Mental game - Which book first?
- Thread starter Eagleshot
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Eagleshot said:
When eating peas & carrots, which order would be healthier? Eating peas first or carrots?
It really doesn't matter which comes first. They both talk about a very similar approach to thinking. The reason why you should read both is because one writer might convey the message to you better than the other. That's all personal preference.
IMHO.. none... in the past I was intrested in the mind game.. turns out..it made me play worse..I was busy thinking about the mind game and my game suffered because of it.. when I read magazines now...I dont even look at the articles on the mental aspect of pool.. I found that the more confidence you have in your ability the more your mental game improves...so I say .. work on your fundementals..and the physical aspect of the game..and the mental part follows on its own..only thing I think about when I shoot is.. "think positive...and dont get upset"
seven said:
Wow, that's kinda funny when you think about it. Books that are about steadying the mind distracted you until you decided to stop thinking about them.
Pleasures is a difficult concept to grasp. I really feel that incorporating its beliefs into practice will help tremendously. But "in practice" was the key part, because thats where you can change your game the most without being distracted.
I agree with the above poster to a certain extent if you are trying to do too much at once your game can suffer, but Pleasures actually deals with doing less through physical second nature memorized motions and feelings rather than "thinking it out".
My game has changed for the better because of that book but I also practice about an hour daily. Most people don't. I think making pictures and movies in my head based on feelings and visions has made me more consistant and better at letting myself take a shot or series of shots without having to "think" about it. I've gotten better at visualizing the pattern and letting my subconcious go through the motions of the run out.
Think of a basketball player, they take shots from different ranges without a thought using memorized motions not mentally thinking it out. Thats what the book deals with but at times it breaks it down almost too deep.
I recommend ready the book a couple of times in small sections at a time. I have not read the other book. Hope this helps.
I agree with the above poster to a certain extent if you are trying to do too much at once your game can suffer, but Pleasures actually deals with doing less through physical second nature memorized motions and feelings rather than "thinking it out".
My game has changed for the better because of that book but I also practice about an hour daily. Most people don't. I think making pictures and movies in my head based on feelings and visions has made me more consistant and better at letting myself take a shot or series of shots without having to "think" about it. I've gotten better at visualizing the pattern and letting my subconcious go through the motions of the run out.
Think of a basketball player, they take shots from different ranges without a thought using memorized motions not mentally thinking it out. Thats what the book deals with but at times it breaks it down almost too deep.
I recommend ready the book a couple of times in small sections at a time. I have not read the other book. Hope this helps.
Jude Rosenstock said:
LOL.. yeah.. I guess you could say I was some kind of a head case. but I do feel I overcame my problem.. I feel that most people that feel they need help with the mind game...are typicaly people you are too anaylitical..and tend to obsess over things too much...just like I do.. so I stopped thinking about it
seven said:LOL.. yeah.. I guess you could say I was some kind of a head case. but I do feel I overcame my problem.. I feel that most people that feel they need help with the mind game...are typicaly people you are too anaylitical..and tend to obsess over things too much...just like I do.. so I stopped thinking about it
Most good pool players are control-freaks. It's frightening to tell them to let-go. When I talk about it with C-level players, they look at me like I'm on crack. When I'm hanging with players around my level and above, that's all we talk about.
Bishop said:
maybe I just figured out on my own what that book is trying to teach.. the feeling that makes me shoot well is controlled anger..some people may not agree with this...but everyone is diffrent and it works for me..
Hold on...what am I doing in a post about the mental game..didnt I just say I stay away from that kind of thing? OK im outta here
The irony in your posts is thats exactly what the book deals with by training your mind to memorize body motions so its a thoughtless process when you play,seven said:LOL.. yeah.. I guess you could say I was some kind of a head case. but I do feel I overcame my problem.. I feel that most people that feel they need help with the mind game...are typicaly people you are too anaylitical..and tend to obsess over things too much...just like I do.. so I stopped thinking about it
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seven said:maybe I just figured out on my own what that book is trying to teach.. the feeling that makes me shoot well is controlled anger..some people may not agree with this...but everyone is diffrent and it works for me..
Hold on...what am I doing in a post about the mental game..didnt I just say I stay away from that kind of thing? OK im outta here
Hey, no redundant reiterations of things I've already said.
seven said:hey...I planning on taking a straight pool lesson with Tony Robles (cant seem to break 50 I average high 30's with a high of 48
If you're going to be there next week, you got a shot! I moved to Brooklyn a month ago and haven't been at the room much lately. When they move downtown on Jan 1., I'll be there much more.
Both books are good, but I recommend reading The Inner Game of Tennis first. Pleasures of Small Motions has some good information, but I believe that Inner has more that can be put in practice.
Other books that I would highly recommend are the Pro Book by Bob Henning and A Mind for Pool by Phil Capelle. Both of them are chock full of information, and the Pro Book has a number of excellent mental and physical drills and exercises to promote relaxed concentration.
Other books that I would highly recommend are the Pro Book by Bob Henning and A Mind for Pool by Phil Capelle. Both of them are chock full of information, and the Pro Book has a number of excellent mental and physical drills and exercises to promote relaxed concentration.
Hey Mark,VIProfessor said:
Hope things are well. My suggestion is the same as VIProfessor's. I have both books, and I feel that The Inner Game of Tennis is much easier to understand, especially if you are just beginning to study up on the mental side of the game. And it is easier to put what you have read into practice more quickly. Although I feel that Pleasures of Small Motions is also a good book, it seemed that it took reading a chapters 3 or 4 times before I could half way realize what Bob Fancher was trying to get me to understand.
How are things in Tn? Are you going to head to the Derby any?
Talk to you soon,
Mike
I've read Pleasures and Inner Game and have to say I'd start with...Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect. I'm suggesting this because the game of golf and pool are similar (stroke=swing, playing against yourself as well as an opponent, etc.) and I was able to relate to the analogies better.
Pleasures was good but it does take several reads to absorb.
Pleasures was good but it does take several reads to absorb.