Priming a success strategy
I think this is a great strategy. Finding the keys that worked for you in the past is a good way to trigger the state at the time. I keep journals of my play and practice. Reading them later I am able to single out the common themes that were there on the good days. A key word or phrase can bring back the whole sense of the experience.
Thanks for the reminder.
At one time in my life I was a top tier tournament bridge player. I played in tournaments daily. Based on that experience, I was able to distill things to simple common denominators. Once the skills are there the next key is focus, but on what? In bridge there is a central idea that should be there on every hand. You need to count out every hand. It goes beyond getting a clear picture of the hands at the table. It keeps you engaged. It keeps you disciplined.
Of course, this begs the question of what does this have to do with pool? When I asked that question, I also asked, is there an equivalent key in pool? It needs to be something independent of the game situations that needs to be there on every shot. It took some time but the keys emerged, straight stroking and plan the table.
The functional intent behind the count out every hand principle was that that was how to build a complete picture of each hand at the table.
In pool we can try to get that complete table picture through looking at pattern play options. Planning with the end in mind, a way to navigate towards the end result, emerges. Once a full plan is formulated the key is to execute each shot successfully. Each execution requires straight cueing, regardless of where and how hard, the plan says, you should hit the cue ball.
If you look at learning it comprises of four stages
Unconscious - incompetence
Conscious - incompetence
Conscious - competence
Unconscious - competence
It digitally clicks between conscious and unconscious states.
We know that that is an oversimplification. Other terminology was created to distinguish more accurately. The term subliminal has been around for a long time. The word liminal means threshold. Supraliminal and subliminal are essentially the conscious and unconscious. Liminal is the state in between. We can be influenced by stimulus at each level.
There is another term called priming. On the farm when we needed to get the manual pump working we primed the pump. A pitcher of water was poured down the pipe helping create the vacuum drawing the water to the surface, as we pumped. An analogy of the process has been used in describing how decisions can be influenced. When the mind is primed with information, the most recent and strongest stimuli influence what we decide.
Top athletes use it in the form of mental imagery. That is a supraliminal priming activity.
Before a tournament I used to imagine counting out every hand. Developing a complete and total game plan based on the best picture of the hand at the table.
Weeks before a tournament I work on only two things. Planning the table when practicing and priming the straight stroke when not at the table and when getting down on each shot.
I see Canadian professional, John Morra, when between racks and during preliminary preparation, using the straight lines the table provides, to check for straight cue travel. He uses the top of the rail where the felt meets the rail and the kitchen line, as references. He cues above them watching for straightness. It goes beyond that, because the vision center must be aligned perceptually, for the reference comparison to work. The position of the body, the eyes and the cueing action are being primed as a whole in the process. Some of these cueing sessions go on for several minutes. I’m reminded of how a good player when he misses a shot, practices until he can make it. The professional practices until he can’t miss it.
During commercials when watching tv or when waiting in traffic, the straight cueing mindset is sitting there at the liminal level. Writing about it here causes it to occur.
This weekend I play in a tournament.
My strategy is consistent. Each layout will be looked at with an eye to a pattern that can be executed reasonably. A decision is then made regarding a pattern related shot or a strategic tactic. Regardless of the decision, a straight stroke is needed. The type is dictated by the decision.
The liminal priming allows precise choice of where on the ball the straight stroke is needed.