Focus .... more effort than ever.

Ken_4fun

Ken_4fun

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello all -

Life has changed for me this year and for most of the year I haven't played much at all. In the past I had a table and I always played at least an hour a day and then more if I was out at night or on weekends.

I had lasik years ago, and that was probably the best thing for me to improve.

I am living in an apartment currently, and so I dont have my game room with a pool table yet.

Starting to play a little more pool and I have heard about pool and stroke being important and this December I turn 50..:eek:

Anyway, the hardest thing for me is staying focused. My mind wonders, and I have to consciously focus. Really hard to explain, maybe its life or my age or just getting older or I dont know.

Never had this problem before.

Strange.

Any suggestions?

Ken
 
Are you playing against the same level of players that you used to? Are your opponents as focused as the ones in the past?

It's human nature to perform only as well as we need to in order to win. Anything more is a waste of energy...and all species evolved in ways that would conserve energy.
 
Pretty sure I have the same issue. If I put a little money on the line I play so much better because my focus is better. Naturally I am not saying you have to have money on the line to play better as I rarely gamble. Think what I found was that if I wasn't focused I didn't play my best. When I didn't play my best I lost confidence. I started questioning my stroke and everything. Of course I tried to fix it with LD shafts and trying new tips. Pretty sure all that did was make it worse for ME. Bottom line. I have a certain skill set. I can play below, at or above that skill set and I think it's based on my confidence and focus. Still haven't found out how to stay focused for long periods like I use to.
 
I play mostly league and local friendly tournaments. Meaning I play the same players over and over. Probably 95% of the time when we played in the past it was fun playing them win or lose. So when I have to play them again there is no animosity. Now lets say it wasn't so fun last time I played someone and I have to play them again. Maybe this time I am more focused. I have played many players who won't even say a word to me during a match. Chatty before or after. They are focused.
 
I have similar issues. I tend to take things for granted, such as a simple layout, and mess it up more often than I should. Even if monies on the line, it can still happen, and has to me a few times.

What I found really made me play well and give the table my full concentration was playing with buddies. When not playing for money we would play for something stupid, like a dare. Weirdest one was the loser had to play the next set in a 'mankini'...no one wanted to lose and I played some of the best pool of my life in that set! The pressure of embarrassment is far greater than the pressure of losing a few hundred dollars. Haven't quite found a way to tap into that level of concentration, but when I do ill share with all :)

But seriously, try playing when the cost of losing is humiliation and embarrassment, maybe then you can find a way to hit that focus on tap.
 
I guess I should have explained a little more.

My normal practice routine is 9 ball ghost. Races to either 5 or 7.

I do gamble, but its cheap usually $5 game or $20 races to 4, 9 ball or $10 game one pocket.

I played the ghost for 3-4 hours Saturday. I did see a great improvement in my ball pocketing, and position. This was a Diamond and my table I had at home was Gold Crown. The Diamond has forced me to focus on making the ball more and taking what I get for position.

I can get action but even when I win, I am not playing well. As mentioned above, making a tough shot and missing balls that should be routine.

Thanks,

Ken
 
Strainism

I think you may be suffering from Strainism. It is a pretty rare disorder but it may be the problem. Best of rolls to you :thumbup:
 
Up the bet a little. Play someone you know and a typical outcome when playing cheap. Now take $100 or so to bet in a race. If you lose you have to quit. No see what happens with your game.
 
Seperate the shot

What helped me is separating the thought process of the shot and the physical part of making the shot. Seemed to bring it more in focus for me.

A good example of this would be watching NFL offensive lines from the past. They would break from huddle, go to position and get in a half set. On call from the QB, they would "set" their stance in unison. Dunno if many offensive lines still do this, but it seemed to work well for those who used it .
 
Before trying to up the dollar amount of your bets or playing for "mankinis," try a pre-shot routine. Make it a point to do the exact same motions before every shot. For me, I shoot my shot, back up from the table to quickly look at my next shot (even if it's 2 foot and straight in), dust my tip with chalk, give my shaft the once over for feel, brush my bridge hand across my leg to address any moisture that might have developed. Only then will I get down and situated for my next shot. Developing a constant Pre-shot routine will allow your brain go go blank and your body to take over. Ever since I have implemented this very simple 5 second routine before every shot, I have been able to play the most focused and competitive pool of my life. Also, forcing yourself to do this will force your pace into a flowing rhythm where you will see far less missed shots due to rushing yourself. Many people will get on a roll making balls and the more they pocket, the faster and faster they play only to have an easy runout ruined because of a rushed shot.
 
Practice focus with a game that embodies it by its very nature, straight pool.

Hard to focus playing those carnival slam games, especially when you're playing by yourself.


Edit.... btw, wait till you pass 60 years old and you start chalking the rubber bumper.
 
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