I play pool because I love the game and want to play the very best that I can. I have been mesmerized by the game since the day I started playing.
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How can I increase focus and stay sharper longer?
- Thread starter Rackemep
- Start date
I play pool because I love the game and want to play the very best that I can. I have been mesmerized by the game since the day I started playing.
That's good.
Try remembering that when out of focus. If that doesn't get you over the focus problem, maybe you need to tighten up your "why" a little bit?
I have the exact same problem, btw, so I'm trying various "why"s myself right now. I'm not sure if I'm bored or tired or distracted or just getting old. It's a problem, for sure.
I'll be curious as to how you deal with this, so please post back here as you work on it.
Thanks,
Jeff Livingston
I'd suggest directly confronting the core/root of the problem
The lack of focus centers in your mind, so I'd suggest directly confronting the core/root of the problem.
There are several ways to improve this by practicing a breathing meditation. Anapana is the best I've found and also I recommend the book 'Zen in the Art of Archery' to learn how to go into "The Zone".....the 'Inner Game of Tennis' is also very effective in learning these techniques.
Play Well.....your breathing will be your teacher.
The lack of focus centers in your mind, so I'd suggest directly confronting the core/root of the problem.
There are several ways to improve this by practicing a breathing meditation. Anapana is the best I've found and also I recommend the book 'Zen in the Art of Archery' to learn how to go into "The Zone".....the 'Inner Game of Tennis' is also very effective in learning these techniques.
Play Well.....your breathing will be your teacher.
MJ is excellent for concentration. Especially in small regular doses. The key is you have to get passed the initially inebriation of the drug. The recreation aspect that so many people use it for. That inebriation is rooted in how its consumed. Not all forms get you "stoned"...
Similarly those who never drink might get a buzz after two stiff drinks whereas a regular drinker would simply have two drinks to settle in and relax.
Unfortunately the most widely recognized form of consumption is smoking it. But there are no shortage of safer ways to take it.
You don't need to get intense with the yoga...silly poses and so forth. The essential breathing aspect would probably be beneficial enough. Its a form of meditation. I don't do yoga but I probably should and those that I know who practice it, praise its benefits.
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The lack of focus centers in your mind, so I'd suggest directly confronting the core/root of the problem.
There are several ways to improve this by practicing a breathing meditation. Anapana is the best I've found and also I recommend the book 'Zen in the Art of Archery' to learn how to go into "The Zone".....the 'Inner Game of Tennis' is also very effective in learning these techniques.
Play Well.....your breathing will be your teacher.
I think the question I have (and maybe the OP, too) is WHY bother breathing properly or HOW to remember my "why" (that is to focus on the moment) so I can do the breathing or whatever it takes to stay focused.
See what I mean? It takes motivation to read and integrate your knowledge and if my 'why" isn't strong enough, that doesn't happen. \
That's how I'm seeing this problem, anyway.
Thanks,
Jeff...what's my last name?...oh yeah, Livingston
Being physically fit is a very important factor.
It seems that the notion that pool is a mental game is quite misleading. When you play pool for hours on end you need to be in good shape physically.
Look at this years Mosconi cup, the European players in general looked in much better shape than the US players in general. And the US players that play the best, seems to be the ones that focus most on fitness (Earl and Shane)
It seems that the notion that pool is a mental game is quite misleading. When you play pool for hours on end you need to be in good shape physically.
Look at this years Mosconi cup, the European players in general looked in much better shape than the US players in general. And the US players that play the best, seems to be the ones that focus most on fitness (Earl and Shane)
Thanks for the advise guys...
I wouldn't say that I have it figured out but so far a couple things that helped me last night at our little weekly tourney were making sure I was consciously completing my PSR and every time I felt like I was getting the tunnel vision effect I would step away from the table and view it from a distance and different angles then I would come back to the table with a plan, address my shot and execute...
I still "ran out of gas" towards the end of the night but split for 1st and 2nd...
I wouldn't say that I have it figured out but so far a couple things that helped me last night at our little weekly tourney were making sure I was consciously completing my PSR and every time I felt like I was getting the tunnel vision effect I would step away from the table and view it from a distance and different angles then I would come back to the table with a plan, address my shot and execute...
I still "ran out of gas" towards the end of the night but split for 1st and 2nd...
I like the advice that CheffJeff had to offer.
Watch what you eat and watch how much you eat during tournaments. I found that if I eat too much or if I eat greasy foods, I slow down and so does my mind. Eat small amounts throughout the day spaced a few hours apart. Trying to eat healthy on bar food is tough.
I have problems remembering to eat during tournaments. This is especially true when fighting back on the loser side of the bracket playing back to back to back. If you let your blood sugar drop too low it will be like eating too much.
And the rest has already been stated. When you get tired, your shot must go into autopilot.
Pre Shot Routine is king and rules the day. It must be automatic so your center of focus is on the whole shot and not on the set up.
A solid repeatable stroke is a must. When your mind goes on vacation your stroke needs to go on auto pilot.
You must think about the shot in the same order too. Mental PSR.
Visual PSR. Find your eye pattern and make sure you drill it it a groove.
Lastly, my Kryptonite, alcohol. It will slow you down on a long day or get you drunk. Both results in an early trip home.
Watch what you eat and watch how much you eat during tournaments. I found that if I eat too much or if I eat greasy foods, I slow down and so does my mind. Eat small amounts throughout the day spaced a few hours apart. Trying to eat healthy on bar food is tough.
I have problems remembering to eat during tournaments. This is especially true when fighting back on the loser side of the bracket playing back to back to back. If you let your blood sugar drop too low it will be like eating too much.
And the rest has already been stated. When you get tired, your shot must go into autopilot.
Pre Shot Routine is king and rules the day. It must be automatic so your center of focus is on the whole shot and not on the set up.
A solid repeatable stroke is a must. When your mind goes on vacation your stroke needs to go on auto pilot.
You must think about the shot in the same order too. Mental PSR.
Visual PSR. Find your eye pattern and make sure you drill it it a groove.
Lastly, my Kryptonite, alcohol. It will slow you down on a long day or get you drunk. Both results in an early trip home.