Staying focused in long matches

G

Gmanpoke

Banned
I'm looking for suggestions on how to stay focused and mentally tough in long matches.

Last Thursday I played a couple of matches. The first match was against a lesser skilled player. I had my opponent down a couple of sets but let him back in and then he quit. I find myself not bearing down as much as I should against lesser skilled opponents.

After that match I played the owner (a much stronger player than I am). This match lasted 5 hours. At times, I could really bear down and challenge him. But, I could not keep the intensity.

I would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts on this topic.


Steven
 
I find if I let my mind wander when its not my turn at my table, my focus and results go down the drain. If instead I keep my attention on what he's doing and where's he's shooting instead of the sports game on the TV or the hot blonde at the bar, I'll perform better almost all of the time, and stay more attentive and focused.
 
Pleasure

Gmanpoke said:
I'm looking for suggestions on how to stay focused and mentally tough in long matches.

Last Thursday I played a couple of matches. The first match was against a lesser skilled player. I had my opponent down a couple of sets but let him back in and then he quit. I find myself not bearing down as much as I should against lesser skilled opponents.

After that match I played the owner (a much stronger player than I am). This match lasted 5 hours. At times, I could really bear down and challenge him. But, I could not keep the intensity.

I would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts on this topic.


Steven
Click to expand...

Pick up a copy of Pleasures of Small Motions by Bob Fancher,Ph.D.

I think you'll like it.

Ray
 
Think of it this way, "If you miss you will lose". Do you want to lose?...no I didn't think so. So don't take any shot for granted, take your time, and be 100% sure you know your going to execute the shot to the best of your ability.

Doesn't matter how good or bad the player is. You miss you lose, that rack. Of course if your going to play safe that is totally different. But what im getting at is check your next shot, wich side of the ball you want to be on to get on the next ball, walk around the table etc..

Doing these things will automatically get your brain into focus and concentration. If you walk up to the table when it's your turn, and immediately get down on the shot, chances are your not focusing, and might miss that shot/safety. Then you will get up thinking "WTF why am I playing so bad im such an idiot", and it will just continue to get worse.
 
mind games

This is the zen part of the game. It's what seperates the champs from the chumps.

I remember Thorston Hohman (spelling) commenting that any time he is in the chair he always, always, always keeps his eyes on the table. I guess this technique forces his mind to be aware at all times. Being in the game does not only hapen when you're shooting.

Conversley you watch a lot of players like Earl and depending who he is playing, he doesn't look at the table or his opponent. Not directly anyway, he knows when it's his turn again.

Some people cannot bare to watch, some cannot bare not to watch. Because we are all built differently psychologically speaking we have to figure out on our own how to deal with competing under pressure.

Take some general rules of thumb like the afore mentioed book or what ever source and taylor it to your personality.

I grapple with this very issue all the time.
 
Last edited:
Physical fatigue comes into play when playing long matches. So you need to drink water and eat something small to keep your sugar levels up. Your brain won't work without energy and water. So if you feel that you cannot concentrate, take a break, have a glass or two of water and eat something like fruit or sandwich but no sugary things like chocolate etc. Sugar just makes your blood sugar levels rise rapidly and also the downfall after 30min to 1 hour is as fast. Dark bread or fruit will keep your sugar levels high for longer period of time. When I'm in a tournament, I drink a lot of water and eat something every 2-3 hours but never a full meal.
 
Last edited:
mjantti said:
Physical fatigue comes into play when playing long matches. So you need to drink water and eat something small to keep your sugar levels up. Your brain won't work without energy and water. So if you feel that you cannot concentrate, take a break, have a glass or two of water and eat something like fruit or sandwich but no sugary things like chocolate etc. Sugar just makes your blood sugar levels rise rapidly and also the downfall after 30min to 1 hour is as fast. Dark bread or fruit will keep your sugar levels high for longer period of time. When I'm in a tournament, I drink a lot of water and eat something every 2-3 hours but never a full meal.
Click to expand...
This is a good suggestion. Proper nutrition goes a long way in keeping your energy level and focus at a high level. I will have a Red Bull to help me when I am feeling like I need more energy and focus. The B vitamins and amino acid (taurine) in Red Bull really help.
 
keep your head on the felt....if its his turn mentally play for him choose shots and shape try to see his safe against you before he does.. keeping your head in the game is the key... if you start looking at the waitress or the clock... you have lost your edge... and need to focus as soon as you realize it... keep your eyes and brain on the table at all times..


you get your mental break after you win and get that ever so enjoyable wait until the next match:) ..
 
Gmanpoke said:
I'm looking for suggestions on how to stay focused and mentally tough in long matches.

Last Thursday I played a couple of matches. The first match was against a lesser skilled player. I had my opponent down a couple of sets but let him back in and then he quit. I find myself not bearing down as much as I should against lesser skilled opponents.

After that match I played the owner (a much stronger player than I am). This match lasted 5 hours. At times, I could really bear down and challenge him. But, I could not keep the intensity.

I would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts on this topic.


Steven
Click to expand...

I have written several articles on the subject and I am also currently in the process of putting together and audio book on the mental game. Feel free to contact me at blackjack@deadstrokeuniversity.com or give me a call at 407-873-0298 - I have some suggestions that you could start using immediately - no FEE.
 
Another AZ member mentioned that they count their opponents practice strokes. I tried that technique when I was losing my focus and it really helped. Just do it one or two times when you start to sense your mind wondering.

It also helps you forget the past (last shot, last rack, last match), incase you feel that you are starting to go on tilt.
 
I find that I can watch the table and stay focused. BUT, if i watch the other player's shot directly then I sometimes tend to pick up their mannerisms which messes me up. I have picked up their tempo, their pre-shot rituals and even their reaction to a miss or made shot. All of this came from staring at the player. If you watch closely, just watch the balls, not the stick or player.
 
Can't do it once in awhile

One of the keys to preforming well in long matches is to play in a lot of them. If you just get up there once a month and grind of course you will fade. You need to train yourself to perform. If you find yourself in a long match, and you don't do it often, and your opponent does you automatically become the instant dog. Unless you are stealing of course.

It also works in reverse if you become comfortable playing long matches and you know your opponent will fade you instantly become stronger.

So start grinding. GL
 
Southpaw said:
Treat every game like its double hill...

Southpaw
Click to expand...

Southpaw ... I play straight pool. Double hill for me in that game and I'd be walking on my tongue. :)

j/k I find that when I start shanking shots, and missing laughers, I call that my "spectator stroke", and I'm the spectator. I don't know if it's going in or not when I pull the trigger.

The helper for me to get back in sync is to pay very conscious attention to my follow through and even slightly accentuate it.
 
Maintaining Concentration

Here is something that might be useful to you. I learned it many moons ago and find that it helps in a pool match.

My brother took me trap shooting. The setup included five or six positions. The positions were on a line facing the open field where the clay pigeon target would fly up. Each shooter stands with an open shotgun and waits for his turn. When it his turn he places a shell in the chamber and raise and fires his gun when the target is out in the field in front of him.

In my first attempt I did not do very well, I hit maybe 10% of the targets.

In my second attempt I was standing per the protocol but each time a shooter said "pull" or whatever, I imagined raising my gun and tracked the clay pigeon with my eyes while I imagined when and where I would pull the trigger. You can not "really" raise the gun while he is shooting because you would be thrown off the range. However, you can let your muscles go through all of the mechanics as though you were shooting. I did not score a 100% on that round but it was close. The next several rounds were in the same high percentage range. As I remember my brother and his friends wanted me to join their team after such a display by a rank beginner. I told them what I had done and later learned that some other people used this "trick" to improve their scores. So there must be something to it. I should note that I did have several years experience with an M-1 and was a fairly good shooter. None-the less a shotgun and the way they shoot on this range was new to me.

Thinking about this in a pool match one day I decided to do the same thing. Each time my opponent got down over the shot I imagined that I was shooting and played his shot in my head. Sometimes we agreed with shot and position sometimes not. No matter what his selection was I would play the shot with him. This seems to be a useful way to maintain my concentration and improve my percentage of pocketing balls. Perhaps it will work for you. The "trick" if there is one, is too feel your muscles as if they were moving, stance, stroke, and the final swing.

I have also found that I can only sustain this for about one hour, after that lazyitus kicks in, my mind wanders, and I need a break of some kind. This is a good time to take a bathroom break and get something to drink. Ten minutes off and I am ready to go back at it. BTW I have found that this imaginary play works in other sports too.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and thoughts. Blackjack, I enjoyed our conversation. Blackjack has some good articles about the mental side of the game on his web site.

Thanks again.


Steven
 
One word: Cocaine

Just kidding :) nobody flame me for that one.

Serioulsy though pick up plesuares of small motions. Its a good book about the mental side of the game. And its pretty boring, So if you can get through that book you can get through anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top