The Game's "Ball Pocketing ZONE"

CJ Wiley

CJ Wiley

ESPN WORLD OPEN CHAMPION
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We have a working knowledge of several "aiming systems" and using the TOI System I can maximize the "pocket zone". However, as I get more and more into playing it's apparent what my real "secret" was, and that's to get into the "zone," or "dead stroke".

Remembering when I first started experimenting with achieving this state of mind faster and more consistently I mentally tried to "become the cue ball"......"be the ball" - I used martial arts techniques, anapana meditation, zen, and even NLP and Silva Mind Control techniques to achieve my outcome. All of these seek to accomplish similar things, basically to lower the brain waves to access the power of the sub conscious.

I believe all professionals use personal aiming methods, however, it's also clear to me (through recent experience) that when they bring conscious attention to the process it could abandon them for a while (this sometimes happens when we bring conscious attention to a sub conscious activity). This has been my experience going all the way back to my teenage years shooting basketball.

During the next 60 days I will getting back into the mental/spiritual aspects of pool now that my physical work is at a resting point {by releasing my newest TIPS Banking System Video}. Showing how I learned to connect the Diamonds to the tip/cue ball took more conscious attention to detail than any other video I've ever completed.

This was all done consciously and the decision was made understanding the consequences of bringing this type knowledge to the "pool public". Now it's time to go back to the "finishing touches" of anyone's game - to become mentally connected with the game. I will begin to share how I accomplish this with those players that are interested and can benefit. 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
This would be very beneficial for me and I'm sure, for just about every player on the forum.

Best,
Mike
 
I am interested

I would love to know how to get into the zone, I believe 90% of this game is played between the ears and knowing how to strengthen the mental aspects of my game would be a great help. Cj, what do you recommend to properly strenghthen pattern play in eightball. Thanks again:D
 
CJ Wiley said:
We have a working knowledge of several "aiming systems" and using the TOI System I can maximize the "pocket zone". However, as I get more and more into playing it's apparent what my real "secret" was, and that's to get into the "zone," or "dead stroke".

Remembering when I first started experimenting with achieving this state of mind faster and more consistently I mentally tried to "become the cue ball"......"be the ball" - I used martial arts techniques, anapana meditation, zen, and even NLP and Silva Mind Control techniques to achieve my outcome. All of these seek to accomplish similar things, basically to lower the brain waves to access the power of the sub conscious.

I believe all professionals use personal aiming methods, however, it's also clear to me (through recent experience) that when they bring conscious attention to the process it could abandon them for a while (this sometimes happens when we bring conscious attention to a sub conscious activity). This has been my experience going all the way back to my teenage years shooting basketball.

During the next 60 days I will getting back into the mental/spiritual aspects of pool now that my physical work is at a resting point {by releasing my newest TIPS Banking System Video}. Showing how I learned to connect the Diamonds to the tip/cue ball took more conscious attention to detail than any other video I've ever completed.

This was all done consciously and the decision was made understanding the consequences of bringing this type knowledge to the "pool public". Now it's time to go back to the "finishing touches" of anyone's game - to become mentally connected with the game. I will begin to share how I accomplish this with those players that are interested and can benefit. 'The Game is the Teacher'
Click to expand...

Count me in!

I can't wait to hear what you have to say on the subject.
 
This is a very interesting subject...looking forward to it.

One thing I think many great players have in common is that they are able to train their subconscious over the many years of practice by presenting the many visual and sound references that they collect and feed them to their brain. The sound when you hit the ball right and the visual lines that a player see and feel are the only communication that are passed on to the subconscious to get your mind in Dead Stroke.

So in essence, you can get in dead stroke much faster when you have reliable and repeatable visual and sound references. I'm sure there are more factors involved but generally...it's been said that visualization is the language to the subconscious.

When I used my own aiming system, I found that after logging hrs with it that now I basically no longer aim and just shoot. Hence my phrase..."Learn to aim so you don't have to aim". When I'm in in dead stroke everything is easier, position is easier, all the roll comes my way and I never..never have to aim. I just simply understand the shot.

To be or not to be, that is your question!! lol

BR,
Duc.
 
Last edited:
caroming another ball on every shot

cool_hand_ljb said:
I would love to know how to get into the zone, I believe 90% of this game is played between the ears and knowing how to strengthen the mental aspects of my game would be a great help. Cj, what do you recommend to properly strengthen pattern play in eight-ball. Thanks again:D
Click to expand...

There's several, however, my personal favorite is to break and try to run out by caroming another ball on every shot (any ball on the table). This teaches you to have excellent cue ball control and also condition yourself to bump into other balls with the cue ball.

I'm not suggesting that this is the best way to play, or that you should ever go into anther ball if you don't have to. What this drill does is all about cue ball control and touch. It is also very difficult, so when you go back to regular 8 Ball, it's a "piece of cake".

Your game's patterns will improve doing this because it will open up new possibilities and increase your confidence in your ability to break out trouble balls and play "pin point" position. 'The Game is the Teacher' .com
 
There was a segment on 'Through the Wormhole' that touched on this subject. It highlighted a neuroscientist/entrepreneur's work developing headgear that would give feedback when a person's alpha and theta wave patterns matched those of a professional athlete at peak performance. The segment showed amateur archers making significant improvments after using the headgear a short time. Whether that performance increase held up over time or not, I think there is something to it and this kind of training is in the not too distant horizon...
 
I forgot how great it feels to "be in the zone,

yankee817299 said:
The "zone". I would love to get there some day.
Click to expand...

You can and you will. Let's get together sometime soon, I'm "chalked full" of some interesting new info. Just the work I've done on my "mental game" the last week has enhanced many aspects of my life. I forgot how great it feels to "be in the zone," in many different aspects of life.
 
If you can conceive it, you can achieve it.

Cuemaster98 said:
This is a very interesting subject...looking forward to it.

One thing I think many great players have in common is that they are able to train their subconscious over the many years of practice by presenting the many visual and sound references that they collect and feed them to their brain. The sound when you hit the ball right and the visual lines that a player see and feel are the only communication that are passed on to the subconscious to get your mind in Dead Stroke.

So in essence, you can get in dead stroke much faster when you have reliable and repeatable visual and sound references. I'm sure there are more factors involved but generally...it's been said that visualization is the language to the subconscious.

When I used my own aiming system, I found that after logging hrs with it that now I basically no longer aim and just shoot. Hence my phrase..."Learn to aim so you don't have to aim". When I'm in in dead stroke everything is easier, position is easier, all the roll comes my way and I never..never have to aim. I just simply understand the shot.

To be or not to be, that is your question!! lol

BR,
Duc.
Click to expand...

I've don't really feel like I AM "aiming" when in the Zone. This state raises your awareness and sensibility so your touch and feel are enhanced. I can "feel the cue ball" and "feel" the pocket/object ball/cue ball connection.

Accessing the sub conscious to take over is something that takes knowledge, then belief, then trust, then faith. You can't go from "wondering" to faith in playing in the zone...there's some steps in between that can not be over looked. But it does start with believing or at least being willing to believe that this state can be reached by the individual. If you can conceive it, you can achieve it.
 
No need for aiming when you're in the zone. I sometimes use an aiming system to get there, and I might be still using it subconsciously when I'm in dead whack. Not sure.

Are the in between steps different for each individual, or is there a common denominator?

Best,
Mike
 
an hour a day for three weeks will get results ... in some cases major ones.

Mikjary said:
No need for aiming when you're in the zone. I sometimes use an aiming system to get there, and I might be still using it subconsciously when I'm in dead whack. Not sure.

Are the in between steps different for each individual, or is there a common denominator?

Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

There are going to be some common denominators, like breathing techniques, and even then there will be personal preferences on exactly now you prefer to breath.....the breathing is a bridge between the conscious and the sub conscious, so it's important to understand and utilize. The mediation I recommend is called anapana, and it's stickily a breathing mediation and highly effective to train the mind and reduce unnecessary mental "chatter".

We have an average of between 30k and 50k thoughts a day, meditation can drastically reduce this endless "loop" of thoughts. Breathing is the key, and it's important to understand how it's done, there's plenty of info. on line about it and great directions, it's very simple, yet difficult at first. Doing anapana an hour a day for three weeks will get results ... in some cases major ones.
 
CJ Wiley said:
There are going to be some common denominators, like breathing techniques, and even then there will be personal preferences on exactly now you prefer to breath.....the breathing is a bridge between the conscious and the sub conscious, so it's important to understand and utilize. The mediation I recommend is called anapana, and it's stickily a breathing mediation and highly effective to train the mind and reduce unnecessary mental "chatter".

We have an average of between 30k and 50k thoughts a day, meditation can drastically reduce this endless "loop" of thoughts. Breathing is the key, and it's important to understand how it's done, there's plenty of info. on line about it and great directions, it's very simple, yet difficult at first. Doing anapana an hour a day for three weeks will get results ... in some cases major ones.
Click to expand...

I'll check it out and try it. Right now I do implement a simple breathing technique that helps me to get into a relaxed state of concentrated focus. Staying in that realm is elusive. Playing more seems to be the fix.

If I'm tired, rushed for time, or have some physical pain, all bets are off. I'd like to be able to perform despite these influences. Not only at pool, but in my everyday goings on. Thanks for the info.

Best,
Mike
 
Here's a good link to learn how it's done:

Mikjary said:
I'll check it out and try it. Right now I do implement a simple breathing technique that helps me to get into a relaxed state of concentrated focus. Staying in that realm is elusive. Playing more seems to be the fix.

If I'm tired, rushed for time, or have some physical pain, all bets are off. I'd like to be able to perform despite these influences. Not only at pool, but in my everyday goings on. Thanks for the info.

Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

The key from my experience is to ONLY be aware of your breathing, and just be aware of your thoughts like it's an experiment. This way it becomes apparent that many thoughts are just random, and serve no purpose other than to expand mental energy.

To do this it takes a quiet place and preferably no light....here's a link to a description of how the meditation is done, it's simple and still needs to be done correctly.

Here's the link to learn how it's done:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2101399_practice-anapanasati-meditation.html
 
CJ Wiley said:
The key from my experience is to ONLY be aware of your breathing, and just be aware of your thoughts like it's an experiment. This way it becomes apparent that many thoughts are just random, and serve no purpose other than to expand mental energy.
To do this it takes a quiet place and preferably no light....here's a link to a description of how the meditation is done, it's simple and still needs to be done correctly.

Here's the link to learn how it's done:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2101399_practice-anapanasati-meditation.html
Click to expand...

By "experiment", do you mean just being an observer with no thoughts of the outcome?

My mind is always going off on tangents. Like many players, I tend to not trust my subconscious mind and accept its guidance. Last second spasms can be the rule on some shots. Quieting my mind will be a challenge.

See...I'm already sabotaging my possible results!:smile:

Best,
Mike
 
Does anyone have any experience with Life Flow?

Has anyone ever tried the meditation tapes that are suppose to:

"incorporate Isochronic, Monaural and Binaural tones in a structure of 12 simultaneous layers in its entrainment matrix, creating the most effective method of entrainment and whole brain synchronization."

^^^^Copy and pasted btw^^^


Anyway has anyone got any experience with LifeFlow™ or other meditation products like it?
 
slow the mental "river current" down so it flows, rather than the "rapids"

Mikjary said:
By "experiment", do you mean just being an observer with no thoughts of the outcome?

My mind is always going off on tangents. Like many players, I tend to not trust my subconscious mind and accept its guidance. Last second spasms can be the rule on some shots. Quieting my mind will be a challenge.

See...I'm already sabotaging my possible results!:smile:

Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

Yes, it trains us to understand "this too shall pass" at a literal level. Our thoughts are basically passing by us like a river with a swift current. Meditation is nothing "far out," as a matter of fact it's white the opposite, it's "far in".....and serves to slow the mental "river current" down so it flows, rather than the "rapids" many human minds are trying to navigate.

This way we can "sail" smoothly from one aspect of our life to another rather than the "sink and swim" or the "paddle for your life" routine that we experience when our mind is racing, or the stress level is increased in life. Controlling our "inner world" will directly effect our perception of the "outer world". 'The Breathing Game is the Teacher'
 
CJ,

Have you ever heard of or practiced with Psycho Cybernetics? Basically it is practicing by mental visualization. Visualize yourself making the shots in your mind. Correct any mistakes you make and continue making shots.

There is a book out on this subject from way back in the 70's I believe. Many athletes have used this technique in improving their game. It may be worth checking into???

Just my couple cents worth.

Welcome back to Texas, and yes I am ready to get together with you again for a few hours.
 
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