Move to the beat

A

americanfighter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey guys I had a breakthrough in my game and thought I would share a tip that helped me tremendously.

I have been in a slump for far too long (especially after my stroke). I was dubbling up pockets completely missing easy shots miscuing and just all around terrible. I couldn't figure it out what was wrong with me. I didn't think I was the worst player in the bar but was certainly playing like it when it came to matches.

I am finally out of my slump. My problem was I was my stroke was jerky and I was in a rush and not taking my time even when I was telling myself "take your time D**n it" I found my solution in music.

I have always loved music and play the guitar, bass, and piano. I started playing my favorite songs in my head while playing pool and moving To the rythem and I automatically started taking my time my stroke straightened up and striking the cue ball well.

For example last night I listened to al green's Can you mend a broken heart over and over again before I played pool. Then when I started playing that song was in my head the whole game. No matter how easy the shot was or where I was in a run i moved to the same slow rythem and my stroke had slowed to the smooth rhythm I've the violin in the song.

After my slump I fell to a 3 in 8-ball and a 2 in 9-ball. Most recently when applying this strategy I beat a 5 in 8-ball and a 6 in 9-ball and racklessed another 6 while only allowing him to shoot 3 times in two games.

Thought I would share this little hack as it has done wonders for me.
 
that's part of the reason i listen to music a lot when i shoot. i feel like the music helps me stay out of my own head as well. i focus on the shot, don't overthink, and just let my stroke take over.
headphones also help me block out some of the idiocy that goes on all over the place in the bars we have to shoot in here. not to mention...i'm seldom a fan of the music that people play on the jukebox. haha.
 
Hey, haven't you been paying attention lately? The only thing that will make a pool player out of you is CTE.
If you don't believe me, ask Barton, and Shuffet. :smile:
 
I'm the opposite. When I am over the shot I hear nothing and that's the way I like it. I say my head is in a vacuum and I concentrate on nothing but making the ball.
 
To each their own
I've contemplated ear phones and music but I don't even like ear phones in the first place, feel like the chord will just be a nuisance and just something to distract !e
i rather prefer being aware of what's going on around me, just used to it I guess
No matter what music is playing
No music could be playing
I also don't talk at all
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Hey, haven't you been paying attention lately? The only thing that will make a pool player out of you is CTE.
If you don't believe me, ask Barton, and Shuffet. :smile:
Click to expand...

I use CTE system and love it. I took 2 lessons with Stann before my stroke and am thinking of taking a trip down there for a refresher soon now that I have my head back together.
 
This is a good solution to your rhythm problem it seems. Many great players try to stay in a certain "wavelength" when playing. Freddy the Beard mentions this in one of his books about some of the master players out there. It doesn't necessarily have to be music that keeps you consistent, but have the frame of mind to not drag or rush any shots.

I've thought about doing several sets of 10 nineball racks against the ghost and recording my score. One with no warm up, one with a warm up, with/without music, etc to see if anything affected my game noticeably. Never got around to it, but it would be interesting to see a large sample of players tested to see how music affects their play.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Hey, haven't you been paying attention lately? The only thing that will make a pool player out of you is CTE.
If you don't believe me, ask Barton, and Shuffet. :smile:
Click to expand...

Hey Tramp. You should know better than to mention CTE. Now this thread will get hijacked for 2,000 posts and turn into an aiming thread and we'll be thrown into purgatory.
 
I imagine everyone plays a little better when listening to music they like. It relaxes you. But, don't fall into it being a crutch for you. There will be more times than not that you have to listen to music you don't like, and if you are relying on the music to get you in the right mood to play well, you will falter many times.

Better to ingrain a set rhythm into your preshot routine and fundamentals. That way, it is always there for you.
 
So...
when we play against you, we shall direct the jukebox to play some slayer, then some sinatra...
that should be highly entertaining.
americanfighter said:
Hey guys I had a breakthrough in my game and thought I would share a tip that helped me tremendously.

I have been in a slump for far too long (especially after my stroke). I was dubbling up pockets completely missing easy shots miscuing and just all around terrible. I couldn't figure it out what was wrong with me. I didn't think I was the worst player in the bar but was certainly playing like it when it came to matches.

I am finally out of my slump. My problem was I was my stroke was jerky and I was in a rush and not taking my time even when I was telling myself "take your time D**n it" I found my solution in music.

I have always loved music and play the guitar, bass, and piano. I started playing my favorite songs in my head while playing pool and moving To the rythem and I automatically started taking my time my stroke straightened up and striking the cue ball well.

For example last night I listened to al green's Can you mend a broken heart over and over again before I played pool. Then when I started playing that song was in my head the whole game. No matter how easy the shot was or where I was in a run i moved to the same slow rythem and my stroke had slowed to the smooth rhythm I've the violin in the song.

After my slump I fell to a 3 in 8-ball and a 2 in 9-ball. Most recently when applying this strategy I beat a 5 in 8-ball and a 6 in 9-ball and racklessed another 6 while only allowing him to shoot 3 times in two games.

Thought I would share this little hack as it has done wonders for me.
Click to expand...
 
Neil said:
I imagine everyone plays a little better when listening to music they like. It relaxes you. But, don't fall into it being a crutch for you. There will be more times than not that you have to listen to music you don't like, and if you are relying on the music to get you in the right mood to play well, you will falter many times.

Better to ingrain a set rhythm into your preshot routine and fundamentals. That way, it is always there for you.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

That said, if it is used as a training device, I think it is extremely helpful to building the set rhythm which you can carry with you.

Plus, listening to the music from which your rhythm is built before a match can help reset your body and mind to that tempo.
 
Music has been used for centuries to get athletes into a steady rhythm. Couple that with a good steady aiming system and you can focus entirely on your stroke. Kidding, just needling Tramp.

I put on a good concert or even a podcast when I want to zone out when playing.
 
One night playing league George Thorogood came on very loud.
Bad To The bone,I Drink Alone and a couple more. I felt energized and shot the lights out.
Down side I was charged $20 for new light bulbs.
But I played well.
 
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