The Zone
- Thread starter Yoda4962
- Start date
You'll get more answers in the Main Forum. In fact there's a recent thread there on this very topic: Directions to The Zone?
Some good ideas there.
pj
chgo
lol, I was about to post the same thing but then realized that the Main Forum has become such a wasteland of inane topics that he might just be better off asking his question here.
Lou Figueroa
I've been working on expanding the Zone so that I'm all ways in it, even away from the table.
There are several ways I have been doing this. I've started doing knife sharpening using a slow speed wet grinder and putting custom handle material in knives. The same level of attention to detail is needed as when shooting pool. When you are buffing out a sharp knife, you can not be any here else or bad things happen real quick.
Coming up with different handle designs requires me to be creative, to stop and think about what I have to do next. Even tho the steps maybe similar from knife to knife, each one is different. Kinda like shots in pool.
I try to do this ion everything I do from washing dishes to shooting pool. This and also putting in over 1850 hours last year has helped me to be "in the zone" from the get go and I can since early when I'm wondering out of it and can return quite easy because of what I do outside of pool.
But hey, I'm just a banger working hard on my game and not reliving glory days.
There are several ways I have been doing this. I've started doing knife sharpening using a slow speed wet grinder and putting custom handle material in knives. The same level of attention to detail is needed as when shooting pool. When you are buffing out a sharp knife, you can not be any here else or bad things happen real quick.
Coming up with different handle designs requires me to be creative, to stop and think about what I have to do next. Even tho the steps maybe similar from knife to knife, each one is different. Kinda like shots in pool.
I try to do this ion everything I do from washing dishes to shooting pool. This and also putting in over 1850 hours last year has helped me to be "in the zone" from the get go and I can since early when I'm wondering out of it and can return quite easy because of what I do outside of pool.
But hey, I'm just a banger working hard on my game and not reliving glory days.
Living Legend
Banned
can you actually run a rack of 8 or 9 ball?
Champ:
That's an invalid question, because Greg himself will tell you he "graduated" to 14.1.
-Sean
P.S.: notice the "and not reliving glory days" part. Obviously a bang on CJ.
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Good point, duckie. My experience is similar to yours. One of the pool-related things I do is cue repairs. In earlier days of performing this service for money it was very distracting to have a customer looking over my shoulder and asking me questions while I was working on his/her cue. Over time, I learned how to answer the questions and fade the distraction all at the same time. It was necessary to learn to do this in order to keep my fingers attached and keep my customers coming back, as well.
Learning that skill then transferred over to my pool game. I discovered that being in "the zone" largely means having true focus. And I'm not talking about focusing with the mind, I'm talking about focusing with the eyes. If you always keep your eyes on your work, it's much easier to keep the bulk of your mental attention there, too.
Watch the great players. Their eyes almost never leave the table; even when they're not the one shooting.
Roger
You want to be in the zone on everything you do, even washing dishes? You and I are quite different, duckie.
The zone entrance can be your personal tempo. Sometimes playing about 10% faster than usual builds rhythm. Be conscious for a while of your chalking and other rhythms also.
And at the risk of sounding cliche, develop a good stroke. Some amateurs hit the zone because they stumble upon proper mechanics for a session and then "it's gone next time at the table".
I always play well and then the zone looms nearer when I'm concentrating on subtleties at the table.
And at the risk of sounding cliche, develop a good stroke. Some amateurs hit the zone because they stumble upon proper mechanics for a session and then "it's gone next time at the table".
I always play well and then the zone looms nearer when I'm concentrating on subtleties at the table.
The be in the *Zone* cannot be planned. You just can practice methods and sharpen every skill as good as you can- and if all comes together, you will hopefully be sometime *in the zone*.
You practice VERY VERY concentrated=concsious to work something out. Until this skill is gettin bulletproofed. At some point you ll have the ability to use *this skill* subconcsious- Then you can reach perhaps the goal- and this is to be some day in *the flow*.
The Flow is the goal!
Zone, or as other call it *flow* is definitley not something you can 100% plan. If someone is really interested in this stuff, he should read for example some stuff from Nideffer- he has some good stuff to read.
There are many books about the mental game- from many people.
But this stuff is also sometimes complicated- Not everything works for every person.
If you would try to make *relaxing methods* for example- here a knowledged mental trainer would always offer you different methods because every person is individual-on cannot fit for all!
It s a long journey to get to this point. Some are practicing years or decades to reach this point. So it s not that easy like sometimes ppl name it
This is the reason i tell usually every student immediatley to forget *about the zone*. One step after the other. You need a high standard of physical skills, before starting with real hard and special mental training. Mental training can help for sure also in other parts of your life- but this stuff should be explained and taught by knowledged people. That s my strong opinion.
lg
Ingo
You practice VERY VERY concentrated=concsious to work something out. Until this skill is gettin bulletproofed. At some point you ll have the ability to use *this skill* subconcsious- Then you can reach perhaps the goal- and this is to be some day in *the flow*.
The Flow is the goal!
Zone, or as other call it *flow* is definitley not something you can 100% plan. If someone is really interested in this stuff, he should read for example some stuff from Nideffer- he has some good stuff to read.
There are many books about the mental game- from many people.
But this stuff is also sometimes complicated- Not everything works for every person.
If you would try to make *relaxing methods* for example- here a knowledged mental trainer would always offer you different methods because every person is individual-on cannot fit for all!
It s a long journey to get to this point. Some are practicing years or decades to reach this point. So it s not that easy like sometimes ppl name it
This is the reason i tell usually every student immediatley to forget *about the zone*. One step after the other. You need a high standard of physical skills, before starting with real hard and special mental training. Mental training can help for sure also in other parts of your life- but this stuff should be explained and taught by knowledged people. That s my strong opinion.
lg
Ingo
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Reclaim your natural rhythm and speed of movement. Slow down, but do not stop. Follow through and relax your mind. Think of happy times when you were in the zone. Remember the feeling and focus on it. Visualize the shot as if you have already made it. Stay down after the shot is done and continue until the ball is down before moving on. Project your confidence to yourself before others and believe it. Imagine yourself to be the greatest of your favorite players and pretend it is they who take your shot.... Now do it. If you miss, remember - no great player ever has their game on always.
??
How does this help to scratch less or stay in the zone?
pj
chgo
Observe, and DO NOT Judge and your thoughts will not work against you
Observe the Breathing....Observe the Situation....Observe the Moment
Observe the Breathing....Observe the Situation....Observe the Moment
I agree with this !
I have noticed that concentrating on very small details, like sharpening a knife, tends to put me into a zone-like state !
I have noticed that concentrating on very small details, like sharpening a knife, tends to put me into a zone-like state !
The Not judging part is very interesting.
I will have to work on this technique, and will let you know the outcome.
I will have to work on this technique, and will let you know the outcome.
Banks
Banned
Never really made the connection until just now, but I've played around him for a bit now.. maybe I'll pick up a copy, give it a read and ask him for his autograph. :grin:
Tell him about AzB. Maybe he'll drop in.
pj <- like "Pleasures of Small Motions" too
chgo