Over practice?

[JrPlayer01]

I found out when i practice alot i get kinda of mad at myself if im doing something roung or even bord....Sometimes when i take a day of or something and come back and play, i shoot better than when iv practiced for 3 stright months 6 hours a day! Is practicing to much a bad thing or can it have a negitive effect on someone?

-Curtis-

 

[ShootingArts]

perfect practice makes perfect

While none of us are perfect when you lose focus and can't regain it you should put down the stick for a few minutes or a day, whatever it takes. Banging balls around isn't practicing.

Hu

I found out when i practice alot i get kinda of mad at myself if im doing something roung or even bord....Sometimes when i take a day of or something and come back and play, i shoot better than when iv practiced for 3 stright months 6 hours a day! Is practicing to much a bad thing or can it have a negitive effect on someone?

-Curtis-

 

[Gregg]

IMHO, it's all about focus. If you shoot yourself out, so to speak, you will be board, and disinterested in practice. I guess this is why some people gamble, to have something on the line to win for.

 

[scottycoyote]

i guess it would depend on the practice but just off the top of my head that sounds like way too much, and an invitation to get bored or frustrated with the game.

 

[TX Poolnut]

I found out when i practice alot i get kinda of mad at myself if im doing something roung or even bord....Sometimes when i take a day of or something and come back and play, i shoot better than when iv practiced for 3 stright months 6 hours a day! Is practicing to much a bad thing or can it have a negitive effect on someone? -Curtis-

Why are you doing something wrong? If you know you're doing something wrong and continue to do the same thing, you feel mad? I guess I don't understand what you're trying to say. Why would you continue to do somethig that you know is wrong?

Doing just about anything too much, pool-related or not, is going to have a negative effect. That's why they call it "too much."

 

[Ronoh]

I found out when i practice alot i get kinda of mad at myself if im doing something roung or even bord....Sometimes when i take a day of or something and come back and play, i shoot better than when iv practiced for 3 stright months 6 hours a day! Is practicing to much a bad thing or can it have a negitive effect on someone?

-Curtis-

I don't want to sound mean, but:

Learn how to spell, so that you can convey your ideas in common english.

I feel for what you're going through. And, you've already taken the first step, to recognize how to look from the outside... in. That part of pool is hard to write in words. i hope you understand.

Your frustration will lead to wins, just don't get comfortable. Most losses are part of the learning process. Luck will only get you so far. Luck = ignorance of opponent, or Luck = "Your ignorance" - "Your Ego".

Get focused, and practice.

A new wave is coming, if anyone is listening.

 

[Billy_Bob]

There are 3 kinds of practice...

Specific shots
Running in several balls - run out practice.
Competitive practice - playing against another person.

If you are bored practicing by yourself, find someone to play against.

Might want to get the new Capelle book called practicing pool for something new to practice. Or Pro Skills Drills.

 

[lewdo26]

We've all been there at times. For me, the only thing that works against frustration is to analyze what I did wrong, and shoot the shot again and again with the necessary corrections. Until I'm satisfied that I mastered it.

That's why simply running balls isn't practice. Never let errors pass you by. They are a great opportunity. Correct them!

 

[Tokyo-dave]

This all depends on what level of a player you are in my opinion. When I was a B player, which meant that I pretty much had my stroke/form locked down but wasn't yet competitive as a tournament player, I found that if I played straight for days on end, that along the way from time to time I would pick up little 'new' habits. And playing non stop meant repeating those 'new' habits over and over again. By taking a two or three day break, I often found that when I had returned, I had stripped myself of those 'new' habits and returned to my original form. I think that once a players body has learned his/her stroke, it becomes a foundation that the body doesn't easily forget. And I believe that constant play for several days at a time can lead to picking up little changes in a players stroke/form, and if caught in time, can easily be shed before the body 'learns' these changes by taking a little break. Like I said though, this opinion concerns a certain level of player. Once a player starts to play competitively either as a pro or a high level house tournament soldier, going a couple of days to a week without hitting a ball can lead losing ones edge.
dave

 

[I rack balls]

Find interesting things to do and mix it up a little. Find a bunch of drills and such. It always seems that no matter how much I have practiced if I watch a pro match I always feel like playing more that day.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I found out when i practice alot i get kinda of mad at myself if im doing something roung or even bord....Sometimes when i take a day of or something and come back and play, i shoot better than when iv practiced for 3 stright months 6 hours a day! Is practicing to much a bad thing or can it have a negitive effect on someone?

-Curtis-

If you find yourself getting frusterated with your self, put the cue down and take a 15-30 minute break. After you come back and if you are still getting annoyed with yourself, leave the pool hall take a day or two off.

I'm currently on a self imposed week off, for the reason you mentioned. To answer your question, practicing too much can certainly burn you out. There is a point when you stop playing pool and start doing pool. The moment it stops being fun is when your play will start deterriate.

 

[PoolFool]

over practicing?

There are 3 kinds of practice...
Specific shots
Running in several balls - run out practice.
Competitive practice - playing against another person.

Banging balls around isn't practicing.

These two guys are absolutely right. If you are truly practicing, you should be able to correct whatever you may be doing wrong within a relatively short time. The thing about practicing, don't just focus on just pocketing the balls, but focus on cue ball control. The better control you have with the cue ball; odds are, the less you'll be stuck making a difficult shot. I know guys that practice near impossible cut shots; I however pop this question on them, "why practice that hard cut shot, what you should be practicing is the shot before it that gave you that position?" If you shot the ball before with better control, you wouldn't have to take that near impossible or difficult shot. Anyway, I don't feel like over practicing is bad for your game, but the wrong kind of practice is bad. In other words Ball Banging=Bad practice.

 

[ShaneT58]

snip.. I know guys that practice near impossible cut shots; I however pop this question on them, "why practice that hard cut shot, what you should be practicing is the shot before it that gave you that position?" If you shot the ball before with better control, you wouldn't have to take that near impossible or difficult shot.

I've seen people say this a lot. The problem is that most games of pool involve at least two people. What about when your opponent leaves you a tough shot like this? Would you rather play safe or know that you have practiced this shot and can make it to run out?

 

[Cameron Smith]

I've seen people say this a lot. The problem is that most games of pool involve at least two people. What about when your opponent leaves you a tough shot like this? Would you rather play safe or know that you have practiced this shot and can make it to run out?

You have to practice both. But Pool Fool is right, I do see some people practicing very tough impossible shots exclusively. What I don't see them practicing are the shots of medium difficulty that come up routinely in their run.

One thing I have noticed with a lot of people is that they are very good at these gimmick trick shots which they practice endlessly. The problem is though how often do these shots come up? And how often is it feasible to attempt the shot in a real game.

Certainly you have to practice every shot that you can, however I would put most of my focus on the shots that I see every game.

 

[renard]

Great posts guys. I would like to add my $.02. Some people have the inate ability to practice for hours on end with no decline in thier focus. I have watched Cory Deuel do just this. Unfortunatly the rest of us mortals cannot keep that same focus for those extended periods of time.

Try this to expand that focus time. Next time you practice pay attention to the exact time you started and the exact time your focus started waning. (As soon as your focus starts waning you should stop.)

Lets say that your practice time was 30 minutes before you quit. After a few practice sessions you will notice an average time frame your focus stays with you. The goal is to increase that 30 minute time to 31 minutes.

You will have to find this within yourself by experimenting with different changes and exercises to expand the envelope. Be very honest with yourself in this and don't cheat. Remember we are sharpening a sword here don't dull it on the rock of ego. Sometimes it just can't be done with some people, if thats you, simply accept your limitations (for the moment.) You soon find the right combination of practice exercises that expand that time frame by small amounts.

It's all a game within a game. Play the game. Both of them....

 

[lewdo26]

Great posts guys. I would like to add my $.02. Some people have the inate ability to practice for hours on end with no decline in thier focus. I have watched Cory Deuel do just this. Unfortunatly the rest of us mortals cannot keep that same focus for those extended periods of time.

Try this to expand that focus time. Next time you practice pay attention to the exact time you started and the exact time your focus started waning. (As soon as your focus starts waning you should stop.)

Lets say that your practice time was 30 minutes before you quit. After a few practice sessions you will notice an average time frame your focus stays with you. The goal is to increase that 30 minute time to 31 minutes.

You will have to find this within yourself by experimenting with different changes and exercises to expand the envelope. Be very honest with yourself in this and don't cheat. Remember we are sharpening a sword here don't dull it on the rock of ego. Sometimes it just can't be done with some people, if thats you, simply accept your limitations (for the moment.) You soon find the right combination of practice exercises that expand that time frame by small amounts.

It's all a game within a game. Play the game. Both of them....

One thing that DEFINETELY helped me keep my focus is scoring my drills (I created a spreadsheet) and planning them *before* I get to the table. Also, the best way to avoid frustration for me is to correct whatever mistake I make immediately. These days, I miss a shot I should make during practice, you can bet a won't leave the poolhall until I can make it 10 in a row. I also practice the mental side by:

1)never letting my eyes leave the table;
2)never allowing myself to complain or get discouraged when I make a mistake;

My practice has improved 100% because of these changes, and it's actually more enjoyable as well.

P.S. Another problem I used to have focusing was trying to work on too many things in one practice session. These days I always do no more than three: warm up/fundamentals drills; whatever weakness I might be working on; and a playing drill (the ghost, Q-Skills, etc.). That way I'm able to go for at least 3 hours w/o a wane in my focus.

 

[renard]

One thing that DEFINETELY helped me keep my focus is scoring my drills (I created a spreadsheet) and planning them *before* I get to the table. Also, the best way to avoid frustration for me is to correct whatever mistake I make immediately. These days, I miss a shot I should make during practice, you can bet a won't leave the poolhall until I can make it 10 in a row. I also practice the mental side by:

1)never letting my eyes leave the table;
2)never allowing myself to complain or get discouraged when I make a mistake;

My practice has improved 100% because of these changes, and it's actually more enjoyable as well.

P.S. Another problem I used to have focusing was trying to work on too many things in one practice session. These days I always do no more than three: warm up/fundamentals drills; whatever weakness I might be working on; and a playing drill (the ghost, Q-Skills, etc.). That way I'm able to go for at least 3 hours w/o a wane in my focus.

This is good stuff your posting Lewdo. You have a great breakdown of just how a structured practice should be. My list has too many things on it to accomplish in one session and I cross off what I have done. Those items I have not done are attempted the next session.

It used to be that with my practices I somtimes would want to put 15 pounds of shit in a 10 pound bag. (My list is pretty big and the repetitions long.) I have since then (like you) shortened them up quite a bit. My mind just loses the motivation to continue at a certain point in the session. I don't push that issue and I move on to what motivates me at the time. My motivation to continue at that given time is usually playing straight pool nowdays and thats how I finish my sessions.

I also like your work on the mental side as that would really keep a positive spin on the whole process.

 

[Harvywallbanger]

Didn't Willie Masconni once say that he practiced an hour a day and no more because after that first hour his mind wasn't as focused as it should be. Now I know that he played pool for much more than an hour a day competitively sometimes but as far as him practicing by himself I think he said this. Can anyone acknowledge this?

 

[TheConArtist]

I found out when i practice alot i get kinda of mad at myself if im doing something roung or even bord....Sometimes when i take a day of or something and come back and play, i shoot better than when iv practiced for 3 stright months 6 hours a day! Is practicing to much a bad thing or can it have a negitive effect on someone?

-Curtis-

sorry if someone already said this didn't read the whole thread but people tend to lose their concentration and focus on long periods of time but it differs from person to person so when i practice for like thirty minutes my minds starts to wonder off so what i do is change up on my drills this way i don't lose my focus and concentration and get bored. When practicing practice with a purpose and with a good habit not a bad habit, cause practice makes permanent