Do you have a "learning style"? Maybe not

[Pin]

I seem to recall at least one study has even found that strength training gave slightly better results for a group visualizing doing the exercise than for those actually working out.

And when visualizing, you can get very small impulses firing to the muscles. (Derren Brown does a trick on mind-reading people's computer passwords by making them imagine it, feeling tiny movements their mouths make when imagining the word, and intuiting what the word is. At least that's how I think he does it!)

It stands to reason that you'd need some level of practical experience to be able to visualize in a way that meaningfully represented what would happen in the real world.

All very interesting. I wonder if there's best practice for how to visualize in a way that gives best results. Perhaps it depends on your learning style. Or lack thereof!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I seem to recall at least one study has even found that strength training gave slightly better results for a group visualizing doing the exercise than for those actually working out.

I seriously doubt this.

pj
chgo

 

[BC21]

I seem to recall at least one study has even found that strength training gave slightly better results for a group visualizing doing the exercise than for those actually working out.

And when visualizing, you can get very small impulses firing to the muscles. (Derren Brown does a trick on mind-reading people's computer passwords by making them imagine it, feeling tiny movements their mouths make when imagining the word, and intuiting what the word is. At least that's how I think he does it!)

It stands to reason that you'd need some level of practical experience to be able to visualize in a way that meaningfully represented what would happen in the real world.

All very interesting. I wonder if there's best practice for how to visualize in a way that gives best results. Perhaps it depends on your learning style. Or lack thereof!

Yes, I remember a study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology. The results showed that quite a bit of muscle strength is related to brain activity and not necessarily muscle size. The same muscle building parts of the brain that become active when lifting weights also become active when we just imagine that we are lifting weights. The effects are small but observable, indicating that our thoughts can actually cause physical changes in the body when it comes to muscle memory and muscle strength.

 

[Imac007]

Right. The study was all mental.

It sounds unbelievable, but the same neural networks get used whether we are physically doing a task or just thinking about or imagining doing the task. Several studies have been done to validate these findings. We can actually use mental rehearsal as a form of repetition to program the mind.

But there's only so much that can be learned or programmed into the mind in this manner when it comes to hand-eye coordination skills or skills that require feel or physical sensation.

With pool, there are a few things we can practice mentally to improve our game: Aiming, the psr, focus/concentration, stance and stroke, attention, patience, etc... None of things are strictly bound to physical table time. The mind doesn't care if you're looking at real pool shots on a table or looking at snapshot pictures of pool shots....the same neural networks light up and we are able to learn away from the table. But of course this is limited to certain aspects that don't involve feel.

https://coachsci.sdsu.edu/csa/vol26/table.htm
The link is to older research on various sports topics, a great resource.
The particular link is to imagery research.

https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/mental/visualization.html
This was about one of the first visualization studies I ran across.

https://coachsci.sdsu.edu/
This is the link to the main site.
24 years of compiled research, concluded in 2018.

 

[Imac007]

https://coachsci.sdsu.edu/csa/vol26/table.htm
The link is to older research on various sports topics, a great resource.
The particular link is to imagery research.

https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/mental/visualization.html
This was about one of the first visualization studies I ran across.

https://coachsci.sdsu.edu/
This is the link to the main site.
24 years of compiled research, concluded in 2018.

This would be incomplete without an acknowledgement to Robert Nideffer.
His work on attentional styles is relevant to the question of what is going on in the mind during peak performance under pressure.
Olympic athletes, world champions, special forces and first responders have all benefitted from his insights.
http://www.taisassessment.com/category/articles/
The assessment process has been utilized extensively in business, with Fortune 500 companies depending on their top performers to maintain their focus, especially under pressure.

I’ve written about this at times in the forums here.
Here is a post copy about using the research.

“Absolutely right. This whole process is about controlling your attention. It’s knowing what stress does as it increases and how to combat its effects. A sport scientist Dr. Robert Nideffer did work in this area. He wrote a book call A.C.T Attention Control Training. His assessment tools and training are used in all types of situations. Police, Emergency Responders, Surgeons, Elite Athletes all benefit from controlling their arousal level to keep them in optimal alertness. Here is a summary of some stress effects and counter measures that can be used in pool.

Stress Challenges
Attention narrows and internalizes as stress increases
The perceived size of the balls and hole gets smaller
External details are lost in the process

Countermeasures
Switch your focus to external details. Vocalize them if you need to to get your focus outwards.

Object size is relative to what it is compared. It’s also relative to distance.
Get close to the object ball. Make sure it’s surface is clean and the contact area is nick free. Check the ball paths for chalk, lint, any debris.

Pros do this on key shots. Balls and pockets loom large next to the little stuff.

Details that emerged when closer to the object ball can be held in mind as you go back to the cue ball and target line. All these details should give your body a feel for what it needs to do.

Trust it to execute. Settle quietly so that the target can be seen clearly.

Let your body dictate the timing. It will go when it’s ready. Hold your gaze on target until it does.

Just focus on the intended outcome.

 

[straightline]

Yes, I remember a study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology. The results showed that quite a bit of muscle strength is related to brain activity and not necessarily muscle size. The same muscle building parts of the brain that become active when lifting weights also become active when we just imagine that we are lifting weights. The effects are small but observable, indicating that our thoughts can actually cause physical changes in the body when it comes to muscle memory and muscle strength.

Just want to point out that muscular activity IS mind over matter in the first place.

 

[Pin]

I seriously doubt this.

This one refers to a slightly smaller gain, but still pretty impressive!
https://www.jonathanfields.com/brain-buff-research-thoughts-on-strength-fitness-weight-loss/

 

[Ratta]

This would be incomplete without an acknowledgement to Robert Nideffer.
His work on attentional styles is relevant to the question of what is going on in the mind during peak performance under pressure.
Olympic athletes, world champions, special forces and first responders have all benefitted from his insights.
http://www.taisassessment.com/category/articles/
The assessment process has been utilized extensively in business, with Fortune 500 companies depending on their top performers to maintain their focus, especially under pressure.

I’ve written about this at times in the forums here.
Here is a post copy about using the research.

“Absolutely right. This whole process is about controlling your attention. It’s knowing what stress does as it increases and how to combat its effects. A sport scientist Dr. Robert Nideffer did work in this area. He wrote a book call A.C.T Attention Control Training. His assessment tools and training are used in all types of situations. Police, Emergency Responders, Surgeons, Elite Athletes all benefit from controlling their arousal level to keep them in optimal alertness. Here is a summary of some stress effects and counter measures that can be used in pool.

Stress Challenges
Attention narrows and internalizes as stress increases
The perceived size of the balls and hole gets smaller
External details are lost in the process

Countermeasures
Switch your focus to external details. Vocalize them if you need to to get your focus outwards.

Object size is relative to what it is compared. It’s also relative to distance.
Get close to the object ball. Make sure it’s surface is clean and the contact area is nick free. Check the ball paths for chalk, lint, any debris.

Pros do this on key shots. Balls and pockets loom large next to the little stuff.

Details that emerged when closer to the object ball can be held in mind as you go back to the cue ball and target line. All these details should give your body a feel for what it needs to do.

Trust it to execute. Settle quietly so that the target can be seen clearly.

Let your body dictate the timing. It will go when it’s ready. Hold your gaze on target until it does.

Just focus on the intended outcome.

Good stuff- Nideffer is a pioneer in this field. A "Must read" for everyone who is into coaching (or who is interested in how to reach peak performance and understanding it).

 

[Imac007]

Good stuff- Nideffer is a pioneer in this field. A "Must read" for everyone who is into coaching (or who is interested in how to reach peak performance and understanding it).

Pros are expert at coping.
Amateurs often can’t cope because they can’t identify what they truly need to cope with.
Beating ourselves up because the stuff that is in our minds isn’t what we need to have there, is an example.
That is part of the problem not the solution.

Recently I heard a baseball All Star telling an interviewer that the key to his success has been to stick to his routine and forget about results.
A baseball success story is failing 6-7 times out of 10.
They definitely need to learn to cope.
Another superstar hitter took it a step farther, he always has a game plan, every visit to the plate, and it’s flexible, like all plans need to be.
I remember a saying that “plans are useless, but planning is essential”.
Planning reveals the variables we need to deal with and once we know that we have options to address them.

These players orchestrated their mental content, a key to their success.

Nideffer offers us insight into our responses to stress, from slight to extreme, and signs to watch for.

Once you learn your weakness you can learn ways around them.

At one time, in a snooker qualifier, I was struggling.
I was breaking down about 4 balls into a run and turning over the table.
What went through my head was how Joe Davis said the average league player made 3 balls then usually missed the 4th or the shape.
I accepted that I was missing the fifth ball and instead, planned to make 4, then leave my opponent tight.
After 2 games of virtually nothing to shoot my opponent was so frustrated that this lesson sticks with me to this day.

Coping with my “weakness”, created problems for my opponent, even though my weakness still existed.
The key was that I didn’t turn my weakness into mistakes.
I had accepted it, and found a way around it.

Measure your game at the table, and play within its bounds, until your best you, decides to show up.
Taking what the table gives you is often touted as a good strategy.
Taking what your game is giving you is relevant too.

 

[Pin]

I've read one of Nideffer's books on sports. I don't think it helped me in practical results at the time, but I think it was an important part of what I put together when I did get results, years later.

I'd be interested to read something of his non-sports applications. You mentioned a book ACT, is that the one you'd recommend?

 

[BC21]

Here's my top 10 list for pool players. There are so many great books out there that choosing just a few proved pretty challenging. These are screenshots from an unedited book I'm working on, but hopefully the image quaility is good enough to read.

 

[FranCrimi]

Impressive list of books there. I'm especially drawn to The Power Of Habit. I will be getting that one today. As some here may know, I'm a big believer in the role that our habits play in our performance and learning skills.

 

[Imac007]

I've read one of Nideffer's books on sports. I don't think it helped me in practical results at the time, but I think it was an important part of what I put together when I did get results, years later.

I'd be interested to read something of his non-sports applications. You mentioned a book ACT, is that the one you'd recommend?

Nideffer wrote several books on the mental aspects.
The one focused on attention and stress was ACT.
https://www.abebooks.com/A.C.T-Attention-Control-Training-How-Get-Mind/30891182113/bd
I found this one link for a used copy.

 

[BC21]

Impressive list of books there. I'm especially drawn to The Power Of Habit. I will be getting that one today. As some here may know, I'm a big believer in the role that our habits play in our performance and learning skills.

It's a great book. You'll love it!

Another good one is "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself", by Joe Dispenza. He has another one titled, "Evolve Your Brain", and it's good also.

 

[BC21]

Impressive list of books there. I'm especially drawn to The Power Of Habit. I will be getting that one today. As some here may know, I'm a big believer in the role that our habits play in our performance and learning skills.

Here is a video preview of The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg himself.

 

[Ratta]

"Habits" create everything..... Winners and Loosers


One of my very very very favourite guys in the sport psychology circus was and always be: Ken Ravizza
Could listen to him the whole day- great stuff, and deep knowledge pure. Many things are easy to convert to other sports- and ofc also stuff in real life.

 

[Bob Jewett]

....One of my very very very favourite guys in the sport psychology circus was and always be: Ken Ravizza
Could listen to him the whole day- great stuff, and deep knowledge pure. Many things are easy to convert to other sports- and ofc also stuff in real life.

How, specifically, did your actions change after hearing him?

 

[Ratta]

How, specifically, did your actions change after hearing him?

Hi Bob,

the first time i noticed Ken Ravizza because of a work mate- He was a Baseball Player and had his book- so i just ran through it and already back then i was excited how he "attacks" mental problems- And and especially his talking/writing style.

Later i found some smaller videos of him on youtube. The way he is seeing to "be in the moment"- to be in the present- and how to response to outer circumstances- that was, when he caught me. From then i just tried to read as much as possible from him. or watched videos available from him. Finally was able to get access to many of his articles, work sheets etc.

To give a specific answer, how actions did change for me- well that s tough. What is fact: I learnt to "manage the moment" much better- to stay in the present. And furthermore the art of communication while im teaching changed a lot.

Hope I was able to give you a satisfying answer Bob- if not- just holler at me and i ll try to be maybe more specific


take care Bob.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... To give a specific answer, how actions did change for me- well that s tough. What is fact: I learnt to "manage the moment" much better- to stay in the present. And furthermore the art of communication while im teaching changed a lot.

Hope I was able to give you a satisfying answer Bob- if not- just holler at me and i ll try to be maybe more specific
...

Thanks. Far too often people give glowing reports of some writer, speaker or idea but fail to say how -- in detail -- that helped them change their play. I think often people just feel good about something, perhaps simply because of the way it is presented, but it makes no actual difference to what they do.

For me, The Inner Game of Tennis made a big difference in how I "managed the moment".

 

[Dan White]

For me, The Inner Game of Tennis made a big difference in how I "managed the moment".

Did it make you pick up tennis?