practice and boredom

leehayes

leehayes

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm sure it's been brought up but I couldn't find where.

What methods can any of you offer to avoid boredom during practice. There are days when I enjoy practice but other days that it just seems so monotonous.
I am aware that practice using things as drills and such is much more beneficial to my skill than playing so I try to practice about an hour a day but some days it seems so hard.
Any input is appreciated.
 
Going through the same thing, but I know the time I've spent practicing has really helped on league night. I'm using Joe Tuckers aiming system and seeing results.

Bowliards? Sounds interesting. I have a 207 average on the lanes, but my bowling balls would do serious damage to my Olhausen ....:cool:

Mike

Found this on another post. Have to check it out.

sde said:
I found these rules, here. http://www.billiardsdigest.com/ccboard/printthread.php?Board=ccb&main=141107&type=post

Rules for BOWLLIARDS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.

TYPE OF GAME
Bowlliards is a game that applies the scoring concepts of bowling to pocket billiards. It is one of the few games that can be quite interesting as a solitary exercise since, like bowling, there is a perfect game score to strive toward, and a player can measure his improvement quite easily over the course of time playing Bowlliards.
PLAYERS
Any number of people (for reasonable completion times figure four to six individuals).
BALLS USED
Any ten object balls, plus cue ball.
THE RACK
Standard rack position (front apex ball on foot spot), using 1-2-3-4 rack configuration.
OBJECT OF THE GAME
To score a perfect score of 300 points in 10 frames (innings) in solitary play. In competition, to score a higher point total in 10 innings than opponent(s).
SCORING
Each legally pocketed ball is scored as one point, regardless of ball number. The points scored as per the "Rules of Play" below are treated exactly as is the pinfall in bowling.
OPENING BREAK
At the start of a player's inning (frame), he has a free break (no special balls-to-cushion or other requirements once break stroke play commences, and a jumped or scratched cue ball is without penalty). Any balls pocketed on the break are spotted, and the player then follows his break by beginning scoring play with object balls in position and cue ball in hand behind the head string. (The opening break takes place at the start of every inning [frame].)
RULES OF PLAY
A legally pocketed ball entitles the shooter to continue at the table until he fails to pocket a called ball on a shot, or until he has scored the maximum total per inning possible (10). Player may shoot any ball he chooses, but before he shoots, must designate a single ball that he will pocket and the pocket into which the ball will score; he need not indicate kisses, caroms, combinations or cushions (none of which are illegal).
Player has two chances to pocket the 10 possible balls of each frame. If player legally pockets ten consecutive balls on his first chance of a frame, that frame is completed and player scores the frame exactly as a strike in bowling. If player fails to pocket 10 consecutive balls on his first chance, he takes his second chance immediately. If he succeeds in legally pocketing the remaining balls on the table, the frame is completed and player scores exactly as a spare in bowling. If player fails to legally pocket all ten balls in two chances, the frame is then completed and is scored as an open frame in bowling. All succeeding frames are likewise scored just as in bowling; a "strike" in the tenth inning earns two extra shots, a "spare" one extra shot.

If players tie for high game total in competition, additional innings are played alternately by the tied players, with the first player posting a superior score to that of his opponent(s) being the winner ("sudden death").

ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS
On the break, illegally pocketed balls are spotted prior to the player beginning his scoring play (first chance of frame). During scoring play, illegally pocketed balls are spotted.
JUMPED OBJECT BALLS
All spotted; no penalty.
CUE BALL AFTER JUMP OR SCRATCH
Only applies if occurring as player's first foul of a frame: player has cue ball in hand behind the head string to begin his second chance of the frame.
PENALTY FOR FOULS
One point is deducted form the offender's score for each foul. If foul ends player's first chance of a frame, he has cue ball in hand behind the head string to begin his second chance of the frame.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These rules are used by Billy Aardd's Club, NMIMT, Socorro, NM.
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Practice and Boredom

leehayes said:
What methods can any of you offer to avoid boredom during practice. There are days when I enjoy practice but other days that it just seems so monotonous..
Click to expand...

I hear you! My boredom threshold is far too low for drills even though I know that these are the most effective method of practice. The way I figure it, the beneficial value of a drill is zero if I don't do it.

The best practice I have come up with is a version of playing the ghost. In this version, if you miss anything (including getting badly out of shape), you repeat a few times the shot you have messed up, and then rack up the balls again.

This ensures that you have plenty of variety and you get to practice the shots you need to - the ones you miss. If you are an 8 or 9 ball player, it also makes sure you practice the most important shot (the break).

If you find that you are having difficulty with one of the shots you are practicing between racks (eg you miss it more than, say, once in 5 attempts), then practice a slightly easier version of it. Make a mental note of it and try it again the next day.

Practice has to be enjoyable. If you find that it isn't, then IMHO you should stop and find something more fun to do. Life is just far too short to do anything else.:smile:
 
Sounds like you need a break.
Do something else with your time instead of playing pool. Sometimes your brain needs it!
Don't even think about playing during that time.

I practice every day, at least 2 hours a day, but every once in a while, I get bored or frustrated, and I'll take a break for a week.
Trust me. By the end of the week, you will want to play so bad you can taste it! And it makes it more fun to play.
I know it's difficult to stop; especially for me because I have an addiction to playing.

Think about this:
Playing bored=Not having fun=Not playing you're best.
 
The trouble for me is that I get tired of just playing by myself. Also, by the time I am able to practice, it is usually pretty late, so fatigue plays a role. Sometimes I just end up banging the balls around instead of practicing.
 
mantis99 said:
The trouble for me is that I get tired of just playing by myself. Also, by the time I am able to practice, it is usually pretty late, so fatigue plays a role. Sometimes I just end up banging the balls around instead of practicing.
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BINGO! Hit my nail right on the head :bash:
 
There are players who never practice, but are definitely hard to beat. They are what I deem as a natural. If you are NOT a natural, you will have to teach yourself to play well.

This requires the gaining of knowledge & learning the application of that knowledge. You can take a simple Drill & turn it into a complex, hard to do drill. Use your imagination. Take the "L" Drill for example. Can you do the "L" Drill perfect, 5 out of 5 times trying? Instead of just lining up on the object ball & hitting the foot rail with the cue ball & back out, for position on the next ball in line, try going to the head rail, too, & back down for position. That one shot will keep you busy.

Do you ever keep records of how well you complete your drills? Are you bored, because the drill is impossible for you to finish out 100% or is it too easy???

Both of these scenarios face you everyday in different parts of your life. Have you ever paid attention to the phrase "spend your life"? If you keep breathing, then you are spending your life.

Want to make something out of yourself & enjoy your life to the highest degree possible, then get into life with both boots. Do everything you do, as good as you can possibly do.

At first, you will have to focus, to even do this. You will even have to lower your goals, just to make it through the day. As your attention span gets longer & more focused, this kind of life will become second nature to you. Your goals will become part of everyday accomplishments.

Nothing ever comes free for the masses except losing. To rise above the the maddening crowd, requires work & tenacity.

Good Luck...
 
ceebee said:
There are players who never practice, but are definitely hard to beat. They are what I deem as a natural. If you are NOT a natural, you will have to teach yourself to play well.

This requires the gaining of knowledge & learning the application of that knowledge. You can take a simple Drill & turn it into a complex, hard to do drill. Use your imagination. Take the "L" Drill for example. Can you do the "L" Drill perfect, 5 out of 5 times trying? Instead of just lining up on the object ball & hitting the foot rail with the cue ball & back out, for position on the next ball in line, try going to the head rail, too, & back down for position. That one shot will keep you busy.

Do you ever keep records of how well you complete your drills? Are you bored, because the drill is impossible for you to finish out 100% or is it too easy???

Both of these scenarios face you everyday in different parts of your life. Have you ever paid attention to the phrase "spend your life"? If you keep breathing, then you are spending your life.

Want to make something out of yourself & enjoy your life to the highest degree possible, then get into life with both boots. Do everything you do, as good as you can possibly do.

At first, you will have to focus, to even do this. You will even have to lower your goals, just to make it through the day. As your attention span gets longer & more focused, this kind of life will become second nature to you. Your goals will become part of everyday accomplishments.

Nothing ever comes free for the masses except losing. To rise above the the maddening crowd, requires work & tenacity.

Good Luck...
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There is a lot of wisdom in every paragragh here. Nice post :thumbup:
 
Playing the ghost is not practice...it is PLAYING. Playing and practice are two different mindsets. Practice, in order to have any real applied value, must have these elements: 1) it must have an achievable goal; 2) there has to be a measurable result (we can't fix what we don't know about; we can't fix what we can't measure; and most important, you can only fix one thing at a time); 3) it can't be too easy or too hard; and 4) it can't take too long (because we humans, by nature, have a short attention span).

To the OP...Try practicing specific things, with very focused attention to detail, for a few minutes at a time (5-10 min.). Then take a break for a few minutes. Then return to something else for a few minutes, and take another break. Focused practice like this will reward you much better than trying to force yourself to "stay at it" for 1 hour, two hours, or whatever.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Siz said:
The best practice I have come up with is a version of playing the ghost. In this version, if you miss anything (including getting badly out of shape), you repeat a few times the shot you have messed up, and then rack up the balls again.
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practice & play

Scott Lee said:
Playing the ghost is not practice...it is PLAYING. Playing and practice are two different mindsets.
Click to expand...

Scott,

I have no doubt that you are right on this. The way of practising that you have suggested is the best. If the player can motivate himself to do it.

Regarding my routine, let me explain: The practice bit is what you do IN BETWEEN racks of playing the ghost. What you get is in effect a series of very short practice sessions interspersed with very short periods of play.

This has all the criteria you have prescribed except that it does not concentrate on one thing only. If you are able to do a drill that concentrates on one thing alone, then I agree that is ideal. (And this general learning principle has been demonstrated by psychologists in a number of tests.)

However for me, even the thought of spending 5 - 10 minutes doing a repetitive drill makes me depressed! :frown: So while I accept that in theory a repetitive drill is the most beneficial, as I said earlier, the beneficial value of a drill that is not done is zero. Hence my 'practice / play' routine.

Works for me anyway :D
 
Here's another vote for record keeping. It will help keep you focused on your performance and once you have your score you have a record to beat. Once you start seeing your performance increases in black and white you'll be much more likely to spend more time practicing rather than playing.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I got the distinct impression from you that you"know" you'll improve faster with practice, but that deep down you don't really believe it. If you did, and you were at all serious about improvement, which you seem to be or why are you here, then you would make the effort.

Keeping records can help you to get past this skepticism.
 
why are you practicing?

leehayes said:
I'm sure it's been brought up but I couldn't find where.

What methods can any of you offer to avoid boredom during practice. There are days when I enjoy practice but other days that it just seems so monotonous.
I am aware that practice using things as drills and such is much more beneficial to my skill than playing so I try to practice about an hour a day but some days it seems so hard.
Any input is appreciated.
Click to expand...


Lee,

It doesn't matter what method of practice you use, you need some short term motivation to practice. Practicing "to get better" isn't a short term goal to focus on. Practicing to win Saturday is. If I am planning to compete very soon or play a money match with someone I don't care for I can practice intensely for hours, all of the science be damned. Other times my practice is up and down. I have to find a short term motivation for it to be effective. You might be able to focus on one thing for a few minutes or a few hours. It doesn't matter, when you find yourself not paying attention to what you are doing, stop, maybe take a break, and change up. If you don't have real short term goals, set some and make them important to yourself.

Also, I have to make a comment about practicing tired. You are going to have to play when you are tired if you shoot tournaments or get into long matches at the hall. You are going to get your butt handed to you if you are breaking new ground when you do it. Nothing at all wrong with practicing tired and learning to deal with it. Many have to deal with pain also. Better to practice with it within reason too, you are going to have to deal with it when you compete.

Make your practice as real as possible. It does little good to practice in an ivory tower if you are going to compete in the real world. Drills are part of practice but so is playing the ghost. Playing the ghost, straight pool, or yourself one pocket puts you in real world playing conditions and applies a little real world pressure. If you would play safe on a shot in competition focus on playing the best safe you can except when playing the ghost. Then try to figure a way out of the great safe you just played. If you like you can even gamble with yourself. Reach your goals or no brew or dessert this evening, something that you will actually miss even if it is minor.

To summarize everything I have said, find ways to make practice interesting for yourself. All else will follow.

Hu
 
leehayes said:
I'm sure it's been brought up but I couldn't find where.

What methods can any of you offer to avoid boredom during practice. There are days when I enjoy practice but other days that it just seems so monotonous.
I am aware that practice using things as drills and such is much more beneficial to my skill than playing so I try to practice about an hour a day but some days it seems so hard.
Any input is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Sometimes it's good to get away from the routine and take a break and you can come back better than ever...:smile:
 
Write down multiple goals

Neil said:
One thing I would add is to think a little about what you are going to do before you start doing it. If your table is at home, spend a few minutes thinking about what you are going to practice, and why. If at the pool hall, you can think on the way there.

Just don't go- "well, I really should practice, so here I am." And then start shooting balls. Get your head into it first. If you don't, you won't learn as much, and aren't likely to have any fun doing it.

...

Not mentally preparing myself before I got there, I ended up spending way too much energy just trying to keep my cool, and not nearly enough to be able to beat him. He ended up getting all his money back. And all just because I wasn't mentally prepared for what I was going to do. I 'expected' my game to be there, instead of mentally 'bringing' my game there.
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Couldn't agree more. I recall that another forum member made a similarly valuable post a while back, inspired by his previous experience of training power lifting.

I have found that when doing the preparation (and I recommend writing down what you are trying to achieve), it also helps to have muliple goals. That way, if you find that something you were intending to practice is not going very well, you can switch focus to one of the other pre-planned activities.

If you get good at this goal planning and goal switching, you can make sure that whatever happens, you come out of your practice session feeling that you have achieved something! :thumbup:
 
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