Breathing

A

Aten

m8
Silver Member
How important is breathing rhythm in regards to billiards? I have never heard it really brought up before, but I noticed while practicing yesterday that despite stroking quite well on my draw drills, I couldn't really pull the cue ball more than half table. After a while I was starting to get a bit frustrated and smoke was blowing out my nose, so I decided to calm myself down and control my breathing but I was still very conscious about my rhythm.

Then, on one particular stroke, I noticed despite a very straight and level follow through, I was breathing in on the finish and the resulting shot seemed to drastically lack in power. It occurred to me to control my stroking based on how I was breathing and on the next shot I used the exact same stroke with identical power, but releasing instead on my exhale... the ball drew 3 times the length. Was this just luck/inconsistency, or is breathing actually related to the "timing" that is often talked about?
 
Aten said:
How important is breathing rhythm in regards to billiards? I have never heard it really brought up before, but I noticed while practicing yesterday that despite stroking quite well on my draw drills, I couldn't really pull the cue ball more than half table. After a while I was starting to get a bit frustrated and smoke was blowing out my nose, so I decided to calm myself down and control my breathing but I was still very conscious about my rhythm.

Then, on one particular stroke, I noticed despite a very straight and level follow through, I was breathing in on the finish and the resulting shot seemed to drastically lack in power. It occurred to me to control my stroking based on how I was breathing and on the next shot I used the exact same stroke with identical power, but releasing instead on my exhale... the ball drew 3 times the length. Was this just luck/inconsistency, or is breathing actually related to the "timing" that is often talked about?
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To me the main thing is to stay relaxed. Gentle deep breaths before a match can help you body release built up tension.

While your shooting I think your breathing should be gentle as well. If you breath in or out strongly during your stroke I would think that your muscles would tense up and cause a flaw in your stroke.
 
Take a page from womens tennis and scream real loud every time you contact the cue ball.

It gets its orgins from a Ki'hap from Taekwondo. I've heard it called a "spirit yell". Where your mind and body get focused in a power strike.

Plus it really F's with your opponent.
 
Breathing is key! Exhaling permits the muscles to relax and counteracts stress hormones, like cortisol. So, exhaling on the stroke and follow through is recommended.
 
I try not to breath at all while I play. For like 15-20 min straight. I think it will get me in dead stroke.
 
It is one of the critical attributes of a top-performing player, this breathing.

Always think about your breathing when you are shooting.
 
breath

Pull a Vulcan mind worm on your opponent.

When he/she is about to shoot ask .... when you shoot do hold your breath or breath in or out?????

Kim
 
whammo57 said:
Pull a Vulcan mind worm on your opponent.

When he/she is about to shoot ask .... when you shoot do hold your breath or breath in or out?????

Kim
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I was talking with one of my pool buddy's, he always second guesses himself and is first in line to try any gimmick or technique that come out . When he was down on a shot I asked him that very question. It messed with him all night long!

Later that night I let him off the hook and told him what was up and used that as way to tell him not to be so insecure about his game. He is doing a little better now but he is still way to easy to mess with.
 
Aten said:
How important is breathing rhythm in regards to billiards? I have never heard it really brought up before, but I noticed while practicing yesterday that despite stroking quite well on my draw drills, I couldn't really pull the cue ball more than half table. After a while I was starting to get a bit frustrated and smoke was blowing out my nose, so I decided to calm myself down and control my breathing but I was still very conscious about my rhythm.

Then, on one particular stroke, I noticed despite a very straight and level follow through, I was breathing in on the finish and the resulting shot seemed to drastically lack in power. It occurred to me to control my stroking based on how I was breathing and on the next shot I used the exact same stroke with identical power, but releasing instead on my exhale... the ball drew 3 times the length. Was this just luck/inconsistency, or is breathing actually related to the "timing" that is often talked about?
Click to expand...

I view it like this: if you are swimming and want to go to the bottom of the pool, what do you do? You exhale. If you want to float you would inhale and fill your lungs with air. I think it's the same thing with pool if you want to stay down on your shot try exhaling before you pull the trigger. If you inhale you have a better chance of raising up when you shoot.
 
buzzsaw said:
I view it like this: if you are swimming and want to go to the bottom of the pool, what do you do? You exhale. If you want to float you would inhale and fill your lungs with air. I think it's the same thing with pool if you want to stay down on your shot try exhaling before you pull the trigger. If you inhale you have a better chance of raising up when you shoot.
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Yeah, I always inhale at the bottom of a pool when I come back up...:(
 
For what it's worth, Sammy Jones has been a strong advocate of breathing techniques when playing pool. Not so sure myself and, like a lot of things, it may not work well for everybody.
 
During shot execution, you halt breathing, between breaths, your not holding your breath, its just a momentary stoppage during execution.
 
Great answer....

Island Drive said:
During shot execution, you halt breathing, between breaths, your not holding your breath, its just a momentary stoppage during execution.
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I agree. Another thing you don't want to do is chew food or gum while you play.

When you stoke you don't want anything moving. Not even your lungs.

Good thing a stroke only takes about a second or less. You'll never miss the air..............but you might miss the shot if your body is moving and that goes for any part that's not needed to execute the shot....................
 
I recently watched Immonen vs Paez video on youtube and I noticed Paez takes a deep breath before getting down. I just kind of hold my breath when I m on a shot.
 
genomachino said:
I agree. Another thing you don't want to do is chew food or gum while you play.

When you stoke you don't want anything moving. Not even your lungs.

Good thing a stroke only takes about a second or less. You'll never miss the air..............but you might miss the shot if your body is moving and that goes for any part that's not needed to execute the shot....................
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With the exception of Nick Varner, of course. xD:p:p
 
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