i guess mentally my game in pool is completely shot, i was wondering if anyone had any mental excersises that they do....today i lost to this kid hill hill when i easily could of won so many times i just choke because i know hes a better player than me and this always happens, i get a bad feeling in my stomach and just slow roll everything and my stroke goes to shit, anybody battle through this because i definately need to finda cure
screwed up in the head
- Thread starter Varsity2016
- Start date
2 books...........the mental edge and pleasures of small motions
Play the table, not the person. Focus on the out, not the person. Shoot the shot that needs to be shot. Shoot in competition tha same as you do in practice.Varsity2016 said:
When you practice, there is nobody to beat, just the table. You have to learn to play with the same mind set, or what good does it do to practice.
Everyone chokes! Everyone! It can be overcome by replacing the thought. Replace it with what needs to be done. Shoot the right shot with the right stroke. Stay down, follow through. It's all the little things that allow us to win.
Focus on all the little activities.
Winning is a result.
When you have all those symptoms, you are not the only one that knows. Your opponent usually will see them and draw strength from them. One day you will get the best of this guy and when you do you will notice his weakness. You may see it in his shot selection, the way he moves around the table, the speed of his play, a timidness in his stroke or a multitude of other tells that say he is just rolling over like a puppy and wants his belly scratched. Once you see it in him, the next time is easier and the next time easier etc. When you see your opponent start to fold go for the throat. Don’t give them a chance to regain composure. Turn the tables on this guy for good and it will serve you well in the future with other strong opponents.
scottycoyote said:
does anyone know which of the 2 is better or is worth reading first
Varsity2016 said:
Read the pleasures of small motions.
By the way, when you played, were you getting nervous? Do you remember your heart pounding or feeling shaky or really tight when you were shooting the money ball? If so there is a way to help calm your nerves. This may sound simple, but it will save you alot of lost matches and dogged balls. When you feel your heart rate start to go up, focus on your breathing. Slow down your breathing as much as you can, comfortably. Take longer and deeper breaths. This will calm your nerves noticeably. Do this when you have to shoot a money ball, or any time when you are down on the shot and your heart starts pounding in your chest. GET UP, do this breathing exercise, gather yourself, and then shoot when you're ready. One of the most common problems with people when it comes to dealing with pressure is that they rush the shot. They get down, and something doesn't feel right, and instead of getting up and starting over, they just want to get the damn shot over with so they shoot, and most of the time they miss. Don't let yourself do this. If you have to get up and reset a couple of times, do it. Never let that little voice that tells you to "hurry up and shoot" win.
What about those matches where you are indeed the favourite to win but things are not going your way? I've lost quite a few important ones against people I really shouldn't have trouble with. Yes, I wipe the floor with them in practice matches, but at tournaments (with about ten B class players including myself and other 40 or so C class players) it's a different story...
If you lose to them (the C guys), it's embarrasing, and if you win, it was expected of you by everybody around so it's not much of an accomplishment. After all, I do practice around 25-30 hours a week, so I'm always in stroke and fully prepared, so there can be no excuses. To make things worse, some of those C level guys have vast tournament and even gambling experience and are really mentally strong that you wouldn't believe. They may have trouble running more than 5 balls, but they don't beat themselves like I do.
On the other hand, If I'm confronted against people of my skill level or better, I generally play much more relaxed because I don't fear losing so much in that case. Win or lose, those matches are much easier to play for me.
Now I'm in the process of reading "Pleasures of small motions". There are some great ideas in there which really make sense. Hopefully the new approach will help. I won't quit.
If you lose to them (the C guys), it's embarrasing, and if you win, it was expected of you by everybody around so it's not much of an accomplishment. After all, I do practice around 25-30 hours a week, so I'm always in stroke and fully prepared, so there can be no excuses. To make things worse, some of those C level guys have vast tournament and even gambling experience and are really mentally strong that you wouldn't believe. They may have trouble running more than 5 balls, but they don't beat themselves like I do.
On the other hand, If I'm confronted against people of my skill level or better, I generally play much more relaxed because I don't fear losing so much in that case. Win or lose, those matches are much easier to play for me.
Now I'm in the process of reading "Pleasures of small motions". There are some great ideas in there which really make sense. Hopefully the new approach will help. I won't quit.
Everyone dogs balls. The more you do it the less it will happen. Just keep playing and practicing and you will not miss as many.
my first major break through
Back when I was just a pup I realized that an ego was a good thing. You don't have to be loud about it but you need to believe that at a given time you can beat anybody you play against. He may have cleaned your clock ten times before but you know that this could be the time that you turn the tables.
Confidence is built on knowledge and your mental image of yourself, just as lack of confidence is. Banish thoughts of what you are trying to avoid and focus on what you are trying to do. Never think, "I have to avoid choking" think instead of the smooth easy runouts you are going to play.
Hu
Back when I was just a pup I realized that an ego was a good thing. You don't have to be loud about it but you need to believe that at a given time you can beat anybody you play against. He may have cleaned your clock ten times before but you know that this could be the time that you turn the tables.
Confidence is built on knowledge and your mental image of yourself, just as lack of confidence is. Banish thoughts of what you are trying to avoid and focus on what you are trying to do. Never think, "I have to avoid choking" think instead of the smooth easy runouts you are going to play.
Hu
Varsity2016 said:
Try this
Go back over in your mind the shot that triggered your forthcoming demise, within that shot lies the answer. It may take you a week or two, but find that momement and take it apart, maybe don't play at all till its 'clear'. These are the steps we take to improve.
Go back over in your mind the shot that triggered your forthcoming demise, within that shot lies the answer. It may take you a week or two, but find that momement and take it apart, maybe don't play at all till its 'clear'. These are the steps we take to improve.
Definately play the table...think to yourself that who you are playing doesn't exist...(ghost player)
If you start feeling unsettled, take deep breaths...you's be suprised how much this calms you right down...
DON'T EVER MATCH UP WITH THE THOUGHT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE!!!!1
________
If you start feeling unsettled, take deep breaths...you's be suprised how much this calms you right down...
DON'T EVER MATCH UP WITH THE THOUGHT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE!!!!1
________
Last edited:
OldHasBeen
Tom Ferry
What always worked for me.......
Back in my playing days when I would get into a real slump, I would pack up and hit the road. I would go down to S. Missouri and play the bars. I would play anyone for anything. $2, $3 or $5 a game with complete suckers/novices. No hustles, just BBQ anyone that got up. This would build back my confidence, which I believe is the cornerstone of the 3 C's. Confidence, Concentration & Consistency.
TY & GL
Varsity2016 said:
Back in my playing days when I would get into a real slump, I would pack up and hit the road. I would go down to S. Missouri and play the bars. I would play anyone for anything. $2, $3 or $5 a game with complete suckers/novices. No hustles, just BBQ anyone that got up. This would build back my confidence, which I believe is the cornerstone of the 3 C's. Confidence, Concentration & Consistency.
TY & GL
Varsity2016 said:
If you know someone is a better player then there is a very good chance that it is going to affect you mentally and maybe the only long term handling is to get better so you believe you are the better player.
There are a number of people who recommend reading "The Pleasures of Small Motions", this comes up quite often but I can't remember anyone ever mentioning anything specific from the book that actually helped them. Does anyone have anything specific that made them a better player? The author, who was not a very good poolplayer from my understanding, quit playing pool and is now a photographer of mostly not very good looking nude women which I guess he is getting more pleasure from.
Wayne
I have read "Pleasures of Small Motions" a couple of times and have noticed many specific things that have helped me improve my game. I think the most valuable advice I gained from the book was how to practice. From the book:
"(Some research suggests, by the way, that we learn best if we try to take on only one new skill at a time, then give our bodies time to make the changes induced by practice. If you practice a given drill for about an hour, say, then wait about six hours before trying anything else new, your learning is more efficient than if you give your body a lot of information about several new skills at once.)"
"(Some research suggests, by the way, that we learn best if we try to take on only one new skill at a time, then give our bodies time to make the changes induced by practice. If you practice a given drill for about an hour, say, then wait about six hours before trying anything else new, your learning is more efficient than if you give your body a lot of information about several new skills at once.)"
I finished reading Inner Game of Tennis and now am working on Inner Game of Golf. Recurring theme is to play by not trying. Needless to say, this is easier said than done. However, one way to trick the mind into not worrying about the outcome is to visualize the whereabouts of something else so as to keep the mind occupied. For me, visualizing the motion of the butt of the cue (which you can't see) from the back stroke all the way to the follow-through allows your innate ability to dominate rather than the questioning mind. You learn from experience and need not force what your body already knows how to do. Relying on experience rather than doubt is the key to not choking and playing to the best of your physical ability.