What do you spend more time on?

[KGeeEd]

Where are your priorities?

[audiopro]

I spend a ton of time playing pool. I would say 3 hours 4-5 days a week for the past 3 years. Before that for the previous 5 years, once a week or so. Before that, a few hours every few days from the age of 15..

I have put in a lot of hours playing pool. When I was younger we had a table at home, and I played quite often, got pretty good. Stopped playing often when I moved away from around town. When I came back I played pool casually but in the years between my eyes went bye bye.. About 5 years ago I got contacts though and could see again.

I honestly think after you have the basics down, that playing is the best practice. I dont mean practicing a specific shot type is useless, I just dont do it often myself. The possibility exists that I should, but I enjoy playing the game a great deal more than practicing individual shots. And after all, the reason I play is for my own personal enjoyment.

[CJK]

Until I build my next house, I can't have a pool table at home, so most of my time at tables is spent playing. When I do have a table at home, I'm sure playing and practicing will be close.

[Tanar]

I used to practice and play by myself a lot (which is not a good thing to do) untl half my buddies got laid off for the winter. Now I spend most of my time playing games with guys about my level in pool. Personally, I think playing is good, but practicing some routines is also a very good idea. Pick out a few shots you're weak on and practice them. If this wasn't a good idea, why would golf courses build putting greens and driving ranges? Shots need to be practiced.

[dags_lax]

I would say that for every twenty hours I spend at the table 19 of those hours are practice. And I do mean actual time spent at the table, not the time spent watching my teamates games on league night. As for this forum, well I do seem to have a few posts.

[dags_lax]

I used to practice and play by myself a lot (which is not a good thing to do)

Practice and play by yourself is where the pros spend their most of their time when at the table.

[New Kid In The Hall]

I need more league play time. I sometimes substitute to get some league or competitive play in, but most of my play is one-pocket a couple of times per week and a few lunches where we play 8 ball.

[DZ314]

Right now I play anywhere from 3-10 hours per week. I do not have my own table like many of you. I wish I did, because then I would be playing more like 30-40 hours per week! 8O

[audiopro]

Yeah, having your own table makes a huge difference. I have a cheap table I bought out of a newspaper ad for 500 bucks. It is nothing great, but at least allows for some practice and playing.

Last night I decided to try my hand at jump shots. On a bar table I would probably get kicked out pretty quick the way the ball was flying around. But at home I was able to practice until I got it down. It was not as hard as I thought really. In about 5 minutes I was able to jump a pencil, which someone here had suggested trying. Then a piece of chalk. Then in about 20 minutes total I was easily jumping balls. Another 5 and I could pocket an object ball that was 10 inches or so away from the pocket.

However, all the banging around trying to initially learn it, was pretty bad. I dont have a jump cue, so I was using one of my lower end play cues.

On a side note, I sometimes find it harder though to really get into a groove at home. I more often just goof around instead of really play playing. Unless someone comes over and then we get down...

[dags_lax]

Audio: Is there room in the budget for a jump cue? They are not expensive. It's one more weapon in your arsenal. In nine ball the opportunity for the jump shot comes up time and time again. The jump shot has also saved my backside in more than a few games of eight ball as well. It's not always about pocketing a ball but more so denying your opponent ball in hand.

In fact I have gotten comfortable enough with the jump shot that, in eight ball, I now consider it an offensive shot and will occasionally turn down another shot in favor of a jump shot because of the lay of the table.

[DZ314]

Wow, it sounds like you have quite a well-developed jump game dags. How much did you have to practice it before you got good at it? Also, what jump cue do you use?

[audiopro]

Audio: Is there room in the budget for a jump cue? They are not expensive. It's one more weapon in your arsenal. In nine ball the opportunity for the jump shot comes up time and time again. The jump shot has also saved my backside in more than a few games of eight ball as well. It's not always about pocketing a ball but more so denying your opponent ball in hand.

Yeah, I am probably going to pick one up soon.. In my league I have not much had to use jump shots, and my winning average for the last 4 sessions has been at 70%+... Inevitable it was, my skill level went up too. So now I will be playing better players, I need to add some tricks to the bag...

Never thought about using jumps as a defensive shot, but that opens another new door. Good tip... And yeah, what jump cue do you use?

[dags_lax]

I use a Jumpin' James. Although not positive, I believe they are made by David Jacoby. I also have two Bungee Jump cues and they are get the job done as well. As for practicing the shot it does takes some, just like any other shot of some difficulty. As for using the jump as an offensive tool I don't mean to say that I am voluntarily jumping a ball that's three feet away for a length of the table shot. The shots are generally short shots that if not for the interfering ball(s) would be very easy and the reason for taking the shot is because I feel better about my chances of making a jump now than getting position or a break later in the game.

With a little practice and a good jump cue you can consistently jump a full ball from only a ball away and if the shot is not too difficult pocket the ball.

edited: Stoped by Jacoby's shop the other day and he does make the Jumpin James.

[dags_lax]

Another application for a jump shot and I haven't gotten very far on this yet but after forgetting about this shot for a lot of years is to use the jump for clearing interfering balls AFTER hitting your object ball. You can do this with a regular cue. It's like the cue ball popping up in the air after the break. I am practicing this shot but for the time being I am chasing the cue ball around the basement.

(I owe this to one to a rereading a few weeks ago of one of Byrnes books.)

[skor]

I've gotten to be quite good with the jump cue, I have a cheap jump cue with no brand name and it works great, the only important thing about a jump cue is to have a very hard tip.
I did not spent any time practicing jump shot, I just tried it when it came up in a game, I use the "dart stroke" which I find easier and more accurate. I only jump as last resort.

[dags_lax]

One more thing Audio: If you are winning at a 70% plus then it is definitely time for you to find a more difficult league to play in. Playing weaker players is fine in a social situation. Playing your peers can be a lot of fun. But if you want to really learn and improve your game, play with the boys that will kick your butt week after week.

[audiopro]

Yeah, I was a 4 in my APA league. And while I won most of my games it typically happened via a lot of innings for a while. I just got lucky to win in the end a lot. But I started becoming better with time, obviously, and ERO's and very few innings became the norm. So I moved up to a 5 a few weeks ago.

However as it happens, since moving up I also happened to lay back a little more and have a bit more fun. Kinda odd I thought, but I tend not to argue with good things in life.

Oh and believe me I get my share of butt-whooping. My team captain is a very strong 6, and we all tend to play after league until closing. Typically we work on foul-ups we did during our matches, but we also play play. James, the captain, is very good with helping out and giving instruction. I will usually lose to him by 1 rack though in a race to 7 @3-4. But I also think part of that comes from him downplaying, so I can actually shoot. :)

[DZ314]

Yep, sometimes better players will play down a tad so as to make things a little more interesting. I will do it sometimes when I am playing lesser competition at the bars, and usually I have been engaging in mass consumption of barley based beverages. 8O

[audiopro]

Well I do it when I am playing anyone who is a friend, in a friendly game. Try to play enough to win. I mean, it would be no fun for someone to play me, if I never let them shot.. Then no one wants to play... Plus, it makes people feel good to win. Granted they know they may have not gotten your best, but still it is better than losing, for some.. This is when playing casual friends. When playing league, no holds barred.

[KGeeEd]

When I play casually or for fun and the player is not as good I will play a game within the game. I will alternate between a straight in shot and then a bank or maybe in 8 ball I will try to shoot the balls in rotation. It is also a chance to play a little more agressive and try shots that I would not normally do. It is also a good chance to work on intentional safeties that look like a missed shot. This is good for playing in the leagues or games where "dirty' pool is not allowed. All of these things gives the other person a few turns to shoot and makes it a little more interesting for me.

[audiopro]

Yeah, sometimes like when playing my girlfriend or something I will play all banks. Where I have to make all my shots via a bank. Makes it pretty interesting.

[skor]

When I'm not playing in league or tournaments, every time I'm on the table it's practice time I don't care who I play, I will always try to play the best I can, that way when I'm in league or tourny play I make less mistakes.
I have a few freind who are not very good with a cue in their hands, and I've tried before to slow my speed when I was playing with them but they asked me not to, they like to see me at my best.
they rather rack all night and see me running racks then knowing that if they beat me they realy didn't.

got to love these kind of freinds... :)

[DZ314]

That is right, they do not want a cheap win like that. If they actually beat you they would have something to feel good about because they knew you were trying your honest best. Most of my pool playing friends will razz me when I am really beating them bad or if I make one of my "special" kick or bank shots. Sometimes I will tell them jokingly, "I wasn't really planning on making that one!" ;)

[audiopro]

Yeah, works great for most guy friends.. But some people just get pissed when they dont get to shoot but once a rack if that. Besides, the more time I spend shooting, could be less time I get to drink my beer!! :-P

[DZ314]

I don't care if people I don't know very well get pissed if I beat the shit out of them haha. I am evil like that sometimes! :D