would wear on your mentally.

For example, I've been playing pool for around 1 year and 7 months, am probably a solid "B" player and have been putting, on average, about 40 to 50 hours a week in at the pool hall I work at (playing pool not working ). I know thats a lot of hours but I really love this game. Recently I have been feeling a little worn out but I still want to go down and shoot pool. When I'm practicing I will shoot alone unless Tin Man shows up or unless someone comes in looking for real cheap action.

Keep in mind that while I'm at the pool hall I'm not constantly at the table every second shooting. I'm BSing with friends or grabbing something to eat. That being said.......

I'm wondering if practicing this much is going to hurt my game in the long run? Is it just making things harder for me to pick up on things I'm doing wrong? Down the road will I actually have anything to show for it? And is practicing this much a week really going to improve my game "THE WAY I THINK IT SHOULD?" Does anyone have any suggestions on what I might want to do differently?

Thank you in advance.

Just like body building, growth only happens during recovery. Take a few days off here and there. Maybe even a solid week vacation.

You'd be amazed what you start figuring out once you step away from the table. Especially after the immersion you have been in.

 

[Bobalicious]

Thanks Very Much Everyone!

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and all of the ideas that could help me with improving my game. I guess my next step is to hit the tables and try playing more disciplined pool and not this half-a**ed crap that I have a tendency to do.

Again, thank you everyone!

 

[JoeyA]

One thing that will put a spark back into your game is to find something in your game that is weak, you know something that is holding your game from jumping to that next level.

Decide that you are going to face that inadequacy and seek outside help for that particular problem. Don't seek out someone that you see regularly.

I suggest that it be someone new to you but someone who is familiar with high level coaching or high level instructional teaching even though there are pearls of wisdom at your arm's length. You should respect the one who's knowledge you are seeking. (You will not learn as well from those whom you do not respect.)

You can even do it over the Internet or perhaps the telephone, even right here on AZ Billiards.

Read, listen and learn everything you can about your weakness and make that weakness become your greatest strength.

Just don't forget to compensate the teachers for what you learn and to appreciate those that helped you get over your next hurdle.

For the most part, cueing excellence is a solitary endeavor but there are LIGHTHOUSES with guiding lights practically everywhere.

It sounds like you already have a VERY solid base and have progressed remarkably fast. Don't sweat the number of hours right now. One day you will not be able to play those number of hours for one reason or another. This is your finest learning hour.

Good luck to you.
JoeyA

 

[softshot]

I have an interesting question that I have been wondering about for a while. I was wondering if there is a point at which you are practicing too much pool. (i.e. not shooting with anyone, drills, specific shots, rotation, etc.)

I was talking this over with my friend Tin Man, and he had some interesting thoughts on the subject.... He basically said that as long as you are having fun and your attitude doesn't turn sour towards the game then no there is no such thing as too much practice.

I agree to a point with this. I think that, yes if you have a great attitude toward pool then you can practice all you want but I would think that it would wear on your mentally.

For example, I've been playing pool for around 1 year and 7 months, am probably a solid "B" player and have been putting, on average, about 40 to 50 hours a week in at the pool hall I work at (playing pool not working ). I know thats a lot of hours but I really love this game. Recently I have been feeling a little worn out but I still want to go down and shoot pool. When I'm practicing I will shoot alone unless Tin Man shows up or unless someone comes in looking for real cheap action.

Keep in mind that while I'm at the pool hall I'm not constantly at the table every second shooting. I'm BSing with friends or grabbing something to eat. That being said.......

I'm wondering if practicing this much is going to hurt my game in the long run? Is it just making things harder for me to pick up on things I'm doing wrong? Down the road will I actually have anything to show for it? And is practicing this much a week really going to improve my game "THE WAY I THINK IT SHOULD?" Does anyone have any suggestions on what I might want to do differently?

Thank you in advance.

I play vastly more pool than anyone I know in my day to day life..30-40 hours per week of me on the table practicing or playing....and over the years I have forced myself to have a "no pool day" once a week.. my day is Tuesday btw...

I find it helps... I don't read the forum, I don't shoot, I don't do anything pool related...

I believe it lets you digest what you have been working on in practice... I also find a day off to be the best slump buster of them all... if you are playing constantly and hit a wall it can be hard to shoot through that and tension builds .. and you shoot even worse because of it... at least thats how it is for me..

 

[enzo]

i say if you wanna improve, forget all this posting crapola and get in da PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITT. no bad player will ever listen but its really the only sound advice.