Don't Name That Dog!

D

DeeDeeCues

Well-known member
I've said it before, but it bears keeping in mind:

Never say, 'I'm in a slump', or, 'I have a problem making the eight ball', or anything of the sort.

Instead, say, 'I haven't been playing my best for a few days', or, 'I've missed a few eight balls'. Follow these by, 'I'll start playing better soon', and, 'I will make more eight balls'.

The first language is ownership, and it becomes an identity that you subconsciously live up to (down to?). The second are statements of observation that can give useful information.

Just because that dog followed you home doesn't mean you have to name it. Once you name the dog...you own it.
 
not if you gamble. say something over and over enough and people will believe it.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
I've said it before, but it bears keeping in mind:

Never say, 'I'm in a slump', or, 'I have a problem making the eight ball', or anything of the sort.

Instead, say, 'I haven't been playing my best for a few days', or, 'I've missed a few eight balls'. Follow these by, 'I'll start playing better soon', and, 'I will make more eight balls'.

The first language is ownership, and it becomes an identity that you subconsciously live up to (down to?). The second are statements of observation that can give useful information.

Just because that dog followed you home doesn't mean you have to name it. Once you name the dog...you own it.
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I agree with your idea but your second statements aren't much better than your first ones. Think of Efren. He fails a shot, he rubs the back of his head, maybe gives a little grin. The shot is gone, forgotten, ancient history if remembered at all. I found that rubbing the back of my head when I made a mistake was making a bald spot but I keep the same concept regardless of competition.

The fubars aren't me, forget about them. Don't carry them forward into the next shot, next game, next match. Same with conditions. Everybody playing on the same tables in the same room. While others are bitching about tough conditions, I am feeding off of them. I like tough conditions. They don't affect my game while people letting them get into their heads are hurt by tough conditions.

I often compete outdoors. Conditions on a pool table or in a pool room? Always gravy compared to outside in all conditions. I proclaim myself to like them even if I am not crazy about them. I know they are getting into other peoples' heads. A benefit if I don't let them into mine! Get my head into the moment, doesn't matter what I did last night or this morning. This is a new day and a new "present". If I can't think of nothing, I focus on smooth, from practice strokes to tip on the table after the shot. Not perfect but a lot better than thinking I missed a shot just like this yesterday. I made shots like this yesterday too, and I have made countless shots like this over the years. Why dwell on a miss?

My mental game is stronger than most and my fellow competitors are surprised if I choke. It happens, but not often enough that anyone expects it. Your mental game should put the heat on everyone else, not you!

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
I agree with your idea but your second statements aren't much better than your first ones. Think of Efren. He fails a shot, he rubs the back of his head, maybe gives a little grin. The shot is gone, forgotten, ancient history if remembered at all. I found that rubbing the back of my head when I made a mistake was making a bald spot but I keep the same concept regardless of competition.

The fubars aren't me, forget about them. Don't carry them forward into the next shot, next game, next match. Same with conditions. Everybody playing on the same tables in the same room. While others are bitching about tough conditions, I am feeding off of them. I like tough conditions. They don't affect my game while people letting them get into their heads are hurt by tough conditions.

I often compete outdoors. Conditions on a pool table or in a pool room? Always gravy compared to outside in all conditions. I proclaim myself to like them even if I am not crazy about them. I know they are getting into other peoples' heads. A benefit if I don't let them into mine! Get my head into the moment, doesn't matter what I did last night or this morning. This is a new day and a new "present". If I can't think of nothing, I focus on smooth, from practice strokes to tip on the table after the shot. Not perfect but a lot better than thinking I missed a shot just like this yesterday. I made shots like this yesterday too, and I have made countless shots like this over the years. Why dwell on a miss?

My mental game is stronger than most and my fellow competitors are surprised if I choke. It happens, but not often enough that anyone expects it. Your mental game should put the heat on everyone else, not you!

Hu
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I agree with your sentiment about the second statements, if they are present at game time. I meant that the statements of fact are useful after the game is over and as a goal to work toward, or a problem to fix before the next game. Being objective and honest about a performance gives one concrete goals.

A person can fix missing a cut shot because it is measurable. A person can't fix 'being in a slump' because it isn't measurable.

No negative thoughts should be present when you are at the table. Easier said than done....
 
I skipped a few posts so perhaps already addressed. Can't remember who to attribute but my psychology study produced, "the subconscious doesn't register a negative uh well as in don't miss. It only registers miss and gleefully accomodates."
When analyzing a shot if a don't enters the self to self consideration, I try to erase it and replace it with a positive. "Right in the middle" would be a good alternate over, "Don't miss it".
 
You would not approve of the things I say to myself at the table...or while working for that matter.

When it comes to pool, I am usually only stating the obvious. I truly do suck. Unless someone is dealing with a serious injury or is a recent amputee, I do not believe I could win a set against a single member on this site. I am also a firm believer that I may be the overall worst player on earth if you consider the amount of time spent in pool halls against the current quality of play. If we somehow changed the rules to make scratching or snookering yourself the object, I may be the best ever.

Only two balls left on a 9ft table, yep, hung myself up again. If that doesn't deserve a berating I don't know what does.
 
gregcantrall said:
I skipped a few posts so perhaps already addressed. Can't remember who to attribute but my psychology study produced, "the subconscious doesn't register a negative uh well as in don't miss. It only registers miss and gleefully accomodates."
When analyzing a shot if a don't enters the self to self consideration, I try to erase it and replace it with a positive. "Right in the middle" would be a good alternate over, "Don't miss it".
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I've heard the same. Also, telling yourself not to miss acknowledges the possibility of a miss. It's why I don't really play two way shots.
 
gregcantrall said:
Well Efren consistently said, "I Got Lucky."
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yea and so many times he did. and the crowd roared and thought they were planned. although the great kick was planned and then from that he did get lucky and knock one in.
but he certainly was the best that ever lived on kicks and planning them. probably still is at his old age.
 
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Sooner32 said:
You would not approve of the things I say to myself at the table...or while working for that matter.

When it comes to pool, I am usually only stating the obvious. I truly do suck. Unless someone is dealing with a serious injury or is a recent amputee, I do not believe I could win a set against a single member on this site. I am also a firm believer that I may be the overall worst player on earth if you consider the amount of time spent in pool halls against the current quality of play. If we somehow changed the rules to make scratching or snookering yourself the object, I may be the best ever.

Only two balls left on a 9ft table, yep, hung myself up again. If that doesn't deserve a berating I don't know what does.
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It is for amusement. If it isn't fun, don't do it!

Wait, pool isn't your job, is it???!!!?
 
Along similar lines, I've always believed that you should never say something along the lines of "I've figured it out" or "I finally fixed it" or some such...

You can think it, but as soon as you say it out loud the pool gods/karma will give you an epic beat down! 😁
 
maha said:
yea and so many times he did. and the crowd roared and thought they were planned. although the great kick was planned and then from that he did get lucky and knock one in.
but he certainly was the best that ever lived on kicks and planning them. probably still is at his old age.
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@maha
efren and gorst gave an exhibition in new york recently
this is from one of their games
 
yea best kicker ever by far. but still an amount of luck to its going in. but since he is far more accurate than others on kicks then he will also be making more of them than any other player.

has the best all around game of anyone that ever lived.
 
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The way I heard it was that in the Philippines Efren was so dominant on the pool table that he had to go to the billiards table to get action. He brought the skills he developed playing billiards to the 9 ball action in the USA. He showed the top 9 ball players skills that they had not developed. Pretty obvious advantages. Well that and playing rotation at home made him The unstoppable force playing 9 ball.
I watched Efren run 2 racks in rotation while a guy was barking straight pool. After the second rack Efren enquired, "are you sure you want to play straight pool?"
 
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