Playing speed less than practice speed?

j_zippel

j_zippel

Big Tuna
Silver Member
So, about an hour into a practice session at home let's say on average I can break and run 3 out of 10 nine ball racks and 4 out of 10 eight ball racks... When I head to league it gets cut in half on a good night and some nights not a single runout.

Wondering if any others seem to forget the little routine you develop when practicing when a match goes down? Note: I'm a 6/7 SL sometimes

Also - I do have nights maybe once a month I can put a two or a three pack together so it's not everytme
 
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dropped speed

I don't know what league you play in but where we play in Austin isn't conducive to playing your best. Waitresses that run through your line of sight. 3s and 4s more worried about their drink orders or telling you how they either did or didn't get out of rack a,b or c while you are trying to concentrate. It isn't like home where you can gather your thoughts. Tourneys are a better gauge of your speed in my opinion.
 
Breaking and running 30-40% of the time on average is pro level. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself if you aren't managing that in competitive play.
 
PoolBum said:
Practice speed is almost always better than competition speed.
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I think the opposite is true. The competition gives you that extra something that brings focus to a level that is hard to maintain in practice.

If someone consistently practices better thwn they play then their mental game can use some work imo.
 
I know everyone says to practice how you play, but for me... I don't. If there's a tough shot or a BS safe choice in practice, I try the shot. I push myself in practice to see where my limits are, and I end up in dead stroke for my level of play. With no consequences for missing hanging over the shots, it's easier to think clearly and focus on the right things.
It all goes to shit when I match up. Play one bad shot instead of a safe and the doubt hangs over all of the subsequent decisions.
 
j_zippel said:
So, about an hour into a practice session at home let's say on average I can break and run 3 out of 10 nine ball racks and 4 out of 10 eight ball racks... When I head to league it gets cut in half on a good night and some nights not a single runout.

Wondering if any others seem to forget the little routine you develop when practicing when a match goes down? Note: I'm a 6/7 SL sometimes

Also - I do have nights maybe once a month I can put a two or a three pack together so it's not everytme
Click to expand...

If you are a 6/7 in APA then there is no way in hell you can run racks that consistently. I think you're not accurately documenting how well you practice. Most APA 6/7 can't even consistently beat the 5 ball ghost.
 
ktrepal85 said:
If you are a 6/7 in APA then there is no way in hell you can run racks that consistently. I think you're not accurately documenting how well you practice. Most APA 6/7 can't even consistently beat the 5 ball ghost.
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6/7 is my 8 ball SL. Our league plays on 9 foot gold crowns, 4 1/2" pockets, Andy cloth and aramith pro balls. At home I play on a 8' coin op, pockets are over 4.75" , slow worsted cloth.. Etc.

I'm not sure where you play, but the majority of 7's we have here play pretty strong. Strong enough to make a joke of the 5 ball ghost..

I'm talking about TAP handicap. Typically your one skill level less than APA, there are several 5's in tap that play as APA 7's around here.. M
 
j_zippel said:
So, about an hour into a practice session at home let's say on average I can break and run 3 out of 10 nine ball racks and 4 out of 10 eight ball racks... When I head to league it gets cut in half on a good night and some nights not a single runout.

Wondering if any others seem to forget the little routine you develop when practicing when a match goes down? Note: I'm a 6/7 SL sometimes

Also - I do have nights maybe once a month I can put a two or a three pack together so it's not everytme
Click to expand...
You do things at home you would not do in a real match. You may shoot a flyer practicing and get out you would not shoot if it mattered. You may play safe in a real game.

I used to like to play straight pool and when I would practice if I got in trouble I would try to do what I would do for real, often ending the run. I could easily shoot some goofy bank or something and if I got lucky run another bunch of balls but I would be kidding myself.
 
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PoolBum said:
Practice speed is almost always better than competition speed.
Click to expand...

I'm just the opposite and I've often wondered why as I don't think I've consciously tried to be that way.

When I practice, I am very conscious of my movements and am trying to improve whatever part of my shot that needs it. So, I am focusing on fundamentals mostly, not on how to win so much. But when competing, I forget the fundamentals mostly and ALLOW MYSELF to play pool. I don't force anything, if that makes sense.

The other night one of my buds was over to practice. After an hour or so, he says, "Let's race to 5 and call it a night." I then proceeded to kick his ass and I shot much better than I had just been doing. He commented, "What, did I piss you off or something?" I said, "No, I have just learned how to play better when I compete than when I practice, like we have been earlier."

Maybe I'm just lucky to be that way? I'm thinking it came about because another bud and I used to gamble for beers for years with tears and fears. Not sure, but maybe that can help?

Jeff Livingston
 
(((Satori))) said:
I think the opposite is true. The competition gives you that extra something that brings focus to a level that is hard to maintain in practice.

If someone consistently practices better thwn they play then their mental game can use some work imo.
Click to expand...

I've posted this technique before and it helps, I think, to play better than when practicing:

When I practice 8-ball and miss, I do not take my "opponent's" shots afterwards. I instead pretend I'm at league and I walk back towards my seat and pretend my teammates are giving me crap about my miss, etc. I stand there as I would in league, feel the pain of missing and losing, and pretend that my opponent is running out on me. I "watch" him do that in my mind and take the time to allow him to run out the table. I then rack the balls, as I've lost the game.

This seems to imitate competitive play somewhat and, if not overused, keeps me more focused on winning the game and not so much on consciously going through my fundamentals.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston
 
(((Satori))) said:
I think the opposite is true. The competition gives you that extra something that brings focus to a level that is hard to maintain in practice.

If someone consistently practices better thwn they play then their mental game can use some work imo.
Click to expand...

What he said.

Some people just have performance problems in a competitive setting. You've got to fight like hell when you need to. If you start missing more and making bad decisions, it'll eat you up. I may like a freewheeling practice/fun game, but i tighten the reigns in a match.
 
chefjeff said:
I've posted this technique before and it helps, I think, to play better than when practicing:

When I practice 8-ball and miss, I do not take my "opponent's" shots afterwards. I instead pretend I'm at league and I walk back towards my seat and pretend my teammates are giving me crap about my miss, etc. I stand there as I would in league, feel the pain of missing and losing, and pretend that my opponent is running out on me. I "watch" him do that in my mind and take the time to allow him to run out the table. I then rack the balls, as I've lost the game.

This seems to imitate competitive play somewhat and, if not overused, keeps me more focused on winning the game and not so much on consciously going through my fundamentals.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...

Hahaha, you're kidding, right?!?
 
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