in the chair...and positive thinking...

J

jcpoolgod

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
can you guys help me with the mental side of pool...like the correct way to think on everyshot that has nothing to do with the shot....i mean like positive thinking...or whatever...how YOU think....

how to think when im waiting to play....and how to think while im shooting.......

i struggle with this.....also i have a tough time separating LIFE with pool.....

I feel bad in life so i play badly....or i play bad and then i feel bad in life ......

any thoughts on how to change my thinking.....it may change my life
 
Yes. First off, when you get down and prepare to shoot, take your time and think about nothing else but how it's gonna go in, NOT please go in, expect it to go in and the cb does what you want it to do. Get into a deep focus, really focus on that shot then the next and so on a so forth. Next thing you know, you ran the rack and your on to the next. When you focus like that and get confidence, you play to your full potential based on the amount of skill you have!

The main point here is, the brain controls the body. When you believe you can accomplish a task at hand, the body has no choice but to follow. Honest to GOD! Good luck buddy.
 
Best Book

jcpoolgod said:
can you guys help me with the mental side of pool...like the correct way to think on everyshot that has nothing to do with the shot....i mean like positive thinking...or whatever...how YOU think....

how to think when im waiting to play....and how to think while im shooting.......

i struggle with this.....also i have a tough time separating LIFE with pool.....

I feel bad in life so i play badly....or i play bad and then i feel bad in life ......

any thoughts on how to change my thinking.....it may change my life
Click to expand...

May I recommend "Pleasures of Small Motions" by Bob Fancher. You'll likely learn a lot about yourself and how to work the mental game.

Donny L
PBIA/ACA Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
 
Donny Lutz said:
May I recommend "Pleasures of Small Motions" by Bob Fancher. You'll likely learn a lot about yourself and how to work the mental game.

Donny L
PBIA/ACA Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
Click to expand...

AMEN! Great pre-shot routines, quiet the Brain.
randyg
 
Change of opinion?

DoubleD said:
I read that book, thought it was great...for about a week. Then started really thinking about it and realized it was drivel.

I would recommend 'Sports Psyching' over Mr. Fancher's book every day of the week.

dld
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Seems like you had a rather dramatic change of opinion. "Great" for a week and then "drivel"? Can you offer a reason for the change?
Did you actually read the whole book or just skim through it? Just curious. I'm always puzzled by harsh criticism without a reason behind it.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
 
DoubleD said:
Of course I actually read it.

I bought into his whole philosophy, but I started noticing that it had changed my outlook on pool. I felt that the whole book was aimed at giving people excuses for not playing well. He seemed to be saying 'It is okay if I miss that, I am not designed to do these things well.'

I guess I was too harsh on it--it was a valuable book. It changed my outlook because I became so angry with the message that I started owning my actions.

Such as it is, sometimes giving something time and reflection changes an opinion of it.

Seriously, I suggest you read 'Sports Psyching'. Actually read it, don't just skim it.

dld[/QUOTE

The book infers nothing of the sort. The book mearly says, "This is how the brain works." That is all. The rest is up to you and how you use that info.

Sports psyching is good as well and its point of view is more for the average Joe.
Click to expand...
 
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Donny Lutz said:
May I recommend "Pleasures of Small Motions" by Bob Fancher. You'll likely learn a lot about yourself and how to work the mental game.

Donny L
PBIA/ACA Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
Click to expand...

I recently finished reading this book and have found it helpful in improving my mental approach to the game. I recommend it as well.

Not a cure all right away though. In higher level competition I still got nervous and basically forgot everything I had read until I was on the way home feeling like crap. And yes, I also let my pool playing, good or bad, bleed over into my overall mood. In that case, I was still irritated the whole next day. Doesn't seem to work as well the other way though. If I play well, it's like I say "well that's how I'm supposed to play", so I'm just in a normal mood the next day.

I'm working hard now on trying to enjoy playing and have fun, and let playing well flow from that. I was starting to take it too seriously and put too much pressure on myself. Some nights I realized driving home I didn't even have fun. All that self-induced pressure was only making me play worse. I had been asking myself why I almost always seemed to play worse in competition than in practice and the book answered that question for me. Overall, I've gotten better in competition since then, although I still have an occasional off night.
 
MAN!....you can get into all kinds of ego based stuff that will leave your brain numb trying to figure all this out. Some of the best thoughts I try to keep with me while sitting in the chair are....


1. No matter what is happening right now....I am somehow going to win this match. forget the how, and believe in the fact that you will win!

2. The last shot is history....can't be changed for better or worse....learn from it, and forget it!

3. Breath....slow...steady...controlled....deliberate

4. This may sound strange, but try to detach yourself from the outcome. Realize you prepared your best....sit back and watch it unfold without trying to force the issue.

good luck!

G.
 
I haven't read the books previously mentioned, and I'm sure some of the content may be similar, but I really enjoyed the book "The Inner Game of Tennis".

I think it had a really positive impact on my mental game and consistently playing to the best of my abilities.
 
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classicjay17 said:
I haven't read the books previously mentioned, and I'm sure some of the content may be similar, but I really enjoyed the book "The Inner Game of Tennis".

I think it had a really positive impact on my mental game and consistently playing to the best of my abilities.
Click to expand...

Another good one
 
Ah, this old chestnut. One of the greatest questions in sport in general. How to play like it means nothing, when it means everything. I've been searching for the answer to that question for years now. I've read a couple of the books listed here as well. I've tried drugs (TBH, Ginko Biloba was as far as I got), there seems to be an undercurrent of opinion that some of the games superstars use some form of drugs. I tried drinking, that worked to quiet my nerves initially, until I got too drunk and couldn't make a ball.

There is no book or magic pill that will make you a champion. Only practice and preparation can give you the confidence to quiet your mind and let it happen.

This is why you'll hear so many people talking about the pre-shot routine. Although it is important, what it really does is occupy your mind with instructions to your body. This keeps the negative thoughts at bay for some.
 
A better thought…..

sometimes I miss. I'll say something bad to myself. like YOU BUM…or worse….

there is no way this will ever help me. from now on Ive decided to be a little nicer on myself. Im just gonna think. I can only go up from here. or something nice
 
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