Directions to the Zone?

PaulieB said:
You guys need to be more serious, he's asking a real question.

Here you go:

From I-5 Southbound
Exit on Disneyland Drive/Ball Rd. Make a left. Cross over Ball Rd. (You will be on Disneyland Drive). Make a right on Magic Way. Make a left on Downtown Drive. We are located next to the Disneyland Hotel.


You will be at ESPNs "Zone" following these directions. Have fun!
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I was just there, I stayed at The Menage. I was in the pool. (zone).
 
What We Think So Far

Here's a synopsis of what's been said about The Zone so far - snips from posts grouped into general ideas.

pj
chgo

WHAT IS THE ZONE?

AUTOPILOT
- a slow motion glide
- a blur
- movement, sounds, conversations melt into the background
- lose track of the game count, break and run without realizing
- lose track of time and whats going on
- no conscious thought, just visualization and execution

PEAK PERFORMANCE
- heightened consciousness/memory
- no doubt
- what you picture, you do
- a physical manifestation of what we see in our minds
- pleasure in playing


HOW DO WE REACH THE ZONE?

DON'T FORCE IT
- coax it out of its hiding place
- the more you try, the more it retreats
- can't "make it happen"
- sneaks up on you like a fog
- forget about it and hope it finds you again

RELAX, FOCUS
- simple focusing techniques
- develop a relaxed awareness
- repeat "hit the ball with the cue, hit the ball with the cue"
- remain calm and relaxed
- relaxation, exercise, meditation, a nap
- hear the sound of the QB hitting the OB
- direct the conscious mind somewhere
- focus on grip hand
- concentrate on balls and table, consider every nuance
- do things differently
- move outside your comfort zone
- create conducive atmosphere in brain
- induce alpha brain waves
- maryjane and Jaegermeister

RECALL
- set anchor before memory fades
- remember how it felt the last time
- a specific memory to pull your mind back
- compare with how not in The Zone

GET BETTER
- do Kinnister's shot one
- warm up really good
- the same way you get to Carnegie Hall
- a few old friends that you shoot in warm ups
- many small physical things sync up
- practice and confidence, and no self doubt
- accurate and repeatable stroke


RESOURCES

- Pleasures of Small Motions - Bob Fancher
- Peak Performance - Dr. Charles Garfield
- The Inner Game of Tennis - W. Timothy Gallwey
- Zen In The Art of Archery - Eugene Herrigel
- audio CD - Lawrence Kincade
- Billiards Digest article (early 80s) - George Fels
- Overcoming Contenderosis - Ryan Elliott
 
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PJ

I would like to add to "Resources"

Overcoming Contenderosis by Ryan Elliott. Its a 6 cassett package.
I listened to one side each night (with head phones) while laying in bed for one year (over and over). In my opinion it really worked. Not only worked for pool but also my job. It helped me to become super focused.

Thanks

John
 
I believe the zone is a trance like state. Repetitive motions and rhythmic movements without distractions can help get you there. If you understand how to get into a hypnotic state then you will understand how to find the zone.
 
One Pocket John said:
PJ

I would like to add to "Resources"

Overcoming Contenderosis by Ryan Elliott. Its a 6 cassett package.
I listened to one side each night (with head phones) while laying in bed for one year (over and over). In my opinion it really worked. Not only worked for pool but also my job. It helped me to become super focused.

Thanks

John
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Thanks, John - resource added.

I'll keep updating the Thread Synopsis as we go.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
The Zone. For such a popular place it's awfully hard to find. I usually just find myself there like I was beamed down, and then some time later just kind of wake up, with no idea how it happened or how to make it happen again. It's clear that the ability to play at that higher level is within me, but equally, maddeningly clear that I can't summon it at will.

I find myself in The Zone more often now than before, and I've discovered and worked on some simple focusing techniques to make it more likely to happen - but I still have to try to coax it out of its hiding place rather than go directly to it.

From what I gather, that's true of everybody else too, but I'm hoping some of you are better at it than I am, or at least have some tips and techniques to share that I haven't thought of.

So spill it - how do you get there? Is it all about focus, or are there other identifying features of being in The Zone that might be followed like breadcrumbs to its secret location?

pj <- waiting, like Smorg, with bait on my breath
chgo
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It is not zone, i call it pool knowledge, and ability to where to aim for every shot on the table , there is at least 3000 possibilities on the table, when considering, how far OB from CB, all english, all speed, stun, role. cloth, bridge length, and most importantly getting that tip to hit CB where intended...etc. That is why pros still miss shots they should not miss considering they put 8 hrs a day practice. Pool is like chess you have to think before going down.
 
Road map

1. Equip the car with every option including 'complete knowledge'.
2. Drive the car on test runs of maybe a million miles to make sure you
are fully familiar with & are in complete command of all of the cars
equipment.
3. Get in the car & roll up the completely blacked out 'tinted' windows to
close out ALL of the outside world.
4. Take the wheel (cue) into your hands & close your eyes & FOCES ONLY
on pool.
5. Open your eyes & you're in The Zone ( If... U were able to FOCUS & remain FOCUSED ONLY on pool)

PS Don't miss a shot because misses do NOT exist in THE ZONE! If you miss a shot you will be immediately kicked out of The Zone!

PSS I've been there often but that FOCUS on ONLY pool is very hard If not impossible to call up AT WILL. Sometimes it just comes upon you, from where, you do not know, kind of like a blessing or a reward for all of the HARD WORK that you have put in.

Hope this helps but... no guarantees.
 
ENGLISH! said:
PS Don't miss a shot because misses do NOT exist in THE ZONE! If you miss a shot you will be immediately kicked out of The Zone!
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Here is a problem; that "miss" won't do anything harmful as long as you don't assign a value to it. It's not "good" or "bad". If you've successfully made it into Deadstroke then you know you weren't beaming with pride for every ball that went straight into the heart of the pocket. You didn't scoff if it touched the cushion on the way in. They just dropped in and you moved onto the next one. You didn't feel better or worse, there weren't any conditions placed on the shots.

You can, "come up for air", so-to-speak and fall right back into that state. You just need to let go of the judgement. I was playing a few nights ago and lost my first game 8-2. I shrugged it off as what it was, a lucky bank and kiss for him. I racked the balls for my second game, broke and left nothing. My opponent missed his safety and I ran my 8 and out. I don't remember the shots, I don't recall what he missed to start it. My last conscious thought was putting the 8 and the 2 behind the 1 in the triangle. After that game I walked away to smoke because I could feel pride and "I wonder if I can do that again?" coming up. I knew if I stepped away from the table I could keep it in check. And it worked. You don't have to be at the table, you can walk away from it and stay inside that zone. I don't recall any real games after that, just a few 3-railers I made and the set going 3-1 for me.

I mentioned an example before, but it bears repeating. The easiest way to see someone, "in the zone" is to watch someone on a production line. Someone with a monotonous and unchanging job. They end up in, "line hypnosis" where that conscious part of themselves departs. Work a 12-14 rotating shift and then drive for an hour and you can become hypnotized by the markings on the road. It happens because your mind is diverted somewhere else and it forgets to keep judging you. Then your body does what it knows how to do.
 
For what it's worth, I try to follow George Fels' advice about following the cue ball with my eyes after contact instead of following the object ball to the pocket. I really seem to concentrate/focus better when I do this and my position play is improved. Unfortunately, I can't seem to remember to do this all the time:o
 
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Ghosst said:
I do have Pleasures of Small Motions, however, I haven't started it yet. I am a fan of The Inner Game and have read it several times. Zen In The Art of Archery is a great reference as well particularly for those who aren't quite sure how to begin.

These books are quoted often on here, along with a few others. I've had a long interest in Zen and hypnosis as a tool to keep things in focus. Lawrence Kincade, who posts on this forum, sells an excellent audio CD that I would recommend to anyone interested in the mental game. I have a collection of about 2 dozen books on hypnosis and meditation as well.

Mahayana Buddhism itself is a little hard to swallow for most, but a simplified version is taught in the US at various centers. Zen doesn't have a timeline, a start, or a finish which is a little disconcerting at first. There are no roadsigns in it to tell you which "degree" you have reached, or what your next difficulty level is. Imagine telling your child they have to go to school, and when they ask for how long, your only answer is until they have finished. But what is finished? The day? The semester? Grade 1? High-school? College? University? Grad school? When you don't label "finished" it's too vague for our ideals of how things work.

Hypnotism is also difficult at first. Aside from the fear you'll happily give away the deed to your home or bark like a dog at the end of a session it's hard to give over that control we have all been taught to hang on to. Immediately after a session of progressive muscle relaxation and beginning to start hypnosis I can find myself swallowing involuntarily. It's an automatic response of the conscious mind trying to exert itself by making you focus on it. It's normal. Some people develop the need to itch, shift positions, etc. The conscious mind doesn't like letting go.

Playing in the zone is just as difficult. There are ways to help induce it, such as what I mentioned before about using an anchor. But that's only a direction like saying China is in the far east. Using some of the methods, or all, studying the literature, practicing, and a little self-discovery will help any player get there faster. But I can't write down steps A through F to get into the zone at will. If I could, I'd play there constantly myself.
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The national Genome Project has highlighted a couple of key factors: every "recall is a reframe" and positive visualization can actually help to build new neural pathways. Hypnosis is one vehicle that can assist in tapping into these resources. A molecular memory is formed with every action or event. Recalling, in precise detail, an occasion where you were playing well can actually assist in re-entering that "zone." While in the trance state, facilitated by hypnosis or meditation, one can create an anchor which later can be implemented when you are at the table. An example would be placing forefinger to thumb and taking a deep breath.
 
edd said:
Recalling, in precise detail, an occasion where you were playing well can actually assist in re-entering that "zone." While in the trance state, facilitated by hypnosis or meditation, one can create an anchor which later can be implemented when you are at the table. An example would be placing forefinger to thumb and taking a deep breath.
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Thanks, edd - very interesting. Can you elaborate any more on this? What should I do to "create an anchor" when I find myself in the zone?

pj
chgo

EDIT (after Joey's clarification): Ed, do you suggest hypnosis/meditation specifically for this purpose, or is this just one of the things accomplished while in the "trance state" for more general purposes?
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
What should I do to "create an anchor" when I find myself in the zone?

pj
chgo
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I don't believe Ed is suggesting that you should create an anchor when you are "in the zone" playing pool. I think Ed is suggesting that a hypnotic state or a meditative state is the easiest method for creating the anchor and his example of thumb touching forefinger and a deep breath is the physical part.

Maybe you should order Ed's Hypnosis CD..............
 
Find something you recognize; a favorite chalk holder, your fingers on the cue, etc. When you fall into it you become more aware of sensations and less aware of distractions. The danger I see in picking something at random is that it becomes less of an anchor and more of a, "lucky charm", that you expect to do the work for you.

The reason I like Lawrence's choice of anchor is that it's the same basic gesture as forming a V grip on the cue. You will make it often, and it serves as a constant reminder to slow down, breathe, and stay where you are.

You can find one while you're in the zone, but too much thought brings out the conscious mind and its judgements. That's why I say something you touch often like the chalk holder or the cue is best. It is easier to set your anchor in advance but not required. Setting it in advance seems to work much better for me.
 
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Ghosst said:
Find something you recognize; a favorite chalk holder, your fingers on the cue, etc. When you fall into it you become more aware of sensations and less aware of distractions. The danger I see in picking something at random is that it becomes less of an anchor and more of a, "lucky charm", that you expect to do the work for you.

The reason I like Lawrence's choice of anchor is that it's the same basic gesture as forming a V grip on the cue. You will make it often, and it serves as a constant reminder to slow down, breathe, and stay where you are.

You can find one while you're in the zone, but too much thought brings out the conscious mind and its judgements. That's why I say something you touch often like the chalk holder or the cue is best. It is easier to set your anchor in advance but not required. Setting it in advance seems to work much better for me.
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How do you set it in advance? While in a "trance state" like edd suggests?

pj
chgo
 
Yes, that's a great time for it and it's used in many hypnotic sessions for other purposes too (quitting smoking, anger management, habit breaking/forming, etc). It's a powerful tool.

Had I not tried the progressive muscle relaxation myself, I would have thought it was a waste of time. Combining that with guided self-hypnosis is startling to say the least.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
How do you set it in advance? While in a "trance state" like edd suggests?

pj
chgo
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Pat:

For me, it was set prior to getting in the zone. With my near-obsession in delivering the cue accurately (as you know, I'm a delivery guy and not an aiming guy ;) ), I often fixate on my grip on the cue. All those little contact points, rubbing points, nuances, asymmetric architecture of the human hand and how to work around it, etc. I think what'd happened is that I'd done this enough times during my pool playing life, having had it led me into the zone so many times, that is has now *become* my anchor.

Of course, that may be just coincidental; the process of redirecting my focus "back there" (the grip hand) is just one of many ways to keep the conscious mind occupied with "busy body" things, out of the way of the subconscious mind's excellent ability to replay those repetitive motions called into making a shot.

-Sean
 
JoeyA said:
I don't believe Ed is suggesting that you should create an anchor when you are "in the zone" playing pool. I think Ed is suggesting that a hypnotic state or a meditative state is the easiest method for creating the anchor and his example of thumb touching forefinger and a deep breath is the physical part.

Maybe you should order Ed's Hypnosis CD..............
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Thanks for clarifying, Joey. That is correct, creating an anchor at the time of "being in the zone" or in "dead stroke" or whatever euphemism is used, would actually defeat the purpose. The point is that whenever we are performing at that level, the body is automatically encoding that experience. Our task is to "tap into" that experience. University research has shown that minute muscle memory occurs from visualizing - or recalling - a performance.

If I were to ask you to recall a recent shot where you "perfectly" applied low right English and brought the cue ball down table for great position, you very likely could do it. Well, you not only have a visual memory of that shot, the "feel" of it was encoded in your body. Now, just imagine, with the benefit of routine hypnosis or meditation, recalling a whole game of composite shots that were all "perfect." You would be tapping into the muscle memory that was encoded.

Anchoring, as Joey clarified, is employed in the state of trance, facilitated by hypnosis. The anchor is then applied when you actually are playing or preparing to shoot (e.g., while sitting in your chair placing forefinger to thumb and taking a slow, deep breath).
 
AtLarge said:
After you have been "in the zone" can you remember shots and situations from that period better or worse than when you have not been in the zone? Is it a period of heightened consciousness/memory or is it all a blur?
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That is dependent on how deep into your subconscious you actually go. I have had "zone time", that 26 years later I can recall some of the shots like they happened 5 minutes ago. I also have gone so deep into the zone, which has only happened to me once in my lifetime, that in the Flying Dutchman bar in Chas. S.C., (bar is huge enough to have 16 tables in a small section of it) I set out to show some girl how to play. I don't know how long I was "tranced out", and have absolutely no idea of a single thing I did after the first two shots, but when I did "snap out of it", there were at least a hundred people around that table applauding, and many wanted my autograph. To this day I would LOVE to know what in the world I did, because it had to be great to get that kind of response. But, all I know is that it had to be miles above what I normally do, and may not ever happen again.:frown: To me, one second I'm just showing off a little, the next second there's all those people there. Was like something out of the Twilight Zone for me. I had, and still have not a single memory of anything that happened. I "did the show", and was the only one that didn't even get to see any of it. :mad::frown:
 
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