The Mental part of the GAME

pooltchr said:
This is where you train yourself to focus for the 12 seconds between when your bridge hand hits the table, and when you stand up. You are actually moving from the left brain (thinking) to the right brain (performing). That little voice comes from your left brain.

Let your left brain do all the thinking and evaluating. As you are getting down on the shot, verify that you are still where your left brain told you to be. Once you are actually down on the shot, you have to be totally in your right brain.

And yes, if you don't feel right, stand up and start over. The more you practice and the more you play, the less likely you will be to have those questions pop up. But you should KNOW it is right when you are getting down on the shot. Then learn to trust what you know to be correct.

Steve
Click to expand...

Thank you for your answer.
Usually this problems occurs because of the pressure... So you are trying to say me that between the moment "when your bridge hand hits the table, and when you stand up" I shouldn't be thinking anything(I believe that's impossible except when you are in 'the zone')? Sometimes I concentrate on the technical parts of the shot(to stroke and follow throughstraight forward,to have my wrist loose and so on). Is it right to concentrate on such things when I am in shooting position. I have been using 7 steps program(equivalent ot 11 steps-PAT) but sometimes it just doesn't work properly for me or I just can't use it for best results..
 
Last edited:
jus7_1nsan3 said:
Thank you for your answer.
Usually this problems occurs because of the pressure... So you are trying to say me that between the moment "when your bridge hand hits the table, and when you stand up" I shouldn't be thinking anything(I believe that's impossible except when you are in 'the zone')? Sometimes I concentrate on the technical parts of the shot(to stroke and follow throughstraight forward,to have my wrist loose and so on). Is it right to concentrate on such things when I am in shooting position. I have been using 7 steps program(equivalent ot 11 steps-PAT) but sometimes it just doesn't work properly for me or I just can't use it for best results..
Click to expand...

If you are thinking about your mechanics, you aren't focused on the shot. You learn mechanics when you are practicing. The idea is to make them automatic, so you don't need to think about them during competition.

Yogi Berra used to ask the question of his batters "How can you think and hit at the same time?". Hitting a baseball needs to be an automatic action. So does stroking the cue ball.

Steve
 
I'd like to offer what has helped me improve.

When someone asks about being able to concentrate what comes to my mind is that there are holes in their thoughts. Missing parts to the puzzle that cause them pause or unsure insecure thoughts while getting down on the shot.

Then, once down, their mind tries to frantically fill in the blanks while they are in their stance. This of course is poison.

When I'm playing good I take the time to fill the holes and eliminate the missing parts prior to getting down on the shot so that there is no need for your mind to wander from simply executing.

What I mean by filling in the holes and eliminating the missing parts is a catch 22 answer.

To do this you must envision the shot in it's entirety in a very specific manner. This includes OB speed, CB speed as well as direction.

The catch 22 is, to achieve this total completion of the mental picture, you have to give your mind the details in extreme EXTREME detail. The sound of the balls, the look of the rotation of the balls, the EXACT finishing spot of the CB and exactly how the OB will enter the pocket. If the shot includes bumping another ball, then how it will sound, feel, and rebound.

Once this entire mental picture is in your mind and you are happy with it, there will be nothing left for your mind to wander to. You simply execute your stroke to the best of your ability and watch what you already know will happen.

edit .... one more thing I should have mentioned is, this approach has added benefits in that should you miss, you can pretty much understand which part of your mental picture was off and you have a more specific idea of how to correct your misses. :)
 
Last edited:
3andstop said:
I'd like to offer what has helped me improve.

When someone asks about being able to concentrate what comes to my mind is that there are holes in their thoughts. Missing parts to the puzzle that cause them pause or unsure insecure thoughts while getting down on the shot.

Then, once down, their mind tries to frantically fill in the blanks while they are in their stance. This of course is poison.

When I'm playing good I take the time to fill the holes and eliminate the missing parts prior to getting down on the shot so that there is no need for your mind to wander from simply executing.

What I mean by filling in the holes and eliminating the missing parts is a catch 22 answer.

To do this you must envision the shot in it's entirety in a very specific manner. This includes OB speed, CB speed as well as direction.

The catch 22 is, to achieve this total completion of the mental picture, you have to give your mind the details in extreme EXTREME detail. The sound of the balls, the look of the rotation of the balls, the EXACT finishing spot of the CB and exactly how the OB will enter the pocket. If the shot includes bumping another ball, then how it will sound, feel, and rebound.

Once this entire mental picture is in your mind and you are happy with it, there will be nothing left for your mind to wander to. You simply execute your stroke to the best of your ability and watch what you already know will happen.
Click to expand...

Very nice analogy! Since we know there are only 3 decisions to be made on every shot, there are 3 holes to be filled. Angle, Speed, and Spin. So all you need to do is cover your A.S.S. before you get down. Make your decisions, trust them, and execute them.
Steve
 
not the stroke "zone" the mental REAL ZONE!

That mental imagery is a great addition, to actually "see" the game play out in your head, hear it feel it and everything. I find when my mind is empty that this mental video plays in high def, and I just feel like I'm playing copy cat, or repeat after me or something.

Two diff examples:

Once in college I had a VERY BAD DAY!, I ended up at my local fishing hole and threw back a few cold ones, and proceeded to break and run 7 racks of 8 ball from the break! The 8th rack I dry broke, my friend made two balls and missed and I ran out AGAIN! I then broke my cue down and that was that.

The second, was not but a few months back. I was playing 1-hole with a good friend, he broke and left me "descent" and the pack was pretty much still together. Well he left me this shot that was just a little back cut into another for the combo, I figured I could use the stack to hold my ball. Well I never hit any balls hard, and each shot was actually on the more difficult side of the spectrum, but I just kept watching the video in my head and following it. Soon enough I was 8 and out.

Heres the thing, what I remember is VERY LITTLE when I was done. Both of these times I came to the table COLD, and performed amazingly. I still wish I could remember more than just one shot or two in both outings but I can not. I do remember both times having a very IMPARTIAL set of feelings about what was going on. There was for sure 100% no part of me that either wanted the ball to go in or miss, there was no make the ball miss the ball. It was just my natural instincts that guided me, and upon my so called awakening from my "trance" it seemed as if I had just watched someone else shoot all those balls, but still no distinct bright recollection of the past shots and patterns that I had JUST PREFORMED.

Now follow with me here, because I don't consider myself a very knowledgeable person when it comes to things like being in trances or hypnotizing and all that crazy stuff. I will say this tho, I used to run over a 100miles a week back in college and highschool when i was healthy. I definitely learned to unattach my self from my conscious feelings, thoughts and physical feelings and reactions. You have to be able to do this to be able to run 13.1 miles (half marathon) in 1:05:55, or to be able to triple and run the mile in 4:17, the 800m in 1:52, and the 3200(2m) in 9:30+ all in the same day. I once even got 4th in an 8k (near 5miles) and then blew away everyone in the mile ten min after!

People think distance runners don't feel pain or something(BS!)? But let me tell you, I never felt that much pain as I did when I saw the finish a little over a quarter mile away in that half marathon. I wanted to lie down and die, but I barely finished and actually won the darn thing. I didn't hurt any worse at the end then I did halfway through, but by seeing the end was near I let slip, my FOCUS. I basically gave my body permission to feel pain by slipping like that, and it about crushed me, when I should have started striding at the sight of the finish. I won but I finished very weak, if anyone had been close I would have lost for sure.


By caring about the finish I left myself vulnerable to pain by acknowledging that it even existed in me. B/f there was just nothing, NOTHING but my feet going clap clap on the road and my heavy steady consistent breaths. I didn't care about where I was in the race, I was just running till someone said "hey kid race is over, ya can stop now" When I was unattached to my performance wether good or bad, it just helped me to get in that frame of mind.

THe frame of mind where all the things you have practiced come together to work in perfect harmony, without you screwing it up by thinking these ridiculous thoughts, especially the really negative ones. When you practice your goal is to make what ever your doing, to become a NATURAL PROCESS. Stop all the thoughts, just quit and let your abilities that you have honed come out and preform.

If your mechanics are amazing then why are you worried about where/how/why your standing, stroking, sighting. I know this all sound ho-key and zen buddist but just be of ONE MIND, too many minds and you can not ever preform to the fullest of your capabilities. It is only by having superior concentration that we can preform to where it seems there is no concentration. A mind of one reason alone, can see everything around it more clearly, and make its will reality. Meditate with pure thoughts, no words, just watch the inner video of whats going on around you...its better than high def fellas.


The cajun zen masta,
Grey Ghost
 
Does anyone know if there's anything to when Cornbread Red said in his book "when you start getting thoughts play faster to keep them out of your head".

I think there's something to it but sometimes the decision process seems to force you to slow down.
 
There is a time for thinking, and a time for shooting. The problem comes up when you are supposed to be shooting, but you are thinking instead.

Think before shooting, then shoot without thinking.

Steve
 
Perhaps you will find that some pre-shot routines will help you. Include a mantra that you go through every single shot and after some practice it becomes automatic, couple that with an accurate and repeatable stroke and you have a winning combination.

As others have said Don't shoot when you're thinking and Don't think when you're shooting. Shooting is the execution phase.

A book that I think every pool player should read is the classic by Norman Vincent Peale, "The Power of Positive Thinking" you might be surprised by how effective keeping a positive frame of mind is in playing great pool.
 
preparation and confidence the most essential aspects to performance and fun

accustatsfan said:
Does anyone know if there's anything to when Cornbread Red said in his book "when you start getting thoughts play faster to keep them out of your head".

I think there's something to it but sometimes the decision process seems to force you to slow down.
Click to expand...

yes that statement does hold weight, and I believe its in his biography. I want to say Oakland Don taught him that, when you start to fall out of stroke then stay just ahead of the shot.

What he's sayin is don't let yourself overthink the situation b/c your nerves are shot to hell. Pick up the pace some and let your natural instincts take over more. You can pratice this and you'd be suprised at how well it can keep you in the match and get you back in stroke. When things start to go wrong it usually starts to ruin the rythm of your game. It's like tripping on your shoes while you walk, you can get there but its aggravating.


Also steve gave some subtle and super strong advice with,

" learn to trust what you know to be correct"

Reason being especially when your aiming with S.A.M. and you parallel and actually use the stick to aim and not the ball (aiming with the ball is goofey) you get down PERFECT and In alignment and you sometimes can swear its not going to go with the way it "LOOKS" but if you blow off that thought and just shoot and aim the tip right at where the contact point is on the Obj ball then bang it goes in the hole. If a technique is tried and proven to do exactly what it says, and you use it like your supposed to then confidence on the shot should be 100%. If it always works then it works there is no need to question it, because your questions are unfounded and are just coming from natural human negativity.

For example, i show an easily repeatable break shot that is consistent at making balls and its easy to keep the rock dead center of table. Place the cue ball One diamond in from the side rail and almost on the headstring. Your breaking from the top corner of the "BOX" now line up through the center of the cue to the visual center of the head ball in the rack.

1) Place your hand between 3/4 to a full diamond behind the cue ball.

2)Now get the cue level, then raise the tip until the bottom of it is at the top edge of the cue ball. All the while keeping the cue LEVEL

3) Now dip the tip back to the visual center of the ball, it creates a small angle but not much.

4) hit it with a firm punch stroke and bang the cue ball will squat.


Its easy to learn because its easy to set up, also you don't have to worry about putting some kind of english on it to hold the ball. It's my favorite break shot and my go to unless if I'm not making balls with it. It doesn't matter what I "THINK" the technique is going to do, I "KNOW" without a question that it is a fact that if I do those steps then I will get a great result. Confidence in your proven knowledge and techniques can make you or break you.

The same goes for thinking about anything but pulling the trigger when your down on the shot. You make your decisions and figure it ALL out when your standing, then you get down and just apply it. If your still preparing the shot when your down then your unprepared and its too late. If you are playing in a big tournament your going to prepare right? Of course you will, but don't start preparing two days before or say 3 hrs before oh I gotta practice and get in stroke. If your not prepared one day b/f the tourney then all the practice in the world is not going to get you right or change anything in 12hrs. Start preparing a month ahead of time and hit your "PEAK" performance level at the tournament. Prepare for the shot b/f getting down, or else be prepared to not be prepared at all when you hit the ball.

If you got to get up do it, that shows your intelligent. I like to use what I call the 5 & 5 rule when I'm uncomfortable on the table and I learned it offshore in the gulf. At work if your confused or not familiar with an area then step 5ft back and take 5min to run it through your head and prepare yourself so nothing crazy happens. If your uncomfortable on the shot, then stand up step 5ft back take that 5 sec or so to look at the shot again and then go back into your stance and the mechanism should be clear you have no decisions to make because you already made them. Be confident in your decision, act as if god himself came down and whispered in your ear HEY YOUR DOING THAT EXACTLY RIGHT, thats the kind of confidence we must have in what we know is true regardless of how you "Feel", surprising how such simple things can make worlds of difference in the quality of your play and the quality of fun your having.


-structure to the game, structure to the mind....
gonna make you win all de time!

-Grey Ghost-
 
I have recently found there are two phases when learning to play pool and probably most other individual sports.

In the first phase I practice mechanics or how to address the ball. This is all about what I tell myself to do such as foot placement, alignment, stroke, etc. These are consciously or intentionally practiced and are probably not much different than what most other players do.

To learn the highly focused concentration for playing is a topic of its own. In this phase I begin while standing one step behind my final position. I direct my attention to the object ball and a line from the pocket to about nine inches behind the object ball and then back to the center of the object ball to the center and back through it to the pocket. I have no words in my head and only try with the maximum attention to see these lines and the smallest possible contact point which is about 1/16” in diameter. I hold this spot and line in my mind for three to five seconds until it is firmly fixed. At times I try to see the object ball roll down this line.

Next I step into the shot with no thoughts about mechanics. Everything happens naturally as previously practiced. At this point I am focused on placing my right (back) hand on the shot line through the cue ball to the object ball contact point. I am concentrating on placing the cue stick on the line to the contact point. When I am down on the shot all of my attention is on the line to the contact point, the stick’s alignment, the effect of English, power and most importantly attempting to visualize the cue ball line of travel the hit and the object ball line of travel and the subsequent movement of the cue ball after contact. In the end I am staring at the contact point and the line of travel for a few seconds. All of this requires a great amount of highly focused attention to detail for where it feels like I should strike the cue ball with the stick. When the stroke has been completed nothing in my body moves until I see the cue ball strike the object ball.

When practicing this type of highly focused attention to detail I use no words at all. The whole process is nonverbal and I am something like an observer of my own behavior. After the shot I may notice that I like or did not like the way I applied the mechanics I have practiced in the first phase and may make a mental note of what needs to be worked on later.

There are ideas about why one should concentrate but there are few actual suggestions for how to improve one’s concentration because concentration itself is a nonverbal process. In this somewhat lengthy response I have attempted to break down what it is that one actually does when they concentrate on a pool shot. The primary point as I have learned when attempting to analyze what one does to improve concentration is the idea that it is a semi-physical act that allows for no verbal dialog in the execution of a pool shot.

When using this technique I find that my body warms up and that I am tired by the end of a match. I have also found that after learning to concentrate in this way I am nearly unaware of anything else going on around me in a bar or the pool room. This type of heightened attention to detail must be practiced until it becomes natural and is initiated anytime I walk to the table to take a shot and take one step back. It immediately goes away when the shot is completed. However, there is a residual effect in that I am less aware of others between shots. It is as though I don’t want to pay attention to others very much and prefer to have my head in or near the game.

I have found that the ability to fully attend to and focus on the physical aspects of a shot is something that is a separate part of my practice routine. It is an ability that requires much practice and reinforcement during the practice sessions. It is not one of the topics that is a great deal of fun and that is perhaps why it is not included in many practice routines. Once learned it tends to become a part of one’s approach but it too requires continued practice over time. The part of the player that is the observer notes when it needs refinement.
 
Last edited:
Lets’ take it to the next level for automating concentration.

1. From one step behind the shot, concentrate on the OB line of travel. Fix the line and contact point in mind (takes a few seconds).
2. Decide where the cue ball will land for position.
3. See the line from cue ball to object ball.
4. Verify that the cue ball can get to the position and the needed English.
5. Step into the shot. Place the cue stick on the shot line with the right (back) hand.
6. Stroke or aim through the center of the cue ball to verify the line of travel to the contact point.
7. Add English as needed.
8. Check stroke and fcous on the object ball for a few seconds.
9. Fire and see the hit on the object ball

Note that mechanics, stroke, and verbalizations are ignored. It is now all about concentration.

For my game I use Joe Tucker’s implementation of the simultaneous use of fore and back hand English so the cue stick line and the cue ball line of travel are often different lines. This is a mechanics issue that needs to addressed in how to aim.
 
Last edited:
@Grey Ghost and @JoeW thank you for your answers,your posts are really interesting :)

Joe this system is similar to a system that I've been using.It's really helpful but sometimes I tend to overthink the situations,but I believe that I need more time to be able to concentrate for longer periods.
 
Last edited:
For me all "thinking" stops when I step into the shot. Then it is all about very intently seeing the lines and contact points. It seems to me that when I concentrate with great intensity on seeing the shots the thoughts leave my head. There just isn't any room left for words. This is a difficult concept to explain but perhaps you understand.

One way to practice wordless concentration that is quite effective is to sit (or lay down) in a quiet dark room. Close your eyes and look at the back of your eyelids. Try to imagine a candle flame about three feet in front of you. If you are quiet and patient the flame will flicker for a split second or so. Then it will go away and thoughts and other images will intrude. Rather than make the other thoughts go away just let them pass as you continue to patiently try and create that image of a candle flame. With a few weeks, yes weeks not days, of practice you will get to the point where you might be able to hold the image for about five seconds on the odd occassion.

This form of meditation is a way of strengthening your ability to concentrate with out words and might be of some help. You only need to practice it for about five minutes (a long time) each day (or when you go to bed). After you have learned it, it needs to be refreshed every few months when you find your ability decreasing.

When you have learned to concentrate in this way you will find it "easier" to concentrate on a pool shot and may even learn to visualize the OB and CB lines of travel before you shoot.
 
Last edited:
you do your calculating away from the table,

you then switch the brain off and perform, the more you think the more you miss, the quicker you learn this the quciker you will perform.

the brain controls the body, so switch it off and let the body perform naturally.

just my 2 cents as you call it over here lol.

lee
 
accustatsfan said:
"Grey Ghost" your post was to long to quote but I enjoy what you bring to these threads.
Click to expand...


he is one hell of a great guy, and I also love his posts. I really like it when I meet people online like him, he called me a couple times, sure beats hell out of listining to knockers on the rail-like back in the old days. The internet is wonderful.
 
pooltchr said:
Pleasures of Small Motions by Dr. Bob Fancher

That being said, one thing for you to work on is to not try to stay focused 110% of the time. Humans aren't designed to do that. You need to be able to focus when it is important. When is it important? For those 12 to 15 seconds when your bridge hand is actually on the table. When your are standing or sitting, you need to allow your mind to relax a little bit. Think about what you want to do, take in your surroundings, and chill out a little bit. You want to keep your mind on the game, so you are aware of what needs to be done, but that intense focus is really only needed when you are actually down on the shot. It's easier, and less stressful, to slip in and out of that level of focus than it is to try to maintain it for an entire game or match.

Steve
Click to expand...

Well said Steve. The only thing that I would add is to not let yourself get distracted whle you're at your chair. It is helpful to not let your mind wander too far from the pool room. As an example, try not to think about an argument you've had with your spouse/girlfriend/friend while you're in a match. If you let stress into your thoughts it can be difficult to kick out even if you have a solid pre-shot routine. If bad thoughts enter my mind during a matchI try to focus on my "purpose of playing pool" and think positive thoughts both at the table and in the chair.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
I wish I could make my ind focus 110% all the time, and not wander to other thing when playing pool.

SUGGESTIONS.
Click to expand...

I use three "tricks" to stay in stroke as long as possible:

- Earplugs: even in quiet rooms, ambient noises tend to break the spell when you finally catch that magic moment when you play almost perfectly and effortlessly. As an added bonus, if your opponent uses rotten tricks like coughing when you shoot, it won't affect you anymore, and he'll feel very lonely when he sees you play in your own little world in which he has no place, which can add to his own exasperation and give you an edge. Also, you can hear yourself breathe, which means that you'll know when to hold your breath just before shooting. Just warn your opponent or the judge that they need to talk just a tad louder. If they won't let you wear earplugs, pretend you have noise hypersensitivity (it's a recognized condition). Beware that playing with earplugs takes getting used to.

- Keep your eyes on the felt at all time, from the first break to the end of the race. Don't look around. Don't look at your opponent. Don't look at the scoreboard. Watch the re-racking of the balls. Look at nothing but the table. Reduce your world to the game and make whatever is outside the table disappear in your head. Concentrate on the immediate task at hand and not on having to win x games to get back on top. If you do that, from time to time, you'll find that someone has to stop your run because you've won and you haven't noticed.

- Whiskey: if you're about to play an opponent who is a lot better than you, or has the reputation of being unbeatable - which is rarely the case incidentally - and you feel anxious, take a sip of whatever strong liquor you prefer 10 minutes before you go through your warm-up routine. Just a tiny little sip will do, the idea is to use the strong immediate (but temporary) anxiolytic properties of alcohol to dull the anxiety long enough for you to relax at the first game, not get drunk silly. If you start playing anxious, you'll play from bad to worse. If you catch confidence at your first game, the anxiety will disappear on it own and following games will come easy. I myself carry a thumb-sized flask of scotch in my cue case just for that.

Hope this'll help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top