Very well said.
When people ask whether they should focus on the cue ball or object ball last, I always use darts or throwing a baseball as an analogy. You are focused on the target.
Do You Focus more on the Shot or the Stroke
- Thread starter oldplayer
- Start date
Very well said.
When people ask whether they should focus on the cue ball or object ball last, I always use darts or throwing a baseball as an analogy. You are focused on the target.
So everyone who's doing something wrong should stop their learning efforts and give up the game instead?
What he's saying is that in competition, when you are down on your shot, you should not be consciously focusing at all on your mechanics, because they are supposed to be ingrained and automatic.
When you find flaws in your mechanics, you use practice time to fix them and consciously focus on them until you no longer have to think about them.
There was a great analogy posted in this thread that compared it to walking. Once you learn how to walk, you don't think about it anymore, and instead are free to concentrate on the destination.
That is a heck of an interpretation of what he wrote.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ENGLISH! View Post
If one is focusing on their stroke when playing then one should not be playing, IMHO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ENGLISH! View Post
If one is focusing on their stroke when playing then one should not be playing, IMHO.
Banks
Banned
I don't do the practice thing, but i do second guess myself and begin to tighten up my game, including going against some of my intuition. Not sure how that translates. I understand that it is part of my game and happens with fluctuations in shooting. Fear drives my game from loose and free to focused and careful, which has won me more matches, imo. Could be one of those fight or flight things. In a way, my gambling and fun games are very different. Anylized on their own, though, I'd say they're very consistent.
Thanks.
I'm pretty sure that's what he meant.
He's saying if you are concentrating on your stroke while playing (meaning down on your shot in actual games) then you have no business trying to play since you're not going to get very far like that.
Sherman Duke
Registered
I'm supposed to be focused? 
bingo......:thumbup:
i havent reD ALL THE POSTS'
BUT THAT IS THE ANSWER TI HOW YOU SHOULD PLAY
JMHO
Mutually exclusive means it is either/or, not both.
something to ponder
Your stroke should look good even when you miss a hard shot.
A guy once told me when you learn to look good even when you got a hard shot you will start making allot more of em. Even if you miss , look good doing it. Didn't make much sense at the time but I took this as good advice from allot better player than I am and there is some truth to it if you think about it. Allot of times when you miss you did something ugly. You jumped up, you one stroked it, you jabbed it, you changed your mind and didn't get up and take another look and the list goes on and on. We all do it . Some less than others . Fact is the one who does it less make those harder shots more often and more times than not will beats the brakes off us guys that do it more often.
Your stroke should look good even when you miss a hard shot.
A guy once told me when you learn to look good even when you got a hard shot you will start making allot more of em. Even if you miss , look good doing it. Didn't make much sense at the time but I took this as good advice from allot better player than I am and there is some truth to it if you think about it. Allot of times when you miss you did something ugly. You jumped up, you one stroked it, you jabbed it, you changed your mind and didn't get up and take another look and the list goes on and on. We all do it . Some less than others . Fact is the one who does it less make those harder shots more often and more times than not will beats the brakes off us guys that do it more often.
Last edited:
Your stroke should look good even when you miss a hard shot.
Ya nothing looks sexier than someone taking their time, setting up the perfect stance, checking their alignment, stroking straight through the cue ball with perfect fluidity and follow-through .... just to send the object ball straight into the rail, as they stay down on their shot until all balls stop moving.
But seriously, I'm not sure what your post has to do with this topic. Setting up your pre-shot routine and getting your fundamentals/mechanics in order is for the practice room. It's not something you think/worry about in competition, while you're down on your shot.
Banks
Banned
Zounds to me he's talking about stroke/fundamentals. I keep my loose play in check in serious competition and often in a psr and down on the shot. Whatever works. It helps me really grind out those weekly apa matches, ya know?
Well this post is a a heck of a lot different than your first interpretation.
Anyhoo I have no problem with this.
Glad to be of assistance. Carry on.
Anyhoo I have no problem with this.
Glad to be of assistance. Carry on.
The idea that one shouldn't be focusing on their fundamentals while playing sounds good on paper but what do all you guys do when everything isn't flowing? There are times when I have to focus on my stroke in order to keep myself alive until my subconscious takes over.
It's what I call having a good B game. Everybody's A game is great. It's their B game that impresses me.
It's what I call having a good B game. Everybody's A game is great. It's their B game that impresses me.
Last edited:
Got me to an A level.
Very true.
Once lined up properly and I feel I have gotten down on the shot properly with my front leg wide enough for ample clearance (and if not I have gotten better at getting back up) I am pretty much following my down on the shot routine a-la mark wilson.
I countinue to sight the lines as I did when I was up over the shot.
I make sure my bridge length is correct.
I make sure my back hand is loose and properly placed for the stroke I need.
Warm up strokes (3).
The only thing I am telling my self or thinking about is 2 minor things. Mentally telling myself to stop with tip at CB and pause prior to my final stroke. Then bring arm back and when I pause at the end I just remind myself to follow through.
I know that part should be automatic and it may be but it helps me especially on extreme draw shots. It also gets all other negative and other tedious thoughts out of my head.
I must confess that when I'm shooting a long, straight-in draw shot that requires some brio, I focus on the stroke. I already know I'm lined up right, my bridge has my tip headed to the right spot on the CB, so all that's left is not putting any last moment flivit into ma stroke. It's about the only time.
Lou Figueroa
Lou Figueroa