The SUN

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
Yeah, I'm talking about the one in the sky.

Many years ago one of our best local players told me one of his "secrets" of playing pool well. (People are always telling me pool secrets. I don't know why but I guess I'm easy to talk to and they know I like to know the pool "secrets".)

This one is a little "out there" but it is one he shared very genuinely. Mike told me that he was a great shot maker because he spent more time in the sun than most players. He claimed that when he spent a few hours in the sun, that same day he could count on his game being picked up a notch, especially his ability to "see" the balls more clearly.

Now I know that we can obtain some Vitamin D from being exposed to the sun's UV rays and you can get a little more D from other sources but not that many.

The reason I wrote this thread is that I had an incredible match Saturday night where I played some of the best pool I have played in over a year. This came after spending several hours in the sun, taking a two hour nap and then starting the match. This brought back memories of Mike's words to me and while I often thought that he was one of those "far out" kind of guys, I was able to "see" the balls better than normal. I just wonder if the sun had anything to do with it or maybe it was the stars that had aligned themselves just right for me?
Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated. Has anyone ever heard anything similar to this?

And yeah, you can poke some fun at me if you like especially if it will make you feel better about yourself. :wink:
 
You're not as dumb as you look! :eek:
Actually Joey gives us some inside info from time to time, maybe just as valuable as taking a deep breath before a difficult shot. One other little secret is that if you have to play an early match, get up early and exercise for thirty minutes or so (a brisk walk outside is good). You'll now be ready to play.
 
I do get affected by the weather, and I have a record of playing poorly when it's stormy, cloudy, etc... but when it's a nice day, sunny outside, and i get some outdoor time, i do tend to play a little better, so... maybe it just depends on what type of person you are.
 
I don't know about the sun but the idea that the full moon brings out the crazies is accepted as fact in many circles. One idea that has been suggested it that there is more light for crime commission. But some cops will swear there is more to it than available light. Hmm, I wonder if there is a realtionship to pool.


I tend to agree with Jay. If I don't swim three or four tims a week I don't play as well.
 
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On a more serious note, here is is some of what is known about the sun and its effect on the body

"Some people become more depressed in the winter months when days are shorter and darker. The sun and bright light seem to trigger a response to a brain hormone known as melatonin (produced by the pineal gland), which is, in part, responsible for preventing the "blues." Stay in brightly-lit rooms on dark days. Research reveals that two hours of morning sun is very effective in lifting depression. The evening light had comparatively little results. "

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/TheSeer/seratonin.html

There are lights available for people have have what is known as S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder) and the "light therapy" is sometimes perscribed for the treament of some types of depression.

People in mid life (and past it) can benefit from this type of lighting as a desk lamp for reading the morning news, etc. Here is one of many links

http://www.sadlight.com/

Here is a more serious link to what the Mayo Clinic has to say.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/light-therapy/MY00195
 
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JoeyA said:
Yeah, I'm talking about the one in the sky.

Many years ago one of our best local players told me one of his "secrets" of playing pool well. (People are always telling me pool secrets. I don't know why but I guess I'm easy to talk to and they know I like to know the pool "secrets".)

This one is a little "out there" but it is one he shared very genuinely. Mike told me that he was a great shot maker because he spent more time in the sun than most players. He claimed that when he spent a few hours in the sun, that same day he could count on his game being picked up a notch, especially his ability to "see" the balls more clearly.

Now I know that we can obtain some Vitamin D from being exposed to the sun's UV rays and you can get a little more D from other sources but not that many.

The reason I wrote this thread is that I had an incredible match Saturday night where I played some of the best pool I have played in over a year. This came after spending several hours in the sun, taking a two hour nap and then starting the match. This brought back memories of Mike's words to me and while I often thought that he was one of those "far out" kind of guys, I was able to "see" the balls better than normal. I just wonder if the sun had anything to do with it or maybe it was the stars that had aligned themselves just right for me?
Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated. Has anyone ever heard anything similar to this?

And yeah, you can poke some fun at me if you like especially if it will make you feel better about yourself. :wink:
Click to expand...

Not so crazy. I went to see a specialist in head injuries once because I was having trouble concentrating and keeping on task. She told me that our brain actually has a chemical whose production is stimulated by absorbing light through the skin of our forehead. This chemical helps us focus and regulate our moods. Not vitamin 'D' I don't think.

Anyway, her theory was that since I have a metal plate in my head which partially covers the area that it was interfering with the light absorption. Plus I have nasty scars so I wear a hat a lot and work inside mostly.

She took a strong flashlight, had me closely eyes and shone it on the area between my eyes while gently rubbing that area to stimulate blood flow. It sounds kooky but it really made a difference in my performance in my work. I also started taking some other brain supplements and found a way out of the darkness that gripped me for almost ten years. You can read more about my journey in an old thread of mine i'll try to find the link but I'm getting on a plane in a few minutes. EDIT: here's the link to the other thread.
~rc
 
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So I should hang out by the pool at the Circus-Circus , and then take a brisk walk to the tournament room at the Riviera ? Funny , but I've been doing it that way for years . . . . .
Didn't know I was doing it to improve my game . . . .
 
JoeyA said:
Yeah, I'm talking about the one in the sky.

Many years ago one of our best local players told me one of his "secrets" of playing pool well. (People are always telling me pool secrets. I don't know why but I guess I'm easy to talk to and they know I like to know the pool "secrets".)

This one is a little "out there" but it is one he shared very genuinely. Mike told me that he was a great shot maker because he spent more time in the sun than most players. He claimed that when he spent a few hours in the sun, that same day he could count on his game being picked up a notch, especially his ability to "see" the balls more clearly.

Now I know that we can obtain some Vitamin D from being exposed to the sun's UV rays and you can get a little more D from other sources but not that many.

The reason I wrote this thread is that I had an incredible match Saturday night where I played some of the best pool I have played in over a year. This came after spending several hours in the sun, taking a two hour nap and then starting the match. This brought back memories of Mike's words to me and while I often thought that he was one of those "far out" kind of guys, I was able to "see" the balls better than normal. I just wonder if the sun had anything to do with it or maybe it was the stars that had aligned themselves just right for me?
Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated. Has anyone ever heard anything similar to this?

And yeah, you can poke some fun at me if you like especially if it will make you feel better about yourself. :wink:
Click to expand...


Joey I think you may be on to something, I mow my mom's yard & mine on everyother Wednesday, I play a pool tournament on Thursday nights, so the Wednesday I mow the yard and get some sun that Thursday night I play great, have won or placed many times, ...........

now I have a tournament I play in on Tuesday nights, and have never won, only placed once, so maybe gettting some sun that day or playing soon after helps with eyes, focus, energy level, and overal well being.


David Harcrow
 
Good thread Joey.

It may have something to do with the eyes.I noticed that I play better if I spend the day outdoors and then play at night or in a pool room that has no windows.
 
stljohnny said:
I do get affected by the weather, and I have a record of playing poorly when it's stormy, cloudy, etc... but when it's a nice day, sunny outside, and i get some outdoor time, i do tend to play a little better, so... maybe it just depends on what type of person you are.
Click to expand...

Maybe so.

JoeW said:
I don't know about the sun but the idea that the full moon brings out the crazies is accepted as fact in many circles. One idea that has been suggested it that there is more light for crime commission. But some cops will swear there is more to it than available light. Hmm, I wonder if there is a realtionship to pool.

I tend to agree with Jay. If I don't swim three or four tims a week I don't play as well.
Click to expand...

So Joe, I don't know what you are getting at but if you are suggesting I am crazy, I would appreciate it if you would let me know if there was full moon on Saturday/Sunday of this past week. If you knew that there was a full moon I guess I can conclude that it is your professional opinion that I am crazy.:grin:

sixpack said:
Not so crazy. I went to see a specialist in head injuries once because I was having trouble concentrating and keeping on task. She told me that our brain actually has a chemical whose production is stimulated by absorbing light through the skin of our forehead. This chemical helps us focus and regulate our moods. Not vitamin 'D' I don't think.

Anyway, her theory was that since I have a metal plate in my head which partially covers the area that it was interfering with the light absorption. Plus I have nasty scars so I wear a hat a lot and work inside mostly.

She took a strong flashlight, had me closely eyes and shone it on the area between my eyes while gently rubbing that area to stimulate blood flow. It sounds kooky but it really made a difference in my performance in my work. I also started taking some other brain supplements and found a way out of the darkness that gripped me for almost ten years. You can read more about my journey in an old thread of mine i'll try to find the link but I'm getting on a plane in a few minutes. EDIT: here's the link to the other thread.
~rc
Click to expand...
Thanks, I;m going to read up on that thread. Hope you put the supplements in there. If not PM them over for me, Joe thinks I'm crazy.

catpool9 said:
Joey I think you may be on to something, I mow my mom's yard & mine on everyother Wednesday, I play a pool tournament on Thursday nights, so the Wednesday I mow the yard and get some sun that Thursday night I play great, have won or placed many times, ...........

now I have a tournament I play in on Tuesday nights, and have never won, only placed once, so maybe gettting some sun that day or playing soon after helps with eyes, focus, energy level, and overal well being.


David Harcrow
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That proves it David. I am going to package up this pool tip and sell it to all of the AZBers for $100. Thanks!

smoooothstroke said:
Good thread Joey.

It may have something to do with the eyes.I noticed that I play better if I spend the day outdoors and then play at night or in a pool room that has no windows.
Click to expand...

You too, huh. Don't worry it's not something in the water. We are all from different parts of the country.

SUNSHINE HERE I COME, WHITE SKIN AND ALL.
(Oh BTW, I did not use much sunscreen and was sunburned a bit but no blisters just in case some of you are going ride my coatails to victory.) :yes:
 
Sunny P.I.

Jay - Doesn't the sun shine alot in the P.I. ? :smile:

That should tell us something about pool...

R.L.
 
I take both Vitamin D & Cod Liver Oil everyday, so in effect I get my dose of A and double D (mmm, double D's... oh wait...) What were we talking about?

Oh yeah, suntanned double D's ...
drooling-homer.gif


One cold shower later ...

Yes SAD can affect more than your game it can ruin your life, not just your ability to play sports well. I think the mood improvement is the biggest help here. Bad attitude and hence, "I'm not good enough to make this shot" self-talk lead to poor performance as your body tries to give you what you're thinking about most. If you want to miss, you probably will. But the exposure to UV can counter that. When you feel good, when you don't worry about making the shot because it's already in the pot as far as your mind is concerned, you will usually make it.

When you find yourself in that situation ask this question: Would I let someone else talk to me the way I talk to myself? If the answer is no, there is an adjustment to be made.
 
Well you slipped through the cracks again. The new moon is today at 1700 or so. Maybe the dark of the moon --- :rolleyes:
 
JoeW said:
I don't know about the sun but the idea that the full moon brings out the crazies is accepted as fact in many circles. One idea that has been suggested it that there is more light for crime commission. But some cops will swear there is more to it than available light. Hmm, I wonder if there is a realtionship to pool.


I tend to agree with Jay. If I don't swim three or four tims a week I don't play as well.
Click to expand...

Just go to any hospital ER on a full moon and tell me there is not a little more to it than more light that day. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Just go to any hospital ER on a full moon and tell me there is not a little more to it than more light that day. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Yeah, I kinda agree. We did a comparison of newspaper articles and moon phases one time and there were more strange things during the full moon. But the results were not definitive so there are only those who work with the crazies and those who study.
Here is a reference by some other folks
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1444800/

They seem to think it might be gravitational pull of the moon and that is stronger in Louisiana -- right :eek:
 
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I was a charge nurse for a 24 resident Alzeimer's unit for a few years. The residents that were violent every day were calm and gentle on full moon while a lot of the residents that never were a problem got violent and hard to handle on full moon.
My wife was an ER nurse long before I became one. She use to come home on full moon and tell me the whole ER was full of wacko's. I use to roll my eyes and tell her the moon had nothing to do with it until I became a nurse and had to deal with it first hand.
Most of the time I'd laugh at this sun thread, but it could be true. Johnnyt
 
Yeah,

I've heard that with the moon it affects peoples moods because it has something to do with the moons distance from the Earth.....thus having an effect with the tides....maybe it affects the gravitational pull ever so slightly which has an effect on our body....I think I remember hearing that somewhere. :frown:

my secret is that I watch Earl Strickland on a DVD...a few hours before the local tournament and it always helps with my pattern play.
 
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