Stamina at pool

uwate

uwate

daydreaming about pool
Silver Member
Yesterday I played 8.5 hrs of pool. I was matched up playing some 6 ahead sessions. It was the most pool I played in one day in probably 3 years and man, am I feeling it today. Sore back, sore legs, sore shoulder, the works. What a lil woosy I am. I remember when I use to play all day every day and never felt a bit like I do today.

How do you all keep in shape to play? After about 3 hrs yesterday my back started hurting. By hr 6 I had a minor cramp in my calf. By hr 8 I was also getting cramps in my forearm of my shooting arm. What can you do to relieve cramps? esp if your in a match like an ahead session, what do you do?
 
Back in the 60's and 70's, I hung out in a 24/7 room and got into some 30-40 hour straight sessions. I was young but after one of these marathons, I could barely walk. I did like everyone else and just "pilled up" and toughed it out until some old railbird who was an ex-3C terror, told me to swim to keep my muscles toned up but not muscled up. I tried it and it worked like a champ. Just make sure you wear goggles or the chlorine will screw up your vision some. Start a modest swimming regimen, and you'll have enough stamina to do back-flips after you take down the cash.
 
Exercise in general will probably help. Swimming would be good. But you can also do little stuff around the house at times, if you don't have the time/inclination to hit a gym, etc. - just drop down and do twenty push-ups, or do some crunches (sit-ups), yadda yadda. Anything to improve muscle tone, even in the slightest.

That almost begs a separate thread - "Good exercises for pool". I'd have to wonder how many posts it'd get - no offense guys, but most pool players I've seen aren't exactly "Mr. Healthy Living" :D

Now me, I cycle (road and mountain), snowboard, occasionally hike up to the top of a 14,000 foot summit (well, from about 11,000 ft, but still :D). But I don't think I could tough out eight hours of pool, due to a) mental issues (I'd get antsy or lose focus) and b) I've got flat feet and I'd really need to get more appropriate shoes to be on my feet that long, methinks.
 
I haven't played a marathon match in a while, but lately I've discovered that I run out of steam after I get to the finals of a weekly tourney...:p

I find that stretching in between matches helps out and keeps me relaxed...anything cardiovascular will be of a help in the stamina dept.
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Stamina ...

I feel my stamina wavering some lately, but I am 58 (just barely ... lol).

Back when I wrestled in High School, we took salt tablets, and drank lots
of orange joice. Salt will help prevent cramps.

Keeping in shape is important in Pool, not just being young. When I match up and am playing someone not in shape, I know sooner or later, they are going to start making mistakes, or their break will fall off.

If you think of Pool as a sport, and yourself as an athlete, you will pay
more attention to keeping in shape, diet, and a clear head when playing.

And NO SEX the night before a BIG tournament ..... lol
 
thanks for the input guys. Light cardio work is what I think I need to start with, plus some stretching would help too.

Last night I began thinking about how I could really be in a bad spot if those cramps got much worse. I might even have to quit and payoff that last session. The guy I was playing is a great guy to play, he bets good, doesnt shark, gives good racks and is overall a gentleman to play. Despite that, I think if I had been forced to retire from the ahead session, I likely would have paid off.

Has anyone been in a money match that they were physically unable to continue? How did it work out for you?
 
Snapshot9 said:
And NO SEX the night before a BIG tournament ..... lol
Click to expand...

CANT believe u said that!!! :mad: U have to have sex before a BIG tournament. It helps u relax, take down the stress, release the 'HARD' muscles. But it has to be a quicky, no foreplay of afterplay. Just doing the job right, good and quick. :cool:
 
uwate said:
Yesterday I played 8.5 hrs of pool. I was matched up playing some 6 ahead sessions. It was the most pool I played in one day in probably 3 years and man, am I feeling it today. Sore back, sore legs, sore shoulder, the works. What a lil woosy I am. I remember when I use to play all day every day and never felt a bit like I do today.

How do you all keep in shape to play? After about 3 hrs yesterday my back started hurting. By hr 6 I had a minor cramp in my calf. By hr 8 I was also getting cramps in my forearm of my shooting arm. What can you do to relieve cramps? esp if your in a match like an ahead session, what do you do?
Click to expand...
Oh, so now you are an amature, yes?!;) The success you've had, you know you've gotta do it to be able to do it.

You want a pointer? do it 2x a week for a year. It'll stop being such a shock (and...you will be ready to beat that grossman up for me!!!).
 
ScottW said:
Exercise in general will probably help. ...
Now me, I cycle (road and mountain...
Click to expand...

I used to do competitive cycling too, one thing I noticed was that (when playing pool) my heart rate would increase too fast to maintain focus and I would get tunnel vision if I didn't force the HRate down through regulated breathing/ inner focusing. It made it hard to play pool well.

Now, I am lazy and have sworn off suffering on those stupid bikes. I feel much better, BTW!
 
I have problems with pain in my shoulder and arm when I play by myself for long periods of time (2 hours plus) but when I'm playing someone else, the breaks between innings gives me enough time to recover so that I can play for several hours at a time without pain. I don't do any exercises or much of anything besides play pool and the various odd jobs around the house or at work. Stretching seems to help some as well. I'm 53.
 
Apparently pool pros like Niels Feijen and Mika Immonen workout reguarily and are in terrific shape.Grady Mathews even claims to run 6 miles day and apparently Nick Varner is working hard on his fitness with the arrival of the IPT and $$$

My chiropractor told me that without a reguliar stretching program that I could forget about playing pool 6 hours at a time without pain. I think stretching more than anything is the most important thing one can do, followed by cardio.

Both cardio and stretching can add to relaxation and relaxation is vital for great pool.
RJ
 
I have been cycling lately and found it has helped my stamina more than I ever could have imagined. I think regular workouts are a great way to improve your game. I suffer from another problem that I haven't really found a way to cure it. I broke my neck in a car wreak almost ten years ago and after a few hours of playing straight I can't hardly look down my cue when I am in the shooting position. If anyone has advice on this subject I would welcome all suggestions.
 
If I know Im going to play a long stretch I make sure to have a good brunch. Not too filling though. But Im a bit of a freak when it comes to this. Ill go to the pool hall play for 15 hrs no food just water. The next morning im absolutely destroyed physically
 
exercise your back and waist area. it is the fulcrum of your body. legs, of course.

stretch.
 
uwate said:
Yesterday I played 8.5 hrs of pool. I was matched up playing some 6 ahead sessions. It was the most pool I played in one day in probably 3 years and man, am I feeling it today. Sore back, sore legs, sore shoulder, the works. What a lil woosy I am. I remember when I use to play all day every day and never felt a bit like I do today.

How do you all keep in shape to play? After about 3 hrs yesterday my back started hurting. By hr 6 I had a minor cramp in my calf. By hr 8 I was also getting cramps in my forearm of my shooting arm. What can you do to relieve cramps? esp if your in a match like an ahead session, what do you do?
Click to expand...
LOL well young man congrats your gettin old....best thing to do is to continue what your doing ...stay active in any way u can..........watch the movie "The Color of Money"..pay attention to the scene when Fast Eddie starts to make his come back.he's in a pool hall and he stops to take a break and starts to rub the back of his neck when the pool hall employee/an old friend walks up to Eddie and says "FEELS GOOD DOESN'T IT ?" ......remember that line.....good luck to ya now go out and play some pool.......:) :) :)
 
hey you didn't tell us was the soreness from your wallet gettin heavier with all the cash u were winnin ????????:D
 
If you feel tiredness in your muscles, your muscles aren't probably in good enough condition. I've done sports all my life and despite gaining weight, I up to 280 lbs or something, I dont' have any sore muscles after marathon play. Doing basic sit-ups and back muscle excercises (don't know what it's called in English, like a reverse sit-up laying flat on your stomach and raising your torso up)

But, if you get cramps in your muscles, I think you're dehydrated or haven't been eating enough. So, next time you play that long, drink at least a glass of water every half an hour - hour and eat something, a banana, a bread roll or something healthy every hour-2 hours. You'll be surprised to get rid of your cramps. And drink just plain water, none of that soda crap.
 
Snapshot9 said:
I feel my stamina wavering some lately, but I am 58 (just barely ... lol).

Back when I wrestled in High School, we took salt tablets, and drank lots
of orange joice. Salt will help prevent cramps.

Keeping in shape is important in Pool, not just being young. When I match up and am playing someone not in shape, I know sooner or later, they are going to start making mistakes, or their break will fall off.

If you think of Pool as a sport, and yourself as an athlete, you will pay
more attention to keeping in shape, diet, and a clear head when playing.

And NO SEX the night before a BIG tournament ..... lol
Click to expand...

Good One, but i am a little different i have to have that proper send off LMAO, But i can agree with this thread i feel the soreness after playing all day like last Tuesday i played literally all day from the crack of dawn to about eleven that night after leagues then even after that me and my girl played a few games downstairs and now my hand hurts, my back, legs you name it. And this never happen'd a long time ago. I never understood when they said the pros practice hard, train, and even work on the fitness the physical side of the body until now.
 
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