Duong really was terrific the whole event. His game keeps getting better. He was determined to do better after a middling performance last year.

Tough miss on the 9, but he bounced back. Duong's 40-rack difference in wins vs losses was incredible. Kaci was next at ... 17.

FSR also had a fantastic run. Got a bit lucky in the semis vs Kaci, potting two early 9s. His luck turned, though, vs Duong in the finals.

Melling made some noise. If he got in better shape and played more consistently, he'd be a force instead of a fringe top player.

Biggest disappointment, to me, was Moritz Neuhausen. The defending champ just didn't seem to want to go thru the grind. Kledio Kaci was worse, of course, but he is still not fully established.

Biggest winner was Albert Januarta. Best under-20 player in the world. More mature than AJ Manas and he has all the tools. All of them. Safety and kicking game, usually a weakness for youngsters, are above average and better than many older players.

Januarta won win-or-go-home matches vs. Yapp and Capito, knocking both out. Fell behind 6-3 to Duong in the semis, tied it up at 6-6, and was just one incredible jump-kick away by Duong from getting to the finals. Super impressive.

One of the greatest ball players in history - 3 time MVP! Yogi Berra had a great approach to mastery: he never guessed or thought about what the next pitch would be coming at him- he only used practice hitting to zero in on his timing of the swing - that was all he was concerned about.

Extreme confidence that you can manage a situation with minimal thought at the time of execution.

The guy almost never struck out - constant contact with pitches that seemed unhittable for a long long pro career.

Nogbert said:

Mostly just at home. When I do go out to play GK, Felt or wynkoop (for casual playing) are where I end up. I live 1/2 mile from GK

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thats not too far from me at all. i went to gk once for a 9ball tournament a month or so ago, seemed like a nice place. Ive been meaning to go back to play on those straight rail tables.

let me know if you ever want to play some!

The guy I play with on Fridays asked me if I was having fun and am i even thinking. I said yes I'm having fun and no I'm singing to the music. I was on auto-pilot and the CB on a string. It's getting more and more common when I'm playing to get in the so-called zone and having that eurific feeling. It'd be nice to get it when in a tournament

Yes. First learn to shoot straight (fundamentals). Then get hundreds/thousands of hours of experience, while still optimizing your straight shooting alongside other training/playing. Do that properly and you'll have a natural rhythm and routine where your body handles the whole process automatically from chalking the cue to potting the ball. Eventually the only thing you'll do consciously is select the shots, and even that part will get automatic for the more routine positions.

meditation >>> nirvana

Siz said:

I can see how some or all of these techniques might help someone figure out where they should be aiming.

But my initial thought was that using methods like these would be inconsistent with good play because they require the player to employ the wrong part of the mind: an expert performing a complex motor task does so in the main using subconscious, autonomous, control systems. If the conscious mind starts to get involved (in pool for example, the player consciously thinking about what his hand or eyes are be doing), then performance tends to suffer.

But thinking about it, this may not be right. Consciously thinking about some aiming rule might actually be helpful, especially under pressure, since it might keep conscious mind occupied reducing the chance of it interfering with stroke execution.

I would be genuinely interested to find out whether there are any good players who use anything like this when they play. I don't think that I have met any - at least I don't recall it ever coming up in conversation.

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Well stated. I agree 100%. That's why I encouraged DAM so much at both the beginning and end of the video. See:

jax_joe said:

LMAO, they already tossed up the dates for next year's event.

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The biggest complaint among players and fans about the WNT schedule is that Matchrooom takes too long to finalize and publish it. So now MR pubs the schedule of an annual early and you think it's ... not good?

Classics Billiards has been the best host, by far, of the PLP. Lots of people, good ambience, nice setup. Wasn't a dead zone like other locales.

I was hoping MR would go back to Classic Billiards for the PLP, even before the surprise announcement. Glad they are doing so. Florida has proven to be a great place for all things WNT/MR.

Black-Balled said:

I'm sure ducking is nothing new.

Winners like to win.

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It's like Boxing, I have way more respect for the man who ain't afraid to step into the ring with the best and lose than the guy who won't to protect his "record", that man's record now means coward forever

Correct aim and alignment is still crucial to knowing wtf you're shooting. Even you genious naturals need the balls in front of you to "instinctively" know how to shoot it.

In motor learning, it is generally accepted that conscious control negatively impacts learning even at an early stage (so stages 2 and 3 of the Broadwell model). So you need to let go and get out of your own way right from the get-go. Children are very good at that, which may explain why they learn so fast, and why so many elite players started learning when they were young

Rote

bbb said:

often the discussions about systems or routines diverge with many saying you cant play with all that crap in your head
and they are right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but you cant get good until you consciously go thru the steps in your head (stage 3) and master them and then dont have to think about them (stage 4)\
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
The assumption is that to move from conscious competence to unconscious competence, one must exert considerable effort and “train harder.”

This assumption can appear valid because top performers tend to train and practice more than their competitors. (Former all-stars like Michael Jordan in basketball and Tiger Woods in golf were prime examples.)

However, unconscious competence comes not through “more effort” but through a kind of relinquishing or “surrendering” within oneself.
It’s often when you reach the point where you think you’ll never achieve any level of mastery that the transformation unfolds. Mastery is realized not by will but by allowing or letting go.
...................................................
good luck every one in their journey

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Larry, 'Excellent Info'!

Top players know when to 'Turn the Brain Off'!

A little bit about the Psychology of winning!

Winning psychology in sports centers on building mental toughness, resilience, and focus through the "5 C's" (Commitment, Communication, Concentration, Control, Confidence). Elite athletes cultivate a winner's mindset by focusing on process-driven goals, using visualization, and maintaining a positive attitude under pressure, rather than obsessing solely over results.
Ohio Center for Sport Psychology +4
Key Components of a Winning Mindset

• Mental Toughness: Developing the ability to handle adversity, manage stress, and recover from failures without quitting.
• Process-Oriented Goals: Focusing on daily preparation, effort, and improvement rather than solely on the outcome.
• Visualization/Imagery: Mentally rehearsing movements and successful outcomes to boost confidence and reduce anxiety.
• The 5 C's Framework:
  • Commitment: Dedication to training and long-term goals.
  • Communication: Effective communication with teammates and coaches.
  • Concentration: Maintaining focus on the present moment during competition.
  • Control: Emotional regulation and managing performance anxiety.
  • Confidence: Self-belief in one's skills and abilities.
• Positive Self-Talk: Using internal dialogue to build confidence and maintain motivation.
  YouTube +5

Strategies for Building a Champion’s Mindset

• Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing being present and reducing anxiety through mindfulness.
• Structured Routines: Creating consistent pre-game and training routines to foster a calm, focused state.
• Developing a "Fighter" Spirit: Shifting from a victim mindset to taking personal responsibility, embracing challenges, and persevering through discomfort.
• Reframing Failure: Viewing losses as learning opportunities rather than defining moments.
  YouTube +3

The Role of Motivation

• Intrinsic Motivation: Finding joy, purpose, and personal fulfillment in the sport.
• Extrinsic Motivation: Utilizing external rewards like recognition or medals to power through difficult training sessions.
  Faulkner University +1

Ultimately, a winning mindset is a choice to train and compete with high intensity, treating mental skills training with the same seriousness as physical training.

dr_dave said:

I'm glad you liked it Stu.

Thanks for the feedback.

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That $200 is worth more than all the money you will make this year......

often the discussions about systems or routines diverge with many saying you cant play with all that crap in your head
and they are right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but you cant get good until you consciously go thru the steps in your head (stage 3) and master them and then dont have to think about them (stage 4)\
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
The assumption is that to move from conscious competence to unconscious competence, one must exert considerable effort and “train harder.”

This assumption can appear valid because top performers tend to train and practice more than their competitors. (Former all-stars like Michael Jordan in basketball and Tiger Woods in golf were prime examples.)

However, unconscious competence comes not through “more effort” but through a kind of relinquishing or “surrendering” within oneself.
It’s often when you reach the point where you think you’ll never achieve any level of mastery that the transformation unfolds. Mastery is realized not by will but by allowing or letting go.
...................................................
good luck every one in their journey