Power of the mind

[javi2]

Another thread that started with good intentions that ends up going WAY off track. We started off discussing what I thought was the mental part of the game. We then end up talking about who is genetically disposed to playing pool......This thread just shows how hard it is to focus on one thing without being distracted by another, lol. Damm mental part is messing with everyone's mind! Can't even focus on one subject, let alone our pool games.

 

[Ratta]

Good stuff there Neil.

I've been thinking about something similar recently:

Have you ever played someone that has their own game way overrated? I know I have. I'm referring to the guys that think they should be running out all the time but they don't realize (or won't admit) that they really don't have the ability to do so. The one thing that these guys have that I don't is an over abundance of CONFIDENCE! I've seen this confidence help these types of players win matches that they have no business winning. In the long run I think this can really hurt one's game since it's not as easy to identify your weaknesses when you aren't honest with yourself but I do admire that confidence.

How this ties in to your post is that I think one of my biggest mental road blocks is knowing where I actually stand as a player. Since I know what I'm capable of doing in practice, I think I tend to put limitations on what I can accomplish while competing.

I'm thinking that walking in to a room and truly believing you are the best player in the room can really help your game - even if that isn't based in reality.

Those kind players are the most loved opponents on earth and the pool-world is full of them
Your badest game has to be the level you rate yourself. This is what should be your willing to increase. Most players rate themselves higher- that s human for many in my opinion.


lg
Ingo

 

[Pushout]

Drat! Have to spread it around a bit before I can rep ya!!

 

[Ratta]

^^ Pushout

hope you re doin good,
keep shooting,

lg
Ingo

 

[Pushout]

^^ Pushout

hope you re doin good,
keep shooting,

lg
Ingo

I'm doing well, thanks! Going to the Open this year was a real inspiration to me, after Wednesday, that is. A friend is talking about getting into the local 9 ball tournaments again and wants me to help him practice. {I have a table, he doesn't, yet} I'm starting to look at the printed material I have on hand plus a tip I got in person from Stan Shuffett at the Open and getting used to a new cue. This is a great thread, for the most part and thanks to Neil for getting it going!

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

Natural ability!

I agree with you. Pros are confident and make shots consistently because they're better players than us. They were better players than us when they first picked up a cue. They were better players than us when they made their first BnR. They were better players than us when they won their first tournament and they'll be better players than us when they die.

I must say, i find all this "it's only a matter of time before I find the magic formula and join the ranks of the elite" bullshit quite disturbing. Decadent nonsense.

All men are not created equal! Some of us are special. Some have natural ability. Natural ability is huge. Great if you have it, tough if you don't. We all know players who try hard,put the time in, read the books and still are almost in the same boat as they were years ago. They play better defense and play smarter, but their shotmaking is still stuck in the mud. Much like the Peter Principle in economics, we rise to the level of our own incompetence. Thinking and figuring and worrying is the downfall of all players. Your body shoots the shot, not your mind. Let your body shoot, trust yourself and shoot instinctively. Read The Inner Game of Tennis, W. Timothy Gallwey. $15 two hour read. Nothing is better than hitting thousands of balls! Play one pocket even if you think you don't like it. The greatest learning game.

 

[chefjeff]

(snip). All these eureka moments and so few pros - who'd have thunk it?

I don't think using the number of pros as the criterium for whether mind power works or not is a good measurement.

I don't know of anyone at the moment who wants to turn pro. Why would anyone? There's no money in it. There is a life of road crap. There is being broke and in debt. There is the time required. etc etc. My goals have NEVER included going pro. I've played for decades and each one holds new challenges and new goals....for ME, and I used many of these mind power techniques over the years and most of those hold great powers....for ME.

Just because the pro numbers aren't increasing doesn't mean the quality of play in general hasn't increased. It has around my town, for sure.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

Posting.

This is so absurd, and probably done solely with the intent of trolling, that I won't say anymore about it.

I noticed your response to Thaiger and wanted to say even though I responded to his post it was only because something he said triggered me to post. Doesnt mean I agree with all or any of his post. I do agree with many of your posts and am always triggered to read your comments. Great post. The mental game as we all know is huge. Our physical skill game improves slowly over time, but the mental game can improve very quickly if allowed to.

 

[JoeW]

I joined the Marine Corps as a punk 17 year old kid: I had two Tattoos, duck tail, and a switch blade in my pocket. At 5’5” tall I thought that I could take on the world.

Using my anger the Marines taught me that indeed I could do far more than I ever thought I could, from the number of push ups to running into, instead of away from, a gun fight. It was in the Marines I learned to respect myself and the idea that there will always be someone better than you are at whatever you do. All you have is yourself and your determination. You can probably do at least ten times more than you think you can do and you never have to quit trying.

I went from a punk streetwise (?) kid who basically hated the world he lived in to a doctorate in psychology and a 25 year career as a professor, clinician and recognized academic. Marine Corps training is a regimen that will bring out the best in anyone who gives it a chance.

Semper fi

The power of the mind is far beyond what most people would think.

 

[JoeyA]

I joined the Marine Corps as a punk 17 year old kid: I had two Tattoos, duck tail, and a switch blade in my pocket. At 5’5” tall I thought that I could take on the world.

Using my anger the Marines taught me that indeed I could do far more than I ever thought I could, from the number of push ups to running into, instead of away from, a gun fight. It was in the Marines I learned to respect myself and the idea that there will always be someone better than you are at whatever you do. All you have is yourself and your determination. You can probably do at least ten times more than you think you can do and you never have to quit trying.

I went from a punk streetwise (?) kid who basically hated the world he lived in to a doctorate in psychology and a 25 year career as a professor, clinician and recognized academic. Marine Corps training is a regimen that will bring out the best in anyone who gives it a chance.

Semper fi

The power of the mind is far beyond what most people would think.

I was 19 and not much different than you when I joined the Marines and found much of the same thing. The Marine Corps helped me to develop self-discipline as well as the other attributes you mention and that continues to pay dividends to this day.

 

[Underclocked]

We can reach for it, but I don't know anyone that has made themselves immune to all the factors that can negatively influence your pool playing performance. It most certainly helps to have a positive image of your own abilities and to minimize the effects of distractions, but we are not perfectly maintained robots. Our eyes may not work as well one day as the next, our limbs may not move as fluidly one day as the next, your mood will vary naturally, your thinking process itself is not at a constant level of performance, and on and on. All of the factors combined - the mental, the physical, and the emotional - tend to make those days of near perfection true rarities. Some very few have the natural talent, learned talents, physical, mental, and emotional consistency to play at a very high level most of the time. Those few are the pro-level players.

Even the pros all have their "off" days, perhaps very few off days - but they have them.

The negatives I'm pointing out are not excuses, just realities. We are all complex motor packages that more often than not have something misfiring a bit. I don't think anyone can will or control their thought processes to totally overcome the myriad of issues that come into play.

But it doesn't hurt to try.

 

[C.Milian]

I lied

I kept playing and it is getting worse. I will never be able to quit. My life is over. Goodbye world.

 

[catpool9]

Playing great pool

To make it real simple- just stop labeling. No hard shots, no easy shots, no rankings, no wins, no losses. Just have a job to do and that is to put the ball in the hole and get shape on the next one so I can put that one in the hole also. Keep doing that until I run out of balls, then re-rack and do it again.

That is how it works with our subconscious. Which is what is supposed to be playing the game. It takes some training to let go of our conscious with all it's pre-conceived B.S.

Good stuff Neil,
this is the way I like to look at pool too, after years of learning the game you just get up there and do it.

Pool is an ever constant concentrated state of mind at just making the shot at hand and giving yourself the best possible position for the next.

It's easier said than done , but when your in the click "zone" that's what your doing.


David Harcrow

 

[BarneyCalip]

You Gotta Have Heart

Many moons ago Cole Dixson came into California Billiards with a Suit on, he looked beautiful.
He was going to his mothers for Thanksgiving dinner. He didn’t make it on time.

He ended up playing Ray Sudden (Fudsie) with the 8.
Cole lost his cue, all his money, his $2000 watch, and suit.
Plus all the money he could borrow.

He came up to me and said Barney, I just needed $100 to bust Fudsie.
Well he still owes me that $100.
He started to come back but lost.

The thing that I still remember to this day as Cole was leaving the pool room he yelled back at Ray, I’m still better than you !!!!!!

The Hall of Famers, will not and cannot believe that they can lose.
The reason is that they believe in themselves, and will not let their minds get in there way of success.

Every Dog Has His Day, however !!!

Barney
Semper Fi
An Hoa Combat Base
USMC Meritorious Combat Promotion

 

[C.Milian]

Cole got the 8 and lost? or was it the other way?

 

[BarneyCalip]

Cole vs Fudsie

Cole gave Ray the 8.

Ray had just barely lost to Keith in Sacramento and was playing great.
Cole was way better than Ray and should robbed him.

I, have never seen a player with more heart than Cole.