"Tuning Out" your surroundings while shooting pool

M

mrpool06

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Today I was thinking about this......when I'm playing league, I do devote a small percentage of my thought to my surroundings: who I'm playing, how I'm playing, wanting to impress the people who are watching me, etc....

Face it, if you're running the table, or making awesome shots, its a good feeling to know that you're possibly impressing people around you.

I really need to "tune" all of this out, don't I??? (Not sure if its entirely possible, although I'm sure the pros do).

Any advice on better "tuning" things out??
 
Build yourself a portable sensory-deprivation chamber.

:D

Seriously, I dunno that that sort of thing that other folks can help with... it's such a personal mental thing... I'd figure everyone has their own ways of focusing and tuning other things out, that are incompatible with other people's ways. *shrug*

It sounds like you're mostly where you want to be anyway - I'd just put a bit more focus into your focusing.
 
I don't think it's so much tuning out as it is tunining in to the game itself. The more tuned in you are, the less energy you'll spend tuning out irrelevant stimuli.

I rather try to integrate myself to my environment than try to block it. I need to feel as though I'm in concert with things around me, rather than at odds with it. The more integrated I am, the more concentration and focus I have. Eventually it's just the slate and the balls.

Easier said than done, I know...

P.S. Observing your distracting thoughts without trying to control or judge them is a powerful tool, IMO. Have you got "The Inner Game of Tennis"?
 
Practice being the watcher that observes the thoughts passing through, the shot being made, the sounds, etc. Try to train your mind to focus on one thing. An easy way to do this off of the pool table is counting, repeating a phrase, litany, or mantra, or focusing on your breathing. While shooting, good phrases to repeat might be: My stroke is very smooth, I never miss, or I am the best. Since your mind is capable of focusing attention on several things at one time, the idea is to gain control and only focus on what you want to focus on. Repeating a reinforcing/positive attitude phrase will not only keep you thinking positively, but it helps keep your attention away from potential distractions. Making your pre-shot routine exactly the same for every shot during practice will also help with keeping your attention where it needs to be. When you are distracted at the table, condition yourself to take a walk around the table and use the extra time to focus back in and get rid of whatever emotions you are feeling. Don't be an Earl...
 
It is impossible to tune out your environment for an entire match, or even one game for that matter. Instead, elevate your focus only when you have to. When I am standing, I am aware of a lot going on around me. This is the time for me to think about the shot and what I need to do. Once all the decisions are made, I put down my chalk. At that point, my entire focus is on the shot at hand and my shot routine. Nothing else exists until I have completed that shot. During that short period of time (about 10-15 seconds), I am 100% focused on the shot. Once it's over, I stand up and allow myself to mentally relax while I prepare for the next shot. It isn't hard to focus for just a few seconds. It's very hard to focus on anything for a few minutes. If you work your mental energy when you actually need it, it won't wear you out. If you try to keep that level of focus for an extended period of time, it probably isn't going to work.
Steve
 
mrpool06 said:
Today I was thinking about this......when I'm playing league, I do devote a small percentage of my thought to my surroundings: who I'm playing, how I'm playing, wanting to impress the people who are watching me, etc....

Face it, if you're running the table, or making awesome shots, its a good feeling to know that you're possibly impressing people around you.

I really need to "tune" all of this out, don't I??? (Not sure if its entirely possible, although I'm sure the pros do).

Any advice on better "tuning" things out??
Click to expand...

maybe try this, put your game face on, find the zone stay in it till you grab the cheese, then there's time for the impressing hoop la.
 
if you would like a written reference to help you, I recently read "Play Perfect Pool - How to Eliminate Errors in Your Game" by Will Hathcock and it has helped my game. It is not published yet (I acquired it through a friend), but if you are interested in obtaining a copy of the book, you can contact him at playperfect@cox.net

9balllvr
 
All good points here, but I was reading an article...not pool related....on what happens when we try to focus on 1 thing and tune out everything else. The main thing I got from it that helped me was the fact that we are animals, and the fight or flight...no matter how unnecissary in any situation.....is still what rules us down deep. If we try to tune everything out.....our subconscious wil still be paying attention to EVERYTHING going on, just in case we need to fight or flee.

The ideas I like from this article are to notice whats going on around you to put the fight or flight response at ease, but only pay attention to something IF it's needed. If your playing in a hostile environment, and you might get hurt if you win......do you think the best thing to do is concentrate 100% on the table? or pay a little attention to "how the hell am I getting out of here".

Also, the more you try to "tune out" everything the more your fight or flight response will OVER react even if the slightest thing sets it off. Not to mention as soon as that response kicks in....here comes the adrenaline, and then all hell breaks loose with your game!:D Plus it takes a while to calm down after it starts.

That's why some bullying tushhog shark tactics work.

Gerry
 
Alot of good responses here. Lewdo, pooltchr, and Gerry bring up very good points.

The bottom line is you can never tune out everything around you. If your thinking about it your brain must think it's information that needs to be addressed. Once this information is in your head its in there. You can say forget about it all you want but it won't go away. It will eat at you under the surface until you do something about it and put the issue to rest.

Whatever this issue is deal with it while your standing at the table. Ask yourself why this issue is relevent you and be honest with your answer. For example, an opponent with an audience is making remarks aloud about your poor position play and getting laughs from others in an obvious sharking attempt. Instead of getting angry with him or answering, "he's right I am losing control of the cueball." Your answer should be along the lines of, "He's feeling the pressure I am putting him right now as I make ball after ball. This is the only thing he can do from the chair to stop me." Or He's trying to string my line of thought away from the task at hand. I did get out of line but if I concentrate on the task I will get right back in line."

You will know when the issue is at rest in your head. It is then you should feel free to go thru your preshot routine and play.

There are many different ways players deal with the blabber mouth analytical side of the brain to shut it up. Once we do shut it up we get the feedback more clearly from the body on the physical task at hand...
 
Try playing out a bar with 7 days a week Karaoke. That will help your focus. But obviously if you are one of the best around and people watch you play then sometimes you try to show off. Happens to me occasionally where kind of the ego/hotshot comes out. But most of the time if a group of people are watching me I tend to play real well because I don't want to miss and disappoint.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top