Getting in stroke fast for competition

[pete lafond]

Clearly (no pun intended), I have found the best method to achieving the highest level of play for competition fast is to fine tune my vision.

Stroking the cue stick is natural for us and is the least important thing we would want to figure out just before competition. Doesn't make sense, it's to late now so just let it fly.

Vision on the other hand is the focus of choice before completion. Forget stroke, stance and everything else. Instead pay greater attention to the exact point of the OB and the path to the pocket, then stroke completely through the shot. Even pay special attention to exactly where the OB is entering the pocket, is it sloppy or not.

If your vision is not calibrated, you'll never get the confidence you will need to play. And seeing every shot clearly boosts your confidence level to the point that your stroke, stance and everything else will find their place.

Keeping it simple is keeping the overwhelming out of mind. Again, as you see clearly and begin stroking completely, everything else will fall in place.

..any other thoughts?

 

[Get_A_Grip]

Rest Your Eyes...

Clearly (no pun intended), I have found the best method to achieving the highest level of play for competition fast is to fine tune my vision.

..any other thoughts?

I think that you are really on to something with vision being a VERY important part of preparation for a big match. I've noticed that I do not play my best when I am tired. I could have shot great the day before...but after a long day at work, when I come home and am tired, I just can't play as well.

Eventually, I figured out that what was really impacting my shooting ability was my eyes being tired and/or dry--probably from spending all day at the computer. With tired, dry eyes, I just can't focus as well...which is especially important for the longer shots.

I read a story a while back about Willie Hoppe. Supposedly, he rested his eyes before a big match. He would not go to a movie or read the newspaper. I think that I also read that he didn't practice the morning of a big match...he would just warm-up about 20 minutes just prior to the match.

 

[Williebetmore]

Clearly (no pun intended), I have found the best method to achieving the highest level of play for competition fast is to fine tune my vision.

..any other thoughts?

pete morethanlafondmaybeeveninlove,
I'll give it a try this week. As a relative newbie (only playing 3 1/2 years) I am still working on refining my stroke. Therefore when I blast out of work for pool league, I usually have 5-15 minutes to find my stroke. I've always just hit straight in difficult shots to find my straight stroke. I'll throw in some visual work this week.

Also, during a 2 hour straight pool match (or 3 hours if your playing one of the defensive specialists), I often will lose my stroke for an inning or two in the middle of the match. All of us seem to have it happen. It is critical to be able to get your stroke back in as short a time as possible; perhaps this visual approach might work for that purpose as well.

Look me up if you are in Indy over the holidays (though I'm working the long New Years weekend).

 

[pete lafond]

...

Look me up if you are in Indy over the holidays (though I'm working the long New Years weekend).

My son and I are figuring out plans for the holiday week. I'll let you know. Thanks.

Pete

 

[TheConArtist]

very good info, league nights everyone gets there about an hour or so and gets a few games in before match play, me i either show up about five to 15 minutes after play time hehehe First and last game are always the toughest. But i find that putting the cueball right against the rail and shoot a long straight in shot until i make this then i do a nyce cut exactly the same this gets me instroke. As for seeing the path and object ball with my most confidence like seeing everything was along time ago when i use to smoke oops did i just say that out loud, i know it was all in my head but i can say this now i was way more concentrated then. Tuesday night i will give this info some go, and let you know how it does. Thanks Pete.