How do you teach Focus, or Concentration

CocoboloCowboy

CocoboloCowboy

Cowboys are my hero's
Silver Member
I am not sure if this question has ever been asked before, and it is How do you teach Focus, or Concentration.

As to me the ability to stay focus, and concentrate is the keep to winning.

I honestly do not understand whey some instructor has not made a Audio CD that we could play on the way to tournament play, or practice, that deals with staying focus, and how to concentrate.

As to me great pool, is very precise, and need 100%+++Focus, and concentration on each and every show.

I know personally when my MIND is not wandering my ability to play better goes was up, but inconsistency is a very big problem for me personally.
 
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CocoboloCowboy said:
I am not sure if this question has ever been asked before, and it is How do you teach Focus, or Concentration.

As to me the ability to stay focus, and concentrate is the keep to winning.

I honestly do not understand whey some instructor has not made a Audio CD that we could play on the way to tournament play, or practice, that deals with staying focus, and how to concentrate.

As to me great pool, is very precise, and need 100&+++Focus, and concentration on each and every show.

I know personally when my MIND is not wandering my ability to play better goes was up, but inconsistency is a very big problem for me personally.
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Bruce

My methods are cruel and inhumane, but I do get the job done.

:wink:

I have a CD coming out very soon that covers focus, concentration, and consistency. As always, you can give me a call and we can discuss this topic to identify any problems you may have with focus. Once we do that, I will have you apply solutions that are designed to overcome any and all obstacles that are holding you back.

It takes time, dedication, and a lot of practice, but it is possible to own the zone, as opposed to wondering if it really exists.
 
Blackjack said:
I have a CD coming out very soon that covers focus, concentration, and consistency. As always, you can give me a call and we can discuss this topic to identify any problems you may have with focus. Once we do that, I will have you apply solutions that are designed to overcome any and all obstacles that are holding you back.
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How much with the CD be? Hope its not $69.99+ Shipping, and all HYPE:)

Think this is an area of Pool instruction that has been overlook a very long time, and it is needed....
 
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I will look forward to hearing your thoughts on this subject. One thing that I think is important when teaching students to focus is to help them understand what they need to be focused on, when, and why. I hear people say the try to focus on winning, or focusing on what the balls are doing. These things are nothing we can control, and rob us from the ability to focus on what is important.

Since we can only control what we do with our body, that is what we need to focus on. What you do with your bridge hand, stroke arm, etc are the things that cause the cue stick to move in a way to create the desired results from the shot. So we want our focus to be internal, not external. We must be aware of the things around us, but our focus needs to be primarily on our physical movement. secondary focus on the cue movement, and then on our aiming. But everything that happens on the table is a direct result of how we move our body.

Steve
 
Bruce...What the heck does it matter how much something costs...if it answers the question, or provides the solution? It's the perceived VALUE that's important to the enduser...not how much (or how cheap) it is! Oh, and before you start on the rant about your 'fixed income'...I know all that already...and imo, in the end, it doesn't matter. We SAVE for the things we want most, no matter what they are, or what they cost.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

CocoboloCowboy said:
How much with the CD be? Hope its not $69.99+ Shipping, and all HYPE:)

Think this is an area of Pool instruction that has been overlook a very long time, and it is needed....
Click to expand...
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
I know personally when my MIND is not wandering my ability to play better goes was up, but inconsistency is a very big problem for me personally.
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This should be a big clue. You should ask yourself what you're thinking about other than shot, and why. Are you really interested in playing, or are you interested in something else? If you're not interested in playing, how could you expect to play at your best?

If you're thinking about things that you need or can do something about, they you need to deal with them to clear your mind of that distraction. If you're thinking about things that you can't do anything about at the time, realize that and tell yourself that you will deal with it later. If you're randomly thinking about things, perhaps your not really interested in playing.

Consider this. Our preparation for the shot is done through our eyes. We don't use hearing, taste, smell or touch. The only sense we only use to plan the shot is sight. The game is visual and what matters is what you see.

When you are planning a shot, you're seeing it in your mind. You're finding the exact target for the hit and determining what speed and spin will move the cue ball along it's intended path. The more accurately you see it, the more accurate your plan will be, and the more successful you will be.

When your mind wanders away, remind yourself to see and study the shot. Take your time and make sure you see it clearly and precisely before shooting. Remember, nothing happens until you make it happen, so there isn't any reason to rush.

It's all about thinking about what you're seeing. The more precisely you look at the shot, the more focused you will become. The more focused you are, the quicker you will see the shot and execute it.
 
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Mark Avlon said:
This should be a big clue. You should ask yourself what you're thinking about other than shot, and why. Are you really interested in playing, or are you interested in something else? If you're not interested in playing, how could you expect to play at your best?

If you're thinking about things that you need or can do something about, they you need to deal with them to clear your mind of that distraction. If you're thinking about things that you can't do anything about at the time, realize that and tell yourself that you will deal with it later. If you're randomly thinking about things, perhaps your not really interested in playing.

Consider this. Our preparation for the shot is done through our eyes. We don't use hearing, taste, smell or touch. The only sense we only use to plan the shot is sight. The game is visual and what matters is what you see.

When you are planning a shot, you're seeing it in your mind. You're finding the exact target for the hit and determining what speed and spin will move the cue ball along it's intended path. The more accurately you see it, the more accurate your plan will be, and the more successful you will be.

When your mind wanders away, remind yourself to see and study the shot. Take your time and make sure you see it clearly and precisely before shooting. Remember, nothing happens until you make it happen, so there isn't any reason to rush.

It's all about thinking about what you're seeing. The more precisely you look at the shot, the more focused you will become. The more focused you are, the quicker you will see the shot and execute it.
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The above post earn you a GREENIE!
 
Mark Avlon said:
This should be a big clue. You should ask yourself what you're thinking about other than shot, and why. Are you really interested in playing, or are you interested in something else? If you're not interested in playing, how could you expect to play at your best?

If you're thinking about things that you need or can do something about, they you need to deal with them to clear your mind of that distraction. If you're thinking about things that you can't do anything about at the time, realize that and tell yourself that you will deal with it later. If you're randomly thinking about things, perhaps your not really interested in playing.

Consider this. Our preparation for the shot is done through our eyes. We don't use hearing, taste, smell or touch. The only sense we only use to plan the shot is sight. The game is visual and what matters is what you see.

When you are planning a shot, you're seeing it in your mind. You're finding the exact target for the hit and determining what speed and spin will move the cue ball along it's intended path. The more accurately you see it, the more accurate your plan will be, and the more successful you will be.

When your mind wanders away, remind yourself to see and study the shot. Take your time and make sure you see it clearly and precisely before shooting. Remember, nothing happens until you make it happen, so there isn't any reason to rush.

It's all about thinking about what you're seeing. The more precisely you look at the shot, the more focused you will become. The more focused you are, the quicker you will see the shot and execute it.
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I like this reply, Mark. Thank you for sharing.
 
The more you practice meditation, the easier it is to obtain a clear, undistracted and focused mind whenever you need it.
I mean real meditation, not new age relaxation mumbo jumbo. Find a Buddhist teacher for proper instruction. Remember, you don't have to be a Buddhist to meditate.
 
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I always like to ask this question when someone brings up the subject of "focus"...focus on what? There are so many variables in executing a shot, exactly what do you tell someone to focus on?
In Bob Francher's book, "Pleasures of Small Motions" he has a whole chapter on this subject. You should read it! Focus is NOT what you think it is!
 
I think of focus as being undistracted from the task at hand. For instance, I play better when I am focused on playing pool and not distracted by things such as bad music, upset wife, issues at work, good looking waitress, unkown number on cell phone that I did not answer etc...

It is simply being focused on a specific action and not having distracted thoughts about past, present or future.
 
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cfrandy said:
I always like to ask this question when someone brings up the subject of "focus"...focus on what? There are so many variables in executing a shot, exactly what do you tell someone to focus on?
In Bob Francher's book, "Pleasures of Small Motions" he has a whole chapter on this subject. You should read it! Focus is NOT what you think it is!
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What great post. Dr. Bob is a student of mine. His book is a mainstay in our SPF School system. I think I got the best of that class....:-)
SPF=randyg
 
Bpb s book is a like a lil bible....except there s 100 % written the truth:D
 
Concentraton

“Some people think they are concentrating when they're merely worrying.” - Bobby Jones

Are you really concentrating on the shot which is to make the cue ball hit the object ball in a specific spot with the proper speed and spin?
Or are you thinking about the ball going in the pocket, where the cue ball will go, what if I scratch or what if...?
If you are doing the first then you are concentrating and focused on what is important. If you are concentrating on anything else you are just worrying.

Andy <--- worrys all the time
 
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