Improving Mental Focus

FranCrimi said:
I think it depends on the level of the player and how confident they are in their mechanics. If you're working on your stroke and it hasn't yet become a habit, then it would not be a good idea to not think about it in competition. Your unconscious mind is liable to cause you to revert back to your old stroke. I've seen it happen over and over again with students who revert back to their old strokes without even realizing it and then wonder what happened.
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I would consider myself an A- player (high runs are 6 racks in 9-ball and 91 in straights), and one of the biggest problems I have in competition is a tendency to overthink ball speed as opposed to letting it happen. Conversely, when I just visualize the shot and trust my arm I get there much more often. Your thoughts ? What's the best direction I can go to improve on this?
 
Thoughts to shoot by...

So I am thinking I will use the following thoughts/steps as I shoot.

1. Decide
2. Sight it in
3. Set it up
4. Settle in
5. Ease it back
6. See the collision
7. Enjoy the moment

I have used steps 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 for quite a while (15+ years). Via sessions with a guy in OKC I found I tend to shoot to quickly after setting up on the shot. So I hope adding extra thoughts/steps will slow me down a bit. As I look at what I had been using, it is obvious now why I shot too quickly...I built that habit!

I feel like I should have something between 5 and 6 to promote a better finish to the stroke. I am thinking of using 'finish' but it seems to vague to me. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Ken
 
Okie said:
I feel like I should have something between 5 and 6 to promote a better finish to the stroke. I am thinking of using 'finish' but it seems to vague to me. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Ken
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My word to myself is "freeze", it's monosyllabic so since that connection between the conscious and subconscious is so tenuous the shorter the message the better (IMHO) and it’s easier for me to "inner visualize" therefore a stronger signal in the 1st place.
 
PGHteacher said:
My word to myself is "freeze", it's monosyllabic so since that connection between the conscious and subconscious is so tenuous the shorter the message the better (IMHO) and it’s easier for me to "inner visualize" therefore a stronger signal in the 1st place.
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I had to look up monosyllabic...and agree. Makes sense. Thanks!

So I understand clearly...

You use freeze as the thought before your forward stroke? Or you are giving an example of a one syllable word?
 
Okie said:
I had to look up monosyllabic...and agree. Makes sense. Thanks!

So I understand clearly...

You use freeze as the thought before your forward stroke? Or you are giving an example of a one syllable word?
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Yes and it is automatic now "freeze" comes into my mind during my delivery stroke I dont have to "make it happen" it just does now. Took a bit but it was worth it.
 
VIProfessor said:
I would consider myself an A- player (high runs are 6 racks in 9-ball and 91 in straights), and one of the biggest problems I have in competition is a tendency to overthink ball speed as opposed to letting it happen. Conversely, when I just visualize the shot and trust my arm I get there much more often. Your thoughts ? What's the best direction I can go to improve on this?
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Well, I'm wondering how you can run 91 and still call it 'straights.' But nonetheless, if you're an A player then I would say you've done your homework and you should just relax and trust your subconscious to do what you've trained it to do. I'd say yes definitely to visualizing and then trusting yourself. Keep doing that. It takes training.

If things start to go wrong then you have to go conscious again to try to figure out what the problem is but if you know yourself and your game it shouldn't take too long to find the problem.
 
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Okie said:
Does anyone have some good tips on how to improve mental focus?
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:grin:

Get yourself a copy of Dr. Bob Rotella's book - Golf is Not A Game of Perfect - there's a lot of great stuff in there - I think that you will get a lot out of it.

:smile:
 
Blackjack said:
:grin:

Get yourself a copy of Dr. Bob Rotella's book - Golf is Not A Game of Perfect - there's a lot of great stuff in there - I think that you will get a lot out of it.

:smile:
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Who the heck is Blackjack?!?!?! :P

For those interested...

Reading this book and refreshing what I had forgotten over the years has revitalized me as both a player and instructor!!

Thank you David for keeping after me! Maybe one day we will freak out all those who think 50 is too old to get better at cuesports!

Staying in the present!

Ken
 
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