Practicing too much?

[RVBlack]

Is it possible to practice too much, either on the simulator or out on the field? Or am I just trying too hard. fast rollers, prop hanging, and long clean slow rolls. I can do all these things, but not as clean as I would like. I want to fly like a pro (who doesn't). I'm working very hard to do it but somtimes my brain gets tired then I get sloppy

[en1]

As with any high concentration sport , such as flying r/c , racing motorcycles, cars etc there is a limit to how long you can keep the intensity level up till you start getting tired or sloppy as you put it. The Imac site has a good article on making the most out of practice time and making improvements as compared to just burning gas. When I raced motorcycles as well as still when just riding there is a limit to how long I can ride fast or fly at my best as is with everyone. some are beter than others but it is there for everyone. at the point you start noticing "sloppy" you should take a break and regroup to refresh your brain as to make the most of your practice. Good Luck ....IMO...

[bodywerks]

I agree. I started flying IMAC this year and I obviously had to do a lot of practicing/ changing on my knowns after getting advice from seasoned vets, and it paid off - I won my first contest! So then I started practicing real hard between contests, and kept winning, but then I did back to back contests and it proved to be too much and I simply did not fly well. So I took a break to regroup and fly just for the fun of it and I only practiced the sequence a couple times a few days before the next contest. I didn't feel burnt out at the contest and flew well and won.
Yes, you do need to practice, but do it a little at a time. And if you don't feel like the second attempt was as good or better than the first then stop trying - move on to another maneuver or just call it a day as far as practice is concerned. Because practicing without improving just builds complacency - a bad thing.

[Polarrod49]

I have been flying pattern for the past 2 years now and the biggest thing I learned was you can practice all you want but if your practice the wrong thing its only hurting you. all you are doing is creating muscle memory and you WILL make the same mistakes in the contest. but I also found that for me 3-5 flights a day is the best. also play around with an FAI sequence of something, or in your case unlimited, just to kind of showing what you stink at.

Chris Odom
Team Black Magic

[Horsetrader_12345]

Thats like saying you can Fish to Much!

Chuck

[Mithrandir]

Try to limit hard core concentration to 8 minutes with 20 minutes in between...longer breaks if possible...
also.. try to sleep immediately after a training session... apparently, sleep "Locks in the learning".
So.. sim time before bed!