Ways to improve your focus?

B

BlueCollarBar

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Recently Ive made some major improvements on the physical side of my game and I'm now able to be competitive with some rather accomplished local players but inevitably I make a couple mental mistakes that end up costing me and it's usually late in the match.

I've worked really hard on developing a solid preshot routine and it has helped reduce the mental errors substantially but has not eliminated them. I'm sure if I continue working on it I will improve even more but I am wondering if there is anything you all have done that has helped you in this area of the game?
 
BlueCollarBar said:
Recently Ive made some major improvements on the physical side of my game and I'm now able to be competitive with some rather accomplished local players but inevitably I make a couple mental mistakes that end up costing me and it's usually late in the match.

I've worked really hard on developing a solid preshot routine and it has helped reduce the mental errors substantially but has not eliminated them. I'm sure if I continue working on it I will improve even more but I am wondering if there is anything you all have done that has helped you in this area of the game?
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If doubt pops into your mind while aiming stand up and go over your PSR again. Easier said than done though.
 
philly said:
If doubt pops into your mind while aiming stand up and go over your PSR again. Easier said than done though.
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I've gotten much better about that as well. That used to be one of my biggest faults. And damn right it's easier said than done!

I don't see many professional pool players stand up and reset very often. Golf on the other hand you see it all the time. It's always amazed me how Tiger Woods can stop his down swing if something distracts him or doesn't feel right and starts over again.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
I've gotten much better about that as well. That used to be one of my biggest faults. And damn right it's easier said than done!

I don't see many professional pool players stand up and reset very often. Golf on the other hand you see it all the time. It's always amazed me how Tiger Woods can stop his down swing if something distracts him or doesn't feel right and starts over again.
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Pool pros don't experience doubt the way we do. They totally trust their aim, stroke, and manner of getting shape. This said every once in a while you will see them back off and rethink.
 
Be very deliberate in your hit.

As for that deep down digging for focus, it took(and is taking) me seasoning from pressure situations.
 
Meditation and hypnosis can be very helpful for building a molecular memory for focus and relaxation.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
So you think it could just boil down to experience?
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Somewhat, though there must be another way.

I played in a tournament where i only needed a couple of balls, easy shots, to finish. I just told my very hungover self, whatever you do, just make this one ball(both times) because that's all that matters. I focused so much on those two shots that i was able to recapture that focus afterwards when i felt it was needed.

When I'm not shooting particularly well, i do things like focus on a very deliberate hit. My entire playing style has been a mishmash of applying fixes here and there for problems that i find myself having, though.
 
focus

Traditional Karate training. And, gambling (playing for your own money). Sober. That will make you bare down as much as anything.
 
I have a problem with not staying down on my shots. Since I've adopted the snooker-style 4-point stroke, I know immediately when I'm jumping up or not aligned correctly by whether or not the cue is touching my chest. Earl advises a lot of people to hold their breath when pulling the trigger on a shot, and that seems to work for some people as well. As far as practicing your mental game.... it's similar to the physical side. There are no shortcuts, just hard work.
 
Keith Jawahir said:
I have a problem with not staying down on my shots. Since I've adopted the snooker-style 4-point stroke, I know immediately when I'm jumping up or not aligned correctly by whether or not the cue is touching my chest. Earl advises a lot of people to hold their breath when pulling the trigger on a shot, and that seems to work for some people as well. As far as practicing your mental game.... it's similar to the physical side. There are no shortcuts, just hard work.
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You don't Hold your breath you just stop breathing ''during the shot'' is the correct term, big difference.
 
Slow, level, straight backswing. Concentrate on straightness. Accelerate foreswing smoothly and through the cue ball contact point. Keep body and head perfectly still during this delivery. Do not drop your shooting elbow during the stroke. Check your tip at finish. It should be pointing down or parallel to table. If it is pointing up, you dropped your elbow. Slow backswing is very very important. No jerkiness.
 
tableroll said:
Slow, level, straight backswing. Concentrate on straightness. Accelerate foreswing smoothly and through the cue ball contact point. Keep body and head perfectly still during this delivery. Do not drop your shooting elbow during the stroke. Check your tip at finish. It should be pointing down or parallel to table. If it is pointing up, you dropped your elbow. Slow backswing is very very important. No jerkiness.
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All good advice but that doesn't really apply to focus. That is just good mechanics and that is not where my issue lies. The problem is staying focused for 100% of the shots and executing the mechanics to the best of my ability. I do that 95% of the time it's that 5% that's holding me back.
 
BlueCollarBar said:
All good advice but that doesn't really apply to focus. That is just good mechanics and that is not where my issue lies. The problem is staying focused for 100% of the shots and executing the mechanics to the best of my ability. I do that 95% of the time it's that 5% that's holding me back.
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Just thought of it..

Play some 14.1. That game is so mentally draining for the fact that you do have to give every shot your full attention/focus or else you risk killing a nice run or, worse, handing over the table on a rattled ball. That's how i felt when i started in on it anyways.
 
Banks said:
Just thought of it..

Play some 14.1. That game is so mentally draining for the fact that you do have to give every shot your full attention/focus or else you risk killing a nice run or, worse, handing over the table on a rattled ball. That's how i felt when i started in on it anyways.
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I like that idea. I've never played and I'm not 100% clear on the rules because I can't find any clear cut info anywhere. I get the idea of it though.
 
Banks said:
Just thought of it..

Play some 14.1. That game is so mentally draining for the fact that you do have to give every shot your full attention/focus or else you risk killing a nice run or, worse, handing over the table on a rattled ball. That's how i felt when i started in on it anyways.
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Another option, which I used to do, is similar. Rack all 15 balls, break them wide open, run them out. Repeat. See how many you can run. Not as tough as 14.1, but the idea is to break your high run, then break it again and again. Once you get past 50 or so, is where you see the change in focus start to happen, and you have to refocus or start all over.
 
I know how you feel just yesterday I missed 3 shots because of focus . I need to do something about it . I would have won two games if that focus was there through out my run. It seems like my focus disappears at the end of a run . sometimes it starts when im on the 8 and other times its on the ball before 8 .or ill make 2 perfect backs in a row and the straight in I loose the focus. either way I need to correct this in the next two weeks. APA will be starting for me.
 
Being mentally prepared to WIN or do whatever is required to win is a large part of focus. When I practice I always act as if I pocket these balls I will win the match..(Double hill..etc..) Mentally prepare yourself to perform under all circumstances..tell yourself you are playing your toughest opponent, or a situation where you normally falter.

Your mind does not know the difference between reality and perceived reality. This will go a long way towards making you mentally tough....Lack of focus is just choking....Turn a weakness into a strength.
 
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