The "Practice To Play" Ratio

[KCarson]

I have a theory that I believe applies to all individual sports. Individual sports require stronger mental skills than team sports and are much more subject to the pariicipant choking or having having diminished skills in competition versus practice.

The theory is simply this - if you can play in competition at the same skill level at which you play in practice, you have skills that most competitors do not. In other words, those who can play under stress at the same skill level at which you practice, with no stress, have mental attribute that many competitors don't have.

Archery In competition, I shoot at around 85% of my practice level.
Bowling In competition, I bowl at around 80% of my practice level.
Pool In compeition, I play at around only 60%-65% of practice level.

I can live with 80%-85% but I am astounded at how unspectacular my "practice to play" ratio is in pool.

(I am 95% sure I know why my pool game doesn't hold up under pressure and I'm working on it.)

I'm not smart enough for my theory to the original thought on this subject but I'd be interested in hearing how close others play in competition to their practice level.

 

[Flex]

I'm not smart enough for my theory to the original thought on this subject but I'd be interested in hearing how close others play in competition
to their practice level.

Although I wouldn't know how to quantify it, my impression is that my competition play is equal to or better than my practice play. Why might that be? Well, I'm a control freak, and I KNOW how to stroke the ball, and the feel that requires to play well. I've blown so many easy shots in competition that eliminating that aspect of my game forced me to make those fail-safe situations. The result is that my game went up. Playing under pressure is a stimulant for me, and brings the best out in my game. Do I dog shots? Of course I do, but that doesn't really change my comments. I dog the shots in practice and also in competition.

Competition does bring out a better, more controlled, game in me. Even when I take a flyer, it's intentional, not shot haphasardly or on a lark.

Just the other day, I was practicing power shots on a table with impossible pockets for those shots. Nobody showed up to play, so I went about my business. Watching me work through the tough drills was a champion 3 cushion player. He gave me some tips along the way about stroke and so on. When my session was over, basically non-stop for more than 4 hours, he paid me a compliment I'll not soon forget. "What you did today was old school. You'll see the benefits of that the next time you play." I was mentally exhausted and overwhelmed after that practice session. In competition, that stress level is usually not present for such an extended time. Maybe that's why competition is like steak for me...

Flex

 

[VIProfessor]

I have a theory that I believe applies to all individual sports. Individual sports require stronger mental skills than team sports and are much more subject to the pariicipant choking or having having diminished skills in competition versus practice.

The theory is simply this - if you can play in competition at the same skill level at which you play in practice, you have skills that most competitors do not. In other words, those who can play under stress at the same skill level at which you practice, with no stress, have mental attribute that many competitors don't have.

Archery In competition, I shoot at around 85% of my practice level.
Bowling In competition, I bowl at around 80% of my practice level.
Pool In compeition, I play at around only 60%-65% of practice level.

I can live with 80%-85% but I am astounded at how unspectacular my "practice to play" ratio is in pool.

(I am 95% sure I know why my pool game doesn't hold up under pressure and I'm working on it.)

I'm not smart enough for my theory to the original thought on this subject but I'd be interested in hearing how close others play in competition to their practice level.

It's been said that nobody's game remains the same under competitive pressure. Under the gun, your game will either increase or decrease. My suggestion is that you compete more and become accustomed to the pressure. In time, you will learn to embrace it. I was known for years as a skilled player who couldn't hold up under the pressure. Over the last decade, however, I have begun to take a different approach to the game. Determine how much you can afford to lose, and after that it's simple! As Fatty said, it's really simple either you can bust the opponent or the oppoent can bust you--that's the worst that can happen, nobody's life or limb is on the line, after all. Since, adopting that attitude, my competitive results improved immeasurably, and I'm happy to report that my high runs in both straight pool and nine ball have come in competitive play (and I practice hard and often!).

Keep plugging away, and focus on the planning and the execution, not the results--they WILL come.

Good luck, and remember to try without trying!

VIProfessor

 

[BillYards]

Nice post, Rudy!

When are you getting here?

I agree with you and Flex... my game usually gets better during competition. I think it is just the attitude and getting into the zone... You have to enjoy the pressure... enjoy the stress... because you know when it is over and you performed as well as you could, you get a big adrenaline rush...

I used to play in some tourneys in Colorado and when I did well, I would get a big rush on the long drive home to Wyoming. I actually got that same rush last week when I beat a player in a 9-ball race. It just felt great and I had made some amazing shots.

So, change your attitude, relish the challange, and view competition play as practice too... you can always learn something (about the game or about yourself) when playing under pressure.

 

[VIProfessor]

Nice post, Rudy!

When are you getting here?

Hey BillYards,

What's up? It's looking rough on this end. I've been trying to collect a payment of $7500 for the last three weeks, and I was counting on that money for my travel and playing expenses. Unless I'm able to collect in the next couple of days, I'm not going to be able to make it (my wife strictly forbids dipping into the family account for pool expenses, and I'm forced to conclude that she's right!).

I hope to God that I'll see you in PR. If not, say hello to everybody and enjoy the experience for both of us! In any case, I'll see you guys sometime soon.

Peace,

Rudy

 

[BillYards]

Hey BillYards,

What's up? It's looking rough on this end. I've been trying to collect a payment of $7500 for the last three weeks, and I was counting on that money for my travel and playing expenses. Unless I'm able to collect in the next couple of days, I'm not going to be able to make it (my wife strictly forbids dipping into the family account for pool expenses, and I'm forced to conclude that she's right!).

I hope to God that I'll see you in PR. If not, say hello to everybody and enjoy the experience for both of us! In any case, I'll see you guys sometime soon.

Peace,

Rudy

Oh, my day has been ruined! I was really looking forward to meeting you! Well, there will be other opportunities... I heard that the pros might be returning to the island later in the year... like mid-year....

Nice advice on the other thread regarding education...

I will update you after the event is over (if you don't make it).

Regards,
John