In the Chair

Falcon Eddie

Falcon Eddie

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Someone once said the best way to win playing pool is to keep the other guy in the chair..easier said than done.
But what are you doing when it's you sitting there..looking somewhere else ? Mentally trying to make images of misses , miss-cues.
Curious of the mind set while in the chair.
 
Blackjack said:
This article deals with the subject of sitting in the chair.

The Focus Factor
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This was a great article in just about all aspects of what to do. It though like the diet industry of telling what we should eat , carbs, protein, this much , that much . Does not tell "how ". Digestion begins in the mouth. If you chew your food completely and eat slowly. You will not only break down and make your food more readily for energy but will eat less and not have to worry about portion control.

This article mentioned everything but the how, Posture, is what I'm talking about. I see players that look like they want to slide right out of their seats. They try to appear relaxed but look more defeated. I'm in total agreement with the article on most of the precepts. Proper posture in the chair will help those long tournaments or matches. Slumped for long periods can only lead to sore lower backs and loss of focus.

Although this is not of "what's going on in your mind " If there is discomfort because of a bad posture you will start to notice and therefore take away from your game
 
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Luther Lassiter would fall asleep, or at least pretend to be asleep, when his opponent had him in the chair. A little disconcerting for the opponent, wouldn't you say?
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Luther Lassiter would fall asleep, or at least pretend to be asleep, when his opponent had him in the chair. A little disconcerting for the opponent, wouldn't you say?
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VERY...but these days with some of the rif raf I've played you'd have to do it with one eye open !!! lol
 
Mind Set

Having played the old school Straight Pool Game,sometimes you get blisters on your butt,sometimes your legs get tired from walking. Don't worry about anything you can't change. Relax your mind between shots. There is nothing you can do as long as the opponent is shooting. Oh,and sitting there concentrating on the layout will only get you tired. If he/she misses,you step to the table fresh,wherever the balls may lie. I've seen too many people get their game disrupted because "aw,hell he moved my 12 ball out of position." You can outthink yourself. Patience...and you'll be rewarded.
 
i always assume my opponent will miss his next shot. i watch the table nonstop to keep the pattern in my mind so that im prepared when i walk to the table.
 
cajunfats said:
Having played the old school Straight Pool Game,sometimes you get blisters on your butt,sometimes your legs get tired from walking. Don't worry about anything you can't change. Relax your mind between shots. There is nothing you can do as long as the opponent is shooting. Oh,and sitting there concentrating on the layout will only get you tired. If he/she misses,you step to the table fresh,wherever the balls may lie. I've seen too many people get their game disrupted because "aw,hell he moved my 12 ball out of position." You can outthink yourself. Patience...and you'll be rewarded.
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I like this post, I asked a client and friend of mine who is an Optometrist what I could do for my eyes to rest them keep them fresh during a match. He suggested to look at something about 15 to 20 feet away without hard staring making sure that it's a soft color. No sense in concentrating on something you can't control.
 
Thanks

Falcon Eddie said:
I like this post, I asked a client and friend of mine who is an Optometrist what I could do for my eyes to rest them keep them fresh during a match. He suggested to look at something about 15 to 20 feet away without hard staring making sure that it's a soft color. No sense in concentrating on something you can't control.
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Thank You kind Sir. One other aspect that is important. Whenever possible stay away from cigarette smoke. Looking at objects from a distance without concentrating is good advice from the optometrist. Good Luck.
 
physical and mental

Falcon Eddie said:
Someone once said the best way to win playing pool is to keep the other guy in the chair..easier said than done.
But what are you doing when it's you sitting there..looking somewhere else ? Mentally trying to make images of misses , miss-cues.
Curious of the mind set while in the chair.
Click to expand...

We can't really separate the physical and mental because they both impact each other. Many years ago I played an elderly gentleman that was extremely slow. I was young and dumb and by the time he had ran three to five balls in ten minutes I would be sizzling on the edge of my chair wanting back into the game. When he missed I would jump up, rush my play or my thinking process, and blow a shot. Then I would repeat the pattern sizzling on the edge of my chair. This happened for a dozen sessions or more over the course of a few months. He owned me. How to beat him became something I gave a lot of thought, simply dodging him wasn't an option in my mind back then and I didn't want spots.

Finally I hit on the idea of becoming a mildly interested spectator when I'm sitting in the chair. I'm expecting to be there for awhile so I'm sitting comfortably but I'm not slumped or slouched. I looked at the table before I left it so I have a thought when or if I should be getting back to it and I'm watching to see if my thought was right. If I often get to the table sooner than I expected I overrated who I am playing. If he often gets past the issues I thought would stop him I underrated him so I'm learning while I am sitting. I'm also watching casually which helps the other player resist temptation if he commits one of the less blatant fouls.

I'm not on the edge of my seat watching like a hawk waiting to pounce and I'm not totally out of the match. I'm just chilled out, a mildly interested railbird. The elderly gentleman never beat me again after I made this simple change and it made me literally many thousands of dollars over the coming years.

If somebody runs several racks on me I'm enjoying watching their nice play but I'm not rattled by it. I plan to do the same when I get up. If they make errors I'm not so focused on their play that I subconsciously make the same errors. This is the exact same state I want the conscious mind in when I'm shooting. It is watching but at rest, just alert enough to catch something it needs to and step in.

Hu
 
Best advice from the chair

I ever recieved was an older gentleman that told me to focus on the balls and what was happening. He knows I smoke as well, and since smoking is allowed inside our pool hall he calls it my cigarette break. I simply sit down, light a cigarette if I want one or take a drink and then focus in on the cue ball watching the movement. Watching just how talented the player is, knowing where I "want" to be and where he gets, showing the thought process and strengths of whoever I happen to be playing.


That gave me more insight onto other people's game and my own to show me that I made a lot of mental position errors, and it also showed me that what I would " want " to do wasn't always the best way so I was capable of learning while being relaxed and calm in the chair. Nerves are the worst thing in the world for a player and we all get em, but its easier to control the chair jitters when you watch a guy's cueball control.

That's just my philosophy and nothing will ever work for you 100% the way it does for me. Each one of us is different so our minds wont process or do it the same way so do what makes you comfortable and keeps your mind on the game but not worried.
 
ShootingArts said:
We can't really separate the physical and mental because they both impact each other. Many years ago I played an elderly gentleman that was extremely slow. I was young and dumb and by the time he had ran three to five balls in ten minutes I would be sizzling on the edge of my chair wanting back into the game. When he missed I would jump up, rush my play or my thinking process, and blow a shot. Then I would repeat the pattern sizzling on the edge of my chair. This happened for a dozen sessions or more over the course of a few months. He owned me. How to beat him became something I gave a lot of thought, simply dodging him wasn't an option in my mind back then and I didn't want spots.

Finally I hit on the idea of becoming a mildly interested spectator when I'm sitting in the chair. I'm expecting to be there for awhile so I'm sitting comfortably but I'm not slumped or slouched. I looked at the table before I left it so I have a thought when or if I should be getting back to it and I'm watching to see if my thought was right. If I often get to the table sooner than I expected I overrated who I am playing. If he often gets past the issues I thought would stop him I underrated him so I'm learning while I am sitting. I'm also watching casually which helps the other player resist temptation if he commits one of the less blatant fouls.

I'm not on the edge of my seat watching like a hawk waiting to pounce and I'm not totally out of the match. I'm just chilled out, a mildly interested railbird. The elderly gentleman never beat me again after I made this simple change and it made me literally many thousands of dollars over the coming years.

If somebody runs several racks on me I'm enjoying watching their nice play but I'm not rattled by it. I plan to do the same when I get up. If they make errors I'm not so focused on their play that I subconsciously make the same errors. This is the exact same state I want the conscious mind in when I'm shooting. It is watching but at rest, just alert enough to catch something it needs to and step in.

Hu
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I THINK I PLAYED THAT GUY TOO !! lol. I had a similar experience. I agree with this and just want to say that this is a great way to also stay in the moment. The looking away to rest the eyes is only meant for that. Just to take a break from the glare of the lights. I sometimes where a hat that I can hide my eyes from the glare and my opponent. I'm sure it gives a feeling of indifference and also give me a chance to close my eyes even for a moment...they are less likely to sneak something pass if they think you might be watching.
 
To be honest I just hope he misses and pay extra attention to all the minor screwups that he's doing that could result in me shooting again.

"He got a little straight on that one, he'll end up with a steep angle on the 5. He might miss it entirely from that distance. Even if he doesn't his shape for the 6 is gonna be lousy. I hope he ends up long on it."

In a way, it's what others recommend... paying attention to the roll of the balls and analyzing the game... just with the added twist of beaming negative thoughts his way :P
 
CreeDo said:
To be honest I just hope he misses and pay extra attention to all the minor screwups that he's doing that could result in me shooting again.

"He got a little straight on that one, he'll end up with a steep angle on the 5. He might miss it entirely from that distance. Even if he doesn't his shape for the 6 is gonna be lousy. I hope he ends up long on it."

In a way, it's what others recommend... paying attention to the roll of the balls and analyzing the game... just with the added twist of beaming negative thoughts his way :P
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I've tried that telekinesis thing where I try to move his ball into bad positions, scratches, ect. Only thing I got was a head ache...Negativity ...naw...to much energy...I need all I have to make my own.
 
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