That is precisely my point. "Trying" is not proper focus IMO. I think the definition of "trying to hard" is letting your conscious mind override your subconscious on HOW to execute.
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When you focus, do you shoot and play better pool?
- Thread starter Lock N Load
- Start date
That is precisely my point. "Trying" is not proper focus IMO. I think the definition of "trying to hard" is letting your conscious mind override your subconscious on HOW to execute.
Everyone's opinion of what should happen counts. But, it is their own opinion and theirs only. We all think and focus different. I have expressed my thoughts on this thread and the matter at hand in this thread.
If you just shoot shots and do not focus, maybe you can play good that way.
I in turn walk around the table and look at the shot at hand most of the time. not that I need to, but I am thinking of more than one shot ahead. This being said, then I focus differently than you do. It is not even a matter of right or wrong either. Just simply put, different.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Focus is great at times, depending on what you are focused on. When I am focused on winning the game and really trying to win I don't do so good.
I play a lot better when I am relaxed, play the table, focus on making the ball and having another shot.
Some of the best run outs I have had was while I was talking to the person I was playing about something non game related and just walking around the table shooting the balls as they came. When this happens I am relaxed, shooting smoothly and shape seems to be automatic.
This is a good thread LNL. Maybe some others will think about times when they were shooting there best and relate what they were doing at the time.
I thank you PC for your kind words about my thread. Exactly mt thoughts on being focused on the shot at hand and the next couple of shots ahead. Thanks again.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
I am not sure how you understood that I am "just shooting shots," without focus.
My goal is to focus specifically on WHAT I intend to do. That includes looking at least three balls ahead too.
I see that you are a relatively new poster to the forum. Welcome.
It's great to see that AZ Billiards is still attracting intelligent posters. This post is an excellent example of a quality post. Hopefully, we'll be hearing from you often.
I'm rather curious as to your skill level. If you care to send me a PM and tell me, I won't share it in the forum. If you don't mind sharing it in this forum, I'm sure there are others who would be interested in knowing as well.
I already use the smiling tool but only recently. I will make great attempts to remove words from my thinking and to instead utilize visualization instead. I believe you are correct about this and maybe that is why some people who play even better than I do, complain that I am "messing with their heads", when I discuss the finer points of the game with them. It may be that they simply don't think and only visualize.
I'm also curious if others in this forum, already use your mental tools to improve their focus.
I'm not talking about "seeing the shot". Everyone has to visualize seeing the shot but I'm talking about the elimination of thinking in words.... Anyway, I like it.
Thanks!
ViciousCycle74
Registered
Thanks for the kind words, APA 8-Ball SL7 FWIW. Any player that has chosen to take the game seriously has something to offer, regardless of skill level wether they know it or not.
If it is not focus, then it is concentration perhaps. That is the brother of focus. Happy New year to you and your family.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Without reading all the replies, I'll offer up my 2 cents.
I play best when I don't socialize while playing. It takes a lot of mental effort for me to block out distractions. I just don't have that killer instinct when playing against friends. I prefer a serious game and some pressure, but I seldom gamble.
If I ALMOST hear or see something, it draws my attention more than anything else, i.e., if I can't quite hear something it draws my attention and as will something barely in my peripheral vision. This really is my biggest weakness.
As crazy as this will sound, I played especially well one night after tweaking a muscle in my back. I was moving gingerly and getting down for shots took great care. I had to push myself away from the table with my bridge hand to stand up. So I guess there really is value in staying down on my shots :wink:
I play best when I don't socialize while playing. It takes a lot of mental effort for me to block out distractions. I just don't have that killer instinct when playing against friends. I prefer a serious game and some pressure, but I seldom gamble.
If I ALMOST hear or see something, it draws my attention more than anything else, i.e., if I can't quite hear something it draws my attention and as will something barely in my peripheral vision. This really is my biggest weakness.
As crazy as this will sound, I played especially well one night after tweaking a muscle in my back. I was moving gingerly and getting down for shots took great care. I had to push myself away from the table with my bridge hand to stand up. So I guess there really is value in staying down on my shots :wink:
Need to know what to focus on........
It all depends on what you need to work on.
For instance, Coming down from the preshot to the shooting position can really help you sight the ball better. But if you don't know exactly how you need to sight it won't do as much good as it could. . But slower is usually better with this.
Slowing down and looking at the overall layout of the table can also be huge.
The most important though is when we slow down we have a little bit longer to think. Thinking is good. Thinking longer can be even better. Less mental mistakes.
When we slow down we can focus better on the things that we do well and make sure we are doing them right.
Slowing down will never hurt a players pool game as far as I know.
I've seen too fast destroy a players game though.
It all depends on what you need to work on.
For instance, Coming down from the preshot to the shooting position can really help you sight the ball better. But if you don't know exactly how you need to sight it won't do as much good as it could. . But slower is usually better with this.
Slowing down and looking at the overall layout of the table can also be huge.
The most important though is when we slow down we have a little bit longer to think. Thinking is good. Thinking longer can be even better. Less mental mistakes.
When we slow down we can focus better on the things that we do well and make sure we are doing them right.
Slowing down will never hurt a players pool game as far as I know.
I've seen too fast destroy a players game though.
I sometimes am so ritualistic in my play that i think i am focused but i am not that's when I dog that easy shot. I discovered that if i give my eye pattern a little xtra attention during my resets my focus and concentration are stronger. Why? IDK... This is a very big part of my A game.
When playing "in the zone" or "in dead stroke"
There's a fine line regarding your question. At first it appears like a "no brainer" and of course you need to focus more to play better. Like many things at the deeper level this could be counterintuitive.
When playing "in the zone" or "in dead stroke" there is no conscious attempt to focus or not focus, concentrate or not concentrate. In the study of Zen it's suggested to become absorbed into what you are doing without regard to the conscious mind.
From my experience, the player and Game must become one to the level you are unaware whether you are playing the Game, or the Game is playing you..... 'The Game is the Teacher' CJ Wiley
There's a fine line regarding your question. At first it appears like a "no brainer" and of course you need to focus more to play better. Like many things at the deeper level this could be counterintuitive.
When playing "in the zone" or "in dead stroke" there is no conscious attempt to focus or not focus, concentrate or not concentrate. In the study of Zen it's suggested to become absorbed into what you are doing without regard to the conscious mind.
From my experience, the player and Game must become one to the level you are unaware whether you are playing the Game, or the Game is playing you..... 'The Game is the Teacher' CJ Wiley
There's a fine line regarding your question. At first it appears like a "no brainer" and of course you need to focus more to play better. Like many things at the deeper level this could be counterintuitive.
When playing "in the zone" or "in dead stroke" there is no conscious attempt to focus or not focus, concentrate or not concentrate. In the study of Zen it's suggested to become absorbed into what you are doing without regard to the conscious mind.
From my experience, the player and Game must become one to the level you are unaware whether you are playing the Game, or the Game is playing you..... 'The Game is the Teacher' CJ Wiley
Would you say when you are in stroke or in the zone it becomes automatic to play well? When I am in stroke, I always focus and concentrate on what I am doing.
I like what you say about the game is the teacher.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
My definition for "Being in the Zone" means:
1. You won your 1st game, 2nd, and no pressure any more, you do not hear people say "He is in the zone when he looses a match, it seems this phrase is reserved for winners only
2. You are holding cue butt lightly, your wrist is fluid, you are following through and staying down on almost every shot therefore, your CB speed is almost perfect due to muscle memory.
3. You know every little secret about the game advance knowledge as well as applying it, and you figured out the table cloth well. Additionally, most shots on table seem to align with almost all your check list items that "you are aware of". (Some check list items, we are not aware that effect a shot which is major reason for us not being consistent at times).
4. You are at your favorite pool hall, playing your best "fish", on the table you love the most, favorite CB, and game you like, surrounded by your best fans
5. No outside distraction, no guilt feelings, you taken care of work, family and everyone you deal with; health is good, slept very well last night, happy about life at least that day, all of these are BIG factors in freeing your memory bank which in turn and automatically allocates freed memory to what you are doing weather pool, play music, play chess, giving a speech..etc. Having free memory in the conscious mind helps in decisions making so you select better patterns more often, which way to shoot some shots, and seem to help on keeping your winning $$, or match and not let it all go away.
6. Sorry, luck on your side more % than opponent; balls seem to favor you more " always luck sides with winners" (you cannot be lucky and loose)
7. If you cannot "Be in the Zone" all the times or 99% of times, back to the drawing board and start figure out what did you do wrong, which check list item missed, when exactly things started to go wrong, keep record of it, and trust your inner feeling, and go out and prove what you came up with in money game, if it works great, if not keep trying..
8. Other issues i am sure..
Best of luck
"Being in the Zone", means different things to different people. Some of the things you mentioned don't apply to other people.
Being in the Zone for pool means that you are you are playing in a smooth, unbroken continuity; unimpeded by thoughts like "is my stroke straight?, I wonder if that ball will go, Is the grand Poobah watching me play?, Are they laughing at me?, Did that guy shark me?, I hope the old lady doesn't get on my ass about staying late?, I hope that little warp in my shaft doesn't cause me any problems, I wish I would have cleaned that shaft before I left the house, I believe that waitress is giving me the eye" etc....If you get to "I know she wants me", you have long since departed with the Zone.
When you are in the zone, there isn't much to consciously think about. You are in the zone when you are so completely absorbed into what you are doing that you don't have much if any conscious thought.
first I walked past this whole thread but my recent tournament which I played too bad made me thinking about this and I remembered I saw a thread on focus. Good I returned to find it.
I like what CreeDo said here. Lately I feel exhausted after tournaments, and my head aches, literally. I think that's due to seriously trying that conscious effort. From now on I decided not to force myself. Instead, I will try my subconscious to rule the process. And in this post by ViciousCycle74 we have a nice example of how to achieve it. My 2 cents to this, I discovered that if a catchy song comes to my mind and I murmur it or just a couple of strings from it during play - I play loose and effortless. I think it has something to do with eliminating brain activity like talking to oneself, etc., which is harmful for the game.
I like what CreeDo said here. Lately I feel exhausted after tournaments, and my head aches, literally. I think that's due to seriously trying that conscious effort. From now on I decided not to force myself. Instead, I will try my subconscious to rule the process. And in this post by ViciousCycle74 we have a nice example of how to achieve it. My 2 cents to this, I discovered that if a catchy song comes to my mind and I murmur it or just a couple of strings from it during play - I play loose and effortless. I think it has something to do with eliminating brain activity like talking to oneself, etc., which is harmful for the game.
Thanks for the skill level response and you're absolutely right . :thumbup:
In the zone.
not losing focus is what needs to be practiced. playing in an environment with a lot of distractions - people walking around, loud music, people talking; and getting used to playing on that kind of environment would help. i know lots of places like this. =)
What is the difference between practicing not losing focus, and practicing focus?
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.