I wish I could make my ind focus 110% all the time, and not wander to other thing when playing pool.
SUGGESTIONS.
Books as I like to read.
SUGGESTIONS.
Books as I like to read.
The Mental part of the GAME
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
Thanks for the link, I will ckeck it out better this PM, after I get home from practicing.
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
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
this makes sense..nice post :smile:
That's what I was going to suggest. It will do wonders for you. It has allowed me to win sets when I've been down by alot and close sets with more easy when people start coming back on my lead.
Best pool book I ever bought.
About the mental, what is the right thing to think when being in a shot??
I think a lot about, where should I hit the object ball, resulting in me getting unsure if it is the right place = I miss the shot...
I can't seem to get out of this way of thinking. Suggestions for that problem??
That being said, I am a thinker in all aspects of my life. I overanalyze everything and over-think most things... Very annoying...
I think a lot about, where should I hit the object ball, resulting in me getting unsure if it is the right place = I miss the shot...
I can't seem to get out of this way of thinking. Suggestions for that problem??
That being said, I am a thinker in all aspects of my life. I overanalyze everything and over-think most things... Very annoying...
As a very famous baseball manager once asked. "How can you think and hit at the same time?"
You must understand how the brain works. The left side is the side that is analytical, ie the thinking side. The right side is more creative. You need to learn how to go from one mode to the other as needed. Since there are only 3 things to consider on every shot (angle, speed, and spin) you should make the decisions on those three things before you ever get down on the shot. Determine those things, and then visualize the result. Now, STOP THINKING! You have made your decisions, committed to them, now you simply let the right brain take over and perform the shot as planned.
To put it very simply, "Think before shooting, then shoot without thinking."
Steve
You must understand how the brain works. The left side is the side that is analytical, ie the thinking side. The right side is more creative. You need to learn how to go from one mode to the other as needed. Since there are only 3 things to consider on every shot (angle, speed, and spin) you should make the decisions on those three things before you ever get down on the shot. Determine those things, and then visualize the result. Now, STOP THINKING! You have made your decisions, committed to them, now you simply let the right brain take over and perform the shot as planned.
To put it very simply, "Think before shooting, then shoot without thinking."
Steve
Or, Do all your thinking while standing, Never get down until you are locked into what you are going to do and then just a few practice strokes, a pause and then 'pull the TRIGGER'
Right. How can you possibly think and shoot at the same time?
Steve
one of the things that has helped me in the past is when i get down on the shot and im thinking to much is i get back up and maybe walk around the table real quick and then relax and get down on the shot and just shoot. my mind is always wondering all the time because i am a perfectionist and want to do everything right.
Exactly...that is why it is so important to have the correct base...alignment etc. When you have learned the right skill set you know it works. With you become confident in those abilities you stop trying to play pool, and you get to PLAY. Your not focusing on "is my hand in the right place?" you just set yourself up perfect on the ball because you trained to do that already.
In psychology we learned that people by natural tendency are negative. This affects our games all the time. You have to have complete confidence in your mechanics so you can forget about all that and just hit the ball in the hole. When you put all that behind you, all the other important things start to become more obvious, like pattern selection, how to break out balls etc...this really shows up in the more creative games like one-hole and straight pool.
You think Ted Williams swung the bat and said hell I hope my back foot is at a 37.5 degree angle so I can hit this pitch? No he just did all that at practice and got up to the plate and just swung the bat...he perfected everything else so he could start seeing the seams roll on the ball...pick up the pitch faster...let his mechanics take over so he could actualize what was going on around him.
There will never be anything wrong with standing up and walking around, just like a batter if he's not ready guy steps out the box and gets ready.
G.G.
thank you greyghost, that was a awesome qoute from you there. your so right about everything.
A Mind For Pool-Phil Capelle
The Art of War-Sun Tzu
The Unfettered Mind-Takuan Soho
The Book of Five Rings-Miyamoto Musashi
books from the monk/tim miller
The pool books are obvious, the translated books from teachings over 400 to 500 years ago will either help greatly or mess with your head completely. I have had success with all the above, hope this helps. One more thing, if i find i lose focus at the table i go for the chalk. Reset yourself, try to ignore the drunk idiot singing karaoke, focus on the sound of balls dropping in the pocket or the click of balls tapping each other, and get back into the zone. When ready, set the chalk down and do your thing.
The Art of War-Sun Tzu
The Unfettered Mind-Takuan Soho
The Book of Five Rings-Miyamoto Musashi
books from the monk/tim miller
The pool books are obvious, the translated books from teachings over 400 to 500 years ago will either help greatly or mess with your head completely. I have had success with all the above, hope this helps. One more thing, if i find i lose focus at the table i go for the chalk. Reset yourself, try to ignore the drunk idiot singing karaoke, focus on the sound of balls dropping in the pocket or the click of balls tapping each other, and get back into the zone. When ready, set the chalk down and do your thing.
jus7_1nsan3
-_-
Ok, you do all this things and when you make the final stroke something in your head says : I am gonna miss this. You stand up, think again,put some chalk and get ready. You are now confident on making the shot. But again just before sinking the ball that freaking little voice is there again ...so my question is should I stand up again for 2nd/3rd time or shoot repeating myself that I will pot the ball and try to get positive ? I know that I have to be sure of potting the ball but sometimes I do the things again and again and that inner voice doesn't stop.
Thanks.
Think the biggest part of the Mental Game is ACHEVING 110% FOCUS, and TURNING OFF EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND YOU.
Being in a,
BUBBLE!!!
Being in a,
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