Long post: With about 50 years of bad pool shooting technique, I know how tough is is to break those bad habits, especially regarding stroke delivery. Having a lesson with Mark Wilson a few years ago tamed that problem, but coming off the Covid layoff has awakened my jumpy transition. What's worked for me recently is having this specific stroke delivery thought (memory) in mind: how long my Thru stroke will be. I am thinking about that during the backstroke pause - it gives my mind something to do and forces the pause to occur. (It's similar to a top player's recent tip that, on a draw shot, his only thought is to 'finish the stroke'). My thought is all about how I will deliver the cue stick to and thru that span of 5 or 6 inches past the cue ball; thinking about that targeted piece of real estate also helps me start the stroke slowly. (This concept of thinking pre-shot, about how long a back stroke I'll use, and how far my Thru stroke will go past the cue ball, helps me try out different 'gears' / speed for a shot.) Many pro players have a collection of different distances on their back and forward strokes, and trying to mimic those various gears gives me a way to gauge the power. During the pause, I'm not trying to tell myself how to deliver that exact stroke, just want to help my stick-brain recall how I do it.