Training videos

SpiderWebComm said:

It doesn't necessarily AUTOMATICALLY respond and it's not all the same. It kind of depends on the circumstances.

There are times when the mind and body combine to lock up based on the stress of the situation and money involved or lost. It goes in slow motion and some bad stupid mistakes are made because you aren't thinking right. The vision gets skewed and things look differently.

World class tennis players start hitting balls into the net or out. Top baseball hitters get frozen at the plate and strikeout every time at bat. And pool players miss easy shots and start dogging it like they have cerebral palsy.

The mind is a great thing until it's no longer a great thing and turns to mush along with motor and coordination functions.

Then we play against someone like James Aranas or Tyler Styer only to realize what it feels like to be a mental midget, comparatively speaking.

I honestly feel your intentions are good but sometimes I think you missed your calling as a rah, rah Pollyanna motivational speaker where everything works perfectly and positively to a best scenario conclusion. But in reality, ca-ca happens since we aren't machines and there is such a thing as emotions, nervousness, pressure and not so good decisions taking over.

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You're right. Even though the "automatic" function works exactly as I described (visual input triggers automatic brain response based on experience), the automatic response isn't always perfect, mainly due to lack of experience/development. And ss you pointed out, there are other factors that influence the process, like emotions, nerves, pressure, etc... We certainly aren't machines.

Once you've learned/trained yourself to perform something that involves hand-eye coordination or muscle memory/motor skills, your subconscious knows 100% how to physically react to what you see or feel, automatically. But when your conscious mind attempts to take over that automatic process, the results may or may not be 100% what you want or think. More likely not, because the conscious mind is too often under the influence of other factors that can sabotage the performance process.

I think it was in "The Inner Game of Tennis" where the author says you can think of the brain as having two selfs, self 1 and self 2. Self 1 knows everything about playing pool. It knows how the body should stand, how the stroke should feel, how to look at the balls, how to strike the cb. But self 2 is the actual doer, the performer, the one that automatically does what it has been programmed to do. When first learning how to do something self 1 is in control of gathering knowledge and performing actions based on that knowledge. But eventually self 2 (through synaptic pathways) takes over the performance part. Self 1 then simply has to gather and evaluate data, deciding what needs to be done based on acquired knowledge, then self 2 automatically does it. When self 1 thinks it can do a better performance job than self 2, the performance isn't automatic.

Self 1 needs to step aside and allow self 2 to do what it has been programmed to do. But stress and emotions, the fear of losing, or fear of winning, not playing in the moment, etc... causes self 1 to take the wheel. And when this happens nothing is automatic, because self 2 (the automatic performer) is not being allowed to perform.

Here are some of the physical factors that override the mind with the breakdowns:

Vision:

http://sportsci.org/news/ferret/visionreview/visionreview.html

Heart Rate and Other:

https://qz.com/1761629/the-ultimate-hack-to-fight-performance-anxiety/

Life Threatening Situations: Although there is nothing life threatening in pool or sport in general (although boxing qualifies) the factors involved surface.

https://exclusive.multibriefs.com/c...unnel-vision/law-enforcement-defense-security

CHOKING:

https://www.competitivedge.com/all-about-choking

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/the-psychology-of-choking-under-pressure/

BC21 said:

Once you've learned/trained yourself to perform something that involves hand-eye coordination or muscle memory/motor skills, your subconscious knows 100% how to physically react to what you see or feel, automatically.

It does but it's based how much knowledge you acquired, how coordinated a person is to begin with, and how acutely the skill has been developed.
You have poetry in motion with highly skilled and developed athletes and you have enough to get by on so as not to look like a total fool. Then there's everything in between.
There is no guarantee that an abundance of knowledge does wonders for the game either. There are some here who have their brains filled with more information about pool than Google does, especially in the science areas and it holds no real value because they are not exceptional players and some are deathly afraid to play for money or tournaments because it would expose the truth with the self image being exposed and crumbling.

The other part is what they've learned to do is pretty much all wrong based on what a top instructor could analyze and point out.

I think it was in "The Inner Game of Tennis" where the author says you can think of the brain as having two selfs, self 1 and self 2. Self 1 knows everything about playing pool. It knows how the body should stand, how the stroke should feel, how to look at the balls, how to strike the cb.

When discussing amateur members of a pool forum, there's a wide range and disparity of what a person knows about what the stance should be, how the stroke should feel, how to look at the balls, and how to strike the CB. Knowledge wise it's like comparing a person with a Master's or Ph.D.(pro players and top pro instructors) to someone with a GED. (regular Joe pool players.)

I'd say most everyone "thinks" they know a lot or more than most others but in reality not even close. And they certainly haven't put in enough time at the table with the game to be very consistent. At least consistent enough to play for a good amount of money or snap of some tournaments at different levels.

But self 2 is the actual doer, the performer, the one that automatically does what it has been programmed to do.

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Self can only do something based on the knowledge it has (limited), the experience under the gun, and learning to recognize how their own body reacts under pressure with the nerves.

Their subconscious mind may be sadly lacking in all areas to perform at a higher level.

In golf, the handicap system ranges from 0 - 36. Zero being the average of so many scores recorded at a PAR level for the course and difficulty of the course compared to other courses. Some scores can be a few over par and some a few under par averaged to be zero.

If par is 72 and a player has a 15 handicap, they aren't averaging exactly 87. They're averaging 88 or 89 because there's a factor added into the calculation. If their handicap is 36, which is the highest it goes for handicap calculation on a par 72 course, they're average scores are around 110 - 111.

Typically the player with a 36 handicap "thinks" he's a damn good player if he's winning the beer bets against a few of his friends who shoot 115 -120. He's using HIS subconscious mind to draw upon for his striking the ball, chipping, sand shots, and putting. But how much ACCURATE knowledge and information does he have stored? Where did it come from? How did he acquire it? His swing is fairly ingrained also. Ingrained to hit one shitty shot after another. EXCEPT when he gets lucky enough to hit it pure and straight. THAT will be the one and only shot he remembers and brags about.

Whatever it is means it's only worth having the highest handicap that can be given or anywhere else from 0 - 36.

SpiderWebComm said:

Self can only do something based on the knowledge it has (limited), the experience under the gun, and learning to recognize how their own body reacts under pressure with the nerves.
Their subconscious mind may be sadly lacking in all areas to perform at a higher level.
In golf, the handicap system ranges from 0 - 36. Zero being the average of so many scores recorded at a PAR level for the course and difficulty of the course compared to other courses. Some scores can be a few over par and some a few under par averaged to be zero.
If par is 72 and a player has a 15 handicap, they aren't averaging exactly 87. They're averaging 88 or 89 because there's a factor added into the calculation. If their handicap is 36, which is the highest it goes for handicap calculation on a par 72 course, they're average scores are around 110 - 111.
Typically the player with a 36 handicap "thinks" he's a damn good player if he's winning the beer bets against a few of his friends who shoot 115 -120. He's using HIS subconscious mind to draw upon for his striking the ball, chipping, sand shots, and putting. But how much ACCURATE knowledge and information does he have stored? Where did it come from? How did he acquire it? His swing is fairly ingrained also. Ingrained to hit one shitty shot after another. EXCEPT when he gets lucky enough to hit it pure and straight. THAT will be the one and only shot he remembers and brags about.
Whatever it is means it's only worth having the highest handicap that can be given or anywhere else from 0 - 36.

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SpiderMan,
I have never played golf or hit a golf ball...(costs too much money for my meager pay grade).
I like watching it though. I have a question...…
This handicap thing you mention, how is it established? Certainly someone's word isn't taken since they're out there betting money.
Wouldn't it be easy for someone to lie and say they were a big handicap and then ambush everyone by using the wrong (whatever that might be) club here and there.?
Just curious...
P.L.

Low500 said:

SpiderMan,
I have never played golf or hit a golf ball...(costs too much money for my meager pay grade).
I like watching it though. I have a question...…
This handicap thing you mention, how is it established? Certainly someone's word isn't taken since they're out there betting money.
Wouldn't it be easy for someone to lie and say they were a big handicap and then ambush everyone by using the wrong (whatever that might be) club here and there.?
Just curious...
P.L.

Click to expand...

They have to actually turn in their scorecards dated and signed after each round. A number of times, but not always, attested by a playing partner on that given day who also signs the score card turned into the head professional. But there are those who still fudge their scores to get an inflated handicap for betting and playing in tournaments. Doesn't take very long to figure it out though and word gets out.

Gambling in golf is no different than pool. First rule is never believe anyone regarding how weak they play because they certainly aren't going to brag about how strong their game is. Don't ever trust a handicap from a stranger. If a bad bet is made with a handicap cheat, there are always side bets and gaffe bets that can be thrown into the mix during mid round to even it out or get the edge.

One thing to be said at the beginning of a round with a stranger is, "we'll adjust the bet after the front nine."

SpiderWebComm said:

They have to actually turn in their scorecards dated and signed after each round. A number of times, but not always, attested by a playing partner on that given day who also signs the score card turned into the head professional. But there are those who still fudge their scores to get an inflated handicap for betting and playing in tournaments. Doesn't take very long to figure it out though and word gets out.
Gambling in golf is no different than pool. First rule is never believe anyone regarding how weak they play because they certainly aren't going to brag about how strong their game is. Don't ever trust a handicap from a stranger. If a bad bet is made with a handicap cheat, there are always side bets and gaffe bets that can be thrown into the mix during mid round to even it out or get the edge.
One thing to be said at the beginning of a round with a stranger is, "we'll adjust the bet after the front nine."

Click to expand...

I see how it all works now. Thanks.
Human nature never changes does it, regardless of the game or sport.
Cheers.:thumbup:
P.L.