Mental derailment

In that case, you have the biggest hurdle accomplished. The whole purpose of practicing the fundamentals, is to make them automatic. So you don't HAVE to think about them. You have simply thought about them so much, that you have made thinking about them a part of your process.

You must know by know that thinking about them while trying to do them, will make you mess them up. Which is exactly why you are having the problems you do. Now, all you have to do is to learn to trust yourself. You KNOW how to do it right, so quit TRYING to do it right. Trust your mind to know what to do, and just focus on the spot you want to hit the ball. LET your mind control your body, just like you do when you walk. Let your subconscious mind shoot the shot, you just tell it what you want done, and then trust it.

Try practicing without thinking at all and see what happens. Just look at the ball, tell yourself to make it, and shoot. Don't allow ANY thoughts in your head.

At times, I will start playing less than I feel I should. At those points, I look at my fundamentals AFTER the shot to see what I am doing wrong. Invariably, it is dropping my elbow due to years of bad habits. When that creeps in, I don't consciously think about not dropping my elbow. I just tell my self to keep my elbow still, and then go about shooting. Pretty soon, I am back on track. However, if I consciously am aware to not drop my elbow, then my focus is on the wrong thing, and I will probably screw up something else.

You have to play like a well oiled machine, and the conscious can not do that, not for long anyways. You have to learn to trust your subconscious mind.

I do try this and before I realize it I am thinking again. I hope the book I ordered helps. Next I will try a Labotamy.
 
Hahaha, I think everyone gets a bit of the inner chatter. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger buddy. Theres lots of us out there in the same boat.
Whenever I start missing shots, I start thinking and can attribute it to, popping up, my stroke, jacking up the cue etc. Its difficult to step up to the table and remember everything.

I try to have a mental checklist. One thing that I was told as of late and try to do is breathing. As I go thru my pre shot strokes I get my breathing in control. As I go back for my final stroke before I pull the trigger, I exhale and keep my body still and pull the trigger. Give it a try, it can't hurt.

I am going to do away with the pre shot routine and try to do whatever natural on every shot. I hope I don't make a mess on the floor:D
 
Well ya know, sometimes when I feel too pressured to win for my team and I'm messing up large, I just say screw it. I play it like I'm playing for fun and it don't matter.
 
Hi there,
First: good choice with Bob Fancher s book- you re doing yourself a big favor reading it :)
Further, it s always good to work on your fundamentals- but when you practice alone don t do this too long. it s really enough when you re workin 10 minutes or so on technical fundamentals.
Some ppl just forget to *play the game*. The mental parts will just come thru playin competition, tournaments, league etc.
Imo many women and men are killing their abilities because they re creating so much pressure....so that at the end they re loosing the fun.
Have fun! This is a really important thing mate- when you re not having fun it lll make not really sense to drill like crazy.
Search for a nice qualified instructor-he can help you for sure with your *negative minds*.
Structured training is not that easy to create- having fun is much more easier my friend :) let you help from the *good* guys ^^

lg from overseas,

ingo
 
try this.

How do we elicit the relaxation response?

There are many ways to elicit the physiologic benefits of the relaxation response. The easiest is with a simple two-step method as follows:

1. Focus on a word or phrase that has a positive meaning to you. Such words as "one," "love" and "peace" work well. Effective phrases might also include "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," "God grant me serenity," or "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."

2. When you find your mind has wandered or you notice any intrusive thoughts entering your mind, simply disregard them and return your focus to the word or phrase you chose.

Be aware that your mind will tend to wander and intrusive thoughts will enter your mind. This is normal. Just allow those thoughts to pass through your mind like a summer breeze passes through an open window. The second step above is related to our ability to "let go" of intrusive thoughts or excessive worries. Dr. Benson says "to summon the healing effects of the relaxation response, you need to surrender everyday worries and tensions." This gets our harried minds out of the way of our body’s natural ability to heal. It’s funny to watch the tricks our mind plays on us. It will try to tell us things like: "This is stupid, why am I sitting here doing this?" "I hope no one sees me here meditating." "This will never work." "That’s it, I’m going to quit now." When you realize your mind has wandered, just let go of the thought and return back to your word or phrase!

Remember, whether your mind wanders or your thoughts drift, simply practicing the two steps above will elicit the relaxation response and deliver beneficial physiologic and emotional benefits as predictably as flipping a light switch causes the light bulb to shine.

The key to deriving the benefits of the relaxation response is to practice it daily. Dr. Benson recommends at least 10 to 15 minutes, once to twice a day. This will produce the maximum benefit. When I first learned this technique from Dr. Benson’s, I remember him telling us his dental analogy. He told us to treat the relaxation response the same way you treat brushing your teeth. Do it because you know it is good for you. Don’t worry whether you think you had a "good relaxation response" or not. You wouldn’t say to yourself: "That was a good tooth brushing!" would you? Whether you "felt" it was a calming, relaxing experience or not, the physiologic benefits of doing the relaxation response are measurable, predictable and repeatable. The quieting of the mind that results from eliciting the relaxation response is critical in order to open up our perceptual world, away from negativity and fear. This freedom allows us to be more awake, more aware and more conscious of the attitudes and beliefs we choose when living our daily lives.
 
Not practicing the right way is what is wrong. I worry too much about staying down and things like that. I am not letting my subconscious learn anything when I am forcing myself to do certain things like staying down and stroking straight etc. I know as much about pool as any instructor in the world. I have been playing since I was 13 and now almost 40. I have read countless books and videos on all aspects of pool. I don't know how an instructor do but add fuel to the fire trying to teach me to do it his way. I have taped myself and everything is pretty sound in the fundamentals dept. It is the mental part I am talking about. I let the fundamentals fog my subconscious

"Learn to focus."
"I CAN'T learn to focus."

"Learn to focus."
"I CAN'T learn to focus."

"Learn to focus."
"I CAN'T learn to focus." >>>>infinity...

You have been told several times in several different ways
what the problem is.

What answer is it you are looking for?

IMHO no one can tell you how to change your situation.

What is the probability you are ADD? Do you experience symptoms
in other aspects of your life - esp competition?

Dale<registered arm chair Psychologist>
 
"Learn to focus."
"I CAN'T learn to focus."

"Learn to focus."
"I CAN'T learn to focus."

"Learn to focus."
"I CAN'T learn to focus." >>>>infinity...

You have been told several times in several different ways
what the problem is.

What answer is it you are looking for?

IMHO no one can tell you how to change your situation.

What is the probability you are ADD? Do you experience symptoms
in other aspects of your life - esp competition?

Dale<registered arm chair Psychologist>

Matter of fact I do have a few problems that I don't want to go into on here. I take my medication daily.
 
Then you already have all the answers.
Just fix it!

Steve

I didn't mean to sound like a know it all. I just beleive after playing so long getting lessons in my situation may be more harmful than good. I will try anything. When I was young before wife and kids my dream was to compete in the us open. To one day play at that level. Not really the world champ, but that caliber. Now I am on disability and have time to try to live my dream. I guess that folks at that level have a special talent that I do not. I thought if I worked really hard I could make up for the short commings in my game and or talent.
 
I had been playing pool for over 30 years before I went to my first pool school. I really thought I might pick up a couple of good tips.
What I learned changed my entire game.

We don't know what we don't know.

My point is, if you really had the answers, you wouldn't have needed to start this thread. If you aren't happy with the way things are, you are going to have to change something. If you keep doing what you have always done, don't expect different results.

Steve
 
I think there becomes a point at a certain skill level that the mental part of the game is a bigger part of your game than anything else. That point/skill level is different for everybody. I think we all can remember times when we were just breaking that first rack of balls for the day to get in stroke. How many times have you ran them out w/o a miss not even thinking of doing it. That stae of mind is what we all are looking for all the time. I've be playing for almost 60 years and I've never been able to have that mindset when I want/need it. Put a few hundred on a set and very rarely was I able to keep the demons at bay for the whole set.
The only times I played like I want to are when I had money to burn that I didn't really earn. Like winnings from the dogtrack, horse track, or some ilegal gains. Then I would look for Buddy or Steve Cook and get the best spot I could and let the chips fly. When I didn't care about the money and knew I was the dog I played some of the best pool of my life. Of course I didn't win from them often, but most of the time I played as good as I could play. Mental is huge. Johnnyt

Without question the mental component of the game is huge! Pool is defined as a precision, non-reactive sport and, as such, a premium is placed on focus, visualization and anxiety/tension management. We can develop the capacity to stay more in the present and when that happens our mind is more apt to "get out of the way" and let the body do what it knows how to do.
 
Matter of fact I do have a few problems that I don't want to go into on here. I take my medication daily.

No need to go into specifics. I thought I reconized something in your
replies. Turns out I have a friend who has a very similar situation.

I tried for years to explain to him you can't think about anything
while you are executing - all to no avail.

Unlike you, he just refuses to practice, so you may have a better chance.

A word about practice - I have no idea what your approach is, but many
players seem to think that banging balls around with no goal nor plan,
constitutes practice. Technically, I suppose it does - but is of limitted value.

My advise for you would be to develop a highly structured routine
that emphasises fundamentals, pocketing, cue ball control, all as
separate components. You might even want to work on fundamentals
without any balls on the table.

The goal is to be able to shoot without thinking about anything...EVER.

IMHO - you must learn how to block out thoughts about
stroke, stance, etc... Untill you can do that, I don't think you can improve.

Dale
 
Last edited:
No need to go into specifics. I thought I reconized something in your
replies. Turns out I have a friend who has a very similar situation.

I tried for years to explain to him you can't think about anything
while you are executing - all to no avail.

Unlike you, he just refuses to practice, so you may have a better chance.

A word about practice - I have no idea what your approach is, but many
players seem to think that banging balls around with no goal nor plan,
constitutes practice. Technically, I suppose it does - but is of limitted value.

My advise for you would be to develop a highly structured routine
that emphasises fundamentals, pocketing, cue ball control, all as
separate components. You might even want to work on fundamentals
without any balls on the table.

The goal is to be able to shoot without thinking about anything...EVER.

IMHO - you must learn how to block out thoughts about
stroke, stance, etc... Untill you can do that, I don't think you can improve.

Dale

My practice goes like this. I will shoot some drills then I will just throw out some balls and shoot then I rack 9 ball and break them play safe on myself or run out etc. I rotate when I get bored. I love to play no matter with or without someone so I like to practice and work on things by myself. I am looking for better ways to practice to improve faster.The whole time I play I try not to think, soon as I miss the demon comes back.
 
My practice goes like this. I will shoot some drills then I will just throw out some balls and shoot then I rack 9 ball and break them play safe on myself or run out etc. I rotate when I get bored. I love to play no matter with or without someone so I like to practice and work on things by myself. I am looking for better ways to practice to improve faster.The whole time I play I try not to think, soon as I miss the demon comes back.

All this sounds VERY familiar.

First - you care WAY too much about missing - especially in practice.
So, you need a much more structured approach to practice

Why in the world would you think you should never miss?
Even top players miss.
I would just about bet you don't know how to tell the difference
between a shot you should make, and one you shouldn't expect to make.

Dale
 
Is that you in your avatar? If yes then you might need to get qualified instructor assistance in modifying your fundamentals. Weak fundamentals break down more easily under pressure and cause lots of misses.
 
Is that you in your avatar? If yes then you might need to get qualified instructor assistance in modifying your fundamentals. Weak fundamentals break down more easily under pressure and cause lots of misses.

That is my 6 year old in the pic, standing on a milk crate to play. I just don't have the mental make up to play pool. The harder I try the worse I do. I think it is time I give up on pool again.
 
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