Ways to improve your focus?

[Tramp Steamer]

I have a problem with not staying down on my shots. Since I've adopted the snooker-style 4-point stroke, I know immediately when I'm jumping up or not aligned correctly by whether or not the cue is touching my chest. Earl advises a lot of people to hold their breath when pulling the trigger on a shot, and that seems to work for some people as well. As far as practicing your mental game.... it's similar to the physical side. There are no shortcuts, just hard work.

Try this. Get a four foot length of fishing line (twenty-five pound test worked for me) and tie each end to a large, say 14/0 fishing hook. Put the loop around your neck and lightly snag the hook onto your scrotum.
When you prematurely raise up on a shot the hook will set and you'll damn sure not be doing that shit again. :smile:

 

[tonythetiger583]

I like trying to pretend that my whole psr, routine is meant to lead up to pausing at the cue ball. I find I rush many of my shots because I wasn't comfortable on the table. I'd get down only long enough to hit the ball before returning to my "normal" upright position. I'm trying to get it, so that being down on the shot is where I want to be.

 

[Island Drive]

Indeed, don't forget to wait for that lull between heart beats either

:scratchhead:..............................

 

[Keith Jawahir]

Let's not forget the 15 warm-up strokes every time you get down to address the ball, calling the numbers out loud on each warm-up stroke. If you lose count or need to get up, start all over again.

 

[Willi Makaball]

keep you focus on the table, watch it like it might move by it self, when you watch your opponent shoot, look at your possible run out routes, try to anticipate where the cue ball will stop if he misses,
I see a lot of players shoot, miss, get up, talk to others and then when they get another shot it like they have to get back into the game, Watch the pros, they watch the table and are ready to go when they get a chance.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Play some 14.1.

I'm not 100% clear on the rules.

Here's a link to the World Pool-Billiard Association rules: WPA 14.1 Rules

pj
chgo

 

[BlueCollarBar]

Let's not forget the 15 warm-up strokes every time you get down to address the ball, calling the numbers out loud on each warm-up stroke. If you lose count or need to get up, start all over again.

I'm not about to turn myself into Sergio Garcia on purpose here!

 

[BlueCollarBar]

Here's a link to the World Pool-Billiard Association rules: WPA 14.1 Rules

pj
chgo

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out and try your idea. I like your idea because it does seem like I lose focus a bit when the pressure increases and the run gets longer. I don't think the nerves or pressure cause my to fail to execute my mechanics properly I think it causes me to skip a step somewhere in my PSR that leads to the unforced errors and it's usually in my aim because I've noticed my shape is almost always good on the miss and my misses are usually rattling out and not completely off.