How do you structure your practice sessions?

[Erwan_BZH]

Hello gentlemen,

The title says it all but here are more explanations about it.
I realized I was logging in many hours of practice but with mixed results. Sometimes I'm really focussed and doing great, others I'm easily distracted and can't knock in a decent break. Which lead me to think maybe the inner structure of my trainings was wrong. So far, depending if mates are present or not, I vary solo practice with frames, but I dont have a specific order, eg for example:
- 10 lineups and count the best score
- 10 T breaks and count the best score
- 10 color clearances
- Etc.

Is it something you guys are doing when practising? Always having a plan in mind of what you want to do during that span? What should I do to help keeping my focus ?

Thanks

[tetricky]

I don't get enough practise. That's my biggest problem. I tend to focus almost entirely on lineups...because until I'm not missing the simple balls, and guaranteeing good close position, I don't see the point in getting past that. I do a couple of colour clearances to break up the lineups....but in my couple of hours a month, plus the odd social frame, it's all i really have a chance to do.

I'm cueing solidly, and hitting longer shots okay, and my safety game has always been pretty strong. So for me it's all about building consistency in not missing the simple balls, and building up my experience to get good simple position off simple pots.

[bolton-cueman]

I split mine down into 7 or 40 minute sections - we have light meters - 20p for 7mins £1 for 40mins

If i've got a couple of hours... I'll have a random knock to get warmed up then its

3 or 4 line ups or T's
rotate between
10 straight blues, 5 each side
10 blues with cue ball from the D, pink on its spot and play the blue as though im holding for pink.
10 long stop shots hold for black
Clear the colours, lately playing from the black to land of yellow
Then 6 reds in a triangle, rest of reds scattered and try and see how many pots I can do.

Mix that up with one or two other routines like Pottrs 51 clearance (which I still havent managed yet)

Had a seesion with a coach today and I'm starting working on safety play shots - thin clips off a red to take the white back into baulk etc, and a shot I have loads of trouble with - rolling up behind a baulk colour. Experimenting with drag shots and gentle top spins to get the roll up right.

[DeanH]

Erwan, do you take a written list with you, to ensure you do the routines, and tick them off as you go?
tetricky, same here, I don't have opportunities to get down to the tables as much as I would like, and then when I do it is for a few frames with friends. I should really do more solo as recently I am playing really well and striking the cue ball really well, and know that some structured solo would reap benefits
I may write a list, keep it in the cue case and use that to be more structured, and try to get solo time more often!

I look forward to other peoples' ideas of what they do and what they recommend as a structured practise session.

[Erwan_BZH]

Not really Dean, even though sometimes I think about it before going to the club and keep it in mind. But it could be a good starting point to list the exercices to achieve for the day.

[Ramon]

Erwan, do you take a written list with you, to ensure you do the routines, and tick them off as you go?
tetricky, same here, I don't have opportunities to get down to the tables as much as I would like, and then when I do it is for a few frames with friends. I should really do more solo as recently I am playing really well and striking the cue ball really well, and know that some structured solo would reap benefits
I may write a list, keep it in the cue case and use that to be more structured, and try to get solo time more often!

I look forward to other peoples' ideas of what they do and what they recommend as a structured practise session.

good post Dean. very good post my friend.
How com you have so much knowledge about this game ??
I'm just proud of you and learn so much from you.

[DeanH]

good post Dean. very good post my friend.
How com you have so much knowledge about this game ??
I'm just proud of you and learn so much from you.

blame TSF
if only I could have more table time and be more disciplined with the practise. In the past I have found myself just start slapping balls around, waste of practise time really when that happens

[Ramon]

blame TSF
if only I could have more table time and be more disciplined with the practise. In the past I have found myself just start slapping balls around, waste of practise time really when that happens

No need . you have talent.
and keep posting here . do'nt move your ass somewhere else.
TSF needs u an i kind of enjoy of ur posts .

[Phil C]

Usually, I do lineups of varying patterns. I practice blue - > pink - > black quite a lot.

Clearing of the colours, starting the white in different positions, forcing me to use a variety of different shots.

Mainly, all colours on the spots with 11 (always 11) scattered reds. Sometimes I bunch them so I need to eventually cannon them open.

I enjoy it :snooker:

[itsnoteasy]

I start with shots from baulk line ob around pink spot just to get me staying still and cueing nicely, it varies on the amount depends how I'm cueing.
Line ups , normal and T.
Three reds on table in the open, clear, then add a red or two ,again depending how I'm cueing, lets me practice the colours as well.
Go home in a huff having not completed any of the above.

[bolton-cueman]

No need . you have talent.
and keep posting here . do'nt move your ass somewhere else.
TSF needs u an i kind of enjoy of ur posts .

Valentines day is another 10 days off mate x

[golferson123]

Valentines day is another 10 days off mate x

sucking up, just in case

[DeanH]

Valentines day is another 10 days off mate x

ah! thanks for the reminder!

sucking up, just in case

no sucking up required, no case to be just for

[bolton-cueman]

sucking up, just in case

blatant. lol

always thought you were great by the way, Golf x

[Jedwick]

I struggle to do more than 45 mins solo until I get bored, I can play frames against someone all day though. Tips? I might take some headphones up the club next time.