keeping your head in the game

[Texas Carom Club]

Do any of you have any tips or tricks or something you do that helps you keep your focus
last few days ive been losing focus on the "easy "shots and missing alot and its very frustrating, shots that I have no business missing but do on what I believe is a lack of giving the easy ones much mind
im just practicing position shooting

I want to approach each shot the same and treat the all with the same amount of focus but im having trouble doing so

 

[336Robin]

Mental Game

Do any of you have any tips or tricks or something you do that helps you keep your focus
last few days ive been losing focus on the "easy "shots and missing alot and its very frustrating, shots that I have no business missing but do on what I believe is a lack of giving the easy ones much mind
im just practicing position shooting

I want to approach each shot the same and treat the all with the same amount of focus but im having trouble doing so

I understand where you are, Ive been there myself and I speak for myself. Ive always found that the first piece was I had to know absolutely without a doubt how to address the object ball with the cue ball. If I know that and have less worries about it the rest of the game seems easier to accomplish, the english the correct shot pressure are easier to comprehend and execute. All things line up and that is the mental side of things as pertaining to shot making it all rolls up into a singular action.

 

[Ralph Kramden]

im just practicing position shooting

I want to approach each shot the same and treat the all with the same amount of focus but im having trouble doing so

Line up the shot to pocket the OB. Only think about where the CB will be traveling.
Find a target point where the CB will finish after pocketing. Think about CB speed.
.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

"Quiet eyes" focus--works with a broad spectrum of players:

Quiet Eyes Plus What To Do With Them

 

[tonythetiger583]

I found a big problem with my game, is that I would rush through certain things. Like I had to make the shot before too much time passed by and something would get out of line. When I land, it's taken me a lot of effort to ask myself "does this look right?", and if it doesn't, to get back up. If you're unsure, then lay your cue on that spot, and stand up and check that the shot is lined up, and reset again, until it looks right.

There shouldn't be any part of your routine that you feel you need to rush through.

You can either take your time and make sure everything is correct. Or you can miss the shot and go sit down. Which wastes more time?

I can't tell you how many easy shots I just take for granted, and then end up having to sit down and think about what an idiot I am. Now my pace is super slow, but I'm also a new player, so there's a lot of things I don't know by heart and have to evaluate on a case by case basis. This means that I should be setting and resetting more than I will later on.

Playing this way also feels way more exhausting, but I would rather play an hour where I'm slowly running out, or almost running out, versus 8 hours of just hitting stuff around, waiting for my subconcious mind to become a pro player.

So take your time, walk around the table, get up to see if you're aimed properly, think about where the ball is going,and exactly where you have to hit the ball and fully commit to the shot when you've thought everything out.

If you're so afraid of playing slowly, than play by yourself, but honestly think about what you're doing. Take note of parts of your game that you try and wing through, and learn to be comfortable with them.

 

[tonythetiger583]

Sometimes when I'm practicing, I'll actually put down my cue, grab a chair and my e-cig, and just sit in front of the shot and just look at it until I feel like I understand it fully. My favorite player to watch is Jason Klatt. He's playing a barbox champion against Thorston, and Klatt is sooo slow, I love it. You see him sitting there for like 5 min, on pretty much a straight in shot, but in relation to the entire rack, he's trying to get perfect position. He mulls over every easy shot with the same intensity. The youtube comments are littered with comments of how slow he is, but he also went through the entire event undefeated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1EGasJGLg

 

[Texas Carom Club]

Sometimes when I'm practicing, I'll actually put down my cue, grab a chair and my e-cig, and just sit in front of the shot and just look at it until I feel like I understand it fully. My favorite player to watch is Jason Klatt. He's playing a barbox champion against Thorston, and Klatt is sooo slow, I love it. You see him sitting there for like 5 min, on pretty much a straight in shot, but in relation to the entire rack, he's trying to get perfect position. He mulls over every easy shot with the same intensity. The youtube comments are littered with comments of how slow he is, but he also went through the entire event undefeated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1EGasJGLg

shame I dont think espn shows any pool playing anymore

 

[Texas Carom Club]

Ya I can totally relate to the I feel like an idiot
I expect to make every shot and be in position for the one I selected next
and its the most frustrating missing short cuts I need to look up cutting tips cause its really screwing up my progression

great thing how ever while in this state of momentary madness
I have a bannan bag and can rely on a few round kicks to release the stress
thats just a few feet away from my table (not in any way in the way of play)

 

[OlegK]

Next time you play just try to use the game to find your current biggest issue related to fundamentals. Being occupied by that, you may be able to not think about winning/loosing.

 

[bbb]

Do any of you have any tips or tricks or something you do that helps you keep your focus
last few days ive been losing focus on the "easy "shots and missing alot and its very frustrating, shots that I have no business missing but do on what I believe is a lack of giving the easy ones much mind
im just practicing position shooting

I want to approach each shot the same and treat the all with the same amount of focus but im having trouble doing so

play somebody instead of yourself
even if you dont gamble you will want to win and you will focus
it works for me
jmho
icbw

 

[CJ Wiley]

There's really no "tricks," (for fantastic focus)

There's really no "tricks," (for fantastic focus) although it does wonders to be aware of your breathing, which is the immediate "Bridge" between your conscious and unconscious mind. Of course like anything else it's critical to understand the technical aspects, and I'd suggest researching "anapana meditation" for starters.

Do any of you have any tips or tricks or something you do that helps you keep your focus
last few days ive been losing focus on the "easy "shots and missing alot and its very frustrating, shots that I have no business missing but do on what I believe is a lack of giving the easy ones much mind
im just practicing position shooting

I want to approach each shot the same and treat the all with the same amount of focus but im having trouble doing so

 

[(((Satori)))]

Focus is a skill that can be learned like any other.

I could write a whole book on the subject but I'll keep this post short and sweet.

1) You have a choice between:

a) task related thoughts
&
b) distractions

You obviously want to stick to task related thoughts.

2) Task related thoughts in pool are, at a basic level, thoughts that make up your pre shot routine.

Distractions on the other hand can come in two forms: internal and external. The examples are numerous and vary from person to person or situations. External distractions are kind of obvious so I'll give some examples of internal.

Basically if you are internally focused on anything other than 1) the present (task at hand) or 2) yourself , then you are internally distracted. You can't be focused on putting together a package, how far ahead or down you are, where you are going to break from next, how much you are going to win or lose etc. You also can't focus on who you are playing, who is watching, what they are thinking, etc. These are just some examples of distractions.

3) Your first important step to develop your focus is to decide on the task related thoughts you want to make a habit for every shot.

4) Your second step is to identify your common distractions. You need to become aware of them so that they will be easier to spot.

5) Ideally we would always be thinking good, task related thoughts but realistically distractions are going to happen. You are now however familiar with your common distractions so when they pop up you need to do the next step, the three r's- recognize, regroup, refocus. Recognize that you have been distracted, get off of your distracting thought, & start your routine over or jump back in your routine on the fly with the task related thoughts in your head.

The great thing about pool is it is a self paced sport so if you shoot while unfocused it is generally your fault, barring a time clock.



The above is a basic process for beginner to advanced players. When you practice this you will see your routine becoming habit and your awareness more sharp allowing you to use the three r's pretty much automatically. There will be times when you become so immersed in the process that you will drift off into the zone and lose track of everything other than what you need to do right here right now and this zone will come much more frequently the better you get at the above basic process.