The Zone !!

[swisslife77]

First of all, I apologize for my English in advance!
It's not my language, and I strive my best! ;-)

As for the subject: The Zone.......

....I've heard of it and discussed several times, but I think I got it last night for my first time!!
And I need to share, 'cause it was kinda wird!! But enjoyable!

First, a brief feedback of last night:

after a stressfull day (and I mean it) , densed with problems at work, rushing all day since 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, I felt completely exhausted.

At 6:30 I was supposed to pick up a friend and go to play our weekly 8-ball tournement, but I was feeling really tired, both mentally and phisically, and esithating to go or no...

So I was on my couch, staring the tv (it was on, lol) without listening, and honestly without thinking about anything! Just waitimg the time to take the decision.

Finally, more to respect my friend and the other players, I decided to go.

Driving to the pool room takes only 15 minutes, and while chatting with my friend (always over-excited about pool) I was feeling calm and relaxed, even if tired.

The story goes that this feeling "stayed" on me all night.

We played from 7:00 pm to midnight, and I've played the best match of my life!!!

Always cool, never fighting my body back,never thinking at stance, smooth stroke, pre shot routine, just looking at the table, making decisions, executing.

One thing amazed me the most: usually, when I get down and shoot, I kind of "wait" the result,kind of always doubting, but not this time!

So, somehow I wasn't expecting anything from my shots, nor bad or good!Just executing, that's it!!
And you know what! I DIDN'T MISS A BALL ALL NIGHT!!

It felt like a "frozen time"!! Kind of unreal!

People talking, passing by, players breaking or complaining, nothing could bother me! I was in my world, and I didn't know it! Just feeling tired!

Tired BUT awake!!

And I didn't felt any attachement to the game, either! (usually I do, and I get mad at my mistakes)!!

So I guess I was in "safe mode", just saving energy for the task / game.

It felt like a "trance"!!

SO, even if it was great, I'm wondering if it has happened to any of you, if so how, and I'd like to reproduce it!!

What you think?

Thanks for reading and sorry if it might soud stupid, but I needed to share with other billiard-lovers!!

Cheers!

 

[JimmyWhite]

SO, even if it was great, I'm wondering if it has happened to any of you, if so how, and I'd like to reproduce it!!

First of all, congrats!

And of course it has happened.

Finding a way to reproduce it...is a lifelong quest...:grin:

 

[Ghosst]

Here's another discussion of it you might find helpful.

 

[edd]

Congratulations! What you describe is certainly a trance state, where the busy mind "gets out of the way" and allows the unconscious mind and muscle memory to "take over."

Often it is experienced as concentrating and focusing so intently, that its like not concentrating at all. A type of suspension, if you will. A term that describes it is equanimity.

I used to play a lot of music, and the best jazz solo I ever played was when I was concentrating so intently on the chord changes, it was like I wasn't concentrating at all on the solo - it just happened, almost as if someone else was playing.

 

[Scott Lee]

swisslife77...Good for you! Being "in the zone" is something that all poolplayers strive to achieve. Unfortunately it's not something we can control. There are things we can do that make it more likely that we might fall into the zone, but we still never know how long it will last. Congratulations on playing your best...so far!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

First of all, I apologize for my English in advance!
It's not my language, and I strive my best! ;-)

As for the subject: The Zone.......

....I've heard of it and discussed several times, but I think I got it last night for my first time!!
And I need to share, 'cause it was kinda wird!! But enjoyable!

First, a brief feedback of last night:

after a stressfull day (and I mean it) , densed with problems at work, rushing all day since 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, I felt completely exhausted.

At 6:30 I was supposed to pick up a friend and go to play our weekly 8-ball tournement, but I was feeling really tired, both mentally and phisically, and esithating to go or no...

So I was on my couch, staring the tv (it was on, lol) without listening, and honestly without thinking about anything! Just waitimg the time to take the decision.

Finally, more to respect my friend and the other players, I decided to go.

Driving to the pool room takes only 15 minutes, and while chatting with my friend (always over-excited about pool) I was feeling calm and relaxed, even if tired.

The story goes that this feeling "stayed" on me all night.

We played from 7:00 pm to midnight, and I've played the best match of my life!!!

Always cool, never fighting my body back,never thinking at stance, smooth stroke, pre shot routine, just looking at the table, making decisions, executing.

One thing amazed me the most: usually, when I get down and shoot, I kind of "wait" the result,kind of always doubting, but not this time!

So, somehow I wasn't expecting anything from my shots, nor bad or good!Just executing, that's it!!
And you know what! I DIDN'T MISS A BALL ALL NIGHT!!

It felt like a "frozen time"!! Kind of unreal!

People talking, passing by, players breaking or complaining, nothing could bother me! I was in my world, and I didn't know it! Just feeling tired!

Tired BUT awake!!

And I didn't felt any attachement to the game, either! (usually I do, and I get mad at my mistakes)!!

So I guess I was in "safe mode", just saving energy for the task / game.

It felt like a "trance"!!

SO, even if it was great, I'm wondering if it has happened to any of you, if so how, and I'd like to reproduce it!!

What you think?

Thanks for reading and sorry if it might soud stupid, but I needed to share with other billiard-lovers!!

Cheers!

 

[RunoutJJ]

Dead Stroke!! The Zone!! Dead Punch!! Having the cueball on a STRING!!!!


Lucky lucky you brother!! Its a beautiful thing to happen to anybody at the right time. I have a good story (kinda long but worht the read IMO) about being in the Zone for the very first time. I hope you like it




Once I went to the 3rd highest scouted tournament in the nation for ice hockey. We were the worst team there and my coach was starting me against the best team there. He just smiled at me and said... "Just go out there and have fun..." I warranted this as certain death to me and my fellow team mates but it didnt happen that way...



Right before the puck dropped I hung my head and looked at the crease for a minute and thought.. "Well whats the worst that can happen now?? Lose???" I looked up to center ice as the ref checks the other goalie and then me. I raise my glove to let him know im ready and let out a sigh... Then it happened!!! Right off the center they came in hard and fast and threw a shot right over my shoulder and it hit the cross bar!! Now im awake!!! I hold my post left as their player laces a pass from the corner to the slot. The player fires it hard off the pass to the low right and I shove out my leg pad and saved it. They grab the rebound and give it back to my left and I sprawl out hard across the crease with my mit and scooped it up!! The crowd went nuts and the guys on the bench were pounding the dashers and letting me know thats whats up!! :lol:

The play was the fastest I had ever seen but to me it was like reading my favorite novel. Everything was in slow motion or it felt like the players were skating through thick mud. It was a warm and content feeling and almost tranquil. I hadnt a worry in the world. I was solid confident and more importantly FOCUSED!!!! I could see the play developing and be right there at the right time to keep it 0-0. It was well into the 2nd period before they scored their first goal. By that time I had turned away 43 shots and our team had total time possession of 3:30 and 3 shots. It was like a power play that never ended. The scored a fluke goal shortly after that to make it 2-0 and then the period ended.


During the ice cut the locker room was dead silent and everybody was keeping me up just by the look in their faces. They knew they were seeing a young man peaking at the top of his game. My mental and physical games were spiking simultaneously (theoretically speaking) and they knew it!! We took the ice and then got a talk from the coach before we started the 3rd. "Men!!!! Obviously we are completely out classed but I really want you guys to give it all you got... Everything you can munster. THIS is the game you have to show your all in.. You ready???" The bench erupted as the checking line was first out to play.


They were pumped and ready as I stood on the goal line to play out what some sports analysts would have considered a true masterpiece. The puck dropped and the other team dumps it into my end. Then you can guess what happened next.... They played just as tough or even tougher this period and only allowed us 4 shots against them to bring our shot total to 10. Me how ever kept my game in high gear and I never faded. They got a lucky bounce of my defenders shin pad and it went behind me to make the score 3-0 with 4:15 to go. The last 4 minutes went by in what felt like hours but when that final buzzer buzzed I fell on the cross bar and looked around me... The crowd was cheering and clapping the people watching on the glass were clapping and hitting the glass... Even some of the other teams there were clapping and smiling and I smiled and laughed out loud almost hysterically :lol:

In 60 minutes we hit their goal 10 times and they had a time possession of 48:43 with 78 shots and 3 goals!!!

Both teams lined up to shake hands and to say good game.. When I got to the end it was the goalie at that finished his algebra homework for the semester as I saw more rubber than 5 miles of highway. He stopped me and grabbed not just my hand but my forearm..

"You are best "F"ing goaltender I have ever seen.... Great game man." He took a long stare at me, smiled a big smiled and skated off the ice..

Not all stories have a good ending because this was the last minor professional game of my career. I was crushed that the scouts didnt say a thing to me but then again... I know that eveybody there to this day talks about that game and how I played... Not everybody can play in the NHL and some people aren't meant to and I am fine with that.

Im just happy that I got the chance to show them what I had and I was there... In The Zone!!!!!!!! NO drug on this earth can make you feel that good!!!

Sorry for the long story but I can get a little emotional and go off on a rant.

The point I was trying to make is that anybody can get into the zone and when you do you dont want it to end. You should keep playing (if you have the time) until you are no longer in the zone. The time spent there is timeless and priceless. Its the holy grail on all activities whether its pool, hockey, riding cutting horse or painting... It applies to any enjoyable human activity. So again welcome to club euphoric. You will now stay thirsty for a long while but when it returns treasure it.... It doesn't last long enough...... :frown:

 

[Tramp Steamer]

It makes life worth living, doesn't it?
The 'zone', as we call, it is that period of time when we are totally, and completely focused. Everything is in sync. The stroke is dead on. You see the balls perfectly. You have no fear.
Much like the time I was attacked by a drunk mother-in-law. I did the the only thing I could do, cut and shoot. I cut for the corner and shot for home. :smile:

 

[swisslife77]

Thankyou all for the nice words and for your stories!
Yes, it feels good, and I can recall it has nothing to do with billiard!
It all started back home.
I guess the high peak of stress let me "down" , so my mind , being overbusy all day, just pulled up!
And if course, my muscle memory took over!
I think in that state one can achieve anything in any discipline where is confident.

I know how to focus, it's my daily life, since I'm a watchmaker.
Taht means dealing with delicate and intricate objects, that are far smaller than anything else we commonly use in life!

But that......wow! It was intense!
As somebody posted, it's like not concentrating at all, or like looking at yourself in 3rd person, like is not you playing, but you're just watching!

Awesome!

Now working to freeze those feelings, trying to find some anchor to recall a similar state on demand! We'll see.....

Have a great day out there, guys!
And thank for your time!!

 

[naji]

First of all, I apologize for my English in advance!
It's not my language, and I strive my best! ;-)

As for the subject: The Zone.......

....I've heard of it and discussed several times, but I think I got it last night for my first time!!
And I need to share, 'cause it was kinda wird!! But enjoyable!

First, a brief feedback of last night:

after a stressfull day (and I mean it) , densed with problems at work, rushing all day since 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, I felt completely exhausted.

At 6:30 I was supposed to pick up a friend and go to play our weekly 8-ball tournement, but I was feeling really tired, both mentally and phisically, and esithating to go or no...

So I was on my couch, staring the tv (it was on, lol) without listening, and honestly without thinking about anything! Just waitimg the time to take the decision.

Finally, more to respect my friend and the other players, I decided to go.

Driving to the pool room takes only 15 minutes, and while chatting with my friend (always over-excited about pool) I was feeling calm and relaxed, even if tired.

The story goes that this feeling "stayed" on me all night.

We played from 7:00 pm to midnight, and I've played the best match of my life!!!

Always cool, never fighting my body back,never thinking at stance, smooth stroke, pre shot routine, just looking at the table, making decisions, executing.

One thing amazed me the most: usually, when I get down and shoot, I kind of "wait" the result,kind of always doubting, but not this time!

So, somehow I wasn't expecting anything from my shots, nor bad or good!Just executing, that's it!!
And you know what! I DIDN'T MISS A BALL ALL NIGHT!!

It felt like a "frozen time"!! Kind of unreal!

People talking, passing by, players breaking or complaining, nothing could bother me! I was in my world, and I didn't know it! Just feeling tired!

Tired BUT awake!!

And I didn't felt any attachement to the game, either! (usually I do, and I get mad at my mistakes)!!

So I guess I was in "safe mode", just saving energy for the task / game.

It felt like a "trance"!!

SO, even if it was great, I'm wondering if it has happened to any of you, if so how, and I'd like to reproduce it!!

What you think?

Thanks for reading and sorry if it might soud stupid, but I needed to share with other billiard-lovers!!

Cheers!

In pool there are at least 6000 shots types of pocketing balls excluding banks and kicks, at times matches we play have few selected shots of the 6000 which tend to be the not the so difficult type so you Cruise along especially in 8 ball.
To be always in the zone you have to know how to pocket those 6000 shots which also gives you so many options for position play. That is advance pool knowledge, some pro do not even have.