That is one I'd recommend.
I'd also recommend Tao of Sports
The monk books are jive. "Pleasures ..." is just psychological mumbo-jumbo IMO.
Best Psychology Books for Pool Players
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That is one I'd recommend.
I'd also recommend Tao of Sports
The monk books are jive. "Pleasures ..." is just psychological mumbo-jumbo IMO.
I heard that this book covers everything from the tech. to mental parts. It's not specific for the mind.
Good point. But clearing your mind of thoughts of what you are doing when you are shooting is a big part of the mental game. We can analyze everything we do when we are practicing, but we need a different mindset when we play. You can think about each shot, but when you get down on it, you have to just let your stroke go.
Think before shooting, and then shoot without thinking.
Steve
"One minute guide to playing better pool" has repeated information, but the message is pool specific.
"Inner Game of Tennis" is a favorite.
"Pleasures of Small motions" I bought because of AZ recommendations, but I don't get the message. I would like to hear what was valuable to the readers.
Literate writer, but nothing I read is a how to for playing better pool. More of a social behavior theme, but nothing valuable (to me) for pool. I would skip this one and buy a sports psychology book.
Maybe I need to spend more time alone in the forest to understand the sound of a whisper.
"Inner Game of Tennis" is a favorite.
"Pleasures of Small motions" I bought because of AZ recommendations, but I don't get the message. I would like to hear what was valuable to the readers.
Literate writer, but nothing I read is a how to for playing better pool. More of a social behavior theme, but nothing valuable (to me) for pool. I would skip this one and buy a sports psychology book.
Maybe I need to spend more time alone in the forest to understand the sound of a whisper.
The correct name of Bob Fancher's book is Pleasures of Small Motion.
And that is the one I like best.:thumbup:
The Bible
Joey A Chapt 1 verse 1
"It's up to each man to work out his own salvation at the table"
It's a great statement and not in the Bible .....I was just being a goof.However if a man read and practiced just the book of proverbs alone the
results could be mind blowing.
Joey A Chapt 1 verse 1
"It's up to each man to work out his own salvation at the table"
It's a great statement and not in the Bible .....I was just being a goof.However if a man read and practiced just the book of proverbs alone the
results could be mind blowing.
Exactly. You nailed it to a tee there Steve. All the thought that goes into your shot happens before you get over the ball. Once you're over the ball, it should be nothing but execution. If you're still thinking about the shot you're hitting while you're hitting it, you're probably going to miss it.
I just cringe when players get so obsessed with the mental game, that that obsession by itself becomes detrimental to their mental game. It's a giant catch 22. And once again, I am speaking through my experience in golf, as both a player and teacher. I'm not as experienced as a pool player, but I honestly believe that it is relative.
And just to add my thoughts to the OP, I haven't read any "mental game" books that are pool specific. But, I've read a golf book (actually my personal golf bible) that may relate. That book was "The Elements Of Scoring: The Master's Guide To The Art Of Scoring Your Best When You're Not Playing Your Best" by Raymond Floyd. It doesn't try to teach you how to swing a club, it teaches you how to play the game, and more specifically, it teaches you how to fall into the mindset you need to shoot low scores, even when your swing might be a little off. I credit that book with helping me become as mentally strong as I am, that and a lot of practice and hard work.
I've read only 'A Mind For Pool' and I find that it has covered all aspects of the mental game for every level of players. from beginners to the professionals. tournament formats and money games...
just my two cents
just my two cents
A funny thought, simplicity
I just had a funny thought regarding simplicity and playing in the moment.
A child finds the game of pool at an early age and naturally plays in the moment. Some continue to develop their physical skills while never moving their mental game beyond this point.
A devoted student finds the game of pool and plays in the moment. However he wants to get better. He reads all he can, takes lessons, battles all of his mental demons, struggles for years, and if he is lucky develops the ability to play in the moment.
Who has the better mental game?
Hu
I just had a funny thought regarding simplicity and playing in the moment.
A child finds the game of pool at an early age and naturally plays in the moment. Some continue to develop their physical skills while never moving their mental game beyond this point.
A devoted student finds the game of pool and plays in the moment. However he wants to get better. He reads all he can, takes lessons, battles all of his mental demons, struggles for years, and if he is lucky develops the ability to play in the moment.
Who has the better mental game?
Hu
Quoted in Tao of Sports ...
"How can a you hit and think at the same time?" Yogi Berra.
A Mind of Steel
A Mind of Steel by Dr. Chris Stankovich is a precise and to the point piece of work on mental sports training. I am a semi-professional level player and I have read most of those books. I will admit I got something from all of the books. The monk books are good. Pleasures and the mental edge are good. Max's book is good. Bob Henning's book was a good read with interesting tidbits. The Mind of Steel is a more complete cumalative collection of information. It's kind of pricey and looks more like a workbook but it is by far the best overall. I'm surprised nobody else mentioned it.:smile:
A Mind of Steel by Dr. Chris Stankovich is a precise and to the point piece of work on mental sports training. I am a semi-professional level player and I have read most of those books. I will admit I got something from all of the books. The monk books are good. Pleasures and the mental edge are good. Max's book is good. Bob Henning's book was a good read with interesting tidbits. The Mind of Steel is a more complete cumalative collection of information. It's kind of pricey and looks more like a workbook but it is by far the best overall. I'm surprised nobody else mentioned it.:smile: