Practicing 6 Hours A Day
- Thread starter DrCue'sProtege
- Start date
DCP,
IMO, you've done plenty of "practicing." You now need to compete with other players to see how much you've learned and what you still need to work on. So find yourself a pool hall that's safe to play at or invite someone over to your house to play.
IMO, you've done plenty of "practicing." You now need to compete with other players to see how much you've learned and what you still need to work on. So find yourself a pool hall that's safe to play at or invite someone over to your house to play.
Seriously man...all the practice in the world isn't going to get you there until you start playing under pressure! Whether it be tournaments or gambling or something...shooting these shots over and over with no pressure isn't the same. Unless of course you have some magical switch that allows you to play the same no matter what the circumstancesDrCue'sProtege said:
...cutting a ball that isn't frozen down the side rail with high inside english at warp speed while frozen to the end rail and trying to go three rails for a 4in diameter spot to get shape on your crucial out ball to win the set in a hill/hill match for the cash is a hell of a lot harder when your back arm has tightened up, you've blown a four game lead in a race to 9 so your confidence is shaken along with everybody watching and your nads have shrunk to the size of BB's! This is where bear down and heart really come in to play and you just can't recreate that feeling in a practice envirionment.As a side note though, I do feel that playing in team or partners tournaments is the most pressure I have ever felt. The fear of letting my partner or team mates down far outways any fear I've ever felt when gambling or playing in a singles tournament. I've heard similar accounts from the mosconi team cup players and the pressure they feel when playing for their country.
nineballman said:I think this is only partialy true. Most people must do drills before they can make that shot....especially under competition. When I was 15 and learning to play, I didn't have anywhere to go for competition, but when I did start competing I was able to beat everyone in my high school and anyone my age.....too bad that didn't last!
I practice
-breaking 10 racks per day.
-long table straight draw shots 10 per day.
-four and six ball runs 20 per day.
I should have clarified. Focused practice is 50% - but another very important 50% is hard competition. In your garage you're not getting locked up behind the 6 ball, in a hill-hill race to 5 for $100. You need to think through, and get through experiences like that to improve! Just my .02 cents - but....it's RIGHT!
bomber said:I have an idea...you live in sw indiana...head on up here to Louisville and head down to Oliver's Billiards...you can get action with me and the rest of the town im sure. Bring plenty of cash. I will only play one pocket and I am just a banger at best, but I can put you on some 9 ball, 8 ball, or banks as well. Don't forget to bring plenty of cash. I promise you will learn something about the game.
Practicing in your garage will do nothing until you compete. Put yourself in action or at least in a game with someone else. Spider said it best...COMPETE.
Bingo..give this man a reward.
DrCue'sProtege said:
How about nobody tell you ANYTHING....because you don't want to hear what we're telling you.
You want a magic formula and there is NONE! Get out there, post up, and PLAY, PLAY, PLAY. That will improve you 10 times faster than mother drills or whatever the hell else you're doing.
l think both practice and play are important to developing your game, kind of like some of the posts here are saying, including the quotes of randyg.........i think youre getting too much practice right now and not enough playing (playing others, either for fun or money).
some of you guys act like that its nothing to go out and lose a few hundred dollars playing??? i dont know about the rest of ya's, but if i lost $50 playing i'd about have a cow...........
DCP
DCP
You don't have to bet big...if 5 dollars a game is a lot to you, then you'll feel the pressure and I'm sure someone will take you up on the offer.DrCue'sProtege said:some of you guys act like that its nothing to go out and lose a few hundred dollars playing??? i dont know about the rest of ya's, but if i lost $50 playing i'd about have a cow...........
DCP
You can also play cheap entry fee tournaments...you know what you're in for, expense wise, from "go" and you won't be out much more for the day with the possible exception of food and drink.
I've gotta figure you probably spend this much on table time alone just practicing.
DCP,
You've got to listen to these people....pool practicing and pool playing are 2 totally separate animals.
Elvicash and I just had another re-match yesterday. We discussed before the match how vitally important it is to learn how to compete (elvicash has spent some serious time travelling with a famous roadie). When you practice, you get to shoot until you get tired, or get a call from the hottie down at the Quickie Mart. When you play, you must get out of the chair, bring your very best stroke with you for the first shot, then sit down for a while if you miss. Very different.
Competing against friends is okay; but you HAVE to be serious. If I'm playing elvicash or steev or eales; I love to socialize, but I'm trying to WIN. Competing in a league (with AND without a team) is a tremendous boost to your game. Competing for money also is a boost.
A combination of practice (surely 1 to 2 hours of PROPER practice is sufficient), and LOTS of competition is the ticket. Everytime I go to Mark Wilson's place or play one of those marathon league tournaments; and play for 12 hours straight, my game improves. Whenever I play these long sessions, I always feel a jump in my game after 4 or 5 hours. I do NOT get that feeling from practicing that period of time.
If you are going to practice that long; it should only be done on the advice of Scott; and with his guidance. You need a mentor of the sort I've discussed in a previous thread.
You've got to listen to these people....pool practicing and pool playing are 2 totally separate animals.
Elvicash and I just had another re-match yesterday. We discussed before the match how vitally important it is to learn how to compete (elvicash has spent some serious time travelling with a famous roadie). When you practice, you get to shoot until you get tired, or get a call from the hottie down at the Quickie Mart. When you play, you must get out of the chair, bring your very best stroke with you for the first shot, then sit down for a while if you miss. Very different.
Competing against friends is okay; but you HAVE to be serious. If I'm playing elvicash or steev or eales; I love to socialize, but I'm trying to WIN. Competing in a league (with AND without a team) is a tremendous boost to your game. Competing for money also is a boost.
A combination of practice (surely 1 to 2 hours of PROPER practice is sufficient), and LOTS of competition is the ticket. Everytime I go to Mark Wilson's place or play one of those marathon league tournaments; and play for 12 hours straight, my game improves. Whenever I play these long sessions, I always feel a jump in my game after 4 or 5 hours. I do NOT get that feeling from practicing that period of time.
If you are going to practice that long; it should only be done on the advice of Scott; and with his guidance. You need a mentor of the sort I've discussed in a previous thread.
DrCue'sProtege said:some of you guys act like that its nothing to go out and lose a few hundred dollars playing??? i dont know about the rest of ya's, but if i lost $50 playing i'd about have a cow...........
DCP
youre sposed to win
