block out distractions

[master_cueist]

To further elaborate on what someone else has already said, I personally have never really had a problem with people talking around me or even to me when im shooting but if i find it IS distracting me...like another poster already said ill look at them and it goes away as far as being in a busy place, after every shot i just simply take a quick glance around the room, that way if there is a noisy player or bar goer i know where they are so if i hear them while im down shooting its not a suprise to hear it coming from there and allows me to keep my focus. I really liked what the other poster said about noticing your environment, a lot of people always gave me crap for looking around thinking that i was just trying to get attention, but i was just resetting myself when i needed to. look around get a feel for the place, then look back at the table and completely restart just like its your very first shot of the game. ON ANOTHER NOTE...i noticed you said that you are "praying you will make the shot" thats just bad, all bad, bad bad bad...nothing good will come of that...when you get down on a shot you have to have confidence in yourself that you can make that shot...if your thinking your going to miss or there is any doubt....9 times out of 10 most people are going to miss, it doesnt matter if its your very first game of pool or the worlds best...you have to KNOW you can make that shot...if your down on it thinking to yourself please go in please go in please go in...your not thinking about HOW to make the shot..your just hoping it will get miracled in.

 

[Ģüśţāṿ]

I drink a lot of coffee, it helps me focus! When I shoot, I honestly am not aware of anything else around me besides the shot at hand. My ADD is bad most of the time, but when I play I can focus so well.

 

[walrus_3d]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I have a question: how do you guys tune out things in your peripheral vision and things you can't quite hear? I find myself myself zeroing in on those things, even in the shooting position. It's worse for me on easier shots. I guess I focus on the harder shots.

I have the same issue, where my brain wants to pick out the things that I can barely hear or barely see, especially if my wife is talking. I've told her before that she's not allowed to talk while I'm shooting.

If I'm down on the shot and ready to go, I usually refocus on the shot, take one more practice stroke, and if I don't feel 100% I stand up and start over. If I'm not already down on the shot, I start over at whatever step I was in before the distraction, usually lining up the shot one more time.

I think the harder skill to learn is refocusing on something once you've been distracted. You can easily focus on a task, it's a question of getting back into focus once you've let yourself out of it.

 

[RickVaughn]

"Nice break 'n run."... to which you reply...

"Thanks, but I really didn't realize I was on a break 'n run. I was totally absorbed in each and every shot."[/QUOTE]

Happens all the time to me. You just get going and all of a sudden there's nothing left to shoot.

You said you're in the process of shooting and something comes to mind. Stand up. As soon as you get down and bridge your mind has stopped thinking. If you're looking down at the cue ball and you're still thinking, stand up, figure out what you're going to do and just do it. I'd say over half the shots I miss are because I didn't commit to the shot and my mind was still going when I fired.

Don't psych yourself out or dwell on past shots either. They call it losing from your chair and you can end up beating yourself mentally. One of my teammates does it all the time. This can be pretty hard to overcome because pool is a funny game, you can lose without ever getting the chance to do anything. There's no bigger buzzkill than watching a guy run out on you. Just make sure that when you get back at the table, all you're thinking about is shooting your best game.

And try to have a little fun while you're at it =)

 

[KMRUNOUT]

This is some of what has helped me... and continues to help me:

• To play well, pool must be played in the present. When down on the shot, there is no past (no thoughts about last shot or last game). There is no future (do NOT think, If I make this ball, I win the game.)... there is only now. Only the present exists.

• 
  The best players pay attention to detail on every shot. There is no easy shot upon which to relax. Give every shot your best effort.

• Each and every shot is either a learning... or a confirming... experience.

• Do not shoot in the thinking position... and do not think in the shooting position. If you do, reset... start all over with the thinking and visualizing part.

• Visualize your shot (while in the thinking position)... every detail of it before going into your stance. Know what will happen when you pull the trigger.

Learn these... they should make for a good start on getting over the hump of what you have been experiencing.

excellent post! agree 100%

KMRUNOUT

 

[Not Dead Ted]

Choking-what the experts say...(SPF!)

An expert on "choking" had a recent article in the NY Times. The main factors to prevent choking are:


¶ Experience at performing under pressure makes a significant difference. Practicing under even mild pressure helps prepare you for the more intense version of a championship-winning or match-winning putt.

¶ When you’re faced with a pressure shot, distracting yourself from the task at hand is helpful.

¶ Performing quickly in pressure situations leads to more success.

Specific techniques:
¶ Find something to focus on, like the manufacturer’s name or logo on the ball. It can help prevent the prefrontal cortex from too closely regulating your movements.

¶ A one-, two- or three-word mantra helps. Like the word “smooth” while putting, or a three-word timing device during your swing. Something like, “back, and, through.”

Or perhaps, SET, PAUSE, FINISH

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

The Inner Game of Tennis

I need suggestions for this, too, so I'm subscribing to this thread. :thumbup:

The classic guide to the mental side of peak performance. W. Timothy Gallwey. Barnes and Noble paperback $15. Right brain, left brain, self 1, self 2 , call it what you want. Two hour read. There is a little bird that sits on your shoulder and criticizes and passes judgement on all your efforts. He will never leave and much like a small child the most you can expect is for them to sit still and be calm. That little bird is most welcome when practicing and learning but must be still when actually playing. It's about not thinking and trusting yourself and falling into the fog of dead stroke which we all experience from time to time and wonder how do we make that fog again. People say pool is ninety percent mental, BULL, you must have high skills. Doesn't matter how mentally positive you are you ain't beating Efren. You can beat a lot of other people though. You can't improve your skill level much beyond your actual skill level, but you can improve your mental game tremendously. Shoot with confidence and take what the table gives you.