Dr. Dave's greatness is unquestionable.
However, I must disagree with using these phrases to a good extent. While they could be helpful for beginners and when practicing, it is not a good idea to consciously think of such phrases when playing pool. I would say the ones with some sort of subversive meaning would be the worst to rely upon, like "peanut butter and jelly". To think of that when playing would force one to really do some mental gymnastics to arrive at the meaning of the phrase that would likely take one out of their natural rhythm.
My reasoning comes from careful study of the following books: "The Champion's Mind" by Jim Afremow, "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy, "The Pleasures of Small Motions" by Bob Fancher, and "The Inner Game of Tennis" by W. Timothy Gallway.
The champion sees, feels, and acts. They play in a rhythm of seeing, feeling, and doing. When they are playing well, you can see it, because they are playing in a consistent rhythm. They are not stopping to think of a catch phrase when they are playing their best.
"Dead stroke" in pool, when balls are rolling in pockets like they have eyes and perfect wind behind them with the cue ball ending up in perfect position time and time again does not happen with words forced through a player's consciousness. In dead stroke, the action based part of the mind is used, and the part of the mind that relates to physical skills like a pool shot is must more closely related to feeling and senses (physical sensations) than any words. The visualization process of a pool shot should visualize how the shot will feel, look, and sound when it is executed perfectly. Such a visuallization requires no words.
Instead, the process is "decide, see, feel/visualize, fulfill (do)". To play without words is best. It is usually best to follow one's instinct and not necessarily words in the shot selection (decide) process as well, and to not break one's rhythm to deliberate about which shot to take for an extended period of time. To play without words is to play in the present moment, with full attention on the task (shot) at hand. To leave the present moment mentally when playing pool is a recipe for unwanted outcomes. And to think outside of oneself and the action of the shot about some societal consideration is a recipe for unwanted outcomes.
The catch to playing without words is that one must practice to be able to "see, feel, visualize, and execute". The feeling of the shot must be ingrained to be visualized with feeling.
The above said, the meaning of Dr. Dave's phrases, and their instructional value, is sound. I agree with most of the meaning of what the phrases recommend.
