Do You Take Notes?

[cuetechasaurus]

A while back I found flaws in my fundamentals that I thought I had corrected a long time ago. They creeped back into my game, and I didn't notice them at all, until a friend showed me a segment of a tape he had recorded of myself and others playing pool.

When I saw myself shooting, I immediately spotted the flaws that I thought I had gotten rid of long ago (I had a friend spot them for me in the past). Ever since then, I have a small piece of paper that I fold up and keep in my wallet, and I have a few things jotted down, just to make sure I don't forget them.

It's very strange, because let's say that if a month goes bye, and I find myself playing horribly, I will look at the list, which has about a dozen different reminders on it (i.e. "reduce eye movement, give eyes time to focus", etc..). Usually at the time when I am playing bad, Id have forgotten three or four of them.

I don't know if most people have the same problem, but I really do tend to forget those small, and sometimes major tweaks that I make to my game.

So does anyone take notes, or videotape themselves playing often? I can't wait till I can buy a digital camcorder, I'll bring that thing with me to the poolhall every time I go.

 

[TX Poolnut]

Setting up a video camera over my table was one of the best things I ever did to elevate my fundementals and consistency.

Plus I've got several nice straight pool runs on tape too.

 

[poolhall maven]

I only do bad things when I'm not being taped! LOL!
As for the note taking, I usually write notes to myself after a tournament to remind myself where I made mistakes so I can correct them. I also keep a card in my pocket (during a tournament) to remind me to slow down, focus and plan 3 balls ahead. Things I forget! I rarely look at it, but it is there as a reminder.

 

[vicdotcom]

I took notes all the time during practice on what shots I missed, what shots I had to work on and what I did to help make it better. These notes were invaluable to me and still are today. When I find myself in a slump, I go back to these notes every now and then to see what I did to correct a certain problem.

I also tracked how I practiced and drills etc.

Vic

 

[42NateBaller]

I have a digital camcorder on my home table, and I take it to bigger tournaments. This has been a big help with identifying both things I do wrong (the many), and things I do right (the few). As a result, my chalking technique is nearly flawless (almost world class).

I also keep mental note of my stroke keys, and go over them before (and sometimes during) every match. This has been a big help to get matches started off with good fundamentals which always helps my confidence.

 

[scottycoyote]

taking notes has been a huge part of my improvement in pool over the last 2 years. I keep a small spiral notebook and collapsible pen in my long pouch on my cue case. When im practicing or playing and i do something really right or really wrong (stance, grip, whatever) i will date the page and write it down. If i see someone else do something i like, ill write it down to try it later......and if i blow a certain run out i will make a small diagram showin the ball positions and replay it later, stuff like that.
Like you were saying, sometimes you just "forget" what it was you were doing that was making you play so good. Thats one of the really great things about my notes notebook, if i am in a slump, i can go back and reread it and I'll be out of it within a day or two.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Usually at the time when I am playing bad, I'd have forgotten three or four of them.

I do the exact same thing all the time. I'll be playing badly, and start trying to give myself advice/encouragement to snap out of it, and suddenly realize that I've been doing the opposite of the advice I'm giving myself. Even though I know what gets me the best results, I forget to do it. Sometimes I'll realize I've done this (I consistently forget to make my eyes lock in and freeze on the object ball before my final stroke, for example), and instantly go from a slumping D- back up to B- level play, just by starting to follow my own advice again. Sometimes this moment of realization becomes the turning point in a match.

-Andrew