Left Brain/Right Brian
- Thread starter robleyf7
- Start date
This is a very good topic. I have found a key to adjusting how much analytical thinking you use versus how much subconcense mind you use when shooting.
To further explain, let’s say you are running out just shooting, pocketing ball after ball. Then you notice that you have horrible shape, which happens to all of us eventually. Well you obviously didn't stop to think and analyze your shape and three balls ahead. The exact opposite of this is taking your time after ever shot to analyze every part of the table, this often happens to us when we are being extra careful against a tough opponent. Well eventually we get down on a shot then miss because we haven't stopped analyzing.
Well I have noticed a key that helps adjust this over analyzing or under analyzing. It is your tempo or pace of play. If you shoot at a fast pace, you will force yourself to use your subconscious to aim and play shape and plan the run out. If you slow down, you allow yourself time for your brain to start thinking and analyzing.
This has helped me a lot in situations where I will be gambling and dogging it and over thinking things. I will usually clear my mind and step up the pace, which forces me to trust my stroke and play with my subconscinece.
Now I have one problem where I can’t slow down, think about three balls ahead, step into the shot, then speed up so not to think about aiming. Its usually the whole pace speeds up or the whole pace slows down. As I have stated in the second paragraph, there are fallacies in both.
So how do I play at a good pace so as to have confidence in my stroke and not to miss, but still be able to analyze the table when it is needed so I don't miss crucial runout errors?
To further explain, let’s say you are running out just shooting, pocketing ball after ball. Then you notice that you have horrible shape, which happens to all of us eventually. Well you obviously didn't stop to think and analyze your shape and three balls ahead. The exact opposite of this is taking your time after ever shot to analyze every part of the table, this often happens to us when we are being extra careful against a tough opponent. Well eventually we get down on a shot then miss because we haven't stopped analyzing.
Well I have noticed a key that helps adjust this over analyzing or under analyzing. It is your tempo or pace of play. If you shoot at a fast pace, you will force yourself to use your subconscious to aim and play shape and plan the run out. If you slow down, you allow yourself time for your brain to start thinking and analyzing.
This has helped me a lot in situations where I will be gambling and dogging it and over thinking things. I will usually clear my mind and step up the pace, which forces me to trust my stroke and play with my subconscinece.
Now I have one problem where I can’t slow down, think about three balls ahead, step into the shot, then speed up so not to think about aiming. Its usually the whole pace speeds up or the whole pace slows down. As I have stated in the second paragraph, there are fallacies in both.
So how do I play at a good pace so as to have confidence in my stroke and not to miss, but still be able to analyze the table when it is needed so I don't miss crucial runout errors?
hummm that gets me to thinking......
maybe something like video of you when your running out and feeling perfect and smooth play and pace , and also video when your not doing so good and when the pace is choppy. Figure out the type of pace your setting when you play your best and train to play at that pace. Just like in track we train for particular paces, and can run that set pace at anytime without a clock to guide us. Maybe if you can find that you can train using a stopwatch, untill its what you do all the time. I can't say if that would work, but it's worth a try.
My biggest problem with what I just learned from Scott the other day is pace, tho its still new techniques that I havent made natural yet. I find that my biggest problem is the break down of my natural pace, and it really affects my shot. I'm now trying to incorporate the new things into a formula that fits my natural style/pace that I set....
hey if you can measure all your strokes with a ruler and train yourself that way for stroke, why couldn't you train for optimum timing and pace with a stopwatch. If you can figure out what paces hurt you,and which pace benefits you most, then it seems like such training can be done.
what ya'll think of that?
Grey Ghost
maybe something like video of you when your running out and feeling perfect and smooth play and pace , and also video when your not doing so good and when the pace is choppy. Figure out the type of pace your setting when you play your best and train to play at that pace. Just like in track we train for particular paces, and can run that set pace at anytime without a clock to guide us. Maybe if you can find that you can train using a stopwatch, untill its what you do all the time. I can't say if that would work, but it's worth a try.
My biggest problem with what I just learned from Scott the other day is pace, tho its still new techniques that I havent made natural yet. I find that my biggest problem is the break down of my natural pace, and it really affects my shot. I'm now trying to incorporate the new things into a formula that fits my natural style/pace that I set....
hey if you can measure all your strokes with a ruler and train yourself that way for stroke, why couldn't you train for optimum timing and pace with a stopwatch. If you can figure out what paces hurt you,and which pace benefits you most, then it seems like such training can be done.
what ya'll think of that?
Grey Ghost
Ghost,
I have videotaped myself in the past, but really watched how many strokes I take before each shot. I now know that I naturally take 4-5 strokes for the best results in shot making.
I have a lesson with Scott on Thursday and this will be the main topic I would like to discuss with him.
Another thing I have noticed is that many great players usually shot at a moderate to fast pace. I think the reason they don’t get into any trouble with the run outs is because they have trained themselves to be aware of runout problems. Only when there is a runout issue where balls or paths are tied up do they slow down to think of a strategy. Otherwise they are usually motoring through the rack. This is what I really want to incorporate into my game since I feel I shoot best at a moderately fast pace.
I have videotaped myself in the past, but really watched how many strokes I take before each shot. I now know that I naturally take 4-5 strokes for the best results in shot making.
I have a lesson with Scott on Thursday and this will be the main topic I would like to discuss with him.
Another thing I have noticed is that many great players usually shot at a moderate to fast pace. I think the reason they don’t get into any trouble with the run outs is because they have trained themselves to be aware of runout problems. Only when there is a runout issue where balls or paths are tied up do they slow down to think of a strategy. Otherwise they are usually motoring through the rack. This is what I really want to incorporate into my game since I feel I shoot best at a moderately fast pace.
no i agree, a quicker pace is better than a slower pace. This is even studied, just like in a test they say if your not sure 100% of the answer your first choice is usually the right one(thats fact). Too slow and garbage floats into your mind. One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard was when your stroke starts to fail to pick up the pace a bit, and stay ahead of the shot. But there can be an overkill mode to that also. Even if your taking extra time standing up to make a decision as what to do, when you get down your optimum shooting speed should be maintained. Just because you scrutinize the shot longer doesn't mean you have to stay down on it longer before you complete the stroke.
Its one benefit to me that is going to make me perfect the things that scott showed me, I can't do it period if its not natural to me. I have to break my natural pace alot to accomplish some of the techniques, and it mentally trashes me. By the time I accomplish the goal of making those motions like PEP and others natural to my game i will be mentally stronger, as i'm going to have to break myself mentally just to do it and restructure everything.
I have to learn to keep my pace while having new things to produce in the preshot routine and shot itself. You start thinking about what your doing and POOF there goes your timing....makes you feel like a goof ball. It could just be me but bad timing is about the only kind of kryptonite I'm scared of. I know for a fact now especially since Scott gave me the tools to see myself that a majority of my misses were caused by gaffed up timing.
Its like anything else, if you do it alot then your overall consistency of timing is going to be better so you get better results. If your not playing as much then your natural timing clock starts to beat bad, which makes for inconsistency.
Grey Ghost
Its one benefit to me that is going to make me perfect the things that scott showed me, I can't do it period if its not natural to me. I have to break my natural pace alot to accomplish some of the techniques, and it mentally trashes me. By the time I accomplish the goal of making those motions like PEP and others natural to my game i will be mentally stronger, as i'm going to have to break myself mentally just to do it and restructure everything.
I have to learn to keep my pace while having new things to produce in the preshot routine and shot itself. You start thinking about what your doing and POOF there goes your timing....makes you feel like a goof ball. It could just be me but bad timing is about the only kind of kryptonite I'm scared of. I know for a fact now especially since Scott gave me the tools to see myself that a majority of my misses were caused by gaffed up timing.
Its like anything else, if you do it alot then your overall consistency of timing is going to be better so you get better results. If your not playing as much then your natural timing clock starts to beat bad, which makes for inconsistency.
Grey Ghost
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I don't know if this is always the case. I am a very analytical player. I take my time to look at every shot, make my decisions about my A.S.S. in whatever time it takes. Then I go through my checklists. On tough shots, it may well take longer that on the easier shots. But once I have finished analyzing and thinking, my bridge hand hits the table, and 8 seconds later, I am standing up. IOW, my studying checklist has no time limit, but my shooting checklist is almost always right at 8 seconds. My studying doesn't need any specific tempo, but my shooting sure does.
Steve
Steve
This is a good point. Its hard for me to not have the same momentum through the whole preshot routine.
thats exactly what I was trying to say:wink:...I'm trying to form all that new info into a new shooting tempo its difficult but a must. By the way steve i'm fixing to just send you everything I type to edit into two sentences instead of two pages lol
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thats exactly what I was trying to say:wink:...I'm trying to form all that new info into a new shooting tempo its difficult but a must. By the way steve i'm fixing to just send you everything I type to edit into two sentences instead of two pages lol
Just call me the master of K.I.S.S. !!:grin::grin:
(If it gets too complicated, I get lost!
}Steve
I'm lost, what book are you talking about?
