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How to warm up your cueing arm before picking up the cue.
I have league match around once a week. The captain usally puts me on last and when the 3rd frame has just begun (I go on 4th) I usually do a line up or just put all the colours on their spots and spread around 6-7 reds in and around the black and pink spot area and try to clear the table.
Also I practice long straight pots off the blue spot with the white behind the baulk line to get an idea of how straight I'm cueing. I usually strike the ball quite hard during this excercise to hear the bang when it hits the back of the pocket. It gets the adrenaline going and can intimidate the opposition if any of their players is watching you practice.
That's how I warm up.
I like to shot the yellow, green brown and blue repeatedly when I am waiting for my match and the reds are already rack up. It gives me an idea of the bounce of the cushion and the speed of the cloth. Also, it covers most of the angles that I may come across after running the four colors a few times.
Another thing I try to do is to focus really well with my eyes from the first shot on. I notice that other than warming up my arm, it is as important if not more to warm up my eyes so they can focus well on the ball. When I am not playing well, my eyes are not focusing well, and also they tend to flick out of rhythm between the object ball and the cue ball.
Spread the balls around the table and pot lots of easy ones! The fact that you are potting balls is good for your brain because a pot is associated with a positive outcome. Play a few of each kind of shot to mix it up a bit but don't bother with the long or difficult pots. The fact that you're potting balls means that you'll have confidence when attempting a long or difficult pot anyway.
I think the cueing arm should be warmed up with a cue. What you do before you pick up one is irrelevant here; Might have some mental aspects instead.
As a warm-up I wouldn't do much technical/difficult practise. Just play one frame, or half an hour line-up is good enough. Even only consequent pink-black off the spots may do as well. I think it is important not to over stretch the last preparations in order to feel fresh and zero-in-for-kill in the match. In no circumstances this is the right moment to consider crucial technical aspects of my game. You have to work what you have got now.
That was a classic Mike lol.
Another good way of increasing blood flow to the arms though is:
Straighten your arm out in front of you at shoulder level, make a fist and then using your other arm, pull the straightened arm across your chest and hold for about 5 seconds. repeat with other arm and do a few reps.
hope this helps. this is an exercise i use all the time.
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