The Sixth Sense

[Bluewolf]

Is this the sixth sense or is it zen pool?

Ability to clear your mind of negative thoughts is very important. I don't know about you guys, but I sometimes use a kind of psychological trick, which could be called "neutral word" -effect. I have a word in my mind which has no meaning to me, it's just plain neutral to me. When the doubt creeps in my mind, I try to concetrate only on this word and clear my mind from all other thoughts. I've found this technique quite effective in tournaments.

Hope this helps...

My first step on this was similar to what you are saying but I used a positive thought like eberle said 'you can trust your stroke' or something like that when I was nervous.

Next I began a type of practice which was suggested by my much better playing husband, which I coined 'zen pool'. This carried over to most of my matches.It is without thought, without emotion, nothing matters but the pure joy of just getting down on the shot and shooting,stroking. I look at the shot, see where I want the cb to go and just get down and shoot. Sometimes the balls go in, sometimes they do not. Sometimes the cb goes where I want sometimes it does not. But there is no attachment to any of that, just what fancher called 'the pleasure of small motions. No shot is any more important than any other shot. There is no money ball. Games behind or ahead if noticed at all, are without attachment, either mentally or emotionally. Just play.

I have full confidence that the brain sees errors in aim, shape and so forth and in time corrects those on a subconcious level. So over time I get better. Not perfect, not running racks, just better in time.

I used to worry about so and so being better and I was tied up in knots. This change in the attitude took all self judgement all anxiety out.

As far as when the shot does not look, right, stand up for sure but without anxiety, just another natural motion, part of the whole play.

Now, I have not been playing very long so there are lots of people who shoot better and that does not matter. Sure I try to win but if I do not, that does not matter. All that matters is shooting without thought, without emotion. Then it is fun, it is relaxing, the focus is there. The skills can come in time. The wins can come in time. Why worry or beat myself up? It is self defeating anyway. It will not change anything. There is no substitute for time on the table,anyway, so why worry?

I do not like the game if I am distracted by my thoughts, thinking bad things about my play or I might miss the shot, I might lose, I might look bad, people will think I cannot play, all tied up in knots. Playing tied up in knots and all distracted was no fun at all to me and I decided that I was not going to care anymore about what level I shoot at, who was better or any of that. When I decided, starting with the 'zen pool' practice, that none of that mattered, I did quickly start shooting better, but shooting relaxed and focused.

Personally I would rather enjoy the game or why play at all?

Laura

 

[BAZARUS]

Originally posted by satman
Yea but if I try to look at every different angle I play like crap. I know after all these years what I need to do unless in a difficult position. If I get in my zone and don't think too much, I might beat anyone. It's that thinking that gets you in trouble sometimes. Don't think- just play. Sam

There is so much to it, that sometimes is hard to decide on what to do. Important thing is balance.
What happened to Johny Archer when he decided to speed up his game last year? He won 7 mayor titles!
On the other hand players like Salvas or Williams play way to fast and that is not helpping them to win a mayor title. I've been watching them closely on tour ad seems like sometimes they don't think at all. That speed is killing them, so they should propably slow down a little bit.
Efren got usually slow, very steady speed, but when he is on the 30 sec clock shot his play doesn't change!