The Zone

[lfigueroa]

Good point, duckie. My experience is similar to yours. One of the pool-related things I do is cue repairs. In earlier days of performing this service for money it was very distracting to have a customer looking over my shoulder and asking me questions while I was working on his/her cue. Over time, I learned how to answer the questions and fade the distraction all at the same time. It was necessary to learn to do this in order to keep my fingers attached and keep my customers coming back, as well.

Learning that skill then transferred over to my pool game. I discovered that being in "the zone" largely means having true focus. And I'm not talking about focusing with the mind, I'm talking about focusing with the eyes. If you always keep your eyes on your work, it's much easier to keep the bulk of your mental attention there, too.

Watch the great players. Their eyes almost never leave the table; even when they're not the one shooting.

Roger

Not too long ago I relearned this trick of never taking your eyes off the table.

Originally it came to me the night before playing in a big 9ball tournament up in Missoula back in the early 80's. I was warming up the night before playing some $10 9ball with another payer and, for reasons unknown, it came to me that the longer I focused on the table the more info/data I was giving my wetware (brain). That, in turn, allowed my brain to give more precise instructions to my body for getting into proper shooting position for exactly the shot I wanted to execute and how I wanted to execute it. And so I played that tournament always keeping my eyes on the table (and not the cute bar maids) and shot really well.

Lou Figueroa
took 2nd

 

[Neil]

How you get into the zone the quickest? If disturbed, how do you get back into the zone?

If you really do play 8-10 hours a day and only miss about one ball, maybe YOU should be telling US how you get in the zone?? What's YOUR "secret"?

 

[8pack]

If you really do play 8-10 hours a day and only miss about one ball, maybe YOU should be telling US how you get in the zone?? What's YOUR "secret"?

Yoda can do anything,I think it has something to do with the force.:grin:

 

[Yoda4962]

My Secret

If you really do play 8-10 hours a day and only miss about one ball, maybe YOU should be telling US how you get in the zone?? What's YOUR "secret"?

First off, i am always looking to learn from others, that's why i asked.

However, here is SOME of the techniques i use.

1. I come to the table, and I DONT try to run out, i try to increase my awareness of the object ball, the cloth, the dirt on the balls, the way the balls sound, feel, rebound....etc...etc.

2. I never, never, never, never look away from the object ball. I do not allow myself to 'cross check', looking back and forth between the cue and object ball. I find that i do more of this cross checking when i am nervous, or not playing well......and when in the zone, i never look away from the object ball. I even look for the actual contact between them, and never move until everything has stopped. I try to get into a trance like state, not running out, not playing pool, but DANCING !

3. I squeeze a ball in my left hand during time away from the table. (scientific study was done).

4. I think it's very important to root for and enjoy, my opponent, rather than sit there wishing him ill will and a visit from the IRS .

 

[Yoda4962]

Another thought,, i heard this at the last tournament

If you really do play 8-10 hours a day and only miss about one ball, maybe YOU should be telling US how you get in the zone?? What's YOUR "secret"?

A great player lost a match,, his inits are CD, and he said to me...." i'm the greatest practice player in the world, and I get here and DOG it !! "

So it happens to us all, and this is one of the hardest areas of pool to learn to master.

 

[Neil]

First off, i am always looking to learn from others, that's why i asked.

However, here is SOME of the techniques i use.

1. I come to the table, and I DONT try to run out, i try to increase my awareness of the object ball, the cloth, the dirt on the balls, the way the balls sound, feel, rebound....etc...etc.

2. I never, never, never, never look away from the object ball. I do not allow myself to 'cross check', looking back and forth between the cue and object ball. I find that i do more of this cross checking when i am nervous, or not playing well......and when in the zone, i never look away from the object ball. I even look for the actual contact between them, and never move until everything has stopped. I try to get into a trance like state, not running out, not playing pool, but DANCING !

3. I squeeze a ball in my left hand during time away from the table. (scientific study was done).

4. I think it's very important to root for and enjoy, my opponent, rather than sit there wishing him ill will and a visit from the IRS .

thank you for the reply. I also do #1. I always make sure I look at the cb also to verify that I am going to hit it exactly where I intend to. I think that for me it does the same purpose as your not looking at the cb does.

 

[Yoda4962]

consider this.....

thank you for the reply. I also do #1. I always make sure I look at the cb also to verify that I am going to hit it exactly where I intend to. I think that for me it does the same purpose as your not looking at the cb does.

I have been playing for at least 30 years, and not once in that 30 plus years, have i ever missed the CUE ball !!! lol

 

[Neil]

I have been playing for at least 30 years, and not once in that 30 plus years, have i ever missed the CUE ball !!! lol

Now I'm curious, are you saying that you never look at the cb? If so, how in the world are you using CTE?

 

[JB Cases]

I talk myself into it. I start out by saying to myself what I have to do, where the cue ball should go, basically coaching/commentating on the game as I play it in a positive way. As games go by I find that I am talking less and simply shooting until I am completely in the zone and not aware of anything else.

 

[Yoda4962]

I understand your question.....

Now I'm curious, are you saying that you never look at the cb? If so, how in the world are you using CTE?

Yes, i understand your point, but i mean to say, that once i am down on the shot, done a pivot to center, then i am DONE looking at the CB. All my focus is on the object ball, and I have to be willing to trust my stroke.

Hope you try this if you have not already, it might help you too.

 

[Neil]

Yes, i understand your point, but i mean to say, that once i am down on the shot, done a pivot to center, then i am DONE looking at the CB. All my focus is on the object ball, and I have to be willing to trust my stroke.

Hope you try this if you have not already, it might help you too.

o.k., I gotcha. Yes, I am very similar. I make sure that I am hitting the cb exactly where I want to, and then after that all focus is on the ob.

 

[CJ Wiley]

"don't get to attached to the object ball it's going to be gone soon"

First off, i am always looking to learn from others, that's why i asked.

However, here is SOME of the techniques i use.

1. I come to the table, and I DONT try to run out, i try to increase my awareness of the object ball, the cloth, the dirt on the balls, the way the balls sound, feel, rebound....etc...etc.

2. I never, never, never, never look away from the object ball. I do not allow myself to 'cross check', looking back and forth between the cue and object ball. I find that i do more of this cross checking when i am nervous, or not playing well......and when in the zone, i never look away from the object ball. I even look for the actual contact between them, and never move until everything has stopped. I try to get into a trance like state, not running out, not playing pool, but DANCING !

3. I squeeze a ball in my left hand during time away from the table. (scientific study was done).

4. I think it's very important to root for and enjoy, my opponent, rather than sit there wishing him ill will and a visit from the IRS .

I certainly have a different philosophy, I ALWAYS stay tuned to the Cue Ball. It's the primary target and I was taught by one of my original mentors to feel like I "become the cue ball".....and just "be aware" of the object balls presence.

Like I was told, "don't get to attached to the object ball it's going to be gone soon", however, you don't ever want "Whitey" to leave your sight. Just Food 4 Thought. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[AtLarge]

... you don't ever want "Whitey" to leave your sight. ...

CJ -- At the instant your tip strikes the CB, are you looking at the CB (what is called a "cue-ball-last" look)? Or are you just keeping the CB in your peripheral vision while focusing primarily on an object-ball-last look?

 

[peteypooldude]

Work on the B game, thats the one most players take with them 8 out of 10 times

 

[CJ Wiley]

great shotmaking has always been (for me) in my hands/touch/feel and body alignment

CJ -- At the instant your tip strikes the CB, are you looking at the CB (what is called a "cue-ball-last" look)? Or are you just keeping the CB in your peripheral vision while focusing primarily on an object-ball-last look?

I look at the object ball last and feel the connection between the two. This is just my experience, however, when I start trying to "See" the connection/angle better I get to conscious and my game falters. From my experience it's best to "Feel with Your Eyes".

I have never played great because I was seeing exceptionally well.....the key to great shotmaking has always been (for me) in my hands/touch/feel and body alignment. I like the idea of my eyes being utilized AFTER my body is set on the shot to start the pre shot routine.

It just makes sense to me that my eyes follow my body once my body is Aligned to the "line of the shot" properly. This is where you get the consistent perception you need to play at the highest level possible.

 

[justadub]

Last night, at league, circumstances dictated that I get up to play first, without having had any practice time.

I took out my cue, spread a few balls on the table, shot 3 or 4 of them, without extended preparation. I just got down and shot, as we had to start soon. After 3 or 4, I felt so good, I said "let's go".

I played the best match I've had for some time. Beat a similarly skilled opponent 4-0, in 9 innings. (APA 8-ball) I don't often shoot like that. I have before, so it's not completely foreign to me, but very rarely.

Now I wanna know how to "get back there".... I'm almost scared to go shoot again, cuz I don't know if I'll play that well again. (Not really, actaully I'm excited to play again.)

This came up in a thread on lengthy shooting times on the main forum, and discussions of over-thinking things. I believe that applies to me, as well, and last night I tried to not do that, initially. Very quickly I wasn't thinking about much, just focused on the table, "not thinking".

Now, dammit, how do I do it again????? :grin: If I could get THAT part of this down, that will be a MAJOR improvement.

 

[sfleinen]

Last night, at league, circumstances dictated that I get up to play first, without having had any practice time.

I took out my cue, spread a few balls on the table, shot 3 or 4 of them, without extended preparation. I just got down and shot, as we had to start soon. After 3 or 4, I felt so good, I said "let's go".

I played the best match I've had for some time. Beat a similarly skilled opponent 4-0, in 9 innings. (APA 8-ball) I don't often shoot like that. I have before, so it's not completely foreign to me, but very rarely.

Now I wanna know how to "get back there".... I'm almost scared to go shoot again, cuz I don't know if I'll play that well again. (Not really, actaully I'm excited to play again.)

This came up in a thread on lengthy shooting times on the main forum, and discussions of over-thinking things. I believe that applies to me, as well, and last night I tried to not do that, initially. Very quickly I wasn't thinking about much, just focused on the table, "not thinking".

Now, dammit, how do I do it again????? :grin: If I could get THAT part of this down, that will be a MAJOR improvement.

Hi Bruce:

Congrats for some nice playing(!) -- and blockage of that "backseat driver that doesn't know when to shutup" (i.e. the conscious mind).

To answer your question (as best I can, anyway), perhaps you might find this an interesting read?

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=216564

HTH,
-Sean

 

[justadub]

Thanks, Sean. I remember reading that thread when you first wrote it, but of course it didn't stick.

I went and shot some this afternoon. I'm still trying to find that off switch....but I did discover something. Last night I was playing 8-ball. This afternoon, i was practing 9-ball, since that is my league tomorrow night. In 9-ball, I have to move the cue ball around more than I do in 8-ball. More conscious thought, sadly, trying to think out "the leave". Hopefully, as I get better at hitting the ball harder (another problem you have helped me with) that will become more natural, and hopefully less conscious. I don't play as much 9 as 8, either, so that doesn't help.

I appreciate the link, and the suggestions, as always.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Everything at some level is relative

Thanks, Sean. I remember reading that thread when you first wrote it, but of course it didn't stick.

I went and shot some this afternoon. I'm still trying to find that off switch....but I did discover something. Last night I was playing 8-ball. This afternoon, i was practing 9-ball, since that is my league tomorrow night. In 9-ball, I have to move the cue ball around more than I do in 8-ball. More conscious thought, sadly, trying to think out "the leave". Hopefully, as I get better at hitting the ball harder (another problem you have helped me with) that will become more natural, and hopefully less conscious. I don't play as much 9 as 8, either, so that doesn't help.

I appreciate the link, and the suggestions, as always.

Playing "opposite handed" for 10 minutes is another way to "get into automatic pilot" sometimes when other things are failing you. Then when you switch back to your natural way it will seem so much easier. Everything at some level is relative. :wink: