Concentration

CaptainJR

CaptainJR

Shiver me timbers.
Silver Member
How do you keep it? I know that the majority of the time when I miss a shot that I don't expect to or think I shouldn't miss It is because of losing concentration. You know, a choke type miss. I think about it afterward, and know that I didn't really make sure I had the shot lined up right. Just sort of assumed it. I think that would be called losing concentration.

I'm looking for ideas or keys or thought sequences or something like that, that I could employ to remind me or keep me from looking at all the other aspects of a shot (position, english, ball speed, etc.) and then forgetting to make sure the ball is going to go into the pocket or make the safe just right.

It just seems stupid for me to be so aware that I have this problem and know matter how much I think about it and swear I'm not going to let it happen, It happens way to often.

JR
 
ever think about lessons?

I recently realized I had a similar problem myself.. What I did was find one of those real good ole' timers that are normally at the pool hall every night and offer him 20 bucks for an hour lesson.. He worked with me, watched me, and suggested to me how fix some of my problems. With just that one hour class my game has improved almost overnight..

give it a try.. I am sure it will work for you too.

-Ridethe9 :p
www.ridethe9.com
 
What an awesome question. I am just waiting to see some of the interesting responses that you get for this. Here is my 2 cents.

I focus on my pre shot routine if I feel like I am losing focus. I really really go back to the basics. I stand up look at the table and make my decision. If for some reason I change my mind while I am down on the shot I stand up again. That’s critical for me.
Then I get down. Check my stance. Double-check my aiming point, CB contact point and Aiming point. Then stroke. It sounds silly but by running through my simple routine in my head I stay more focused. I had to practice it a bit to get it smooth. It seems to keep unwanted stuff out of my head though.
There is a really good book on focus and concentration that I read and have had my team read. Its called Point The Way, by The Monk. It really sheds some light on the inner game that goes on in our heads sometimes.
Good Luck Cap!
 
CaptainJR said:
How do you keep it? I know that the majority of the time when I miss a shot that I don't expect to or think I shouldn't miss It is because of losing concentration. You know, a choke type miss. I think about it afterward, and know that I didn't really make sure I had the shot lined up right. Just sort of assumed it. I think that would be called losing concentration.

I'm looking for ideas or keys or thought sequences or something like that, that I could employ to remind me or keep me from looking at all the other aspects of a shot (position, english, ball speed, etc.) and then forgetting to make sure the ball is going to go into the pocket or make the safe just right.

It just seems stupid for me to be so aware that I have this problem and know matter how much I think about it and swear I'm not going to let it happen, It happens way to often.

JR
Click to expand...

As noted in this thread, Captain, pre-shot routine is vital, but there's more.

Another issue is shot planning. Make sure you plan every aspect of a shot before you get down over the cue ball. If you don't, then while you're over the cue ball, you'll have so many things to think about that full concentration on executing the shot will be more difficult to maintain.

Make a clear distinction between shot conceptualization and shot execution and you'll do better.
 
Captain,
You bring up a most disturbing issue, one on which I have been working very hard the last 2 months. I have gotten to the point where I am almost never missing a shot, UNLESS I fail to use my regular routine. When you are just practicing by yourself (and especially if you are practicing position) it is very tempting to just lean over and shoot when the shot seems fairly routine. It is extremely difficult (as well as time consuming, and a little boring) to make yourself follow the same routine on every shot, but damn, as soon as I take a shot for granted, I end up missing a relatively makeable shot.

I think this is one area where the pro's excel, and that separate them from the average player. The pro's I know are RELENTLESS in using the same routine every shot, and making sure their "mind is right" (any Cool Hand Luke fans out there?) before getting down to shoot and before pulling the trigger. Listen to SJM, he has worked with some of the best.

I seem to remember Bill Staton commenting on an Accu-Stats match that Luther Lassiter said the reason you seldom saw a top pro miss an easy shot was that they have learned there is no such thing as an easy shot.
 
What we have here is, ….a failure to concentrate.

Williebetmore said:
I think this is one area where the pro's excel, and that separate them from the average player. The pro's I know are RELENTLESS in using the same routine every shot, and making sure their "mind is right" (any Cool Hand Luke fans out there?) before getting down to shoot and before pulling the trigger.
Click to expand...
 
hustlefinger said:
What we have here is, ….a failure to concentrate.
Click to expand...

Hustlefinger,
Tap, tap, tap. Of course if you ever saw my pool game you would know that nothing is not always a real cool hand.
 
Chalks-Up Zone
Ball Address Zone
Set Position
Check/Re-Check
Freeze
****Somewhere in these zones you're not spending enough time OR you're spending too much time and your left brain is kicking back in and changing your thought patterns. I had this same problem until recently, I attended a course with Timothy White, with the Billiard Sanctuary Academy of the Cueing Arts (BSACA). Check out the course outline here, www.zimsrack.com
Best of luck!
Zim
 
Williebetmore said:
Hustlefinger,
Tap, tap, tap. Of course if you ever saw my pool game you would know that nothing is not always a real cool hand.
Click to expand...

Very good Willie, you must be a natural born world-shaker.

I think my favorite one surrounded a car washing scene (if’n I remember right).
My Lord, whatever I done, don't strike me blind for another few minutes.


Rick
 
Thank you for the responces.

ridethe9, I do take lessons. My responces to others here will get into that more.

The rest of the responces (Wild Eight, sjm, Williebetmore, Zims Rack), you all seem to be saying what my teacher says. Especially sjm, (I know my teacher Fred come on here). sjm, are you really Fred? Anyway, he tells me to do all my decision making standing up. Although it is nice to see others say it that way as well, it wasn't that I doubted it. I just have trouble doing it. It is the perfect reminder I guess because if when you get down there, you don't have anything left to do except make the shot, then that can remind you take careful aim.

I have this in mind for a while, and then forget. I guess I just have to keep playing and practicing and maybe I'll start forgetting less.

I guess there is not short cut to remembering to use your own system.

Thank you
JR
 
CaptainJR said:
Thank you for the responces.

ridethe9, I do take lessons. My responces to others here will get into that more.

The rest of the responces (Wild Eight, sjm, Williebetmore, Zims Rack), you all seem to be saying what my teacher says. Especially sjm, (I know my teacher Fred come on here). sjm, are you really Fred? Anyway, he tells me to do all my decision making standing up. Although it is nice to see others say it that way as well, it wasn't that I doubted it. I just have trouble doing it. It is the perfect reminder I guess because if when you get down there, you don't have anything left to do except make the shot, then that can remind you take careful aim.

I have this in mind for a while, and then forget. I guess I just have to keep playing and practicing and maybe I'll start forgetting less.

I guess there is not short cut to remembering to use your own system.

Thank you
JR
Click to expand...

Captain, I'm not Fred, but sounds like Fred's leading you down the right path.
 
Concentration is another skill that you have to practice, like pocketing balls. When practicing, you need to put yourself into pressure situations and practice keeping your focus throughout the entire session.

If you practice by just fooling around, talking to people, watching TV, etc, you are practicing pocketing balls and position play, but you are not practicing to focus for extended periods of time.

There is no magic formula for this. You need to find something, anything, that will get you to focus during your practice sessions. When I was playing pro 9-ball, I would play race to 11 against the ghost, where I have to break in a ball and run out to get a game, otherwise I lost the game. I would play this for 3-4 hours sometimes and not even realize who was watching me. I've had people ask me if I saw them at the pool room and I had no idea they were even there. If this works for you, great. Otherwise, you need to find something on your own.

Good luck.

Andy Segal
 
Andy Segal said:
Concentration is another skill that you have to practice, like pocketing balls. When practicing, you need to put yourself into pressure situations and practice keeping your focus throughout the entire session.

If you practice by just fooling around, talking to people, watching TV, etc, you are practicing pocketing balls and position play, but you are not practicing to focus for extended periods of time.

There is no magic formula for this. You need to find something, anything, that will get you to focus during your practice sessions. When I was playing pro 9-ball, I would play race to 11 against the ghost, where I have to break in a ball and run out to get a game, otherwise I lost the game. I would play this for 3-4 hours sometimes and not even realize who was watching me. I've had people ask me if I saw them at the pool room and I had no idea they were even there. If this works for you, great. Otherwise, you need to find something on your own.

Good luck.

Andy Segal
Click to expand...


Thank you Andy

That gave me something to think about. I know I have this problem, but I've always thought of it as only having to concentrate for one game or one inning at a time. Which isn't that long so I don't understand why I can't seem to do it all the time. As you've suggested, if I can figure out a way to concentrate for longer periods at a time, maybe it will make it easier to concentrate for just a game or a inning.

Thanks again
JR
 
Cap ... the real secret is beer!
The right quanty of beer will straighten out your stroke like nothing else.
You will feel better about pool and win or lose you will be a happy camper.
 
CaptainJR said:
How do you keep it? I know that the majority of the time when I miss a shot that I don't expect to or think I shouldn't miss It is because of losing concentration. You know, a choke type miss. I think about it afterward, and know that I didn't really make sure I had the shot lined up right. Just sort of assumed it. I think that would be called losing concentration.

I'm looking for ideas or keys or thought sequences or something like that, that I could employ to remind me or keep me from looking at all the other aspects of a shot (position, english, ball speed, etc.) and then forgetting to make sure the ball is going to go into the pocket or make the safe just right.

It just seems stupid for me to be so aware that I have this problem and know matter how much I think about it and swear I'm not going to let it happen, It happens way to often.

JR
Click to expand...

I am with zim in not flipping back into that left thinking mode. i am also with andy in the practicing of concentration. IMO, everyone has concentration problems, but this varies from person to person. There are different types of concentration problems depending on the makeup of the player.

The hardest thing for me was to not be distracted by what the people are doing around or near the table. I am innately a very distractible person. I have to mentally prepare myself before I ever walk into the pool room. When i do this, i walk to the table focused and play focused and on the right side of the brain.

if I do not do this, I am a mess, distracted some by people but by the left brain especially interjecting messages which cause me to miss the shot or choke.

Laura
 
WilleeCue said:
Cap ... the real secret is beer!
The right quanty of beer will straighten out your stroke like nothing else.
You will feel better about pool and win or lose you will be a happy camper.
Click to expand...
Hehehe... Hear, hear.
 
WilleeCue said:
Cap ... the real secret is beer!
The right quanty of beer will straighten out your stroke like nothing else.
You will feel better about pool and win or lose you will be a happy camper.
Click to expand...

I've been known to have a beer or two (a case on occasion) It doesn't help with concentration. It doesn't help my ability put behind me a miss.) It does help me spend the money after a win. And the more I drink the less good looking a girl walking by needs to be to distract me.
JR
 
Read an article written by Max Eberle entitled, "Threading the Needle". Problem solved guaranteed 100%, after you get used to what Max is saying.
 
LastTwo said:
Read an article written by Max Eberle entitled, "Threading the Needle". Problem solved guaranteed 100%, after you get used to what Max is saying.
Click to expand...

Where will I find this article?

Found it. as I was clicking submit I though you might be talking about AZ

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Andy Segal said:
Concentration is another skill that you have to practice, like pocketing balls. When practicing, you need to put yourself into pressure situations and practice keeping your focus throughout the entire session.

If you practice by just fooling around, talking to people, watching TV, etc, you are practicing pocketing balls and position play, but you are not practicing to focus for extended periods of time.

There is no magic formula for this. You need to find something, anything, that will get you to focus during your practice sessions. When I was playing pro 9-ball, I would play race to 11 against the ghost, where I have to break in a ball and run out to get a game, otherwise I lost the game. I would play this for 3-4 hours sometimes and not even realize who was watching me. I've had people ask me if I saw them at the pool room and I had no idea they were even there. If this works for you, great. Otherwise, you need to find something on your own.

Good luck.

Andy Segal
Click to expand...

I used to help Tang Hoa practice like that, a few years ago. He would play the 15-ball Rotation ghost. He would break, take ball in hand on the 1 ball, and try to run out 15 balls in order from there. We would play for like $10 per game, but usually I gave him 3-1 on the money. I stopped doing it after he busted me. I didn't even play, I just sat there and racked for him, and lost my money.
 
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