ADD/ADHD & Shooting Your Best Pool

My story is so similar to the ones shared above. Back in my elementary school days no one had ever heard of ADD/ADHD, I was just a kid who could never pay attention and "never applied himself", yet I could recite with remarkable accuracy the previous years stats for the entire starting line up of my beloved NY Yankees. This was a paradox my father brought to my attention and questioned more than a few times. My grades were either A's (in things I liked) or Ds & Fs (in things which I had no interest). As I got older and my executive functioning (finally) caught up to where it should be. I became a better student and could get top grades in things I liked with very little effort.

There has only ever been 2 things I could do with amazing concentration & focus, for extended periods of time (well 3 including internet porn, lol); all things DJing and Pool. It takes a while with Pool to slow down and get a non-rushed rhythm. There's definitely something almost hypnotic about Pool that brings out almost a Zen like focus in me...and apparently you guys as well ;-)
 
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it sucks

I definitely think it helped me practice for long sessions. Times when I'm hyperfocused are enjoyable but unfortunately I have anxiety issues as well which makes concentration impossible with my add when I get nervous or panicked. It seems to be getting worse as I get older. The end result is I can beat the 9 ball ghost, and the 10 ball ghost sometimes in short races but I have a hard time sewing together 3 balls in competition. Drinking seems to help, but I don't dig doing it just to play better.
 
I'm not sure that I have adult ADD, but I do have problems with my focus. What distracts me most (pool or otherwise) is something I can't quite see or hear. I tune in as I'm afraid I'm missing something. For example, if people whisper nearby, that gets my attention more than people talking normally. When I lose focus, my pre-shot routine goes out the window and I'll miss easy shots. I tend to focus well on harder shots and pocket some really difficult shots as a result. I seldom get into a zone because of this.

Thus, I often make mistakes on tables I should run out. If only I could figure out how to maintain my focus.........

I do think I'm at least slightly on the Asperger's for whatever that's worth.
 
DJSTEVEZ said:
Interesting little factoid, there are more ADD/ADHD folks who are millionaires and who have genius level IQs (140 and over) than their non-ADD/ADHD counterparts in the general population.
I don't remember where I read that, but I've heard those stats multiple times over the years. -S
Click to expand...

I believe that's true; but there are also a higher percentage of ADHD in prison!
 
I`ve got ADD and pool is among the things I can do for hours without loosing my concentration.
Starting on a small dose of Ritalin litteraly changed my life, but I have always had the ability to concentrate if its about something I`m really interested in.
 
Ocd/add...its been a blessing and a curse .

Me.....I was a wall/ceiling tile counter and hooked on visual math/geometry patterns,id mentaly play pong (atari game) in my head ..imagining the rebound angles on a wall long before i got into pool so the things that i like to do and do reasonably well......play guitar (math) and pool (geometry) benefited from the ocd disorder.

But.....a.d.d. ......i get a bit mentally sidetracked when playing and its worse now that i work in a poolhall because im constantly tuned into hearing people come in the door...put balls in the tray....walk past to go to the counter for whatever... .kids practicing scoop jumps and masse shots...and when people dont know im not on duty they ask me for things....and also when the owners around. ....cant fade that shark.

When im off i actually will drive an hr away even when i can play for free 5min from my house to other rooms just to get some rest .and try to enjoy the game for a while and regroup my mental focus.
 
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