Focus disappears.

[CaptainJR]

Focus was brought up in another thread and it has been a while since I started a mental game thread so here we go. A drill I've been doing brought it to mind.

I practice a lot of long straight in shots and that is how I warm up for a match. I like to get my stoke going straight.

I'm pretty good at making long straight in shots. The one I practice a lot is, cue ball about 5 inches from the corner pocket, object ball dead center of the table and shooting to the opposite corner. When I'm warming up I shoot a few of these till I make 3 or 4 in a row and then I figure I'm as ready as I'm going to get.

At a recent lesson I was given an exercise where you put all 15 balls straight across the center of the table, side pocket to side pocket. Start on the one side, take ball in hand behind the head string and set up the shot straight in to the corner pocket. Make the straight in shot then take ball in hand again and set up the next ball straight in and repeat. Somewhere around the middle of the table you switch to the opposite corner so You can continue to set them up straight in.

At first I thought, this is going to be a cinch. After all these are shorter than the long straight shots I normally practice. Normally I get somewhere between the 8th and 12th ball and miss. These are shots I have the ability to make. Thus I'm convinced that somewhere along the way I lose my focus or concentration. It just doesn't seem like I'm losing concentration though. This being a drill I'm making sure to use my pre-shot routine and being very aware of my aim. When I miss I'm always surprised that I miss, but then I usually recognize that I wasn't as careful with that one as I was the previous shots.


What's the latest on keeping concentration? Two things I'm not really interested in hearing are, practice more (that's just not going to happen) and pre-shot routine, (my routine is routine and doesn't seem to keep me concentrated). Do you have anything that helps you stay focused?

 

[Snapshot9]

it depends

being able to focus depends on several things,
how you were brought up, how disciplined you are
as a person, your diet, your emotional state, etc..
Some people can not stay focused longer than 2 minutes
at a time ever ....

try this ... set up a shot that you feel puts you in tune
with your game by making it... shoot it 10 times in a row ...
If you miss it more than 2 times out of 10 ... Have a friend
cut off one of your digits of a finger ....

I guarantee your focus will be there ....

That was just to illustrate to you that people shoot as
if their life depended on it on every shot, or like every
shot was worth a $1,000 will stay in focus better than
the nonchalant him haw type of shooter. That's why
players that shoot for money, particularly larger sums,
become more seasoned players, able to play for longer
periods of time with more focus.... because when you
are broke, you suffer in some ways, and no one wants
to suffer ... by not eating, by not having something ...
and when you win, it is like free money, a reward,
an accomplishment, being a sports champion, etc..

That;s why to become really good, you have to be GOAL
Oriented. You have to learn everything you don't know
how to do, like safeties, jumping, masse's, hard thin cuts,
shooting off a rail, how to keep the cue ball off the rail,
getting shape everytime. You have to learn it all, and
then keep it tuned up ... all the time

and most people just don't have the time or the inclination
to do that ...

 

[chefjeff]

(snip)
That;s why to become really good, you have to be GOAL
Oriented. (snip)

and most people just don't have the time or the inclination
to do that ...

Back to the "preshot routine," as it is called (sorry Capt., but...)... The first ingredient in my recipe for a successful shot is START WITH THE PROPER ATTITUDE. How does one know his attitude for this particular shot? By knowing his real reason for playing this shot, his goal. And the goal for this shot had better be integrated with one's biggest goal in life or this shot could be a downer, not an upper, thus a loss of focus.

Not exactly a normal item in most "preshot routines," but the most valuable one, imho.

Capt., I'd recommend writing down your major goal in life and then everytime you shoot a shot, ask yourself if your being at that shot right now integrates with that goal. If not, stop and do something else, or figure out a way for the shot to be part of that bigger something. Make sense?

Jeff Livingston

 

[CaptainJR]

Capt., I'd recommend writing down your major goal in life and then everytime you shoot a shot, ask yourself if your being at that shot right now integrates with that goal. If not, stop and do something else, or figure out a way for the shot to be part of that bigger something. Make sense?

Jeff Livingston

Guess I'm in trouble then. I think you and snapshot's posts are closer to the answer than I'd like to think. If pool was more important to me then I'd probably keep my focus better. Anyone know how I can trick myself into making it more important at that moment? LOL

 

[chefjeff]

Guess I'm in trouble then. I think you and snapshot's posts are closer to the answer than I'd like to think. If pool was more important to me then I'd probably keep my focus better. Anyone know how I can trick myself into making it more important at that moment? LOL

"[T]rick" implies being dishonest with yourself...not a good idea in the long run. Assess your goals first, then figure out how pool fits in with them. Then allow pool to do just that....there'll be no contradictions, just more focus as your goals are being met with each shot. Really.

Fully integrated honesty backed up by effort, not tricks, is the only way toward real values.

PM me if you'd like more on this subject.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Barbara]

I love this drill! Dawn Hopkins taught this to me. It definitely helps you improve on your concentration and focus. It also helps me establish a regular pre-shot routine going from ball to ball.

Okay, one thing that helped me with focus and concentration was quitting smoking. I found I was able to focus longer.

Barbara

 

[CaptainJR]

I love this drill! Dawn Hopkins taught this to me. It definitely helps you improve on your concentration and focus. It also helps me establish a regular pre-shot routine going from ball to ball.

Okay, one thing that helped me with focus and concentration was quitting smoking. I found I was able to focus longer.

Barbara

Gee wiz Barbara
I would have replied sooner but I needed a cig. This probably has something to do with smoking being a stimulant. I have thought for quite a while that if I could quit smoking that I could play better pool. This is the first time I've heard it mentioned in regards to concentration which I know is my biggest problem. I guess I'm glad you said it. I think! Maybe! DAMN! it is difficult to quit. 40 year habit. No I'm not 60 years old. I was smoking a pack every couple days at age 12.

 

[The Hamster]

Remember, think 3 balls ahead EVERY SINGLE SHOT.

Ok... this worked quite well. But... now I've only got 2 balls left and I'm stymied.

Please send futher instructions...

 

[straybullet]

Focus with the power of Bluewolf?

If you keep failing, then come see my wife. She only charges $50 per hour. You get to learn Zen with this package and get psycho analyzed.

Laura is a Zen Master and charges $50 an hour for psychoanalyzation? Okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...

Debra

 

[StevenPWaldon]

I think the thing that keeps me the most focused is that (especially in 9-ball) a single miss can cost you the entire rack. And a rack can blow a match, which can blow a tournament.

Last night I was playing a weekly tournament. My first match should have been a gimme. On all accounts I was the favored player... and in the first 3 games my opponent is up 2-1. I kept selling out and leaving the guy an easy run.

My friend looks at me as if to say, "WTF!? You should be KILLING this guy!" He tells me to stop joking around at the table; I needed to focus and bring my game to the table. At the time I was being social, talking to my opponent, etc (after all, it's just a weekly handicapped tourney). But he gives me a mental slap upside the head and tells me that I didn't spend hours and hours a day practicing just to play like this and lose to this fool. Stop the joking around, eat your losses, and get back in the game.

I hated to admit it to myself, but my friend was right. Why was I sabotaging all the hard work I put into my game? I sat down, shut up and focused. The next game he scratched on the 1-ball and I ran out. Better yet, my opponent noticed the bump in my game and concentration level... and all of a sudden he starts missing very makeable balls. I won the next 5 straight, and all my opponent could say afterwards was that he hoped next time he could be better competition for me.

To me, tricking myself into thinking that every ball is, "worth $1000" just won't work. Hell, why stop at $1000? Why not making it 20 trillion? I know it's *not* worth that much money so why put in the mental effort to try and trick myself?

What I *do* know is that if I miss, I can sell out and lose the game/match/tournament. I know it can be worth money if I'm matching up with someone, and it can be a blow to my ego if I can't make the balls exactly how I want to. That to me is real pressure, and it works because it's not made up. And sometimes, the ego is the biggest factor in focus. Like my friend said, I didn't spend all those hours practicing just to lose my first round in some rinky dink weekly tournament. I didn't practice for 8 hours of my Labor Day holiday just to leave it on the practice table. I came to win.

 

[Eric.]

Laura is a Zen Master and charges $50 an hour for psychoanalyzation? Okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...

Debra

I think he meant "get analysed by a Psycho"


Eric >put the crack pipe down

 

[RSB-Refugee]

Ok... this worked quite well. But... now I've only got 2 balls left and I'm stymied.

Please send futher instructions...

I know you are kidding, but there is a serious answer. When you are on the seven figure out your shape for the eight, the nine and the next break shot. Too many people do not play position, when shooting at the nine.

Tracy

 

[The Hamster]

Too many people do not play position, when shooting at the nine.

Oddly enough, when I was a rookie player, I got that same tip from Fred Agnir while shooting in a tournament in CT. He noticed that I missed the 9-ball more often than would appear reasonable based on the rest of my game and asked me if I was simply shooting the 9. I said, "Yes, of course...". He said, "Try playing shape on the 9-ball like you do on the others. Think where you want the cue ball to end up..."

My 9-ball 'yips' went away almost immediately.

 

[GeraldG]

I love this drill! Dawn Hopkins taught this to me. It definitely helps you improve on your concentration and focus. It also helps me establish a regular pre-shot routine going from ball to ball.

Okay, one thing that helped me with focus and concentration was quitting smoking. I found I was able to focus longer.

Barbara

Barbara,
I noticed the same thing. When I quit smoking, it became easier to stay focused.

 

[RSB-Refugee]

Oddly enough, when I was a rookie player, I got that same tip from Fred Agnir while shooting in a tournament in CT. He noticed that I missed the 9-ball more often than would appear reasonable based on the rest of my game and asked me if I was simply shooting the 9. I said, "Yes, of course...". He said, "Try playing shape on the 9-ball like you do on the others. Think where you want the cue ball to end up..."

My 9-ball 'yips' went away almost immediately.

I got one right? Imagine my surprise. I was just trying, to toss a smart answer back at ya. I played Fred once, or should I say, got schooled by Fred once, in one pocket. I'd do it again, Fred is a good shot and a nice guy too. How did you fair, against him?

Tracy

 

[Hooked]

Do you have anything that helps you stay focused?

I had a real problem with focus. Actually, I had two problems.

The first was a dedication to each shot. Sometimes I was going to make the shot no matter how hard and other times I just did not have the passion to assign all my mental powers to the task at hand.


The second was coming back to the table after a bad mishap. My mental game really suffered when I show my opponent how bad I really play.


Dedication to each shot:

I realized that the actual outcome of my billiards experience was just not worth giving it all I had. Even though I consciencely assured myself I wanted to show excellence every time I stepped to the table, it was not true Proof being displayed in other parts of my life where failure is not acceptable. When failure is not an option, humans show remarkable dedication. Even me

So what could it be? Subconsciencely, pool was not important enough to allocate the mental resources needed to play my best even though I had ordered it to My subconscience does not really listen to me and I can only count on it in an emergency or life sustaining functions.

The only thing I could come up with was to add new variables to winning that had a deeper effect on me. I decided my supressed urge to destroy, punish, and dominate (all men possess this) might work well.

I spend my mental time making sure I know the layout of the table, my opponent and the rest of the time I churn up feelings that make me want to intensly crush my opponent. I want him to get mad, break stuff, throw stuff, and lose his cool but more importantly, he must come to the conclusion he is in way over his head with me and must submit to my dominance. I can even get close to a state of rage which is filled with adrenaline

I know that sounds a bit crazy but triggering my male instinct turned out to be a real powerfull way to concentrate. Think about your state of mind when you are going to fist fight somebody. I mean, when you really want to kick some ass. You are as focused as you are ever going to be at that moment.



Getting back to the table after a bad miss:

Still working on this one Knowing that I just can't play seems to be more powerfull than my desire to dominate. I try to remind myself I can play and shit happens to those that let it. "Either I know what I am doing or I do not, get back to the table and prove it" is the best way I have come up with so far but I think the real solution is to never miss lol

 

[unknownpro]

I had a real problem with focus. Actually, I had two problems.

The first was a dedication to each shot. Sometimes I was going to make the shot no matter how hard and other times I just did not have the passion to assign all my mental powers to the task at hand.


The second was coming back to the table after a bad mishap. My mental game really suffered when I show my opponent how bad I really play.


Dedication to each shot:

I realized that the actual outcome of my billiards experience was just not worth giving it all I had. Even though I consciencely assured myself I wanted to show excellence every time I stepped to the table, it was not true Proof being displayed in other parts of my life where failure is not acceptable. When failure is not an option, humans show remarkable dedication. Even me

So what could it be? Subconsciencely, pool was not important enough to allocate the mental resources needed to play my best even though I had ordered it to My subconscience does not really listen to me and I can only count on it in an emergency or life sustaining functions.

The only thing I could come up with was to add new variables to winning that had a deeper effect on me. I decided my supressed urge to destroy, punish, and dominate (all men possess this) might work well.

I spend my mental time making sure I know the layout of the table, my opponent and the rest of the time I churn up feelings that make me want to intensly crush my opponent. I want him to get mad, break stuff, throw stuff, and lose his cool but more importantly, he must come to the conclusion he is in way over his head with me and must submit to my dominance. I can even get close to a state of rage which is filled with adrenaline

I know that sounds a bit crazy but triggering my male instinct turned out to be a real powerfull way to concentrate. Think about your state of mind when you are going to fist fight somebody. I mean, when you really want to kick some ass. You are as focused as you are ever going to be at that moment.



Getting back to the table after a bad miss:

Still working on this one Knowing that I just can't play seems to be more powerfull than my desire to dominate. I try to remind myself I can play and shit happens to those that let it. "Either I know what I am doing or I do not, get back to the table and prove it" is the best way I have come up with so far but I think the real solution is to never miss lol

Destroy, punish and dominate? All men want to do this? What book did you get this out of? Makes me so mad I want to kick your ass. Are you an LA cop or what? Let's play some, I don't usually gamble but I'd make an exception in your case just to watch you squirm while I beat you down. Wait a minute, is that you George W.?

unknownpro

 

[The Hamster]

I got one right? Imagine my surprise. I was just trying, to toss a smart answer back at ya. I played Fred once, or should I say, got schooled by Fred once, in one pocket. I'd do it again, Fred is a good shot and a nice guy too. How did you fair, against him?

Lol... Fred is in another league altogether - I only picked up the game 5 years ago after never having played in my life. Fortunately he's not only a good guy but has helped me with some very insightful comments in the past.

A couple that stuck were... don't try and force the cue ball around the table looking for perfect position and end up in trouble - sometimes it's simpler to just settle for a longer shot. And don't try a power draw shot with BIH.

 

[Hooked]

Destroy, punish and dominate? All men want to do this? What book did you get this out of? Makes me so mad I want to kick your ass. Are you an LA cop or what? Let's play some, I don't usually gamble but I'd make an exception in your case just to watch you squirm while I beat you down. Wait a minute, is that you George W.?

unknownpro

You have more pent up anger than me lol Maybe we should go a round in the Octagon I could never be a Cop. Their screening process would filter me out If I had to choose, I'd be a Republican...

 

[lewdo26]

I have the same problem, but I think I'm working on a solution:

Pay close attention to very PHYSICAL details while shooting... The lint on the cloth, the reflections of light on the surface of the balls, the thread of the cloth, the chalk marks on the cueball, etc.

Also, between shots, try to get out of your head and re-focus your attention on the body. Every shot...

You do not want your mind wandering inwardly when you're down on the shot. Counting sometimes helps me (this is getting embarassing)... Whatever it is, give your mind a TASK. Don't leave it to seek distractions.

I guess losing focus comes from shooting mechanically, without actual awareness of what you're doing. It also comes from laziness, and, hell, it also comes from trying to overcontrol the shot.

Cheffjeff raises the issue of attitude... The worst attitude for focus IMHO is wanting results for their own sake... Remind yourself that a ball in the hole wouldn't mean shit if it wasn't for the work you put into it.

The other question is also interesting... How do you recover from a bad shot (or worse, a sequence of bad shots)?