I just went through all the contributions that were made to the original thread and tried to compile a list of ideas. This is the first draft of that list. In a day or two, I'll add any new items and do a little editing to make the list more concise. I also have an idea or two about how a player might make use of the list and I'll include those ideas with the final compilation. Hope this helps someone out there!
1. Be still – I think I got this from Patrick Johnson on RSB, but Jay Helfert has also stressed this. It covers a lot of stuff to be just two words!
2. Watch the cue ball contact the object ball – Nick Varner
3. Respect the shot – sixpack & Southpaw– One meaning here is that you should treat EVERY shot with the same respect, even the so called “easy shots.”
4. Light grip and stay down! – Joe Koontz
5. Understand the natural path of the cue ball after contact, uninfluenced by side spin – Island Drive
6. Think, “Sam Perkins” – Voodoo Daddy – for Voodoo, Sam Perkins exemplified smoothness, so thinking “Sam Perkins” before a shot is really a reminder to stroke and follow through smoothly. Also mentioned by Steve – Detroit and it’s in Rod’s signature.
7. Have a pre-shot routine and follow it! – supergreenman on AZ
8. “Make the ball!” – Williebetmore on AZ – Meaning whatever you do, make sure not to shoot until you are totally committed to doing whatever it takes to make the ball; and that your last thought before shooting is concentrate on pocketing the ball. This advice was also given by two lesser known players, namely Willie Mosconi and George Breedlove.
9. Stand up and decide on the shot (offense/defense, speed, English), chalk up, then think of absolutely nothing and let your body do the work. – Hierovision on AZ
10. Take what the table gives you and don't fight the table. In other words, do the highest percentage thing YOU know how to do (not what Efren would do). – Stones on AZ
11. Don’t let DISTRACTIONS cause you to lose focus on the shot – CaptainHook on AZ – Also mentioned by Rudolf Wanderone, cue fanatic on AZ, and Island Drive on AZ.
12. “Forget your name” – Tristan on AZ – “Sounds like mumbo-jumbo, I know, but I dare you to try it while shooting! It's unbelievable...”
13. Not talking aloud to my opponent, spectators, myself, helps focus concentration. – Pushout on AZ.
14. "I quit missing those shots when I came to the realization that there is no such thing as an easy shot." – Luther Lassiter (Wimpy)
15. KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid) – randyg and others
16. “Bear down!” – Russ Chewning of AZ. “It's my main mantra, as bearing down tends to work my fundamentals into shape as well.” Also a phrase used by Police Bears when one of their fellow officers has been shot.
17. “Always step into your shot. Do not put your foot in the bucket.” – 3kushn on AZ. Hey, I’m not sure what this means, I’m just the scribe here.
18. “Stay away from beer.” – JoeyInCali on AZ.
19. Reduce back and forth eye movement – JoeyA on AZ.
20. Set-pause-finish-freeze – pooltchr on AZ.\
21. Have a consistent aiming system – Luv2RunOut1 – on AZ.
22. “Work Hard” with the sub-idea of enjoying the process as a learning/growing experience – Colin Colenso on AZ.
23. When missing shots, remind yourself to level your cue – Vinman on AZ.
24. Have a plan – Nick Varner once said he never executed a shot without a plan in mind.
25. Mike Sigel claimed that he never pulled the trigger on a shot without believing the ball would go in. Also mentioned by worriedbeef on AZ.
26. The “granny mode” – Someone once advised that when you are not playing well you should put your game in the “granny mode.” By this he meant you should slow WAY DOWN. Slower movements around the table, taking more time with your decisions, taking more warm up strokes, etc.
27. Full backstroke – I have noticed that when I get nervous at the table, my backstroke shortens. At times I have been able to correct this by consciously making a full backstroke.
28. Have fun! – This is from several people including Bob Fancher’s book “Pleasures of Small Motions.” There have been times that my game improved dramatically after reminding myself that I am playing pool primarily to have fun.
29. Stay down – Jimmy Reid once said he could tell who the good players were in a pool hall within a few minutes of entering the room. He said all he had to do was watch to see which players stayed down on their shots.
30. Most shots or missed because of INDECISION – I think I got this from Dr. Dave on CCB, but Tate on AZ has also said something like this. MattRDavis said, “be decisive.”
31. Focus on the one shot right in front of you; success should be defined in terms of the percentage of shots during the session that you give your best to. Delivering a quality stroke on a shot where you have a clear plan and have made a commitment to play in a given way is ALL YOU CAN DO. If you do this shot after shot, you are playing your best, right?
1. Be still – I think I got this from Patrick Johnson on RSB, but Jay Helfert has also stressed this. It covers a lot of stuff to be just two words!
2. Watch the cue ball contact the object ball – Nick Varner
3. Respect the shot – sixpack & Southpaw– One meaning here is that you should treat EVERY shot with the same respect, even the so called “easy shots.”
4. Light grip and stay down! – Joe Koontz
5. Understand the natural path of the cue ball after contact, uninfluenced by side spin – Island Drive
6. Think, “Sam Perkins” – Voodoo Daddy – for Voodoo, Sam Perkins exemplified smoothness, so thinking “Sam Perkins” before a shot is really a reminder to stroke and follow through smoothly. Also mentioned by Steve – Detroit and it’s in Rod’s signature.
7. Have a pre-shot routine and follow it! – supergreenman on AZ
8. “Make the ball!” – Williebetmore on AZ – Meaning whatever you do, make sure not to shoot until you are totally committed to doing whatever it takes to make the ball; and that your last thought before shooting is concentrate on pocketing the ball. This advice was also given by two lesser known players, namely Willie Mosconi and George Breedlove.
9. Stand up and decide on the shot (offense/defense, speed, English), chalk up, then think of absolutely nothing and let your body do the work. – Hierovision on AZ
10. Take what the table gives you and don't fight the table. In other words, do the highest percentage thing YOU know how to do (not what Efren would do). – Stones on AZ
11. Don’t let DISTRACTIONS cause you to lose focus on the shot – CaptainHook on AZ – Also mentioned by Rudolf Wanderone, cue fanatic on AZ, and Island Drive on AZ.
12. “Forget your name” – Tristan on AZ – “Sounds like mumbo-jumbo, I know, but I dare you to try it while shooting! It's unbelievable...”
13. Not talking aloud to my opponent, spectators, myself, helps focus concentration. – Pushout on AZ.
14. "I quit missing those shots when I came to the realization that there is no such thing as an easy shot." – Luther Lassiter (Wimpy)
15. KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid) – randyg and others
16. “Bear down!” – Russ Chewning of AZ. “It's my main mantra, as bearing down tends to work my fundamentals into shape as well.” Also a phrase used by Police Bears when one of their fellow officers has been shot.
17. “Always step into your shot. Do not put your foot in the bucket.” – 3kushn on AZ. Hey, I’m not sure what this means, I’m just the scribe here.
18. “Stay away from beer.” – JoeyInCali on AZ.
19. Reduce back and forth eye movement – JoeyA on AZ.
20. Set-pause-finish-freeze – pooltchr on AZ.\
21. Have a consistent aiming system – Luv2RunOut1 – on AZ.
22. “Work Hard” with the sub-idea of enjoying the process as a learning/growing experience – Colin Colenso on AZ.
23. When missing shots, remind yourself to level your cue – Vinman on AZ.
24. Have a plan – Nick Varner once said he never executed a shot without a plan in mind.
25. Mike Sigel claimed that he never pulled the trigger on a shot without believing the ball would go in. Also mentioned by worriedbeef on AZ.
26. The “granny mode” – Someone once advised that when you are not playing well you should put your game in the “granny mode.” By this he meant you should slow WAY DOWN. Slower movements around the table, taking more time with your decisions, taking more warm up strokes, etc.
27. Full backstroke – I have noticed that when I get nervous at the table, my backstroke shortens. At times I have been able to correct this by consciously making a full backstroke.
28. Have fun! – This is from several people including Bob Fancher’s book “Pleasures of Small Motions.” There have been times that my game improved dramatically after reminding myself that I am playing pool primarily to have fun.
29. Stay down – Jimmy Reid once said he could tell who the good players were in a pool hall within a few minutes of entering the room. He said all he had to do was watch to see which players stayed down on their shots.
30. Most shots or missed because of INDECISION – I think I got this from Dr. Dave on CCB, but Tate on AZ has also said something like this. MattRDavis said, “be decisive.”
31. Focus on the one shot right in front of you; success should be defined in terms of the percentage of shots during the session that you give your best to. Delivering a quality stroke on a shot where you have a clear plan and have made a commitment to play in a given way is ALL YOU CAN DO. If you do this shot after shot, you are playing your best, right?
