Can u practice pool by yourself before playing others?

Question

Can u practice pool by yourself before playing others?

Answer 1

I used to ask myself the same question all the time.  This might help you out, though.  I am a 9-ball shooter by heart, and one of the guys I play with tipped me off to a little game called "Ghost."

It's a pretty simple concept, and if you work at it long enough, you can get VERY good.  The lesson to be learned from the game is that you are not playing an opponent, per se', but you are playing the rack.

You would rack up your game of choice and break.  If you make something on the break, try to run the table out.  If you miss at any time or make nothing on the break, the Ghost gets his "shot," but he never misses.  So basically, if you miss, game's over.  Re-rack the balls and try again.  It took me about 15 racks of 9-ball to be able to run out consistently.    Playing the Ghost will help teach you cue ball positioning among other things.  Get good with Ghost, and you'll see a great improvement in your public game.

Answer 2

Willie Mosconi one of the worlds best pool player ever.  Once said in a book of his that I read.  That he would practice 3 to 4 time a week by himself for 3 to 4 hours.  But when there was a tournament comming up he would practice everyday 8 hours for 2 weeks before the tournament.

Answer 3

Definitely - There are many books dedicated to how to set up drills to practice ceratin strokes.  There are also specially marked balls you can purchase that help you see english/spin. Many pool halls will also allow you to rent a table cheaper if you are alone & they aren't busy.

Answer 4

Yes you can, you could keep shooting till you get solid or stripe in, then whatever one you get in first, you go for that colour, if you scratch or miss, you shoot for the other colour. Repeat.

Answer 5

You can always alternate between stripes and solids if you find yourself playing alone. It isn't much fun though and certainly not very challenging. I would suggest you invest your time on the table practicing drills or shots you currently have difficulty executing and apply those practice shots to an actual game. "You play like you practice". I seem to have heard that somewhere along the way.

Answer 6

Absolutely.  You can practice any way you like...either by pocketing all the solids first then the stripes, or just set up shots you have difficulty with and pratice them or just shoot any ball just to get practice playing.

Answer 7

Hanging out in pool halls shooting pool by yourself is one way to get help by more seasoned players. I like practicing in my local spot and talking with the old-timers while they aren't playing (it tends to make them shun you if you ask for pointers while their in their game). Buy them a drink and talk about shots, english, etc...