The more I practice

[driz86]

practice makes permanent not perfect. I'd get someone who knows better to watch you closely.

 

[grindz]

tap tap tap...... great ideas in all these!!!

I think whats helped me the most in improving isnt the quantity of practice, but the quality. I used to spend my practice sessions doing every drill I knew in sort of a mindless state. I would run through it, then do it again, without really paying attention to what I was and wasnt doing correctly, and without researching and analyzing what I needed to do to improve.

Now when I practice, I'll pick out one drill and really try to execute it perfectly, and either way, I wont spend a whole lot of time on it. I try to alternate between different exercises so I stay fresh mentally. I've also found it helps to throw out 5 or 6 balls and run them between exercises and drills to refresh your focus.

Lately I've really been working hard on building potting repitition with different difficult cut shots. I will throw a buisness card down at different places on the table and set up the shot trying to land on or near the card with different shapes while pocketing the ball. I rotate pockets and shots after Ive nailed it a few times on each shape. Its really a great way to lock in on pocketing tough cuts with different kinds of English, but the drill also works on any kind of shot.

Ive also found that its really helped me to concentrate and key in on my stroke during practice. If im playing, I try to focus on the table layout and getting in rhytm...etc.. but when I'm practicing, I find its been helpful to really concentrate on mechanics even while doing drills that focus more on shape.

Anyway, these are a few things that have helped me lately(video taping my practice sessions has also been a large help). I hope some of this may be useful.

Some people mistake a focus problem with a mechanics problem. Perhaps it's not pool you need practice at, but you need practice focusing.

Take some time to excersize your mind. Try to work through a puzzle, crossword puzzle or a strategy game from finish to end.

Attention focus is something that needs practice on and off a pool table.

Matt has the right idea. Too many players mistake playing alone for practicing.
True practice has a definite goal. Maybe the goal is to work on your stroke, so you focus on your stroke. Maybe your goal is to get better speed control, so you work on speed drills.
Putting in time on the table can be great, but putting in hours doing things the wrong way will only establish bad habits that become more difficult to break. Practice time is the time to fix problems, and build good habits. It is time to evaluate specific aspects of your game.
If you practice the right way, you will see the difference in your competition.
If you practice the wrong way, guess what shows up in your game.

Steve

Practicing isn't the easiest thing to do. I only practice for twenty minutes most of the time. I find it hard to hold the level of concentration I need any longer than that. Unless I'm getting ready for a big event. That's when I can practice for much longer periods of time.

When I'm practicing, I'm actually playing a simulated game. I play safe when I'm supposed to, and I try to lock myself up. My opponent isn't going to show me any mercy. I kick at the ball and try to hit it. I look at it this way. I have to practice the way I'm going to play.

Hope this helps.

________________________

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tommcgonaglerightoncue.com

I have to add............... mandatory to have a goal.... already said above, but had to say it again. One more not mentioned, if you're playing rotation games practice with the ghost and don't quit until you win against whichever one you're fighting!

td

 

[Shawn Armstrong]

Sometimes you have to try something new, or go back to something you used to do to get over the hump. I went back to playing nothing but 14.1 on my home table. I used to practice 9-ball, as it was my worst game by far. I'm good at 8-ball, so I never practiced it. Anyways, I was having a bit of a slide this session in 8-ball and 9-ball in league, but everything felt fine. I played nothing but straight pool at home (some decent runs - nothing huge, but a couple of 30+) for the past two weeks. This week at league, I played a CPA/APA 6 5-0 in 4 innings for the match. Two BnR's, would have had a third if the drift on the table didn't suck me into the side pocket when I was getting shape on my last ball. Mix it up - start playing 14.1. It will help you get back into stroke. It worked for me.

 

[Apocalypse2017]

.

Mix it up - start playing 14.1. It will help you get back into stroke. It worked for me.

I agree......I've been playing 14.1 at home and went back to 8-ball and it felt like a kiddie game

PS this is my 400th post

 

[randyg]

Practice??? I mean what are we talking about here? Practice. I mean really practice????You can't be serious. Practice???
:embarrassed2:<<<Bad Alan Iverson impersonation>>>
This is the third week for me of any sort of practice so I'm still enthralled. After all these years I finally got a table at home and am practicing. (GCIII-new k55 extended subrails 41/4" corner pockets new simionis, Sweet) My practice used to consist of going to the room and getting into action, which I will still do as I enjoy it. I have noticed in only three weeks my recognition and muscle memory getting better on shots I normally don't have confidence in. After the Texas Open I am going to take the next step and schedule a session of pool school with Mr. Randy G for my first ever lesson. The school of hard knocks has been my teacher all these years so now I want to expand my horizions and learn the three R's of pool. Hopefully an old dog can be taught new tricks. I think everyone should have their own twist to practice so that the time and effort will contribute to the overall scheme, but I also think that through action matches and tough tourney type formats is where one gets the satisfaction and reconizes the fruition of the practice. Keep on whacking!!!

Book soon, School fills up 2-3 months in advance!!!
Thanks, SPF=randyg

 

[pooltchr]

That reminds me, we only have a few slots left for the September road show in Charlotte. I know we have Frank, John, and probably Mark and Eddie lined up.

Steve

 

[Mathew]

You don't want to practice if you are fatigued. Unfortunately, most people don't realise whilst pool is not a hard cardiovascular sport nature, its still not so much of a game that requires no level of fitness like chess for example. You still take many steps, and your standing up alot of the time thinking, bending your body forwards...etc it still has a physical aspect which is going to affect you even more if your practicing alone and not having a seat whilst your opponent(s) play.

If your fatigued, you just cannot apply your mind and if you cannot apply your mind you get sloppy.

The fitter you are the longer you are able to concentrate and the more control you have over your body in terms of concentration. If you feel you like pool but when you practice you just can't be bothered and its due to fatigue..and you don't want to exercise either... try breaking your practice time into 30 minute slots with 15 minutes between them.

 

[greyghost]

one thing to remember....

One thing to remember is most times....you will get worse upon implementing new things into your game or changing practice regimens. It can take time for your body to become acclimated to the changes you just threw at it. Sometimes its great to take a week or two off and come back fresh. You would be surprised how effective that is, you work on something really hard and its just not where you want it to be. You take some time off and bang it just feels and performs better. Our bodies learn from input over time and it even happens while your just thinking about the motions.

G.G.

Its good for your game to always want to play, its just not good for your game to always play - Shane McMinn

 

[gpeezy]

I don't know but it seems that i have come up against a wall,the more i practice the worse i seem to be shooting.
Has this happened to anyone else?

Happens to every player. I'd like to add whether you are doing it or not that you need and almost have to play better players to get better. There are a ton of towns with players that play about the same level because they can't learn anything more from their competition. Keeping pressure on yourself to play at your best speed will make you play better. Add what knowledge you can from DVDs or books. Put them into play and don't be scared to try something new with your stroke. Also, alot of times you have improved but you can't see it, only your peers can so get out there and play em all some.