To be a pro, it's not just about grinding tables all day. Pros split their time between playing and studying—like 4–6 hours of play and 2–3 hours of review, solver work, or watching training vids. Some even treat it like a sport: warm-ups, cooldowns, mental prep. It's not just clicking buttons, it's a full-on lifestyle.
Depends on the format too. MTT grinders might play for 10–12 hours during series, while cash game players can be more flexible. But the secret is consistency, daily hand reviews, mindset training. I've already seen pros recommending for beginners that they should study 2 hours for each hour playing, and don't negotiate it for anything. The more you resist the temptation to just play, the more successful you'll become.