Mental Practicing

[Milo]

Sitting here on a Friday afternoon working, wishing I was hitting balls for a tourney this weekend. I started visualizing practicing. Stoke shots, breaking, working my back arm etc. I find I do this at times when I cant practice. Does anybody else do this?? I hope this doesnt sound nuts!! LOL
I find this mentally helps me.
The human mind and how it works (pertaining to pool) is very interesting to me. Your comments and ideas are welcomed.

 

[Seneca Steve]

Learned to do the same thing many years ago. if you continue and use visualization it will significantly improve your game.

 

[tigerseye]

Sitting here on a Friday afternoon working, wishing I was hitting balls for a tourney this weekend. I started visualizing practicing. Stoke shots, breaking, working my back arm etc. I find I do this at times when I cant practice. Does anybody else do this?? I hope this doesnt sound nuts!! LOL
I find this mentally helps me.
The human mind and how it works (pertaining to pool) is very interesting to me. Your comments and ideas are welcomed.

They had a test that was done about 2 basketball teams where as the 1st team practiced constantly and the other visualized the game. To make a long story short, the team who visualized ended up on top....
Hope that makes you feel more confident....

 

[BRKNRUN]

They had a test that was done about 2 basketball teams where as the 1st team practiced constantly and the other visualized the game. To make a long story short, the team who visualized ended up on top....
Hope that makes you feel more confident....

That (I believe) was actually just for free throws...not for the whole game...but the team that practiced only mentally making free throws through visualizing the proper form the ball going in etc etc won the competition over the team that physically practiced.

I wonder if it will work the same way for poker....If I constantly visualize myself dragging the big pot always hitting the perfect river card...always getting big pocket pairs in late position......hmmmm

 

[Milo]

That (I believe) was actually just for free throws...not for the whole game...but the team that practiced only mentally making free throws through visualizing the proper form the ball going in etc etc won the competition over the team that physically practiced.

I wonder if it will work the same way for poker....If I constantly visualize myself dragging the big pot always hitting the perfect river card...always getting big pocket pairs in late position......hmmmm

Do I get a cut of your winnings? LOL

 

[ShootingArts]

A little story

Sitting here on a Friday afternoon working, wishing I was hitting balls for a tourney this weekend. I started visualizing practicing. Stoke shots, breaking, working my back arm etc. I find I do this at times when I cant practice. Does anybody else do this?? I hope this doesnt sound nuts!! LOL
I find this mentally helps me.
The human mind and how it works (pertaining to pool) is very interesting to me. Your comments and ideas are welcomed.

Many years ago a world class competitor put this to the test. He decided he wanted to learn to juggle, something he knew nothing about although he has excellent hand/eye coordination. He got a book, read how to do it, but he only practiced for a short time each day, maybe thirty minutes or even less. However he spent a great deal of time mentally juggling. After three days he could juggle.

Not only does the mental practice help, the more real you can make it the more it helps. Smell the chalk, hear the balls click.

Hu

 

[bell]

It works

The earliest authoritative book on this is "Psycho Cybernetics".

The trick is that your visualization must be detailed and perfect, as is perfect practice makes perfect.

Good luck.

 

[Milo]

Many years ago a world class competitor put this to the test. He decided he wanted to learn to juggle, something he knew nothing about although he has excellent hand/eye coordination. He got a book, read how to do it, but he only practiced for a short time each day, maybe thirty minutes or even less. However he spent a great deal of time mentally juggling. After three days he could juggle.

Not only does the mental practice help, the more real you can make it the more it helps. Smell the chalk, hear the balls click.

Hu

OK. Im not nuts. LOL
I really didnt think alot of people did this. I guess my natural thought process is very normal. Makes me feel better. LOL
Gee, and all this time I thought this kind of practicing was just something I did.

 

[tigerseye]

The earliest authoritative book on this is "Psycho Cybernetics".

The trick is that your visualization must be detailed and perfect, as is perfect practice makes perfect.

Good luck.

I watched a video once of this person continuosly swinging a golf club. There were no commentating or nothing like that just him in total silence swinging a golf club. I went to the course and felt very relaxed and played very well.....I am a total believer in visualization before every shot...I swwear it works. I have fired a personal record of 63 with 2 bogeys in a tourney this past summer. It takes alot of work but can be done...

 

[ShootingArts]

most people don't do it nearly enough

OK. Im not nuts. LOL
I really didnt think alot of people did this. I guess my natural thought process is very normal. Makes me feel better. LOL
Gee, and all this time I thought this kind of practicing was just something I did.

Most people don't do it nearly enough. I don't when it comes to playing pool. If I had to say how much I practiced with a pistol I would have had to say it was probably equal parts of each, live fire, dry fire, and mental. When I couldn't do either of the other two I worked on the mental game. I amazed the local range owner for several years after I quit shooting pistol competition by coming out and stealing one match each season. He actually told me it made him mad that I came out and shot a perfect score one match when I hadn't shot in a year, his matches were supposed to be harder than that! I told him it was hard, I had the only perfect score.

Hu

 

[1pocket]

For more "proof" that this technique works, just look at both Rodney Morris and Dennis Hatch, and how well they played straight after their "time-outs" in the slammer. How do you think they spent their quiet time in there?

Note to any poolplayers anticipating a stint in government care -- use your time productively, practicing pool!!

:smile: :smile: :smile:

 

[JoeW]

One way to keep your head in a match or over a long period of time is to use imagrey while your opponet is at the table. Play his shot with him in your head.

Alternatively, play his shot your way in your head. Feel your muscles move while your body is still.