Negative self-commentary can create tension and easily sabatoge our best efforts. Any form of meditation or self-hypnosis can be helpful. Play every shot as if it were a game-winner. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Mental game problems
- Thread starter Papa Red
- Start date
Negative self-commentary can create tension and easily sabatoge our best efforts. Any form of meditation or self-hypnosis can be helpful. Play every shot as if it were a game-winner. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
This is going to be my next order on my list. I've already read the first 44 pages and I had to go ( was only at the bookstore for a short time ). Then it's probably going to be the pool hypnosis cd.
Until recently, I suffered from the exact same syndrom. What was happening was that I knew I was the stronger player and the fact that my weaker opponent would screw up and then consistently get rewarded with a convient safety had a way of running my blood pressure through the roof! It was as if the pool gods were against me. Had I been playing a stronger player than myself, I probaly would not have taken such a perspective.
Essentially, I became my worst enemy by letting my emotions dictate my physical state and subsequently found it difficult to stay focused, gain my rhythm and build some momentum. My energy levels went sour and his subsequently improved. His confidence would increase with every win making it more difficult for me to sustain a recovery.
It's all about maintaing a positive mental approach, even when everything else is going against you. I came to the realization that "LUCK" is a component of the game and it's OK to lose as long as you did everything within your power to win. Remember the old saying "You can't win them all".
Now, when a match starts to go bad for me, I recompose my mental approach and forget about winning and focus on my best performance. I still hate losing a match because my opponent got the rolls but I sleep much better knowing I played my best game that day.
Essentially, I became my worst enemy by letting my emotions dictate my physical state and subsequently found it difficult to stay focused, gain my rhythm and build some momentum. My energy levels went sour and his subsequently improved. His confidence would increase with every win making it more difficult for me to sustain a recovery.
It's all about maintaing a positive mental approach, even when everything else is going against you. I came to the realization that "LUCK" is a component of the game and it's OK to lose as long as you did everything within your power to win. Remember the old saying "You can't win them all".
Now, when a match starts to go bad for me, I recompose my mental approach and forget about winning and focus on my best performance. I still hate losing a match because my opponent got the rolls but I sleep much better knowing I played my best game that day.
And again...can t say that often enough:
NO TIME FOR NEGATIVE- the most players still don t care about how their brain works- really important for billiards. One time you *checked* it out to handle and to know about your *2 parts of the brain* you ve done a amazing step to increase your abilities soon.
lg
Ingo
NO TIME FOR NEGATIVE- the most players still don t care about how their brain works- really important for billiards. One time you *checked* it out to handle and to know about your *2 parts of the brain* you ve done a amazing step to increase your abilities soon.
lg
Ingo
jake-a-licious
jake--licious
What tends to help me is smiling or laughing at my self after i miss a shot. Then if i cant keep that up i take a break or ask for a smoke break if im in the middle of a set, Do some breathing excercises and remind myself why im playing pool; cause its what makes me happy and i enjoy playing.
Both books mentioned are good and worth reading. When we play pool, it is competition.
Another aspect is you have to be honest about your own ability. If there are 9 balls on the table, how often can you run out? It does no good to run 6 or 7 balls and leave them the last as easy shots. My biggest progress has been evaluating my game honestly (I played a lot better 30 years ago), and playing accordingly. If there is any doubt in my mind I can't get out, my opponent will be looking at a difficult shot at best, but hopefully he will be kicking. I look for safeties rather than try and run out now days, and I am winning more games against people that should probably beat me. Putting my ego aside (running out) and playing smart makes sense if I want to win. Rather than missing and leaving him an easy shot, or a chance to get a good roll,I turn the tables when I have control of the table by making it ugly.
Lastly, no matter what their ability, I agree with the poster above, destroy them. Don't give them a breath of air. Try not to let them win a single game. Bear down as if you were playing for a $1,000 set.
Another aspect is you have to be honest about your own ability. If there are 9 balls on the table, how often can you run out? It does no good to run 6 or 7 balls and leave them the last as easy shots. My biggest progress has been evaluating my game honestly (I played a lot better 30 years ago), and playing accordingly. If there is any doubt in my mind I can't get out, my opponent will be looking at a difficult shot at best, but hopefully he will be kicking. I look for safeties rather than try and run out now days, and I am winning more games against people that should probably beat me. Putting my ego aside (running out) and playing smart makes sense if I want to win. Rather than missing and leaving him an easy shot, or a chance to get a good roll,I turn the tables when I have control of the table by making it ugly.
Lastly, no matter what their ability, I agree with the poster above, destroy them. Don't give them a breath of air. Try not to let them win a single game. Bear down as if you were playing for a $1,000 set.
Winning is the reason we compete but it should not be the goal while you are shooting your shot.
Get "Pleasures of Small Motions" and you won't be disappointed.
"The Inner Game of Tennis" isn't bad either, but "Pleasures of Small Motions" explains the why much better.
Get "Pleasures of Small Motions" and you won't be disappointed.
"The Inner Game of Tennis" isn't bad either, but "Pleasures of Small Motions" explains the why much better.
Mental
THE MONK. Try and get the entire set of his books. His mental aspects are never ending throughout all his books. I met the man and he doesn't look like a guru but I assure you he is. Very humble man.
THE MONK. Try and get the entire set of his books. His mental aspects are never ending throughout all his books. I met the man and he doesn't look like a guru but I assure you he is. Very humble man.