Improving Mental Focus
- Thread starter Okie
- Start date
So if you've seen those articles then why are you having trouble focus? Have you read them and actually tried the techniques?
Excellent question. We are human and as such we forget, we get emotional, etc etc. Other than the couple of sarcastic posts, this thread has helped me refocus myself onto my task. I thank you all!
Last night's practice session was definitely a positive one. I would say I executed as desired over 80% of the time. And by executed as desired I mean that I was able to achieve my goal for that stroke. Last night and this last week or so my goal has been to maintain a consistent grip through out the stroke. After another 3-4 weeks of practicing this I hope to have it down cold! We'll see!
Thanks for the post Randall! Good luck!
Ken
You’re welcome I find these useful when anyone says “focus problem”
I said 25 times to put out the suggestion to do some memorizing. Our subconscious is a tough thing to get through to.
Thank you, great news!
I only read through them once but I wrote down some key words in my phone and looked at them once throughout the night. every time I got down on a shot I would repeat the words in my head.
The words I wrote down were:
Tight mind
Smooth
Follow through
And I also kept telling myself I would win and that I'm a winner. Seems cheesy but it worked well for me and kept me focused and in the now. I wouldn't even get mad when I made a bad shot I just waited for my next opportunity.
Yes, This is 1 of many ways to focus!
I am not an Instructor.
What I do that helps me to stay focused is when I'm down in the shooting position and stroking the cue for the feel of the shot, I focus on listening for the cue ball hit on the object ball.
Try it. You will notice that your mind gets very quiet because its trying to listen for the hit.
John
What I do that helps me to stay focused is when I'm down in the shooting position and stroking the cue for the feel of the shot, I focus on listening for the cue ball hit on the object ball.
Try it. You will notice that your mind gets very quiet because its trying to listen for the hit.
John
Good suggestion! Thank you!
I have been trying to work out a good mantra to keep my mind "tight". Internally, I don't feel I am making much progress improving my mental focus. But the folks around me tell me I am improving. If I am getting better then it is due to the all the help I have received from AZB folks. I thank you all!
Ken
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Being a hypnosis and mind nut, I really like this advice. You are bringing your awareness in, very creative.
Being a hypnosis and mind nut, I really like this advice. You are bringing your awareness in, very creative.
Sorry, I don't get it. By the time the cb is hitting the ob, it's too late. I'm just as esoteric as the next person, but I think this is a bit too outer-spacey. Yes, I know....you're mind is supposed to quiet down as it prepares to listen for the sound of the hit. Taking the stroke and shooting the shot is what it's all about. What does preparing to listen to the sound of the hit do for your ability to execute? Aren't you supposed to be focused on what you're about to do?
What's your success rate with this method, John? What have you achieved with this method? How many players have you recommended this to and what was their success rate?
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Thanks Fran for the comment.
I'll explain the process I go thru.
In the standing position I (conscious mind) have already made up my mind where I want to hit the OB, english to use and speed needed to send the cue ball where I want to. The decision has been made and transfered to my sub-conscious mind.
When I bend down to shoot I am not using a conscious effort. My sub-consciousmind does the shooting. (because its already been instructed what is needed.)
What needs to happen is to prevent the conscious mind from interfering. Listening for the hit on the OB helps to keep shooting thoughts from popping up.
Not only does this keep your mind quiet it also prevents you from moving until you hear the hit.
Give it a try Fran, its pretty interesting. :smile:
John
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Thanks for the comment...much appreciated.
Back in the late 90's I wanted to be a super star so I took a leap of faith and took delivery of Ryan Elliott's "Overcoming Contenderosis". I listened (every night) to each side of each cassett (12 sides) for over a year while laying in bed before failing to sleep.
As sure as I'm breathing and my heart is beating this was the biggest step forward in my pocket billiards life.
I quit playing about 10 years ago and am in my second year of getting my stroke back. I dug out the package and placed it on my night stand. One of these days I'll look at the tapes and start the whole process all over again. Just takes commitment.
The program goes way beyond focus. When playing you are not consciously aware of what you are doing. (if that makes any sense).
Thanks again.
John
No thanks, John. I'm not good enough to shoot on automatic pilot. I still have to focus on my arm swing and the speed I want to move my arm.
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You mean to tell me that after all the shots that you have made and all of the probably world class players you have played that you still focus on arm swing and speed. This should be a sub-conscious thought. Heck you have probably hit way over a million balls.
The old saying goes, once you begin to crawl, you begin to walk, then you begin to run. At the beginning this is a conscious thought until its observed and practiced then it becomes a sub-conscious thought.
On the final stroke the mind (consciuos) has to be thinking of something, lets listen to the QB hit the OB.
Come on Fran, give me a break......just try it. :smile:
John
My point is that most people who post here should not be going unconscious when they shoot pool. In fact, that is probably the biggest problem of most amateur players. They can't even remember how they just moved their arm. How does that help a player fix a bad stroke by repeating it over and over without thought?
If you're going to recommend something, make sure you factor in who you are recommending it to. Are you recommending it to pros or amateurs?
Yes, John, I know what it's like to play in the zone. It's amazing when it happens, but that's only because I've done my conscious homework on my stroke.
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What you are saying is true. When learning, everything will require a consciuos effort. Heck, it took me a year to learn how to walk. :smile:
The only reason I posted my style of staying focused is because the OP had stated that was his issue.
John
Sure, I understand, but as an INSTRUCTOR, I've worked with many players at various stages of their development, so I'm familliar with that mindset and how to respond to it.
This is a fascinating topic, and I'd like to ask for some clarification on this.
When you talk about focusing on your arm swing and the speed you want to move your arm, are you speaking about when you're training or when you're competing? I would think that they require two different mindsets.
I think it depends on the level of the player and how confident they are in their mechanics. If you're working on your stroke and it hasn't yet become a habit, then it would not be a good idea to not think about it in competition. Your unconscious mind is liable to cause you to revert back to your old stroke. I've seen it happen over and over again with students who revert back to their old strokes without even realizing it and then wonder what happened.