A mental game

buckshotshoey

buckshotshoey

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The first time I tried the link it presented a blank screen. I copied the link and tried it again and it worked.

However, the video offered zero insight except to say that putting in golf is mental.
 
buckshotshoey said:
This is for golf, but the same applies to pool...

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Mentality is everything when it comes to putting ⛳️ #golf #golfer #golftips #golflife | Rick Shiels Golf | Rick Shiels Golf · Original audio

26K views, 53 likes, 2 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Reels from Rick Shiels Golf: Mentality is everything when it comes to putting ⛳️ #golf #golfer #golftips #golflife. Rick Shiels Golf · Original audio
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When I play like shit is when I'm trying to take the textbook shots, the "good" shot selection. When I'm just free-wheeling I play many times better.

I've been working on my mental game but dang is it a tough thing to practice...
 
Here is one think that I learned for sure - concerning consistent high level play - besides mandatory very strong final focus on the object ball aim point - great players approach each shot with high levels of confidence in their ability, higher levels of positivity concerning the outcome, and higher levels of muscle relaxation during the pool stroke itself.
I strongly believe that being a “natural” has much more to do with one having superior levels of reaching and maintaining these attributes during play than anything else.
 
dquarasr said:
The first time I tried the link it presented a blank screen. I copied the link and tried it again and it worked.

However, the video offered zero insight except to say that putting in golf is mental.
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What I took from it was when you are putting for fun, you execute better then when you put pressure on yourself during a tournament or when someo e is watching you.(mental).
 
Some people compete better than they practice, some don't. I expect a 7% to 12% boost in performance when I am in competition mode. It is rare that I don't get it.

Hu
 
mikemosconi said:
Here is one think that I learned for sure - concerning consistent high level play - besides mandatory very strong final focus on the object ball aim point - great players approach each shot with high levels of confidence in their ability, higher levels of positivity concerning the outcome, and higher levels of muscle relaxation during the pool stroke itself.
I strongly believe that being a “natural” has much more to do with one having superior levels of reaching and maintaining these attributes during play than anything else.
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Natural ability helps to improve faster but it has little to do with mental stamina. You could have all the physical ability in the world, succumb to the pressure and not perform like you know how. The confidence you speak of comes from preparation leading up to finally executing in pressure situations, usually after failures. Once you "know you can" those pressure situations become less and less daunting.

Back in my baseball playing days, I was warming up in the bullpen for a game against one of the top teams in the area. My pitching coach asked how I felt and I told him I was nervous. He reminded me of my ability and all the work I had put in up until that point and said, "Turn that nervousness into focus and concentration. If you focus on execution, the nervousness will fade." He was right. I threw a good game and we won. This is something I use in my pool game when competing. The result isn't always the desired outcome, but it helps me play to my ability when competing.
 
rexus31 said:
Natural ability helps to improve faster but it has little to do with mental stamina. You could have all the physical ability in the world, succumb to the pressure and not perform like you know how. The confidence you speak of comes from preparation leading up to finally executing in pressure situations, usually after failures. Once you "know you can" those pressure situations become less and less daunting.

Back in my baseball playing days, I was warming up in the bullpen for a game against one of the top teams in the area. My pitching coach asked how I felt and I told him I was nervous. He reminded me of my ability and all the work I had put in up until that point and said, "Turn that nervousness into focus and concentration. If you focus on execution, the nervousness will fade." He was right. I threw a good game and we won. This is something I use in my pool game when competing. The result isn't always the desired outcome, but it helps me play to my ability when competing.
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I don't even know what the hell "mental stamina" means. I was talking much more about one's overall approach to stressful situations. I have no doubt in my mind that each person is wired differently as to how they are affected by a competitive situation. I do believe that one who does not naturally handle competitive situations well ( meaning they let it affect the relaxation of their mind and body; to not be able to perform at their highest levels consistently) can train themselves to accomplish a good mental approach to the game.

However, those blessed with a more natural inclination to be relaxed of mind and body in competition, do possess a leg up on others when the going gets tough. That is all that I was really saying.
 
mikemosconi said:
I don't even know what the hell "mental stamina" means. I was talking much more about one's overall approach to stressful situations. I have no doubt in my mind that each person is wired differently as to how they are affected by a competitive situation. I do believe that one who does not naturally handle competitive situations well ( meaning they let it affect the relaxation of their mind and body; to not be able to perform at their highest levels consistently) can train themselves to accomplish a good mental approach to the game.

However, those blessed with a more natural inclination to be relaxed of mind and body in competition, do possess a leg up on others when the going gets tough. That is all that I was really saying.
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Some people get more of an adrenaline response when under pressure. This can be trained away, by practicing higher pressure shots until they stop becoming "high pressure", but you have to KNOW that is what you have to do to get past it. Adrenaline has a generally negative effect on fine muscle control. Players who solely focus on the tough shots in their practice both train this adrenaline response away, and improve the fundamentals applied on these specific shots.

A way to determine your adrenaline response is how much of a heart rate increase you get when on the road, not paying attention, and you drift towards the center line when another car is coming. If you immediately get a very strong heart rate spike, this is an adrenaline dump, and shows you are prone to this.

I have thought for a long time that some players are simply born with a very low adrenaline response to dangerous situations, and as such, are less prone to feel pressure. You can see the result it has on their game, as they just pop balls in at angles where the pocket "closes up". They simply don't have as much fear about shooting into a narrow pocket. Albin Ouschan strikes me as one of these type players, as he tends to have an extremely flat emotional response, even to mishit shots. Same with SVB. Both use intelligent shot design and "pool smarts" to moderate the tendency to just shoot at balls. This is a requirement to achieve very high levels. We all know folks who have absolutely no fear, but not the smarts/discipline to "lock in the win". Tony Chohan is an example, IMHO. When he moderates the tendency to shoot at absolutely anything and everything, he wins a lot more consistently.
 
ShortBusRuss said:
Some people get more of an adrenaline response when under pressure. This can be trained away, by practicing higher pressure shots until they stop becoming "high pressure", but you have to KNOW that is what you have to do to get past it. Adrenaline has a generally negative effect on fine muscle control. Players who solely focus on the tough shots in their practice both train this adrenaline response away, and improve the fundamentals applied on these specific shots.

A way to determine your adrenaline response is how much of a heart rate increase you get when on the road, not paying attention, and you drift towards the center line when another car is coming. If you immediately get a very strong heart rate spike, this is an adrenaline dump, and shows you are prone to this.

I have thought for a long time that some players are simply born with a very low adrenaline response to dangerous situations, and as such, are less prone to feel pressure. You can see the result it has on their game, as they just pop balls in at angles where the pocket "closes up". They simply don't have as much fear about shooting into a narrow pocket. Albin Ouschan strikes me as one of these type players, as he tends to have an extremely flat emotional response, even to mishit shots. Same with SVB. Both use intelligent shot design and "pool smarts" to moderate the tendency to just shoot at balls. This is a requirement to achieve very high levels. We all know folks who have absolutely no fear, but not the smarts/discipline to "lock in the win". Tony Chohan is an example, IMHO. When he moderates the tendency to shoot at absolutely anything and everything, he wins a lot more consistently.
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Well- all outside stimuli is first measured in the stem section of your brain - humans were wired this way so that they could respond with a fight or flight decision quickly when we sensed danger approaching. Every brain is wired differently- as is everyone's very early life experiences. Our brain can naturally develop to allow the upper regions of our brain to calmly decide on a course of action - and other brains too often let the first jolt to our fight or flight center create an immediate knee jerk response- those people are hindered by impulsive responses rather than calmer responses.

Competitive pool is not normally a life or death decision ( unless one is gambling in the wrong place) - so brains wired NOT to over-respond impulsively to unexpected circumstances tend to manage the table better under pressure. Yes, one can "fix" a tendency to have over reactions to situations- first the tendency must be recognized by the individual, admitted to themselves, then "trained" to allow a calmer approach to the unexpected.

Most of this information is documented in emotional intelligence writings available at most libraries.
 
mikemosconi said:
Competitive pool is not normally a life or death decision ( unless one is gambling in the wrong place) - so brains wired NOT to over-respond impulsively to unexpected circumstances tend to manage the table better under pressure. Yes, one can "fix" a tendency to have over reactions to situations- first the tendency must be recognized by the individual, admitted to themselves, then "trained" to allow a calmer approach to the unexpected.

Most of this information is documented in emotional intelligence writings available at most libraries.
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I like your reply, and seems very accurate to me. I am probably one of those folks who overreact to the pressure competition presents, and have struggled to overcome it. I believe what you say one can fix a tendency and train their mind to work out anxieties and fears, probably because it is just a game and not a fight or flight life-threatening situation. I have seen myself get better at this for the year I have been playing.
 
Building confidence plays a big role in helping people overcome anxious response syndromes- when you become confident in pool in your ability to make shots, move the CB effectively, respond to safeties, etc. --- your confidence allows you to move anxious thoughts quickly up the brain stem to where you just say to yourself-" I can handle this" and you just execute the shot with confidence and conviction.

Those who approach problems optimistically without trepidation will use their "I can" approach to push away the anxiety and allow your mind to quiet, your body to relax, your eyes to HOLD focus; and perform at your best each and every shot no matter the situation- championship play!!

Great pre shot routines- developed in conjunction with a straight stroke, good stance -- balance and clearance--- will go a long way to peak performance on each shot.
 
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