Cleaning house before the maid gets here

L

lastdimetaker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been putting in some serious table time last few weeks getting myself ready for a 3 day bootcamp with the tin man.
I listened to him on cue it up and read his post on AZ. He is one of the very few people I let into my head..
I would say if I had an accurate fargo it would be around 620, but right now I feel like a 700. I've been playing with bootcamp on my mind and the fear that I'm a lost cause, I'm stuck being stuck, and I still got 2 weeks before training begins.
Staying on topic I feel like my fear of being found out that I'm a fraud is bringing out my (A) Game.
I am terrified that I have peaked and getting better is beyond me. I'm afraid that I will be turned away embarrassed my pool cues taken from me and replaced with golf clubs or something lol
Tonight I hit balls for 2 hours and I felt so strong, I couldn't practice I've been practicing and it has been brutal. I just wanted to relax not think about bootcamp for a moment. I was locked in the zone and my only regret is no opponent.
There is power in the knowledge that someone is going to have access to the truth..
The act of preparation itself.
I clean my house really good because I don't want the maid or cleaning service to think badly of me. After cleaning I think to myself that I don't need a cleaning service but it's too late the door bell rings and they are here. After the cleaning service leaves I am embarrassed how dirty my house was after I had cleaned it and aastonished how clean it is after they left.
I feel like that..
I have some unrealistic expectations that bootcamp will change my life the way pool school did and I have my doubts and fears that I am a lost soul pulled in by hope.
The truth is I have gotten so much value already simply by committing to clean the house before the maid gets here. I am right now on the top of my game compared to 2 months ago and that has value, even if after bootcamp I somehow achieve a higher level or not. My motivation to go went from save me, to help me, and now for direction.
I am truly lost in thought on this one. Thought I would share my thoughts maybe some can relate.
I'm ready to go ...
 
Sounds like you have a well developed physical game. And your story shows you accessed a part of the mental side. But it sounds to me like the mental side that you have accessed it's full of pressure and expectations thrust upon yourself. Try accessing the calm positive side of your mental game.

Developing a stronger metal side could be more helpful then practice practice practice. I've changed my game around completely by approaching every shot thinking to myself I will make this. I don't think about the difficulty of the shot anymore.

Under the advice of my instructor, I've tried hypnosis and positive affirmation recordings. I really didn't believe in it at first. But when I began, I told myself this stuff is real. Hypnosis will help me. And, I really believe it did.

When most people think of hypnosis, they think of what it's like in the movies.... Where the subject is put asleep and responds to every whim of the hypnotist. Everybody knows this isn't the case. It's just a self-induced state of intense relaxation and open-mindedness. I think it is turned my game around considerably.
 
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I can give you a recommendation of one to start with. There are a few on Zen Billiards. Find a nice dark quiet place, such as in easy chair, lay back and put the headphones on. Open your mind and separate yourself from your body. Listen to each of his billiard tapes 5 times. Doesn't have to be all at once. Once a day for 5 days. I'll guarantee your confidence will Skyrocket.

Once again oh, I really didn't believe in this stuff. Thought it was kind of corny... Or Hocus Pocus. But I've changed my mind on it since I've tried it.

It's not the hypnotist that is changing you. Your mind is doing the work. The human mind is an amazing computer. And it could take considerable effort to reprogram it. And occasionally, little viruses creep into that computer. So the reprogramming may have to be done every now and then. Like every other aspect of your pool game, the mental side requires maintenance also.
 
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I don’t know anyone who became a solid all around player quickly. Sure there are super talents but they still have to pay their dues.


All the “white noise” about serious table time, peaking, I’ve topped out. Get that shit out of your brain ASAP. That’s the root of the problem NOT the solution. Time is your friend, deliberate practice and action are also your friends.

best of luck to you
Fatboy
 
buckshotshoey said:
Sounds like you have a well developed physical game. And your story shows you accessed a part of the mental side. But it sounds to me like the mental side that you have accessed it's full of pressure and expectations thrust upon yourself. Try accessing the calm positive side of your mental game.

Developing a stronger metal side could be more helpful then practice practice practice. I've changed my game around completely by approaching every shot thinking to myself I will make this. I don't think about the difficulty of the shot anymore.

Under the advice of my instructor, I've tried hypnosis and positive affirmation recordings. I really didn't believe in it at first. But when I began, I told myself this stuff is real. Hypnosis will help me. And, I really believe it did.

When most people think of hypnosis, they think of what it's like in the movies.... Where the subject is put asleep and responds to every whim of the hypnotist. Everybody knows this isn't the case. It's just a self-induced state of intense relaxation and open-mindedness. I think it is turned my game around considerably.
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Great post. When we play in the fabled zone, it feels like we are in a waking dream. We are confident and most importantly playing "out of our heads." If this isn't hypnosis, I don't know what is. We are hypnotized/mesmerized by the game and nothing else exists other than the game. Some call it tunnel vision, but it's tunnel hearing, touch, taste, smell, etc.

Someone posted a video recently of an APA instructor/coach. He said the table is a no thinking zone. Take your aim while standing, figure leave while standing, see the cb path while standing. Re-take your aim to certainty. From the second you get down into your stance, it's no thinking. You can still do practice strokes to get speed, but for crying out loud, don't fidget around and second guess yourself. In the "no thinking zone" simply let your body perform and focus on solid fundamentals, make them feel good and pure. You'll find that it's much easier to zone in/hypnotize/mesmerize yourself if you're not thinking while at the table on a shot. It's purely execution at this point, allowing your body to do what it must with no second guessing/mental sabotage. If a player isn't at the point to do all this stuff while standing, now is the time to start learning it. The sooner the better IMO.

lastdimetaker said:
The truth is I have gotten so much value already simply by committing to clean the house before the maid gets here. I am right now on the top of my game compared to 2 months ago and that has value, even if after bootcamp I somehow achieve a higher level or not. My motivation to go went from save me, to help me, and now for direction.
I am truly lost in thought on this one. Thought I would share my thoughts maybe some can relate.
I'm ready to go ...
Click to expand...
It sounds like you've adequately prepared to get the most out of boot camp. Might I suggest not playing for a couple days before going? I have a feeling you want to be fresh as a daisy for the camp with your mind cleared of your current routines and anxieties. You're gonna have a great time. I would love to do the boot camp sometime, might have to save up some vacation time. I mean, what an experience it's gonna be! Good luck and enjoy the piss out of your adventure there! 🙂
 
The idea of doing ALL the thinking while standing does make sense in several ways, but my experience has taught me that we often fall apart once in the shooting position because we allow NOT THINKING, but some EMOTION or some DOUBT to linger or appear while in the shooting position. Everything seemed great and complete while standing - until you are DOWN staring at the long straight shot on the nine ball.

I don't characterize the detrimental emotion or doubt as thought; it is, if we are going to be brutally honest with ourselves, a barrier in our individual inner person that prevents us from performing to our highest physical ability in that moment. It is a feeling- ( after the miss) like we know we can do it- but for some reason we just did not do it.

Great players rely on TRUST to perform at their best in the moment. Trust is built upon a solid foundation of actual shooting mechanics. In pool, it is just believing ( trusting) that you can deliver the cue ball to the object ball in every way that you planned ( thought) while standing.

You can only let go of thought and emotion, and doubt, when you have developed YOUR trust to be the Dominant force that drives you in any game or sport. I believe that we develop that needed degree of trust in ourselves and our stroke in very individual ways- there is no one rule for all.
It all starts with our experienced success and then finding a method, a process, a strong will, a burning desire, SOMETHING unique that a person develops within themselves; so that TRUST in themselves allows the arrow to fly free of obstacle.
 
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mikemosconi said:
The idea of doing ALL the thinking while standing does make sense in several ways, but my experience has taught me that we often fall apart once in the shooting position because we allow NOT THINKING, but some EMOTION or some DOUBT to linger or appear while in the shooting position. Everything seemed great and complete while standing - until you are DOWN staring at the long straight shot on the nine ball.

I don't characterize the detrimental emotion or doubt as thought; it is, if we are going to be brutally honest with ourselves, a barrier in our individual inner person that prevents us from performing to our highest physical ability in that moment. It is a feeling- ( after the miss) like we know we can do it- but for some reason we just did not do it.

Great players rely on TRUST to perform at their best in the moment. Trust is built upon a solid foundation of actual shooting mechanics. In pool, it is just believing ( trusting) that you can deliver the cue ball to the object ball in every way that you planned ( thought) while standing.

You can only let go of thought and emotion, and doubt, when you have developed your trust to be the Dominant force that drives you in any game or sport. I believe that we develop that needed degree of trust in ourselves and our stroke in very individual ways- there is no one rule for all.
It all starts with our experienced success and then finding a method, a process, a strong will, a burning desire, SOMETHING unique that a person develops within themselves; so that TRUST in themselves allows the arrow to fly free of obstacle.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
I feel the same way, but I have dealt with it by realizing that yes, after I clean the house.. it looks better than it did before. But that just makes it easier for the maids to get that last 20% clean. Plus, I haven't cleaned a toilet or a bathtub decades.

Oh, pool: yeah. I'm the best player at my house too.
 
boogieman said:
Someone posted a video recently of an APA instructor/coach. He said the table is a no thinking zone. Take your aim while standing, figure leave while standing, see the cb path while standing. Re-take your aim to certainty. From the second you get down into your stance, it's no thinking. You can still do practice strokes to get speed, but for crying out loud, don't fidget around and second guess yourself. In the "no thinking zone" simply let your body perform and focus on solid fundamentals, make them feel good and pure. You'll find that it's much easier to zone in/hypnotize/mesmerize yourself if you're not thinking while at the table on a shot. It's purely execution at this point, allowing your body to do what it must with no second guessing/mental sabotage. If a player isn't at the point to do all this stuff while standing, now is the time to start learning it. The sooner the better IMO.
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My instructor teaches that also. The way he puts it, your chalk is your brain. You cannot think without your chalk / brain in your hand. Once you set your brain down on the rail, there is no thinking. If you start second-guessing yourself while down on the shot, you stand up, pick up your brain, and start the pre-shot routine all over again.
 
buckshotshoey said:
My instructor teaches that also. The way he puts it, your chalk is your brain. You cannot think without your chalk / brain in your hand. Once you set your brain down on the rail, there is no thinking. If you start second-guessing yourself while down on the shot, you stand up, pick up your brain, and start the pre-shot routine all over again.
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I like the way your instructor puts it!

Chalk is the great reset switch. This is the real reason I went back to more traditional chalks after using stuff like Kamui. If you chalk before each shot, many of the "premium" chalks make a hell of a mess.
 
Thanks for the post OP. It's been a long time in coming but I am really looking forward to our training session coming up in just a couple of weeks!

First of all there is no doubt that signing up for a bootcamp is a transformative experience even before the training starts. I have someone flying in tonight that was so determined to be in his best shape for our time together that he lost over 20 pounds over the last few months! He wanted to make sure he'd be able to go strong the full three days. I have seen this again and again and it just goes to show the power of making the commitment to yourself to go all in. Not to sacrifice everything else in life or lose balance on other priorities. Not that. But to decide to do everything you can with the resources you have in this life. It is profound.

It is scary too. What if my best isn't that good? If this doesn't work then won't I be forced to admit that I am just defective and not destined for growth? The truth is the path to improvement isn't mystical, it's very straight forward. There is nothing that can stop anyone unless they get turned away by these doubts and fears. One of my favorite quotes is "You don't become a champion when you achieve the outward successes. You become a champion the very instant you commit to following the path that leads to those successes, because that is a commitment only a champion makes." Making the commitment is the hard part. The rest plays itself out.

As for mental game, I will be working with you on that one my friend. Some people act like it's mumbo jumbo or that it is so vast it can't be practically understood or applied. Nonsense. It can be simple and direct.

For example, the next podcast I record with Josh (coming out next week) will be about NARRATIVES. This is what we call the story that we are trying to write in our heads. These stories are our way of creating purpose and understanding in our practice and our competition. There are many different narratives we can subscribe to. We can tell ourselves that we are the underdogs that people don't think of as a threat, but that we're going to work harder than them and prove to them and ourselves that we can get there. That is a popular story.

OP, this whole 'fear of being found out a fraud' is a part of a larger narrative. There are pros and cons to the different stories we tell ourselves and they create many of the problems that people struggle with mentally. On the pro side it might create a lot of motivation to battle that negative voice and prove you are a winner. On the con side it can create a lot of pressure during a match because you have so much at stake. It can be hard to play trusting, flowing pool when part of you is constantly measuring results and equating that to whether you are worth something or not.

Sometimes our narratives change without our even knowing it when we play different types of players. Maybe when we play a lower level player the narrative changes to the story where we are the pool master and we are going to showcase a display of pool excellence and use our superior skill and knowledge to destroy our opponent (this can lead to expectation and frustration). Sometimes our narratives are impacted when we play someone else who's narrative conflicts with ours.

Anyway, on this podcast we will be talking about what narratives are, the narratives we had when we were young up and comers, some common narratives we've seen from other players, and some of the good and bad that comes with each of them. We're also going to talk about the narratives we aspire to believe now. In short these are not accidental or thoughtless. A big part of our improvement as players has come by deliberately redefining in our minds who we are, what our mission is at the table, and why, and constructing a narrative that is most effective in pool and in life.

I know you'll tune in and I think that this podcast will be good food for thought so when we get together we can do some fine tuning. I've seen your matches and you are an accomplished player. This is great, I love working with good players because I have answers on how they can keep making improvements. We will make breakthroughs physically, strategically, and mentally. I know there will be some good late night conversations and some profound revelations. I can't wait.
 
Fatboy said:
Lol, I had that “crew”
I upgraded. Money well spent, trust me. If you can-upgrade. 😀👍
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Screenshot_20210805-144946__01.jpg
 
Tin Man said:
Thanks for the post OP. It's been a long time in coming but I am really looking forward to our training session coming up in just a couple of weeks!

First of all there is no doubt that signing up for a bootcamp is a transformative experience even before the training starts. I have someone flying in tonight that was so determined to be in his best shape for our time together that he lost over 20 pounds over the last few months! He wanted to make sure he'd be able to go strong the full three days. I have seen this again and again and it just goes to show the power of making the commitment to yourself to go all in. Not to sacrifice everything else in life or lose balance on other priorities. Not that. But to decide to do everything you can with the resources you have in this life. It is profound.

It is scary too. What if my best isn't that good? If this doesn't work then won't I be forced to admit that I am just defective and not destined for growth? The truth is the path to improvement isn't mystical, it's very straight forward. There is nothing that can stop anyone unless they get turned away by these doubts and fears. One of my favorite quotes is "You don't become a champion when you achieve the outward successes. You become a champion the very instant you commit to following the path that leads to those successes, because that is a commitment only a champion makes." Making the commitment is the hard part. The rest plays itself out.

As for mental game, I will be working with you on that one my friend. Some people act like it's mumbo jumbo or that it is so vast it can't be practically understood or applied. Nonsense. It can be simple and direct.

For example, the next podcast I record with Josh (coming out next week) will be about NARRATIVES. This is what we call the story that we are trying to write in our heads. These stories are our way of creating purpose and understanding in our practice and our competition. There are many different narratives we can subscribe to. We can tell ourselves that we are the underdogs that people don't think of as a threat, but that we're going to work harder than them and prove to them and ourselves that we can get there. That is a popular story.

OP, this whole 'fear of being found out a fraud' is a part of a larger narrative. There are pros and cons to the different stories we tell ourselves and they create many of the problems that people struggle with mentally. On the pro side it might create a lot of motivation to battle that negative voice and prove you are a winner. On the con side it can create a lot of pressure during a match because you have so much at stake. It can be hard to play trusting, flowing pool when part of you is constantly measuring results and equating that to whether you are worth something or not.

Sometimes our narratives change without our even knowing it when we play different types of players. Maybe when we play a lower level player the narrative changes to the story where we are the pool master and we are going to showcase a display of pool excellence and use our superior skill and knowledge to destroy our opponent (this can lead to expectation and frustration). Sometimes our narratives are impacted when we play someone else who's narrative conflicts with ours.

Anyway, on this podcast we will be talking about what narratives are, the narratives we had when we were young up and comers, some common narratives we've seen from other players, and some of the good and bad that comes with each of them. We're also going to talk about the narratives we aspire to believe now. In short these are not accidental or thoughtless. A big part of our improvement as players has come by deliberately redefining in our minds who we are, what our mission is at the table, and why, and constructing a narrative that is most effective in pool and in life.

I know you'll tune in and I think that this podcast will be good food for thought so when we get together we can do some fine tuning. I've seen your matches and you are an accomplished player. This is great, I love working with good players because I have answers on how they can keep making improvements. We will make breakthroughs physically, strategically, and mentally. I know there will be some good late night conversations and some profound revelations. I can't wait.
Click to expand...
 
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