The great thing about this forum is that most people here are striving to improve their game. Most realize that it takes a lot of work and practice, others are still looking for the magic pill. In that spirit, I would like to share something I learned years ago that took my game to another level.
The game and the study of it can be intellectual, but execution is sensory. Statements like "I do not think when I shoot" or "think standing, shoot without thought" are common but not well explained and can be confusing. Aiming threads like CTE can further confuse the issue as they are on the intellectual side.
We have 5 senses, only 3 can be used to pocket balls; sight, touch and hearing. The beautiful thing is that senses can all be used at one time and can even enhance each other. Think about enjoying a great meal. You can see your partner, food and environment while smelling, tasting, and even feeling the texture of the food in your mouth.
Thought can block senses. Think about a discussion where you have a very important point to add. At the point the thought comes into your mind, you no longer listen well to the other's statements. In fact, you may not hear him at all.
The same is true of pool. Thoughts, random or otherwise can get in the way of pocketing the ball. The other interesting thing is that most people cannot think about 2 things at one time but can sense several.
Personally the switch from thinking about the shot to pocketing it with my senses comes as I bend down. I think about speed, angle, position, where I hit the ball, CTE or whatever, standing on line with the shot. As I bend down, I try to acquire the feel of the cue hitting the cue ball while visualizing the object ball going in. When I pull the trigger, I try to feel and hear the cue hitting the cue ball while visualizing the object ball going in, purely sensory. If a thought comes into my head at this point (where is cue going, how hard should I hit it, who is the red head at the bar, etc.), it is red flag and I back away.
BTW there have been some excellent threads here about visualization by following the search function.
Please take this for what it is worth as it is meant only to help. It is directly responsible for my first 70 ball run, but I am yet to run 100 because something always comes into my mind unbidden.
The game and the study of it can be intellectual, but execution is sensory. Statements like "I do not think when I shoot" or "think standing, shoot without thought" are common but not well explained and can be confusing. Aiming threads like CTE can further confuse the issue as they are on the intellectual side.
We have 5 senses, only 3 can be used to pocket balls; sight, touch and hearing. The beautiful thing is that senses can all be used at one time and can even enhance each other. Think about enjoying a great meal. You can see your partner, food and environment while smelling, tasting, and even feeling the texture of the food in your mouth.
Thought can block senses. Think about a discussion where you have a very important point to add. At the point the thought comes into your mind, you no longer listen well to the other's statements. In fact, you may not hear him at all.
The same is true of pool. Thoughts, random or otherwise can get in the way of pocketing the ball. The other interesting thing is that most people cannot think about 2 things at one time but can sense several.
Personally the switch from thinking about the shot to pocketing it with my senses comes as I bend down. I think about speed, angle, position, where I hit the ball, CTE or whatever, standing on line with the shot. As I bend down, I try to acquire the feel of the cue hitting the cue ball while visualizing the object ball going in. When I pull the trigger, I try to feel and hear the cue hitting the cue ball while visualizing the object ball going in, purely sensory. If a thought comes into my head at this point (where is cue going, how hard should I hit it, who is the red head at the bar, etc.), it is red flag and I back away.
BTW there have been some excellent threads here about visualization by following the search function.
Please take this for what it is worth as it is meant only to help. It is directly responsible for my first 70 ball run, but I am yet to run 100 because something always comes into my mind unbidden.
but you have expressed some very fine points about how you play and how others should consider playing. 
