Do you do anything before playing?

Ray Jay, I think we may have discussed this before. I'd be interested in the triggers that you use.

Quite often, I run energy using Reiki. Gets my mind loosened up a bit and helps me focus. Having a loose mind is just as important as getting the stroke in focus too.
 
I also like to watch videos. I feel like my game is a ball or two better for a few hours after watching. I try to be as careful as johnny, stroke as fluidly as shane, spin it like efren. I'll do the pause in my backswing and try to move my cue ball an extra foot in the right direction.

Other than that, I don't have any tricks. I only hit a few lags to feel the table's speed and rails.

I have a theory that if you get too attached to the idea of 'warming up', you are gonna have a tough time when there's no time or table available for pre-match practice. I've seen guys in league sabotage themselves by saying before the match "man, I can't play, I'm not ready, I haven't had any time to warm up". Then they proceed to suck. But really, your arm didn't forget what to do overnight. There's no reason you can't play fantastic pool 5 seconds after walking through the door.
 
CreeDo said:
I have a theory that if you get too attached to the idea of 'warming up', you are gonna have a tough time when there's no time or table available for pre-match practice. I've seen guys in league sabotage themselves by saying before the match "man, I can't play, I'm not ready, I haven't had any time to warm up". Then they proceed to suck. But really, your arm didn't forget what to do overnight. There's no reason you can't play fantastic pool 5 seconds after walking through the door.
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Very good point! Sometimes I feel like my best games are the first two or three when coming in "cold"
 
Welcome to the forum. If you can't learn anything here, well then it'll be our little secret.
Before I begin a game of One Pocket I like to go into the john and take a big old fashioned shit. You know, the kind of crap that will really fog up the mirrors. After that, I'm rearing to go. :)
 
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Blue Hog ridr said:
Ray Jay, I think we may have discussed this before. I'd be interested in the triggers that you use.

Quite often, I run energy using Reiki. Gets my mind loosened up a bit and helps me focus. Having a loose mind is just as important as getting the stroke in focus too.
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It's probably come up before, nbd, but I have two I use all the time...feeling the finish at the top of the shaft grab my fingers when I stroke it before I get down on the shot, and chalking. These are triggers to subconsciously recall all of the implants given to myself during self-hypnosis, which can go up to a half-hour but usually 10-15 minutes. I do the whole bit around once a month. Totally agree with having the mind loose, uncluttered, and headed towards the zone...harmony.
 
smallfry419 said:
I do know for a fact I can't eat anything within 2 hours of
playing or I can't stroke well.
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If I eat too much or too close to playing it slows me down. Just don't feel right after eating and trying to play.
So before I play I try to relax and not overeat.
 
Gotta eat something or else I'll be off my game. Nothing heavy just enough to not be hungry. Also it keeps you from needing to eat during your session and subsequently getting your hands dirty.
 
Just walking into a poolhall and seeing the tables and people playingis a warm up for me. Love to hear the sound the balls make when hit.--Smitty
 
Dunnn51 said:
Hi,
I am somewhat new here too, (coming up on my 6 month mark here).

I'll share this w/you and peops on AZ. I wouldn't even call this a "drill" as there is practically no skill in it, but if you try it I can practically guarantee that you will start your warm-ups with it.

I did this as the beginning of my warm-up at the pool hall before matches, and my team-mates practically laughed me outta the place!

its simple: scatter the 15 balls all over the table,(no cue-ball). Then , just shoot the balls straight into a long pocket. simple !

1st time : Do it long-table center pocket.
2nd time : Use English and cheat the pockets.

I have found this does 3 beneficial things for me so I don't care how silly it looks to others.
1- It gives me a sense of "Zen" as I am usually amped from caffeine on the drive to poolhaul.
2- It helps me get sightlines to be ready for the match.
3- It helps me get the feel for the table concerning felt & rails.(speed)<--- save the stripes for that.

Its something different rather than scattering the balls and taking the 1st shot I see for confidence, and going from there.
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Hmmmm I like this idea, might have to try this before leagues tomorrow. Ive done this usually with the cueball and all 15 on table but not just stroking balls to feel out table speed and my stoke.
 
tsos1312 said:
Hello everyone,

I am new to azbilliards after spending a couple weeks coming here everyday I decided to finally make a profile.

Anyways I was just wondering what some of you do, if anything, before you go play to get yourself in the right mind. Me personally, I like to watch videos right before I go out. I feel like whenever I do my stroke is 10x better than when I don't.

So what do you do?

Casey
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Hello tsos,
Welcome to AZB and being an AZB family member.
I like to bank and kick a few ball in at least 2 or more rails. A couple of deep knee bends to get loose. And then I put the house cue behind my neck long ways and turn from side to side with my arms on each side of the house cue. Then we flip a coin or lag for the break. This is for a 9 ball match. One Pocket is different all together. Good post.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
I like the Mary Jane replies. I was in the same camp until I felt like I couldn't play as well without it. That annoyed me so I stopped.

Anyway, I usually hit a few shots, miss them all, then find someone better than me to bet on.
 
I stretch my shoulder, throw a few balls out and shoot those in with a firm stroke to loosen up. I then throw 9 balls out and shoot the first 4 or 5 in making sure my shape is right and the other balls I shoot to just miss or bobble in the pocket to see how much the pocket will take cheating it. Also makes my opponent think I am not hitting them well, but thats not the intent just a side effect. lol
 
I don't do anything before playing, but I do wear a gold chain around my neck when I play (keep it in my case). I used to wear it when I was younger, don't anymore, and I find it helps remind me to stay down on each shot and keep my head still as I cue. Strange, but it works for me.
 
CreeDo said:
I also like to watch videos. I feel like my game is a ball or two better for a few hours after watching. I try to be as careful as johnny, stroke as fluidly as shane, spin it like efren. ....
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I'd add the pure purpose that Earl puts to the shot.
 
DoubleD said:
Oh, that is just for practice sessions.

For weekly tourneys I kill an elephant, carve a set of balls out of a tusk, hold a seance where I speak to Irving Crane's cat (Scratches, not Carom--Carom gives horrible advice), burn a life-sized effigy of each of my potential opponents and walk backwards for the last mile to the hall while listening to a mash-up of Lady Gaga, Frank Zappa and Mozart's fifth symphony. All the while I will eat Bugles from off the tips of my fingers.
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one of those gotta be a lie!
 
pee (really important)
smoke
eat (if hungry)
drink water
i bank the CB into the rail and try to shot it in one of the pockets using english. sometimes i try kill shots. basically, i just hit the CB.
 
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