Saw a thread in the main forum recently about PSR, and got me thinking about a few questions I had. Sorry, a little long...
I'm still struggling with developing a consistent PSR. Over the past months I've definitely identified and scrapped a number of things that don't work, but I still find myself varying my PSR somewhat. For instance, some nights I may take 2 quicker strokes and 1 full length, slower stroke as I'm settling into the shot (aiming strokes). Then look at the ball, take another stroke or two, pause, shoot. Other nights, those aiming / warmup strokes might be quicker, shorter, or vary in number. I've shot very well with several different rhythms, but I can't get one to work consistently - one night it may feel great, but the next time I play it may feel too restrictive, or too slow, or the opposite of those.
Secondly, I've noticed that when I'm "on", which I largely have been to some degree since the first of the year and getting out of my slump, I barely feel like I'm focusing on the object ball. I aim while standing, pivot into position on the way down, and when getting down on the shot I sometimes don't even have any recollection of looking at the object ball for several shots in a row, sometimes a whole rack. It's not really like dead stroke (haven't truly felt that in a LONG time), just more like maybe my initial alignment and move into the ball are just more accurate some nights where I'm almost not even checking my aim once down. I know that's generally bad, but when it's working it feels very freeing, and I play in a slightly faster more natural rhythm. Problem is I can't really maintain that all the time, and if I start out in that rhythm it can be counterproductive when I'm not really feeling it yet.
So with the first two points, how do you build a PSR that stands up for "normal" play as well as when you start to get in stroke, where your movements might quicken a bit or become more free or natural or subconscious? And do you try to build your routine around that rhythm, to sort of "fake" yourself into feeling loose and free, or should you start in a more regimented, focused rhythm and let everything evolve from there?
Lastly, since I'm more CB focused than some, I can tend to ignore the OB a bit too much, as I've stated above. I'm trying to incorporate more looks at the OB in my routine, even though sometimes it makes me feel like I'm playing too slow. When I initially get down on the shot, though, and taking those first few aiming strokes, should I be looking at the CB exclusively? That's what I try to do now, take a few strokes to get the arm loose and make sure I'm at center ball (or wherever I'm aiming at on the CB). Pause, then a distinct movement to look up at the OB, usually for 1/2 - 1 second or so as opposed to a quick glance. Then I might take 1 or 2 more warmup strokes, then another pause at the CB to look up at the OB again. I think that works, and that second glance is good for me to verify aim and feel, but there are nights where it feels way too slow and I want to have shot already and be moving on to the next shot. It's just this constant balance between that fast and loose feel (subconscious) and a more rigid, regimented, analytical approach where I might make less stupid aiming mistakes but never fully get into rhythm.
Any advice is appreciated. I know I overthink this stuff sometimes, but I'm very analytical, and I need to think about it and solve the issue in order to get past it and forget about it, if that makes sense. Did the same thing in other sports, and until I get past some of these things just feels like a constant struggle, especially given the small amount of hours I get to play per week.
Thanks!
Scott
I'm still struggling with developing a consistent PSR. Over the past months I've definitely identified and scrapped a number of things that don't work, but I still find myself varying my PSR somewhat. For instance, some nights I may take 2 quicker strokes and 1 full length, slower stroke as I'm settling into the shot (aiming strokes). Then look at the ball, take another stroke or two, pause, shoot. Other nights, those aiming / warmup strokes might be quicker, shorter, or vary in number. I've shot very well with several different rhythms, but I can't get one to work consistently - one night it may feel great, but the next time I play it may feel too restrictive, or too slow, or the opposite of those.
Secondly, I've noticed that when I'm "on", which I largely have been to some degree since the first of the year and getting out of my slump, I barely feel like I'm focusing on the object ball. I aim while standing, pivot into position on the way down, and when getting down on the shot I sometimes don't even have any recollection of looking at the object ball for several shots in a row, sometimes a whole rack. It's not really like dead stroke (haven't truly felt that in a LONG time), just more like maybe my initial alignment and move into the ball are just more accurate some nights where I'm almost not even checking my aim once down. I know that's generally bad, but when it's working it feels very freeing, and I play in a slightly faster more natural rhythm. Problem is I can't really maintain that all the time, and if I start out in that rhythm it can be counterproductive when I'm not really feeling it yet.
So with the first two points, how do you build a PSR that stands up for "normal" play as well as when you start to get in stroke, where your movements might quicken a bit or become more free or natural or subconscious? And do you try to build your routine around that rhythm, to sort of "fake" yourself into feeling loose and free, or should you start in a more regimented, focused rhythm and let everything evolve from there?
Lastly, since I'm more CB focused than some, I can tend to ignore the OB a bit too much, as I've stated above. I'm trying to incorporate more looks at the OB in my routine, even though sometimes it makes me feel like I'm playing too slow. When I initially get down on the shot, though, and taking those first few aiming strokes, should I be looking at the CB exclusively? That's what I try to do now, take a few strokes to get the arm loose and make sure I'm at center ball (or wherever I'm aiming at on the CB). Pause, then a distinct movement to look up at the OB, usually for 1/2 - 1 second or so as opposed to a quick glance. Then I might take 1 or 2 more warmup strokes, then another pause at the CB to look up at the OB again. I think that works, and that second glance is good for me to verify aim and feel, but there are nights where it feels way too slow and I want to have shot already and be moving on to the next shot. It's just this constant balance between that fast and loose feel (subconscious) and a more rigid, regimented, analytical approach where I might make less stupid aiming mistakes but never fully get into rhythm.
Any advice is appreciated. I know I overthink this stuff sometimes, but I'm very analytical, and I need to think about it and solve the issue in order to get past it and forget about it, if that makes sense. Did the same thing in other sports, and until I get past some of these things just feels like a constant struggle, especially given the small amount of hours I get to play per week.
Thanks!
Scott