Any tips, books, cd's, etc,
THANKS
" Please, No chemically-enhanced programs
...maybe some mental gymastics :idea:
THANKS
" Please, No chemically-enhanced programs
...maybe some mental gymastics :idea:
Develop concentration to play pool???
- Thread starter Duane Remick
- Start date
Any tips, books, cd's, etc,
THANKS
" Please, No chemically-enhanced programs
...maybe some mental gymastics :idea:
One thing that really seems to work is if you're playing in a match make sure you keep your eyes on the table and balls even when you're not shooting. When your opponent is shooting watch the table don't look around the room. It sometimes produces an almost trance like state and often leads to playing better, at least in my experience.
Joe T
Well-known member
I totally agree and would just add when you're walking back to the chair avoid eye contact and anger, the trance will come.
Also I think these make for good investments and you do not have to know anything about golf;
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bob-Rotella-CD-Collection/dp/0743544773#
This is a decent book, fairly easy read: Pleasures of Small Motions: Mastering the Mental Game of Pocket Billiards Make sure you get the second edition version, if you get it.
I should actually get it out and reread it
I should actually get it out and reread it
Any tips, books, cd's, etc,
THANKS
" Please, No chemically-enhanced programs
...maybe some mental gymastics :idea:
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Boy I wish I knew the secret to this question. Of course searching the threads here will bring up all the standard recommended books and such i.e. the Inner Game of Tennis and The Pleasures of Small Motions. Both of which are tremendous reads and very helpful, but reading and being able to beckon and implement what is read is another thing all together.
IMHO there are far too many factors involved in answering such a complicated question and they differ for everyone. Some of the things that come to mind are ;
How many things outside of pool clutter your thoughts. Family, work, money, bills, kids, home repairs put on the back burner so you can play. These are factors that impede concentration on what is at hand.
Ability. The better a "base" player you are the more things you can leave to "auto pilot" which will allow you to focus on the things you have to in order to execute. It's impossible to think everything through in the time you stroke your shot, and how much experience, ability and feel you have will determine how deeply you can think.
Desire. How much PURE desire do you have to perform to you peak ability. Do you devote quality practice time to your efforts?
There are a ton more, I'm sure. But the point is, I think it's different for everybody and there isn't a blanket answer that one person can offer that will be a cure all.
IMHO there are far too many factors involved in answering such a complicated question and they differ for everyone. Some of the things that come to mind are ;
How many things outside of pool clutter your thoughts. Family, work, money, bills, kids, home repairs put on the back burner so you can play. These are factors that impede concentration on what is at hand.
Ability. The better a "base" player you are the more things you can leave to "auto pilot" which will allow you to focus on the things you have to in order to execute. It's impossible to think everything through in the time you stroke your shot, and how much experience, ability and feel you have will determine how deeply you can think.
Desire. How much PURE desire do you have to perform to you peak ability. Do you devote quality practice time to your efforts?
There are a ton more, I'm sure. But the point is, I think it's different for everybody and there isn't a blanket answer that one person can offer that will be a cure all.
Some ideas from your local, friendly, and retired psychologist.
I think this is a straightforward problem. The ability to concentrate intensely and the ability to maintain one’s concentration for extended periods of time are trainable abilities.
To learn to concentrate intensely use a technique that narrows your focus over time. For instance, begin to aim, really aim, while standing. Keep your eyes open and don’t blink as you bend over. Stare at the exact 1/32” contact point and become aware of its location relative to both sides, top and bottom of the ball. One way to do this is to cut the OB in half on the vertical axis, then on the horizontal axis and locate this point in the ball's space.
From the shooting position, become aware of the full length of the cue stick and its placement on the line. Become aware of the center of the CB and its position relative to the vertical and horizontal axis. Next become aware of where the front of the CB will strike the OB. If it is a cut shot requiring the use of the side of the CB become aware of where front center of the CB will be when it strikes the intended target. I have learned to use the cue stick to aim and also become aware of the cue tip placement relative to all of these centers.
All of these things require an increasing amount of intense concentration, especially when you throw inthe exact lines of travel. Practice this on every shot for ten or so shots. Over a period of a week or two and you will find that your ability to intensely concentrate will improve because you have trained for this ability.
To develop the ability to sustain this intense level of concentration extend the length of the training sessions by 10 minutes every few days until you can't take it any longer !
Intense concentration involves the ability to tune out other stimulation. You need to be able to trust yourself and the surrounding environment to the extent that you can allow yourself to “get lost” in the moment. Allow yourself to become aware of the idea that your attention is becoming more and more focused. That you are becoming less and less aware of the surrounding environment.
As you notice that your ability to intensely concentrate is incresing, you can throw in exact estimates of the CB lines of travel given various amounts of side spin. And there you have a life time of work / play.
PS. When I use this training method I train for 20 minutes and then take a break. The mind can only take so much intense concentration before it needs a rest. I am on a ten minute break now and will go and do it all over again. I try to have three sessions in one day when I use this training method. But I don't do it every day. I am now officially "old" and just like the mental exercise.
Semper Fi, There are no retired Marines, I served 1961 - 1965, Second Marine Air Wing.
I think this is a straightforward problem. The ability to concentrate intensely and the ability to maintain one’s concentration for extended periods of time are trainable abilities.
To learn to concentrate intensely use a technique that narrows your focus over time. For instance, begin to aim, really aim, while standing. Keep your eyes open and don’t blink as you bend over. Stare at the exact 1/32” contact point and become aware of its location relative to both sides, top and bottom of the ball. One way to do this is to cut the OB in half on the vertical axis, then on the horizontal axis and locate this point in the ball's space.
From the shooting position, become aware of the full length of the cue stick and its placement on the line. Become aware of the center of the CB and its position relative to the vertical and horizontal axis. Next become aware of where the front of the CB will strike the OB. If it is a cut shot requiring the use of the side of the CB become aware of where front center of the CB will be when it strikes the intended target. I have learned to use the cue stick to aim and also become aware of the cue tip placement relative to all of these centers.
All of these things require an increasing amount of intense concentration, especially when you throw inthe exact lines of travel. Practice this on every shot for ten or so shots. Over a period of a week or two and you will find that your ability to intensely concentrate will improve because you have trained for this ability.
To develop the ability to sustain this intense level of concentration extend the length of the training sessions by 10 minutes every few days until you can't take it any longer !
Intense concentration involves the ability to tune out other stimulation. You need to be able to trust yourself and the surrounding environment to the extent that you can allow yourself to “get lost” in the moment. Allow yourself to become aware of the idea that your attention is becoming more and more focused. That you are becoming less and less aware of the surrounding environment.
As you notice that your ability to intensely concentrate is incresing, you can throw in exact estimates of the CB lines of travel given various amounts of side spin. And there you have a life time of work / play.
PS. When I use this training method I train for 20 minutes and then take a break. The mind can only take so much intense concentration before it needs a rest. I am on a ten minute break now and will go and do it all over again. I try to have three sessions in one day when I use this training method. But I don't do it every day. I am now officially "old" and just like the mental exercise.
Semper Fi, There are no retired Marines, I served 1961 - 1965, Second Marine Air Wing.
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What JoeW said.
Hrm, I gotta admit I find these questions puzzling. I'm not trying to be too cute when I say this... but if you enjoy pool and you are competitive, then being able to concentrate ought to come automatically.
If you learn about the game (not the mental aspect but all the nitty gritty details like throw, tangent lines, force follow, whatever) then you will have a lot of little things to pay attention to. All those neat little details should absorb you and grab your attention. Each shot is like a little puzzle you have to solve. With all that stuff to think about, how can you be concentrating on anything else (unless someone or something is really being distracting... i.e. sharking or loud music)?
If you have trouble concentrating at the pool table, and nothing specific is distracting you, you may need to try some medication. I'm not being a smartass when I say this. I tried adderall for ADD a while ago and the first night on it I ran 3 racks in a row right off the bat (and a few more throughout the evening). The stuff works. I'm not on it anymore but in my experience.. you are not going to learn concentration from reading a book or watching a DVD.
All you really need is to care a lot about your shot and your leave. Your level of focus will be determined by how much you care.
If you learn about the game (not the mental aspect but all the nitty gritty details like throw, tangent lines, force follow, whatever) then you will have a lot of little things to pay attention to. All those neat little details should absorb you and grab your attention. Each shot is like a little puzzle you have to solve. With all that stuff to think about, how can you be concentrating on anything else (unless someone or something is really being distracting... i.e. sharking or loud music)?
If you have trouble concentrating at the pool table, and nothing specific is distracting you, you may need to try some medication. I'm not being a smartass when I say this. I tried adderall for ADD a while ago and the first night on it I ran 3 racks in a row right off the bat (and a few more throughout the evening). The stuff works. I'm not on it anymore but in my experience.. you are not going to learn concentration from reading a book or watching a DVD.
All you really need is to care a lot about your shot and your leave. Your level of focus will be determined by how much you care.
I have ADD myself and was on medication for it for a while. I don't remember what it was at the moment {wasn't adderall} but when I started taking it, my game improved almost overnight. I know that whatever it was eventually made me depressed and I stopped taking it and haven't replaced it for several years now. I wouldn't suggest taking any of that stuff unless it was with a doctor's recommendation.
Jesus, I knew a lot of guys who played on speed back in the day and some still do!
WOW! That helped me! Thanks!
Any tips, books, cd's, etc,
THANKS
" Please, No chemically-enhanced programs
...maybe some mental gymastics :idea:
Hello Duane,
Search in the the Wanted/For Sale forum for "Mind/Body Pool" and send me a PM with any questions.
If your serious about the mental game, get Pleasures of Small Motions. It's so in depth and profound that I can't give it justice in a message board post.
I'll try to shed a little light on the topic though. The word "concentrate" is derived from "concentric" meaning having a center. Your body - starting with your hand, then forearm, then upper arm and everything on your body - is what effects the outcome of a shot. How well you perform a shot is a function of how often you've performed it and your ability to recall it from your muscle memory. The ability to recall this information and "feel" a shot is vital to success. Therefore, if you want to improve your play, begin by recognizing the feelings that you associate with successful shots, establish this library of feelings and images in your brain. Then when it's required, you can pull them from your library and form a feed-forward image of you successfully completing the shot. Now it's up to your body to complete the task, let your subconscious mind take care of that part, no thinking allowed!
So there, concentrate on your body! Just be more aware of your body when your practicing, especially when you sucessfully execute.
Eric
I'll try to shed a little light on the topic though. The word "concentrate" is derived from "concentric" meaning having a center. Your body - starting with your hand, then forearm, then upper arm and everything on your body - is what effects the outcome of a shot. How well you perform a shot is a function of how often you've performed it and your ability to recall it from your muscle memory. The ability to recall this information and "feel" a shot is vital to success. Therefore, if you want to improve your play, begin by recognizing the feelings that you associate with successful shots, establish this library of feelings and images in your brain. Then when it's required, you can pull them from your library and form a feed-forward image of you successfully completing the shot. Now it's up to your body to complete the task, let your subconscious mind take care of that part, no thinking allowed!
So there, concentrate on your body! Just be more aware of your body when your practicing, especially when you sucessfully execute.
Eric
An exact estimate?!?
It's exactly almost 100 dollars? How do exact estimates work?
\Just sayin...
Here's a trick I sometimes use. It can annoy others, but your not concerned about their concentration (and they are certainly not concerned about yours!)
Cost: $0.25
Item: Ear Plugs!
Take one significant stimuli out of the equation, and you mind is better able to focus the others. Like how blind people have amazing hearing- the other senses pick up the slack.
Give it a try!:wink:
Cost: $0.25
Item: Ear Plugs!
Take one significant stimuli out of the equation, and you mind is better able to focus the others. Like how blind people have amazing hearing- the other senses pick up the slack.
Give it a try!:wink:
Howard Ikeda, a very good road player told me to keep my eyes on the table and the balls even when my opponent is at the table because it helps keep your eyes focused on the object balls and that it helps keep you in stroke. It has led to better playing for me too.
JoeyA
I like the advice and will try some of this. God knows I need to increase my level of concentration.
JoeyA
Nah! I'm going to go borrow a nephew's 7 year old hyper-active son and bring him with me to the pool hall while I practice and gamble. That'll whip me into shape, fo' shizzle.
JoeyA
