The Problem of Thinking Too Much

Got on AZB in June 2012. Since I have been on here I have almost come to the conclusion that over thinking & perhaps even over 'learning' may be what is holding so many back.

Pool is a game & should be fun, not work. I do not mean to imply that it does not take effort. It certainly does. But that effort should be enjoyable. Pool can be 'addicting' in a way similiarly that golf can be. They both present a challenge as they are not extremely easy to play successfully.

That being said the journey to getting better & figuring out how to get better should be an enjoyable process. While pool may not be easy it is certainly not that difficult to play well enough to be enjoyable. There are geometric & physics principles involved but that does not mean that everyone has to fullly understand them.

The game can be brought down to, when I do this, this happens. So, do that or don't do that.

I'll probably catch some flack for saying these things, but while the game does require some thought, it does not require a degree in rocket science.

I would tend to agree that over thinking can at times be a bad thing. Play & learn. Use what you learn & play better. Like Nike says, Just Do It.:wink:

All of the above is just MHO.

Regards &
 
I too am an over thinker. Example: when warming up or practicing against the 5&6's on both my 8&9 ball league teammates, i can mop the floor with them because I'm having fun and not really thinking about running out, just thinking 2 shots ahead. When I get into a match, I totally over think it and blow it...
 
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Great article!
I subscribed to this thread without pondering it too much...
..or maybe I shouldn't have.....:confused:
 
Thinking too much?

nrhoades said:
I'm one of the worst over-thinkers I know. Not just in pool. For those of you who are like me, this article may help you tone it down a notch. Skip to the last page for rules of thumb if you don't want to even think about thinking.

http://www.amacad.org/publications/bulletin/spring2003/diaconis.pdf

-Nate
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I personally don't think you can "think too much", especially when you're learning strategy. I think those who say you can, are referring to thinking at the wrong time...when you're down on the shot. As stated many times on AZ, "Don't shoot from the thinking position, and don't think in the shooting position".

I do agree though, that some folks have trouble making decisions sometimes and do stand over the table far too long. But even the pros sometimes take a while to shoot in a tough situation.
 
ENGLISH! said:
Got on AZB in June 2012. Since I have been on here I have almost come to the conclusion that over thinking & perhaps even over 'learning' may be what is holding so many back.

Pool is a game & should be fun, not work. I do not mean to imply that it does not take effort. It certainly does. But that effort should be enjoyable. Pool can be 'addicting' in a way similiarly that golf can be. They both present a challenge as they are not extremely easy to play successfully.

That being said the journey to getting better & figuring out how to get better should be an enjoyable process. While pool may not be easy it is certainly not that difficult to play well enough to be enjoyable. There are geometric & physics principles involved but that does not mean that everyone has to fullly understand them.

The game can be brought down to, when I do this, this happens. So, do that or don't do that.

I'll probably catch some flack for saying these things, but while the game does require some thought, it does not require a degree in rocket science.

I would tend to agree that over thinking can at times be a bad thing. Play & learn. Use what you learn & play better. Like Nike says, Just Do It.:wink:

All of the above is just MHO.

Regards &
Click to expand...

Sorry Rick i have to disagree with you here because you did not distinguish between high level player and low level player. Sure the high level player knows all the advance knowledge by heart, and adjustments are done instantly without too much thinking; where as low level player must think a little more to apply the advance knowledge.

One might argue i consider focus is part of thinking equation, at times our focus is so great such that it is quick, rarely miss a ball, and at times when we are tired, 2 diamonds shots almost straight in the hole gets missed, because we are not giving it time. So when we are tired, exhausted we need more time to think than when we are fresh, not only pocketing balls but decisions making.
 
"thinking" is a cry funny thing when applied to pool or any activity for that matter. I have thought hard in a match and got out and thought hard and forgot to make the ball. What I learned from league play would become an important factor in how I view thinking and playing. First off I don't play league for fun, it's a money thing. I helped control a sandbagging team. When a player is under pressure to win its a different game than "free rolling" . I have had players only needing a couple balls and can't miss anything, put that same player and need them to win and they struggle. There is a fine line between the two, get on that line and your good
 
Thjnk standing up. Once the bridge hand hits the cloth, no more thinking...and certainly no changing your mind. If you change your mind, stand back up and start over. You only have 10-12 seconds, once you drop down on the table, to "git 'er done"! LOL :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
If you are thinking about over-thinking you are over thinking everything you shouldn't be thinking about. <seriously though.
 
ENGLISH! said:
Got on AZB in June 2012. Since I have been on here I have almost come to the conclusion that over thinking & perhaps even over 'learning' may be what is holding so many back.

Pool is a game & should be fun, not work. I do not mean to imply that it does not take effort. It certainly does. But that effort should be enjoyable. Pool can be 'addicting' in a way similiarly that golf can be. They both present a challenge as they are not extremely easy to play successfully.

That being said the journey to getting better & figuring out how to get better should be an enjoyable process. While pool may not be easy it is certainly not that difficult to play well enough to be enjoyable. There are geometric & physics principles involved but that does not mean that everyone has to fullly understand them.

The game can be brought down to, when I do this, this happens. So, do that or don't do that.

I'll probably catch some flack for saying these things, but while the game does require some thought, it does not require a degree in rocket science.

I would tend to agree that over thinking can at times be a bad thing. Play & learn. Use what you learn & play better. Like Nike says, Just Do It.:wink:

All of the above is just MHO.

Regards &
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Are you turning over a new leaf? This post seems to contradict the majority of your previous activity on AZ which has largely dealt with meticulously over thinking and pretty much beating to death every subject you get involved with.
Just wondering.
 
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