Played in a tournament last night, and that little voice in my head was harder to fade than my opponents. Has anyone asked any of the pros what they are thinking during there stroking and pulling the trigger thoughts. I know when in dead stroke there is really no thoughts, but how about when it is do or die. Do you really use mantras? JoeyA, ever got that secret out of any of them, and JayH, squeeze it out of Dennis O when he is visiting, he is a rock. CJ, how about you and Bartram, what works for you, and anyone else, inquiring minds and pool players want to know.
The Head Game
- Thread starter irock
- Start date
I'm not a great player, but the first thing to ask yourself is are you playing constantly in tournaments/ gambling matches? For me, because I work a lot, I'm playing (gambling) every few months when I can get a few short work days! The first few matches are always rocky
but the rust goes away after a while and then I'm ok!As far as shooting at the money ball or key shot, if it's not a routine shot and I'm a bit unsure of making it when I'm down on the shot, I get back up, and analyze the shot and ask myself can I shoot this shot with a little low and a smidge of inside! I'm not trying to spin the object ball in but after reading and listening to CJ and the toi method, I've noticed my make % go through the roof!
I'm not saying anything about toi being the way to go because I don't truly understand the concept, but I will say it has given me a whole new universe of position plays that were once not possible!
Although I haven't officially taken a lesson with CJ, I would highly recommend taking some from him! He has helped my game with a couple of pointers from personal messages and definitely owe him! I'm already making plans for a day lesson with him in the summer! Mainly just to shake CJ's hand! But if he helped me so much without even seeing me, I wonder what could happen after a formal lesson?!?!
3 R's
I was hanging out with a really good player this weekend and he was explaining to me that he cannot explain what he does as far as aiming and playing pool is concerned. He said, he just knows.....
I think "knowing" comes from experience. Unless you experience, you can't know. So go experience.
As to thoughts during the stroke, you already know the answer from your post.
When "that voice in your head" starts babbling or whatever is distracting you from the task at hand, the sport psychologist will suggest that you must assert the 3 R's. RECOGNIZE • REGROUP • REFOCUS.
Good luck.
JoeyA (still trying to recognize, regroup and refocus with very mixed results).
I was hanging out with a really good player this weekend and he was explaining to me that he cannot explain what he does as far as aiming and playing pool is concerned. He said, he just knows.....
I think "knowing" comes from experience. Unless you experience, you can't know. So go experience.
As to thoughts during the stroke, you already know the answer from your post.
When "that voice in your head" starts babbling or whatever is distracting you from the task at hand, the sport psychologist will suggest that you must assert the 3 R's. RECOGNIZE • REGROUP • REFOCUS.
Good luck.
JoeyA (still trying to recognize, regroup and refocus with very mixed results).
You want to be seeing and feeling, not thinking during the stroke. This is easier said than done, but I've used two techniques to help me:
1. Develop a good sense of rhythm (i.e. mantra), so you know how to coordinate all of your motions.
2. Meditation
1. Develop a good sense of rhythm (i.e. mantra), so you know how to coordinate all of your motions.
2. Meditation
When I start to feel the pressure,I just try to tell myself to "make sure and stay down" It works sometimes. John B.
What helps me to is to remember the tough game ball shots right before I get down on the shot at hand and say "yeah, I know I got this"! At the end, it's about confidence!!
GoldenFlash
Banned
What a coincidence...and from a major league hitter too.
Makes me think I'm doing a few things "right".
I say to myself......"I don't care how bad I dog it, how bad I miss, or how many of them laugh at me, I am not moving or standing up straight again until that ball goes in the hole."
Of course balls still miss..but this process sure tightens up my scene and gives me a thought controlling procedure.....repeating this over and over in my mind.
And, Mr. John, you're quite right....it works way-y-y more often than someone might think.
Excellent tip from you, in my opinion.
I am the eternal pessimist, scared to death, a nervous wreck, and feel pressure the minute the balls are racked...even against a total idiot. (Somehow the 'chumps' become CHAMPS suddenly when they play me. They never dog, they never get out of line, and their ability to leave me safe after pooching the money ball is astounding)
So if it can help a screwball like me, there has to be value in it.
Regards,
Flash
GoldenFlash
Banned
You're a wise man.
Glad you got the $$$$.
GoldenFlash
Banned
I've ALREADY lost my mind (that happened when I first picked up a pool cue)............when do I get to be "in the moment"?
Lose all thought
When you can crack a koan or have a completely empty mind. It may never happen. Choose one or the other and maybe your mind will give up and find the answer that doesn't exist.
When you can crack a koan or have a completely empty mind. It may never happen. Choose one or the other and maybe your mind will give up and find the answer that doesn't exist.
GoldenFlash
Banned
I wonder if Pagulayan knows how to do this?
(no offense meant, man. I'm just being a dip and funning at you a little) :wink:
I have no idea of what all this means.
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Here is a useful fact i teach people.
Did you know your conscious mind is only able to process approximately 50 bits of information a second, while your unconscious mind processes approximately 11 million bits per second.
This means your unconscious mind processes information 220 thousand times faster than your conscious mind.
Did you know your conscious mind is only able to process approximately 50 bits of information a second, while your unconscious mind processes approximately 11 million bits per second.
This means your unconscious mind processes information 220 thousand times faster than your conscious mind.
I have always guarded against deacceleration, especially when betting really high.
There's breathing techniques I've described on this forum concerning bringing conscious attention to a subconscious activity - this can effectively lower your brain waves (thoughts). I'm not sure what thread I posted this on, I just got home from a tournament, so too tired to check right now.
When under severe pressure I always want to accelerate exactly at the point of contact. Most "dogged" shots are under-cut, and that's usually from a lack of acceleration. I have always guarded against this, especially when betting really high.
When I use the touch of inside, TOI forces the object ball to over-cut slightly IF I accelerate, so my "mantra" is TOI/Accelerate and I cinch the shot. Sometimes I do over-cut them, however, when I don't make the ball, I at least hit the "pro side" of the pocket (which gives me the best chance to get safe).
There's breathing techniques I've described on this forum concerning bringing conscious attention to a subconscious activity - this can effectively lower your brain waves (thoughts). I'm not sure what thread I posted this on, I just got home from a tournament, so too tired to check right now.
When under severe pressure I always want to accelerate exactly at the point of contact. Most "dogged" shots are under-cut, and that's usually from a lack of acceleration. I have always guarded against this, especially when betting really high.
When I use the touch of inside, TOI forces the object ball to over-cut slightly IF I accelerate, so my "mantra" is TOI/Accelerate and I cinch the shot. Sometimes I do over-cut them, however, when I don't make the ball, I at least hit the "pro side" of the pocket (which gives me the best chance to get safe).