They say this game is 90%.half mental?

lfigueroa said:
I don't know that there's any reliable way to get into that fugue state we call "dead stroke," other than constant study and practice. And then there’s the issue of “dead stroke” as a moving target.



IMO, dead stroke happens because on certain days many small physical things happen to sync up for us. Some of these little things are seemingly insignificant, but actually quite important to whatever idiosyncratic quirks make up our individual body mechanics and stroke. The mental state is just a manifestation the confidence we end up feeling and perhaps mild euphoria.



So I think dead stroke visits us when we're doing one, two, or maybe more things, differently than before. Perhaps a bit more of a step to the left, establishing contact between bridge hand and cue shaft with different motion, a slightly longer or shorter bridge, a longer or shorter grip, a slightly turned wrist there, a higher or lower head, a more level cue, a longer back stroke, a more relaxed or tighter bridge, and so on. On occasion, all this comes together to produce a precise stroke and the ability to do what we will with the cue ball.

Then, the mental part of dead stroke comes to us and we become absorbed by our ability to execute shots with sharpened precision. The next day, we go to the table and, because we're not machines, we do it a bit differently, and end up with different results.



Way back when, I would notice that if I just played very quickly, without thinking, I could play "very well." I would run around the table, collapse into a stance, throw a hodge podge of sometimes unorthodox bridges on the table, and zip the balls into the pockets. I could run a lot of balls this way. The problem was that this "system" wasn't reliable enough to count on.



Nowadays, it's more the opposite. I find that it's when I'm concentrating on the balls and table, considering every nuance of the upcoming shot, position play, table layout, and using a very studied technique, that I play "very well.

"

So why the difference? I think it’s because the words "(play) very well" have a different meaning for me now than before. The lack of reliability that I experienced as a younger player was because I just wasn't good enough and didn’t have the knowledge I have today. The failure of my earlier "system" was actually my failure as a player. I could only play so well and missed the balls and position plays I was suppose to miss -- at the time -- not knowing I was suppose to miss them and blaming the "system."



Now, I think I have a better appreciation for how difficult the game can be, and can more clearly see what I don't know and might not be able to execute. I also now know, with much more accuracy, what playing "very well" means. Many times in the past, I thought I was playing "very well." Now, I have a much more narrow definition of those words and they require a much higher level of precision and consistency in execution than I would have used just six months ago.



So what does this mean? I dunno. Perhaps it's just that "dead stroke" means different things to different people, and different things at different times in our lives. Certainly, "dead stroke" for a player that has only been playing for a year or two, means something quite different than to a player with twenty or thirty years of playing experience. And because we keep "raising the bar," dead stroke always remains elusive and a very hard place to get to.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

How in the world are you in my head????lol
 
whitewolf said:
Here are AZ's forum rules, which you are clearly violating:

New forum rules regarding posting of links - 08-28-2010, 04:05 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please adhere to these new rules regarding news links in messages here on the forums.

We are not enacting any major changes and these rules will not affect the vast majority of posters.

1. If you are simply posting a link outside of AzB and your name as a message, it is against the rules.

2. Posting a thread from the forums on your own forum and directing people to your forum to continue the conversation is against the rules.
Click to expand...

What the hell are you talking about??????? I don't get it....you quoted a message I directed at cj???? Not a single link??????????
 
The release is like "snow falling off a bamboo leaf".

lfigueroa said:
I don't know that there's any reliable way to get into that fugue state we call "dead stroke," other than constant study and practice. And then there’s the issue of “dead stroke” as a moving target.



IMO, dead stroke happens because on certain days many small physical things happen to sync up for us. Some of these little things are seemingly insignificant, but actually quite important to whatever idiosyncratic quirks make up our individual body mechanics and stroke. The mental state is just a manifestation the confidence we end up feeling and perhaps mild euphoria.



So I think dead stroke visits us when we're doing one, two, or maybe more things, differently than before. Perhaps a bit more of a step to the left, establishing contact between bridge hand and cue shaft with different motion, a slightly longer or shorter bridge, a longer or shorter grip, a slightly turned wrist there, a higher or lower head, a more level cue, a longer back stroke, a more relaxed or tighter bridge, and so on. On occasion, all this comes together to produce a precise stroke and the ability to do what we will with the cue ball.

Then, the mental part of dead stroke comes to us and we become absorbed by our ability to execute shots with sharpened precision. The next day, we go to the table and, because we're not machines, we do it a bit differently, and end up with different results.



Way back when, I would notice that if I just played very quickly, without thinking, I could play "very well." I would run around the table, collapse into a stance, throw a hodge podge of sometimes unorthodox bridges on the table, and zip the balls into the pockets. I could run a lot of balls this way. The problem was that this "system" wasn't reliable enough to count on.



Nowadays, it's more the opposite. I find that it's when I'm concentrating on the balls and table, considering every nuance of the upcoming shot, position play, table layout, and using a very studied technique, that I play "very well.

"

So why the difference? I think it’s because the words "(play) very well" have a different meaning for me now than before. The lack of reliability that I experienced as a younger player was because I just wasn't good enough and didn’t have the knowledge I have today. The failure of my earlier "system" was actually my failure as a player. I could only play so well and missed the balls and position plays I was suppose to miss -- at the time -- not knowing I was suppose to miss them and blaming the "system."



Now, I think I have a better appreciation for how difficult the game can be, and can more clearly see what I don't know and might not be able to execute. I also now know, with much more accuracy, what playing "very well" means. Many times in the past, I thought I was playing "very well." Now, I have a much more narrow definition of those words and they require a much higher level of precision and consistency in execution than I would have used just six months ago.



So what does this mean? I dunno. Perhaps it's just that "dead stroke" means different things to different people, and different things at different times in our lives. Certainly, "dead stroke" for a player that has only been playing for a year or two, means something quite different than to a player with twenty or thirty years of playing experience. And because we keep "raising the bar," dead stroke always remains elusive and a very hard place to get to.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

It may be time for some Zen Mumbo Jumbo.:groucho:...I would recommend reading 'Zen and the Art of Archery'....it's a simple, one day read, and after reading it 5 times I will still get something out of it when I read it the 6th ..."the hitter and the target MUST become one"...:yeah:
 
cjssecrets4u2 said:
It may be time for some Zen Mumbo Jumbo.:groucho:...I would recommend reading 'Zen and the Art of Archery'....it's a simple, one day read, and after reading it 5 times I will still get something out of it when I read it the 6th ..."the hitter and the target MUST become one"...:yeah:
Click to expand...

Great book! Even if you haven t got a clue til now or before. You can benefit from this book also if you never had any contact with archery or zen itself at all.

lg
Ingo
 
cjssecrets4u2 said:
It may be time for some Zen Mumbo Jumbo.:groucho:...I would recommend reading 'Zen and the Art of Archery'....it's a simple, one day read, and after reading it 5 times I will still get something out of it when I read it the 6th ..."the hitter and the target MUST become one"...:yeah:
Click to expand...


Read it, along with several others. Timothy Gallwey too. And what I have found is that while the mumbo jumbo can be inspiring and help you get into the moment you need the physical skills first. Then you can derive benefit from the mumbo jumbo.

And since we're starting a book club, to achieve the physical skills (horse before the cart and all that), I would recommend you read, "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Covlin and "Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot" by Richard Restak. The former will basically tell you that the path to success is to put in 10,000 hours (hit a million balls) and the latter will give you tips based in the latest neurological research on how to improve your concentration.

Much better than the mumbo and the jumbo combined ;-)

Lou Figueroa
 
Last edited:
When in doubt don't

lfigueroa said:
Read it, along with several others. Timothy Gallwey too. And what I have found is that while the mumbo jumbo can be inspiring and help you get into the moment you need the physical skills first. Then you can derive benefit from the mumbo jumbo.

And since we're starting a book club, to achieve the physical skills (horse before the cart and all that), I would recommend you read, "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Covlin and "Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot" by Richard Restak. The former will basically tell you that the path to success is to put in 10,000 hours (hit a million balls) and the latter will give you tips based in the latest neurological research on how to improve your concentration.

Much better than the mumbo and the jumbo combined ;-)

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

So on a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rate your concentration?
 
macguy said:
Everything is not 99% mental it is 100% mental. It is the conscious mind that gets in the way of everything. We trust what we know we can do without reservations. You get in your car and go on your way and don't dwell on how bad you can get hurt in an accident even though there is real danger we dismiss it. It is what keeps us sane.

The interesting thing about fear and doubt when you are doing something like playing pool is, there is no real danger, it is all imagined. It is your mind creating imaginary irrational fears. Once you can take a reality check it all goes away. In fact quite the contrary, you will feel excited with the prospect of competing and showing off your skills you have complete confidence in.

I learned this from a guy who used to come in my pool room who was a relief pitcher in the big leagues. I remember asking him, doesn't it scare you coming into a game where so much pressure is on you, aren't you afraid you may screw up? He said "no, I'm not afraid of anything, in fact nothing is better then coming in in a critical situation, I look forward to it, I can't wait to get in the game".

In pool you can sit in the chair waiting your turn scared to death you are going to screw up and create a "Self fulfilling prophecy", or you can sit there waiting for your chance to show what you can do, excited to get your turn.
Click to expand...

You do understand if you could teach this you would be a very wealthy man don't you?
 
ComptonCustomCues said:
This is a question I have been asking myself for awhile. When I'm in dead gear you might not get to shoot from the flip in a race to 5 or 7. I can put down package after package. But when I'm not....its everything I can do to get out. Let alone play good safe(weak part of my game). I can't seem to figure out what that mental switch is that makes me come alive. I can't understand why the difference is so BIG. I have caught good b and a players in tournaments that have gotten out to 5 and 6 game leads......then wam. I get tired of them winning and all they do is sit the rest of the set and watch me or maybe come to the table long enough to kick at a ball. But it seems like when I'm trying to catch that gear gambling I can't get there....:frown:. Any ideas CJ? You might be one of the best people on the planet to ask:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, you say when your playing good you can run out sets of 5 to 7 racks, over and over, what would you rate yourself, a A, AA or pro level player? I noticed your from Tn? A lot of good players in Tn. I personally think confidence is the main factor once one learns how to play. There are just days its not there, and that goes for all professionals also.
 
backplaying said:
Out of curiosity, you say when your playing good you can run out sets of 5 to 7 racks, over and over, what would you rate yourself, a A, AA or pro level player? I noticed your from Tn? A lot of good players in Tn. I personally think confidence is the main factor once one learns how to play. There are just days its not there, and that goes for all professionals also.
Click to expand...

Lets put it like this....I stand no chance against oneal or anyone of his caliber.Hell there are guys who stand no chance with guys like that, that I can't beat. My biggest problem is I can do it in a tourny.....or just playing around......but not for the cash...and I can't do it over and over. That was streching the truth and exagerating a little:o(I did say might not) I have done it before on more than one occasion(ran several races to five out in tournaments and even a 7 for shits and giggles).....If I go to playing on my 4.5 inch valley I am the favorite to run at least a three pack in 3-6 hours.....I find the diamonds easier than my table. For example recently I played a 6 ahead against a pretty strong player in which I broke and ran a three pack.....a two pack.....and several more singles.....I lost the match:frown: I have no clue what level of player I am....every time I think I am playing A level pool I lose matches I feel I shouldn't lose due to folding under cash pressure(except for playing the ghost which I do real well):confused:....so no clue where I stand......Josh tells me I suck...so I guess I suck:eek:
 
Last edited:
cjssecrets4u2 said:
So on a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rate your concentration?
Click to expand...


I'll play, but first you'd have to tell me what a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 means to you so I can give you a meaningful representation. I will tell you that my ability to concentrate, going back many years, is excellent.

Lou Figueroa
 
cjssecrets4u2 said:
So on a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rate your concentration?
Click to expand...

I think mine is pretty good most of the time, but not always.
If I'm going to lose it, it seems to happen with a thin cut, a long back cut, or on a ball with a lot of side spin that is hit hard. Then it becomes a guesstimate with doubts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top