Playing ahead of your mind

gunzby

gunzby

My light saber is LD
Silver Member
Before I continue I know that it's impossible to play the game faster than your brain can make decisions. What I am talking about is playing ahead of your sub-conscious.

The other day I was watching a match and noticed the rhythm the player was carrying. He seemed to decide the pattern after the break and then just go about following the game plan to run it out without long pauses in between shots.

I decided to give this a try Saturday and was impressed not only with how I cleared the table, but also how this rhythm seemed to clear my mind as well. I went from stopping to visualize each shot for a moment to knowing how it would play before I even got there. The incredible benefit to this was that doubts disappeared from my sub-conscious mind because I was out-running my demons.

The speed I am talking about is how Earl plays when he is two stroking, or the player I watched who was Tony Watson when he was free stroking out a win against Keith Bennett.

Just thought I'd share a pretty neat exercise to help find the zone.
 
gunzby said:
Before I continue I know that it's impossible to play the game faster than your brain can make decisions. What I am talking about is playing ahead of your sub-conscious.

The other day I was watching a match and noticed the rhythm the player was carrying. He seemed to decide the pattern after the break and then just go about following the game plan to run it out without long pauses in between shots.

I decided to give this a try Saturday and was impressed not only with how I cleared the table, but also how this rhythm seemed to clear my mind as well. I went from stopping to visualize each shot for a moment to knowing how it would play before I even got there. The incredible benefit to this was that doubts disappeared from my sub-conscious mind because I was out-running my demons.

The speed I am talking about is how Earl plays when he is two stroking, or the player I watched who was Tony Watson when he was free stroking out a win against Keith Bennett.

Just thought I'd share a pretty neat exercise to help find the zone.
Click to expand...

I like your post. Remind me to rep it when I get done typing.

I have a drill I'll do, where after the break I have to make the next shot before the balls stop moving. Unfortunately, it's usually the cue ball that's still moving when I shoot, so I have to either anticipate a shot that allows me to line up with the cue ball's line of motion, or time my stroke so the cue ball falls into it at the right point. Obviously it's a drill I started doing when I was 12, 'cause it was fun and interesting, but I think it helps you relax and take almost all of the conscious thought out of your shot, because you literally have to shoot as soon as the shot exists.
 
Have you read the Inner Game of Tennis? If not, you should. It talks about separating the two selves. Trusting your natural ability.
 
buzzsaw said:
Have you read the Inner Game of Tennis? If not, you should. It talks about separating the two selves. Trusting your natural ability.
Click to expand...

Haven't read that one yet, but it is on my list. I've been reading Point the Way lately which does cover some mental aspects.
 
gunzby said:
Before I continue I know that it's impossible to play the game faster than your brain can make decisions. What I am talking about is playing ahead of your sub-conscious.
Click to expand...

The answer is "no" to the above question, but I understand what you are referring to. It is actually your sub-conscious that is doing all of the work, so you might say you are playing ahead of your conscious.

I think to the sub-conscious is a very powerful part of the brain, especially in sports. I also believe to play your top speed it is necessary to tap into it on some degree. There has always been the saying "think long, think wrong".
 
There's a great book on putting that covers this topic very well. It's titled "Putting Out Of Your Mind" by Bob Rotella. Highly recommended. :cool:
 
jason said:
The answer is "no" to the above question, but I understand what you are referring to. It is actually your sub-conscious that is doing all of the work, so you might say you are playing ahead of your conscious.

I think to the sub-conscious is a very powerful part of the brain, especially in sports. I also believe to play your top speed it is necessary to tap into it on some degree. There has always been the saying "think long, think wrong".
Click to expand...

i agree with you, especially the patr about "think long ,think wrong".

if i go to the table and start thinking about the shot" am i aiming correctly,am i using the right english " i start 2nd guessing my self and miss the shot.

if i go to the table already sure what to do " and just do what comes natural " i make the shot.

there have been games where i have " got in the zone" so to speak and run a rack with out even realizing it til i made the last ball. i would do it without even thinking. at the end i couldnt tell you what ball i shot 1st or which i shot last lol.

wish i knew how to turn it up like that all the time lol.
 
jason said:
The answer is "no" to the above question, but I understand what you are referring to. It is actually your sub-conscious that is doing all of the work, so you might say you are playing ahead of your conscious.

I think to the sub-conscious is a very powerful part of the brain, especially in sports. I also believe to play your top speed it is necessary to tap into it on some degree. There has always been the saying "think long, think wrong".
Click to expand...

Oops that is what I meant. The idea was right, but the words were wrong. Kind of like when I ask my gf to do certain things ;)

At any rate I did it for three hours Sunday and was impressed
 
lorider said:
i agree with you, especially the patr about "think long ,think wrong".

if i go to the table and start thinking about the shot" am i aiming correctly,am i using the right english " i start 2nd guessing my self and miss the shot.

if i go to the table already sure what to do " and just do what comes natural " i make the shot.

there have been games where i have " got in the zone" so to speak and run a rack with out even realizing it til i made the last ball. i would do it without even thinking. at the end i couldnt tell you what ball i shot 1st or which i shot last lol.

wish i knew how to turn it up like that all the time lol.
Click to expand...

To expand on my last post, certain shots demand more attention and more thought. Not every shot can be hit at warp speed, even the easiest of shots. Tempo is important when thinking about this subject.
 
jason said:
To expand on my last post, certain shots demand more attention and more thought. Not every shot can be hit at warp speed, even the easiest of shots. Tempo is important when thinking about this subject.
Click to expand...

i didnt mean to infer that i was shooting like i was in a speed shooting contest, sorry if it sounded that way.

what i meant was there are times when i rely on , take your pick of choice words, sub consious, instint, gut feeling, confidence knowing you have made that shot hundreds of times before. you just know how to aim and where the cue ball will stop and what your next shot will be.

i am not an a player and never will be. i am getting too old and have never put in the hours required to reach that level.

i am a very inconsistent player and its not due to flawed fundamentals , its due to the mental aspect of the game or a better description would be lack of focus. i am getting better at managing lack of focus.

i have basically 3 levels of play.

1. put pressure on myself. there are times when i am in a game i 2nd guess myself on what pattern or aiming or english. i play sh**ty in that mode of thought. i miss easy shots or hardly make a good safty, always hit the cue ball too hard or too soft .

2. play relaxed. when i play like this i hardly ever get out of position and if i do i am capable of usually making fairly hard shots or play a great safety.

3. in a zone. when i am like this i am totaly focused and confident. actually sometimes i become oblivious to my surroundings. example : sometimes in a bar with a band or juke box i have totally blocked every thing out such as when a band is on break and i start shooting they may start playing and i will not even notice until i quit shooting and realize they are in the middle of a song. that could put you in a bad situation in some bars lol.
 
jason said:
To expand on my last post, certain shots demand more attention and more thought. Not every shot can be hit at warp speed, even the easiest of shots. Tempo is important when thinking about this subject.
Click to expand...

Right, at some point that speed will just be the norm and you'll be back at square one. Understanding how to separate the person inside you that is trying to sabatoge your thought process and the guy that is capable of getting up and free-wheeling is the key. Some pros look like they're moving fast but it's just a tempo that works for them. Watch them play, you'll find that the time between shots is pretty consistant.
 
gunzby said:
Before I continue I know that it's impossible to play the game faster than your brain can make decisions. What I am talking about is playing ahead of your sub-conscious.

The other day I was watching a match and noticed the rhythm the player was carrying. He seemed to decide the pattern after the break and then just go about following the game plan to run it out without long pauses in between shots.

I decided to give this a try Saturday and was impressed not only with how I cleared the table, but also how this rhythm seemed to clear my mind as well. I went from stopping to visualize each shot for a moment to knowing how it would play before I even got there. The incredible benefit to this was that doubts disappeared from my sub-conscious mind because I was out-running my demons.

The speed I am talking about is how Earl plays when he is two stroking, or the player I watched who was Tony Watson when he was free stroking out a win against Keith Bennett.

Just thought I'd share a pretty neat exercise to help find the zone.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you have discovered the intermediate player brick wall,
and hopefully gotten over it.

IMHO - the important difference was you stopped thinking about the
shots WHILE shooting.

Can't say it enough.

Always decide exactly what you want to do with a shot before you
get into your stance.

Once in your shooting stance, never think about anything other than
where you hit the Object Ball.

As this approach becomes second nature, you may be suprised how
quickly you can go through a rack - esp an open layout of 9 Ball.

Dale
 
totally agree

gunzby said:
Before I continue I know that it's impossible to play the game faster than your brain can make decisions. What I am talking about is playing ahead of your sub-conscious.

The other day I was watching a match and noticed the rhythm the player was carrying. He seemed to decide the pattern after the break and then just go about following the game plan to run it out without long pauses in between shots.

I decided to give this a try Saturday and was impressed not only with how I cleared the table, but also how this rhythm seemed to clear my mind as well. I went from stopping to visualize each shot for a moment to knowing how it would play before I even got there. The incredible benefit to this was that doubts disappeared from my sub-conscious mind because I was out-running my demons.

The speed I am talking about is how Earl plays when he is two stroking, or the player I watched who was Tony Watson when he was free stroking out a win against Keith Bennett.

Just thought I'd share a pretty neat exercise to help find the zone.
Click to expand...

I can only excel at this rhythm you speak of.... When I do make mistakes, all I ever hear is "you need to slow your game down" Believe me, I try all the time to do this.... Usually the higher pressure the match, the more I try to slow my game down.... Once I do slow down though, I'm pretty much done....


Here's a couple short (3-5 min) vids of the pace that I excel at.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc_Dy-G3hnk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvGZq4C46So
 
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