Breathing: While down on the shot.

JimS

JimS

Grandpa & his grand boys.
Silver Member
I read about pausing and about eye patterns, etc, but I've not seen anything, at least not that I'm remembering, about breathing patterns.

I've been practicing meditation for many years but have not applied, with any regularity, the relaxing breathing patterns associated with my periods of meditation, directly to my pool game. I've used these relaxation techniques while in the chair but I think I SHOULD be using these relaxation methods while I'm in the chair AND while I'm down on the shot.

I found, in this mornings practice session, that slowing down the breathing, consciously practicing regular breathing, and then finally; holding my breath from the last practice stroke when I pause at the cue ball, through the backstroke.. during the pause at the back... and during the forward stroke, makes the stroke more accurate and I'm more likely to roll the cb as opposed to making it slide for the first few inches.

What breathing patterns are practiced by others and/or are recommended by the teachers? I think this could be an important part of my game and I'm going to work on this and make it a habitual part of my pre-shot routine.
 
It's what I was taught in marksman training. Breathe halfway out before you fire then hold it, execute, then breathe again. Works in pool just fine for me!

Squeezing a trigger is so much easier than moving your arm though (especially if you've seen my chicken wang). But breathing does help.
 
Possible shark move: Get down on the shot, then ask your opponent if he breathes in or out before he pulls the trigger.
 
makes the stroke more accurate and I'm more likely to roll the cb as opposed to making it slide for the first few inches
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This only happens when you hit with nearly maximum follow. Any lower hit makes the CB slide at first.

I control my breathing while down on the shot - slow exhale through all forward strokes.

pj
chgo
 
cubc said:
It's what I was taught in marksman training. Breathe halfway out before you fire then hold it, execute, then breathe again. Works in pool just fine for me!

Squeezing a trigger is so much easier than moving your arm though (especially if you've seen my chicken wang). But breathing does help.
Click to expand...



I don't always concentrate on It, but when I do this is what I use also. The same method as shooting a rifle. My father was a marksman in the army, and taught me breathing methods for that when I was young, so I guess I just kind of incorperated that into My pool game over the years. Sometimes I exhale on the release though.
 
No so much a breathing technique, but when I am under the gun and need to relax I simply place my tongue on the roof of my mouth and focus on breathing through my nose. I learned that a while ago and I find it helps relax my breathing and thus my stroke.
 
Cue Crazy said:
I don't always concentrate on It, but when I do this is what I use also. The same method as shooting a rifle. My father was a marksman in the army, and taught me breathing methods for that when I was young, so I guess I just kind of incorperated that into My pool game over the years. Sometimes I exhale on the release though.
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Yea I dont concentrate on it either.. it just happens. I usually correct that first if I'm playing a little off.
 
JimS said:
I read about pausing and about eye patterns, etc, but I've not seen anything, at least not that I'm remembering, about breathing patterns.

I've been practicing meditation for many years but have not applied, with any regularity, the relaxing breathing patterns associated with my periods of meditation, directly to my pool game. I've used these relaxation techniques while in the chair but I think I SHOULD be using these relaxation methods while I'm in the chair AND while I'm down on the shot.

I found, in this mornings practice session, that slowing down the breathing, consciously practicing regular breathing, and then finally; holding my breath from the last practice stroke when I pause at the cue ball, through the backstroke.. during the pause at the back... and during the forward stroke, makes the stroke more accurate and I'm more likely to roll the cb as opposed to making it slide for the first few inches.

What breathing patterns are practiced by others and/or are recommended by the teachers? I think this could be an important part of my game and I'm going to work on this and make it a habitual part of my pre-shot routine.
Click to expand...
It;s funny that u had made this post. I have been working on my breathing before every shot and has immensely helped. As far as breathing through the shot:
I normally breathe deeply before i get down on the shot.
Breathe normally thru the practice strokes.
Pause my breathing thru the shot.
Exhale while staying down/after the shot.

Great post btw.
 
breathing

Jim,

This is something I have worked with fairly recently. As a former benchrest rifle competitor my first thought was gentle smooth breathing coupled with the "half-breathe" and pause when pulling the trigger. I prefer shooting natural body speed for each shot instead of trying to make all shots conform to the same speed for every shot hard or easy so I sometimes found myself running out of air before or while pulling the trigger on tougher shots.

In practical pistol competition it isn't reasonable to hold my breathe for the duration of a run and I focus on breathing slowly, relaxed, and not quite as deeply as in the minute or two leading up to the run when I am deliberately flooding my body with oxygen to carry me through the run. It may be something of a compromise but for me the same breathing pattern as shooting a competition pistol works best as I have the constant supply of air needed to maintain focus on the shot. It does seem that my follow-through is a little longer and smoother if I time the shot to when I am exhaling.

Hu




JimS said:
I read about pausing and about eye patterns, etc, but I've not seen anything, at least not that I'm remembering, about breathing patterns.

I've been practicing meditation for many years but have not applied, with any regularity, the relaxing breathing patterns associated with my periods of meditation, directly to my pool game. I've used these relaxation techniques while in the chair but I think I SHOULD be using these relaxation methods while I'm in the chair AND while I'm down on the shot.

I found, in this mornings practice session, that slowing down the breathing, consciously practicing regular breathing, and then finally; holding my breath from the last practice stroke when I pause at the cue ball, through the backstroke.. during the pause at the back... and during the forward stroke, makes the stroke more accurate and I'm more likely to roll the cb as opposed to making it slide for the first few inches.

What breathing patterns are practiced by others and/or are recommended by the teachers? I think this could be an important part of my game and I'm going to work on this and make it a habitual part of my pre-shot routine.
Click to expand...
 
ShootingArts said:
Jim,

This is something I have worked with fairly recently. As a former benchrest rifle competitor my first thought was gentle smooth breathing coupled with the "half-breathe" and pause when pulling the trigger. I prefer shooting natural body speed for each shot instead of trying to make all shots conform to the same speed for every shot hard or easy so I sometimes found myself running out of air before or while pulling the trigger on tougher shots.

In practical pistol competition it isn't reasonable to hold my breathe for the duration of a run and I focus on breathing slowly, relaxed, and not quite as deeply as in the minute or two leading up to the run when I am deliberately flooding my body with oxygen to carry me through the run. It may be something of a compromise but for me the same breathing pattern as shooting a competition pistol works best as I have the constant supply of air needed to maintain focus on the shot. It does seem that my follow-through is a little longer and smoother if I time the shot to when I am exhaling.

Hu
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I seem to get more power on the break too with the exhale.

I have a preshot routine too that's simular. First I try to control My heart rate even when sitting down, by deep slow breaths in and out, and paying more attention to the table and what I need to do, or thinking positive about the position I'm in if I get back to the table by chance, rather then thinking I'm in a bad position, or knocking My confidense down for missing a shot, or thinking about any other things that may change My breathing or heart rate when I get back to the table. Sometimes that part is easier said then done and I fail there, but afterwards when I'm up on the shot, I take a couple of slow deep breaths in and out, then I take slower breaths as You mentioned, possibly shorter ones, before I lay down on it to do My pre stroke. My goal is to hit the ball the same on most shots too, sometimes I may have to slow or speed the shot up to get shape, but the consistent stroke gives be a good base speed to work from, and not only makes pocketing balls easier, but also helps control My cueball speed.

This only works when I'm focused on It though, and as I mentioned sometimes I just do It unconsciously when everything comes together on It's own. Sometimes I have to focus on it though because the oxygen isn't flowing through the blood and to the brain as well:p sometimes My heart rate is just all over the place on It's own, not due to any involment in the game to begin with usually.

Greg
 
JimS said:
I read about pausing and about eye patterns, etc, but I've not seen anything, at least not that I'm remembering, about breathing patterns.

I've been practicing meditation for many years but have not applied, with any regularity, the relaxing breathing patterns associated with my periods of meditation, directly to my pool game. I've used these relaxation techniques while in the chair but I think I SHOULD be using these relaxation methods while I'm in the chair AND while I'm down on the shot.

I found, in this mornings practice session, that slowing down the breathing, consciously practicing regular breathing, and then finally; holding my breath from the last practice stroke when I pause at the cue ball, through the backstroke.. during the pause at the back... and during the forward stroke, makes the stroke more accurate and I'm more likely to roll the cb as opposed to making it slide for the first few inches.

What breathing patterns are practiced by others and/or are recommended by the teachers? I think this could be an important part of my game and I'm going to work on this and make it a habitual part of my pre-shot routine.
Click to expand...

I am really envious of all you guys who have gotten to this stage in pool. I am still working on the basic fundamentals. :D
 
DON'T BREATH. DON'T YOU F***ING BREATHE!!!


Ok, ok. Seriously, you may have to breathe. Hell, if Jeremy Jones didn't breath, he'd pass out within a 10 ball run.
 
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Jude Rosenstock said:
DON'T BREATH. DON'T YOU F***ING BREATH!!!


Ok, ok. Seriously, you may have to breath. Hell, if Jeremy Jones didn't breath, he'd pass out within a 10 ball run.
Click to expand...

Charlie Williams might die before his first shot.

pj
chgo
 
Slow exhale on shot while pulling the trigger and during followthrough, works very well, but in order to develop this habit it takes a concentrated effort, you have to be very diligent at paying attention to detail, and it may take at least 3 weeks of consistantly doing it to make it a HABIT...
 
JimS said:
What breathing patterns are practiced by others and/or are recommended by the teachers? QUOTE]

I remember Mark Wilson recommending this regulated breathing in one of his articles in Billiards Digest (in the manner you describe). I've been practicing regulating my breathing pattern with my stoke mechanics for many years now and I believe it helps in controling heart rate and mental state, especially under pressure. I also try to coordinate it with the alternating eye pattern. Try to transform the whole shot making process into a form of meditation practice and I believe it enhances concentration and focus. The only aspect of this that I question concerns whether to hold the breath, or exhale, during the execution of the final stroke and followthrough. Everything I've read suggests holding your breath (as stated by the marksmen) but I prefer to exhale because I think that holding the breath increases muscle tension, especially if you have an exaggerated pause at the end of the backswing and that's counterproductive in my opinion.
I have not tried the half breath. I think you're on the right track though.
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pletho said:
Slow exhale on shot while pulling the trigger and during followthrough, works very well, but in order to develop this habit it takes a concentrated effort, you have to be very diligent at paying attention to detail, and it may take at least 3 weeks of consistantly doing it to make it a HABIT...
Click to expand...

i'd recommend doing this all the time, not only at sleep. divert only when moving yer feet fast and often.
 
Breathing when down a shot causes upper body movement, when I get ready to pull the trigger I momentarily stop breathing, pretty much the deal.
 
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cubc said:
It's what I was taught in marksman training. Breathe halfway out before you fire then hold it, execute, then breathe again. Works in pool just fine for me!

Squeezing a trigger is so much easier than moving your arm though (especially if you've seen my chicken wang). But breathing does help.
Click to expand...


chicken wang?....I've never seen your chicken wang, nor do I want to!!LOL:D

seriously though, I exhale during my warmup strokes and breath back in AFTER the shot. Seems to work well.

Another point I havn't seen yet is concentrating on breathing can also help to keep you from thinking about anything negative. You could also think about timing/tempo, being smooth, controled eye movement etc. all good things.....anything but, "don't miss" or "don't get stitched" or "don't scratch" because we all know thinking don't do something really tells the subconscious to do it!:D

G.
 
While practicing and experimenting tonight I changed my process some. Rather than beginning to hold my breath from the time of the pause at the cue ball I continue to breathe slowing inhaling during the back swing and then begin to hold the breath when I begin the pause prior to stroking forward.

It seems natural to inhale while drawing the cue back. It seems natural to hold my breath while stroking and then I can exhale at the end of the follow through.

I like this and I think this will be the method I'll begin to work on and try to program into my shooting process.

Any reason this process is not good?

I appreciate all the comments/help. Thanks, Jim
 
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