Age and Focus.

Poolmanis

Poolmanis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Lately I've been practicing a lot and especially shooting Straight Pool.
I noticed that my focus is lot harder to keep these days if compared to days when I was younger.
I never been really good focusing things unless I'm really into that subject.
Reading comics was one my favorite things to do and you could drop bomb next to me back then when I was reading them. It would go unnoticed.
Pool was second thing what kept my natural focus. I could play six hours straight and never notice how much time was until they come kick me out from pool hall...

Nowadays I can dwell to focus short times but I'm easily distracted. I noticed lack of focus everyday subjects even more last two three years. I've started working out to my physical shape more seriously lately and I'm gonna find some practices to better focus.
I'm only 38 years old..

So anyone here noticed similarities to their life or is it just me? And if yes what age you noticed dropped ratio of focus? Have you try fix it and how?
 
this situation, "age and focus" hits the nail on the head for me too! constantly trying to fix it but, alas, I think this age thing has won out. I am 70 yrs old and when younger, even at 45 I shot "lights out". it may be that fatigue sets in earlier on in the game. wish there was a fix.:sorry: I too am going back to playing more 14.1 and for us old timers, it is still "straight pool". when I was 18 and starting this game of pool, I started with straight pool and "bank" pool. i just joined a local handicapped league that starts tomorrow! :yeah:
if you come up with a fix you can make millions!
 
First of all- Thank You for shooting 14.1 It's the only game I'll play anymore. It is what keeps me focused. At 55, I won't waste my time playing 8 or 9 ball. I grew up playing straight pool and wish it was THE standard game that all people would play. It will keep you focused at all times unlike silly games of luck and slop.
 
Method and Focus

Poolmanis said:
Lately I've been practicing a lot and especially shooting Straight Pool.
I noticed that my focus is lot harder to keep these days if compared to days when I was younger.
I never been really good focusing things unless I'm really into that subject.
Reading comics was one my favorite things to do and you could drop bomb next to me back then when I was reading them. It would go unnoticed.
Pool was second thing what kept my natural focus. I could play six hours straight and never notice how much time was until they come kick me out from pool hall...

Nowadays I can dwell to focus short times but I'm easily distracted. I noticed lack of focus everyday subjects even more last two three years. I've started working out to my physical shape more seriously lately and I'm gonna find some practices to better focus.
I'm only 38 years old..

So anyone here noticed similarities to their life or is it just me? And if yes what age you noticed dropped ratio of focus? Have you try fix it and how?
Click to expand...

Stress has a lot to do with that. If you are stressed you need to be able to release it sometimes and focusing on something else is not what you need to concentrate on.

I had a lot of job stress before I retired early at 52 and its been 5 months since and I am just now getting myself back right. Stress is a key factor.

Now I am able to focus more on my methods of doing what I do and my game is better than its ever been.

Get the stress off, it will open your eyes.
 
Poolmanis said:
Lately I've been practicing a lot and especially shooting Straight Pool.
I noticed that my focus is lot harder to keep these days if compared to days when I was younger.
I never been really good focusing things unless I'm really into that subject.
Reading comics was one my favorite things to do and you could drop bomb next to me back then when I was reading them. It would go unnoticed.
Pool was second thing what kept my natural focus. I could play six hours straight and never notice how much time was until they come kick me out from pool hall...

Nowadays I can dwell to focus short times but I'm easily distracted. I noticed lack of focus everyday subjects even more last two three years. I've started working out to my physical shape more seriously lately and I'm gonna find some practices to better focus.
I'm only 38 years old..

So anyone here noticed similarities to their life or is it just me? And if yes what age you noticed dropped ratio of focus? Have you try fix it and how?
Click to expand...
I guess we all change over the years and that is probably normal. I know I found as I got older as much as I like to play it is not quite the same.

I may match up with a young player and it is fun but after a while I am looking at my watch. Mean time he is trying to destroy me. I want to go home and watch TV and he would rather play then eat the same way I was maybe 30 years ago myself.
 
For me the stress and other things going on in my life forced me to quit the game for a few years.

So you could say I really lost focus. :grin-square:

Thankfully, another door opened and I am back. It is still a challenge to keep focus, while playing, but boy when you get into dead punch, and your entire world only exists on the 50 X 100 playing surface, those are the moments we strive for. When it happens cherish it, at least I do.

If I could bottle it, I could make millions. :wink:
 
It's not only eye sight, focus, or concentration that drops off with age, it's also the sex drive.

The other day I was greeted at the door by my wife in a sexy neglige and a length of rope in her hand. She said I could tie her up and do any thing I wanted to do. So I tied her up and grabbed my pool cue case and went to the pool room. Years ago, I would have stayed home.
 
First of all- Thank You for shooting 14.1 It's the only game I'll play anymore. It is what keeps me focused. At 55, I won't waste my time playing 8 or 9 ball. I grew up playing straight pool and wish it was THE standard game that all people would play. It will keep you focused at all times unlike silly games of luck and slop.
Click to expand...

I can relate! I am on the verge of quitting pool for this reason exactly. I can't stomach all of the luck in games like 9 and 10 ball. 8 ball has far less luck but even then, I still can't stand all of the luck involved in pool.

Since starting to play more straight pool, I find myself more interested. However...I will agree with those of you who have said, straight pool does require constant focus because the slightest mistake can stop a good run.
 
'Our life is frittered away by detail...simplify, simplify.' Henry David Thoreau.

We live in curious times, my friends. It's called the information age, but it could just as easily be called the age of distraction. Phone messages, emails, Twitter and Facebook accounts, and not to mention time spent on AZB. No small wonder we loose focus in our daily lives with all of this connectivity.
We can quickly see how distraction (another word for being connected?) hurts creativity. And, creativity is precisely what we use when developing and playing the games that we do. But, and here's the catch, we can't communicate, or consume, while trying to create.
The solution, although simple, is hard to do. We need to move away from these distractions, (and, no, television is not the answer). We must turn off the phones, and computers long enough to read, write, run, nap, watch, listen, and play. Even a quiet conversation with someone can be beneficial.
The key is disconnecting. By adopting a few of the above techniques we can become less stressful in our lives, and I can promise that your focus, as well as your pool play will improve. :)
 
TwinkleToes said:
I can relate! I am on the verge of quitting pool for this reason exactly. I can't stomach all of the luck in games like 9 and 10 ball. 8 ball has far less luck but even then, I still can't stand all of the luck involved in pool.

Since starting to play more straight pool, I find myself more interested. However...I will agree with those of you who have said, straight pool does require constant focus because the slightest mistake can stop a good run.
Click to expand...

Thanks Twnkle Toes, It's good to know at least one other person who realizes that 14.1 is a beautiful and complex game. There is nothing wrong with 8 and 9 ball, but I found myself asking this simple question- Have I ever lost a game of 8 or 9 ball, where I knew I was the more skilled player? This never happens after a 14.1 loss. It amazes me to go into a pool hall and have to explain what I'm doing at the table. People literally don't know what straight pool is. There loss. I can't focus unless I enjoy what I'm doing.
 
You're lucky theres 'one other' fan of strt. pool !

maplecap said:
Thanks Twnkle Toes, It's good to know at least one other person who realizes that 14.1 is a beautiful and complex game. There is nothing wrong with 8 and 9 ball, but I found myself asking this simple question- Have I ever lost a game of 8 or 9 ball, where I knew I was the more skilled player? This never happens after a 14.1 loss. It amazes me to go into a pool hall and have to explain what I'm doing at the table. People literally don't know what straight pool is. There loss. I can't focus unless I enjoy what I'm doing.
Click to expand...

Sorry guy's, but I must respectfully disagree with you on straight pool...One of the reasons it dropped out of sight,
(about 60 yrs. ago) is because it was always the most boring game..ever, from a spectators point of view !.. Even the most knowledgable observers, came to prefer watching (or gambling on) 8, 9 ball, or one pocket..or almost any other game than straight pool ! :embarrassed2:

PS..Great game for 'practicing' though ! (why are you surprised, nobody knows what you are doing ?) :p
 
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I hear ya... geez, you're still a puppy too. I'm 64, straight pool was THE only game I ever cared to play, but its becoming more of a frustration now.

The things that I know are affecting my game are...

Focus

Eyesight

Stamina

Desire

Most likely all interrelated. The good news... I do love 1 pocket! :thumbup:
 
dougster26 said:
It's not only eye sight, focus, or concentration that drops off with age, it's also the sex drive.
The other day I was greeted at the door by my wife in a sexy neglige and a length of rope in her hand. She said I could tie her up and do any thing I wanted to do. So I tied her up and grabbed my pool cue case and went to the pool room. Years ago, I would have stayed home.
Click to expand...
And your address is where ???????????????????? :wink::wink:
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Poolmanis said:
Lately I've been practicing a lot and especially shooting Straight Pool.
I noticed that my focus is lot harder to keep these days if compared to days when I was younger.
I never been really good focusing things unless I'm really into that subject.
Reading comics was one my favorite things to do and you could drop bomb next to me back then when I was reading them. It would go unnoticed.
Pool was second thing what kept my natural focus. I could play six hours straight and never notice how much time was until they come kick me out from pool hall...

Nowadays I can dwell to focus short times but I'm easily distracted. I noticed lack of focus everyday subjects even more last two three years. I've started working out to my physical shape more seriously lately and I'm gonna find some practices to better focus.
I'm only 38 years old..

So anyone here noticed similarities to their life or is it just me? And if yes what age you noticed dropped ratio of focus? Have you try fix it and how?
Click to expand...

Aloha,

There are a few things I have found that have increased my focus over the years.
1.- daily exercise, walk the dog before pool practice, get the blood flowing, including a stretching session.
2.- daily vitamin supplements.
3.- plenty of water throughout the day, I make it a habit to drink 4 quarts everyday at least, plenty hot over here.
4.- Ginkgo & Gotu Kola natural supplements, take these everyday for increased oxygen flow to the brain, helps me stay focused. The first time I played pool after taking these it felt like my eyes had gained more perfaral vision and everything about the stroke was just automatic. I found it was one of my ways to help put me in dead stroke.

Give them a try, everyday our stroke changes along with our eye sight, but these things have helped me along the way. I also like to get out to the beach at least once a month and swim in the ocean, just the exercise seems to help.

Aloha
 
Lot of answers from Straight pool players. Seem that is game what reveals your weaknesses better than other games. Thanks all who responded so far. I think this is interesting subject and not talked too much either..

[QUOTE =dougster26;5148777]It's not only eye sight, focus, or concentration that drops off with age, it's also the sex drive.

The other day I was greeted at the door by my wife in a sexy neglige and a length of rope in her hand. She said I could tie her up and do any thing I wanted to do. So I tied her up and grabbed my pool cue case and went to the pool room. Years ago, I would have stayed home.[/QUOTE]

:)
Don't take this too seriously but, in your case it could be also age factor of opposite sex ;). I bet if there had been hot 20 year old chick saying that you would stay home also...
 
Click Picture to Learn More About Mediation

Poolmanis said:
Lately I've been practicing a lot and especially shooting Straight Pool.
I noticed that my focus is lot harder to keep these days if compared to days when I was younger.
I never been really good focusing things unless I'm really into that subject.
Reading comics was one my favorite things to do and you could drop bomb next to me back then when I was reading them. It would go unnoticed.
Pool was second thing what kept my natural focus. I could play six hours straight and never notice how much time was until they come kick me out from pool hall...

Nowadays I can dwell to focus short times but I'm easily distracted. I noticed lack of focus everyday subjects even more last two three years. I've started working out to my physical shape more seriously lately and I'm gonna find some practices to better focus.
I'm only 38 years old..

So anyone here noticed similarities to their life or is it just me? And if yes what age you noticed dropped ratio of focus? Have you try fix it and how?
Click to expand...

This happens as someone ages if there's no release of old ideas, emotions and attitudes. Mediation is the best way through the centuries to correct this at the deepest levels. I would suggest someone that's struggling with focus to look into anapana mediation with an open mind.......the key is to be willing to let go of the old, so the new ideas, attitudes and emotions can replace them naturally. imho

Click Picture to Learn More About Mediation
 
CJ Wiley said:
This happens as someone ages if there's no release of old ideas, emotions and attitudes. Mediation is the best way through the centuries to correct this at the deepest levels. I would suggest someone that's struggling with focus to look into anapana mediation with an open mind.......the key is to be willing to let go of the old, so the new ideas, attitudes and emotions can replace them naturally. imho

Click Picture to Learn More About Mediation
Click to expand...


Actually C.J you are one who's post's here changed my way of learning pool. I feel that my skill set is best ever. I really improved my game a lot of lately and I feel it will go further in near future. You and some other quite regular poster's gave me new way to learn the game.
I'm just kept down by lowered ability to focus(to right things). That's really bugging me and I already put some efforts to meditation.
 
Poolmanis, there is one surefire way to sharpen your focus. Gamble.
If that doesn't narrow your field of vision, nothing will.
And, speaking of wives, my second wife started ragging me about not taking her anywhere. She said. "Take me someplace I never been before." So I grabbed her by the arm and took her into the kitchen. :)
 
it's players like you that have made it worth while

Poolmanis said:
Actually C.J you are one who's post's here changed my way of learning pool. I feel that my skill set is best ever. I really improved my game a lot of lately and I feel it will go further in near future. You and some other quite regular poster's gave me new way to learn the game.
I'm just kept down by lowered ability to focus(to right things). That's really bugging me and I already put some efforts to meditation.
Click to expand...

I appreciate you saying that. My knowledge is improving every day and my goal is to share this ability so the game can grow through more people enjoying the experience of daily improvement.

We just made a break through that may very well change the history of pool as we know it. I'm excited to finally get into the position to make a difference - it's players like you that have made it worth while.

Thanks, and Play Well this Weekend
 
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