What do you do when you're in "The Seat"

galipeau

galipeau

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wondering what all you players do mentally when you're opponent is shooting.

Do you examine his or her shooting and think about what you would do with the table layout? Or do you completely ignore the opponent, as their actions are beyond your control (minus sharking)? Do think that your focus should be saved for when you are at the table? Maybe you use a mantra, or something to calm your nerves keep your mind off the shot you just missed.

Share your thoughts!
 
I watch my opponent. Maybe (probably) he'll make a shot/play position in a way I hadn't thought of before.

I don't like the idea of letting my attention wander; it's too hard to bring it back again when I have to shoot.
 
I keep it positive, convince myself to actually pull for him to make each shot. Worst thing you can do is pull for the miss, it causes more and more stress as he makes each shot. Nothing you do in the chair (legally) will affect the outcome, so why boil over it? I also try to anticipate what he will do each shot, comparing what he actually does with how I'd address it...never stop learning!
 
West Point 1987 said:
I keep it positive, convince myself to actually pull for him to make each shot. Worst thing you can do is pull for the miss, it causes more and more stress as he makes each shot. Nothing you do in the chair (legally) will affect the outcome, so why boil over it? I also try to anticipate what he will do each shot, comparing what he actually does with how I'd address it...never stop learning!
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^^^ I do like what he says minus the pulling for him to make every shot thing, I have never thought of it like that. If I can find shots he is weak at or prefers not to attempt it may help me later in a safety or 2 way shot situation. I also like to try to learn everything I can. A very high caliber player seems to run rack after rack and make it look easy, much to learn there for me.:confused:
 
I watch the table, but mostly I think "let me back at the table sucker, and I'm out."

Keeps me focused on the future; puts my bad shot in the past. Worst thing is to go back to the chair fuming about the shot you missed.
 
I played Oscar 10 ball at the barbox' in Reno this year and he was texting and browsing the internet while I was shooting.

Hopefully if he makes the Mosconi cup he will show more class.

JC
 
How to act like "aw that sucks" when he misses or gets a bad roll when Im really feeling "YESSSSSS!"
 
I channel my psychopatic alter ego. A psychopath will be positive even when all hope seems lost. Down 10-0 in a race to 11? No worries, my opponent can't possibly win because I will. I keep a smile on my face because that will make me positive wether I want to or not, just watch Efren. I recently started working on not letting my opponent or their game enter my mind, that will cause some serious problems for some of us. If I actually manage to do my best on every shot there will be no negative thoughts when in the chair.

I know my limits and I accept them when in a match and stay positive.

Golf is not a Game of Perfect!

Amateurs tend to criticize them selves harder than the pros'.

“No matter what happens with any shot you hit, accept it. Acceptance is the last step in a sound routine”
Good golfers have to get over the notion that they only want to win by hitting perfect shots. They have to learn to enjoy winning ugly. And that entails acceptance of all the shots they hit, not just the good ones.

The best golfers strive to minimise their mistakes, but they don’t expect to eliminate them. And they understand that it’s most important to respond well to the mistakes they inevitably do make.

If you want to eliminate anything, eliminate smothering perfectionism.
You must throw away your expectations when you walk onto a golf course and just play.
You must become your own best friend and not berate yourself constantly during practice and play. You have to be non-judgemental, be honest with yourself and work on your weaknesses but not on the golf course. There you must stay optimistic and enthusiastic.
Acceptance allows a golfer to be patient and patience is one of the necessary virtues in golf.

Golf is not a game of justice.
You have to learn how to wait. But you have to learn to wait with confidence.
A successful player has to develop the ability to evaluate himself objectively to work harder when he needs more practice, but to ease up when he’s tempted to push too hard.
You have to remember to throw away expectations, just to have fun and see what’s the lowest score you can shoot. You have to attend to the process and not concern yourself with the results.

http://www.amazon.com/Golf-Is-Not-Game-Perfect/dp/B0000547FP


Best regards
 
When I'd fall behind in a race, i used to worry about catching up. Now i just consentrate game to game, and keeping a possitive outlook. I cant yell you how many times this worked for me.
 
i do something i learned from the book "the inner game of tennis", i just concentrate on the cueball. I dont look at the player, the other players, nothing....i just get lost in the cueball and watching it roll around the table (almost like im in a trance). This keeps my mind empty and if i do get back to the table im ready to play.
 
I try to just watch and keep my head in the game and not think! If I get to analyzing I lose focus.
 
I drink my beer. Hope they miss. Doesn't bother me when a player has a clean run out. Hate slop. Shots or leaves. I do tend to fume over getting left bad if it happens to often.
 
I used to watch my opponent , but after a trip to the sports shrink he told me not to do that ,, it does absolutely zero good ,, if anything that will bring you out of focus not keep you in it ,, now I blindly gaze around the room thinking of nothing ,, when my opponent sits down and I scan the table that's when I start concentrating
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West Point 1987 said:
Worst thing you can do is pull for the miss, it causes more and more stress as he makes each shot.
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I never kept stats, but I have been amazed at what a occasional silent "booga booga" while wiggling a couple fingers toward the table will do to a shot.
 
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I"m usually staring at the waitresses arse, seriously. And if I can't see her, I start scanning the room wondering where she is :) The less I see them shoot the better... cause then I'm thinking "what is he doing that for"... I focus less on his game, and more on mine.

Yeah, he might double hit the cueball... but when there is a close shot or something I call over the ref, and still don't watch... let the ref make the call, I'm looking for the waitress...if the ref makes the wrong call, he's not gonna change it, and i'm just gonna be pissed off and sell out....so why bother... my new "zen" approach to being less aggravated by pool and enjoying it more.
 
When I'm in the chair - I watch the table and think about what I would do if I were my opponent.

I also watch the table to see if it has a weird roll to it, to see if a rail is dead or plays wonky, all the minor things. If my opponent is breaking and is consistently making balls on the break then I'll adjust my break to match theirs as well.

Other than that, I sit calmly, breathe and wait for my next shot.
 
BeiberLvr said:
Hit on his girlfriend.
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Ha! nice...

I used to get so worked up about what my opponent did, but after playing some really good shortstops, I decided it's not worth the aggravation. Also, if they run out, I figure they deserve the win.
 
I focus on my breathing & only watch the cueball, just close enough to ensure a foul hasn't occurred. My opponent gets 0 attention, he doesn't exist to me. :boring:
 
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