I wonder if others do it differently?
I have recently found there are two phases when learning to play pool and probably most other individual sports.
In the first phase I practice mechanics or how to address the ball. This is all about what I tell myself to do such as foot placement, alignment, stroke, etc. These are consciously or intentionally practiced and are probably not much different than what most other players do.
To learn the highly focused concentration needed for playing is a topic of its own. In this phase I begin while standing one step behind my final position. I direct my attention to the object ball and a line from the pocket to about nine inches behind the object ball and then back to the center of the object ball to the center and back through it to the pocket. I have no words in my head and only try with the maximum attention to see these lines and the smallest possible contact point which is about 1/16” in diameter. I hold this spot and line in my mind for three to five seconds until it is firmly fixed. At times I try to see the object ball roll down this line.
Next I step into the shot with no thoughts about mechanics. Everything happens naturally as previously practiced. At this point I am focused on placing my right (back) hand on the shot line through the cue ball to the object ball contact point. I am concentrating on placing the cue stick on the line to the contact point. When I am down on the shot all of my attention is on the line to the contact point, the stick’s alignment, the effect of English, power and most importantly attempting to visualize the cue ball line of travel the hit and the object ball line of travel and the subsequent movement of the cue ball after contact. In the end I am staring at the contact point and the line of travel for a few seconds. All of this requires a great amount of highly focused attention to detail for where it feels like I should strike the cue ball with the stick. When the stroke has been completed nothing in my body moves until I see the cue ball strike the object ball.
When practicing this type of highly focused attention to detail I use no words at all. The whole process is nonverbal and I am something like an observer of my own behavior. After the shot I may notice that I like or did not like the way I applied the mechanics I have practiced in the first phase and may make a mental note of what needs to be worked on later.
There are ideas about why one should concentrate but there are few actual suggestions for how to improve one’s concentration because concentration itself is a nonverbal process. In this somewhat lengthy response I have attempted to break down what it is that one actually does when they concentrate on a pool shot. The primary point as I have learned when attempting to analyze what one does to improve concentration is the idea that it is a semi-physical act that allows for no verbal dialog in the execution of a pool shot.
When using this technique I find that my body warms up and that I am tired by the end of a match. I have also found that after learning to concentrate in this way I am nearly unaware of anything else going on around me in a bar or the pool room. This type of heightened concentration must be practiced until it becomes natural and is initiated anytime I walk to the table to take a shot and take one step back. It immediately goes away when the shot is completed. However, there is a residual effect in that I am less aware of others between shots. It is as though I don’t want to pay attention to others very much and prefer to have my head in or near the game.
I have found that the ability to fully attend to and concentrate on the shot is something that is a separate part of my practice routine. It is an ability that requires much practice and reinforcement during the practice sessions. It is not one of the topics that is a great deal of “fun” and that is perhaps why it is not included in many practice routines. Once learned it tends to become a part of one’s approach but it too requires continued practice over time. The part of the player that is the observer notes when it needs refinement.
Lets’ take it to the next level for automating concentration.
1. From one step behind the shot, concentrate on the OB line of travel. Fix the line and contact point in mind (takes a few seconds).
2. Decide where the cue ball will land for position.
3. See the line from cue ball to object ball.
4. Verify that the cue ball can get to the position and the needed English.
5. Step into the shot. Place the cue stick on the shot line with the right (back) hand.
6. Stroke or aim through the center of the cue ball to verify the line of travel to the contact point.
7. Add English as needed.
8. Check stroke.
9. Fire and see the hit on the object ball
Note that mechanics, stroke, and verbalizations are ignored. When I "take a step back," it is now all about concentration.
For my game I use Joe Tucker’s implementation of the simultaneous use of fore and back hand English so the cue stick line and the cue ball line of travel are often different lines. This is a mechanics issue that needs to addressed in how to aim.
I have recently found there are two phases when learning to play pool and probably most other individual sports.
In the first phase I practice mechanics or how to address the ball. This is all about what I tell myself to do such as foot placement, alignment, stroke, etc. These are consciously or intentionally practiced and are probably not much different than what most other players do.
To learn the highly focused concentration needed for playing is a topic of its own. In this phase I begin while standing one step behind my final position. I direct my attention to the object ball and a line from the pocket to about nine inches behind the object ball and then back to the center of the object ball to the center and back through it to the pocket. I have no words in my head and only try with the maximum attention to see these lines and the smallest possible contact point which is about 1/16” in diameter. I hold this spot and line in my mind for three to five seconds until it is firmly fixed. At times I try to see the object ball roll down this line.
Next I step into the shot with no thoughts about mechanics. Everything happens naturally as previously practiced. At this point I am focused on placing my right (back) hand on the shot line through the cue ball to the object ball contact point. I am concentrating on placing the cue stick on the line to the contact point. When I am down on the shot all of my attention is on the line to the contact point, the stick’s alignment, the effect of English, power and most importantly attempting to visualize the cue ball line of travel the hit and the object ball line of travel and the subsequent movement of the cue ball after contact. In the end I am staring at the contact point and the line of travel for a few seconds. All of this requires a great amount of highly focused attention to detail for where it feels like I should strike the cue ball with the stick. When the stroke has been completed nothing in my body moves until I see the cue ball strike the object ball.
When practicing this type of highly focused attention to detail I use no words at all. The whole process is nonverbal and I am something like an observer of my own behavior. After the shot I may notice that I like or did not like the way I applied the mechanics I have practiced in the first phase and may make a mental note of what needs to be worked on later.
There are ideas about why one should concentrate but there are few actual suggestions for how to improve one’s concentration because concentration itself is a nonverbal process. In this somewhat lengthy response I have attempted to break down what it is that one actually does when they concentrate on a pool shot. The primary point as I have learned when attempting to analyze what one does to improve concentration is the idea that it is a semi-physical act that allows for no verbal dialog in the execution of a pool shot.
When using this technique I find that my body warms up and that I am tired by the end of a match. I have also found that after learning to concentrate in this way I am nearly unaware of anything else going on around me in a bar or the pool room. This type of heightened concentration must be practiced until it becomes natural and is initiated anytime I walk to the table to take a shot and take one step back. It immediately goes away when the shot is completed. However, there is a residual effect in that I am less aware of others between shots. It is as though I don’t want to pay attention to others very much and prefer to have my head in or near the game.
I have found that the ability to fully attend to and concentrate on the shot is something that is a separate part of my practice routine. It is an ability that requires much practice and reinforcement during the practice sessions. It is not one of the topics that is a great deal of “fun” and that is perhaps why it is not included in many practice routines. Once learned it tends to become a part of one’s approach but it too requires continued practice over time. The part of the player that is the observer notes when it needs refinement.
Lets’ take it to the next level for automating concentration.
1. From one step behind the shot, concentrate on the OB line of travel. Fix the line and contact point in mind (takes a few seconds).
2. Decide where the cue ball will land for position.
3. See the line from cue ball to object ball.
4. Verify that the cue ball can get to the position and the needed English.
5. Step into the shot. Place the cue stick on the shot line with the right (back) hand.
6. Stroke or aim through the center of the cue ball to verify the line of travel to the contact point.
7. Add English as needed.
8. Check stroke.
9. Fire and see the hit on the object ball
Note that mechanics, stroke, and verbalizations are ignored. When I "take a step back," it is now all about concentration.
For my game I use Joe Tucker’s implementation of the simultaneous use of fore and back hand English so the cue stick line and the cue ball line of travel are often different lines. This is a mechanics issue that needs to addressed in how to aim.
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