What triggers you into deadstroke?

UWPoolGod1

UWPoolGod1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Seems to me that there is some higher level of concentration that must be attained for deadstroke to be reached. Everything is in focus. Not thinking about the shot...it is going in...not thinking the leave...it is rolling perfect to where is is supposed to go. Open table...the game is over.

I have been playing pretty solid for the past few months, running out consistently but still missing easy outs. Last night, for the first time in forever I got in deadstroke heading through the losers bracket after a loss in a 9ball tourney. Normally I would have just tried to fight my way through, missing a ball here or there, but last night I got "triggered" into deadstroke.

A very good local player, pissed at missing several shots against an weaker player (and eventually losing) beat his $1500 Hunter cue on the table twice (hard enough for dents I am sure) and later jousted it at the cueball after he lost. This immediatley got me focused and triggered in my current match, won 3-0, and the next since I had to play him next to get to at least 3rd. He started the same antics which fueled my fire and I beat him 3-1 with two BNR's and a run out on his scratched break. Since I got to keep playing right away I beat the guy to get to a at least 2nd 3-0 with 2 BNR's. Then I steamrolled over the guy on point 3-0, 3-1 to win with 5 runouts from his or my break. Man it is a great feeling getting in that frame of mind...maybe it was the bad Karaoke (sp?) in the background I was pissed at. In all those games I think I missed one shot.

Has anything "triggered" you to getting into deadstroke? Do you have certain routines you follow to make it easier? Mine is far and long in between, but when I am I have a half-pissed-angry type of focus expression on my face with my eyes looking up towards my eyebrows...like a tiger ready to strike. Must focus better on the balls that way, keeping the head down on the one hit spot. What are your thoughts about deadstroke?
 
That is some great shooting...
I have only been there once and have not figured out how to get back since. It would probably help if I could play more than once a week but man what a feeling that is. Just remind me, if I ever have to play you, not to piss you off :-)

Regards,
Dave
 
Yeah there have been a few things that have triggered me over the years that make me get into shooting like god for an hour or two. Playing serious with several friends of mine was key. Always wanting to be the best of the group I would get focused at losing a few games in a row. A few times I got mentally focused into deadstroke because of the way my friend pulled the balls out of the pocket and rolled them to me. I watched him walk around the table and pull the balls out with a "here's the balls, suck on that" wrist flick that spun the balls down to the foot of the table. Man that got me shooting in a hurry. Made him my rack byatch for a while.

When we play serious we never talk or pretty much acknowledge the others presence. Then there is always the uncomfortable drive home until one of us starts going off on the way they played and then all is good.

A well timed scratch by the opponent, followed by their b!+ching is always a good moment to break their spirits in a race by running out. Then they throw the balls around the rack while setting up the balls. That gets me going to. A "You haven't seen what's next" attitude kicks in. Man I love this game.
 
I agree with DD, b4 we hook up UW send me a list of your peeves:)

I'll take a stab at this, although I dont think I will be able to fully define how I feel when I play that way. Somethings cannot be put into words.

I think it has alot to do with true inner confidence in yourself and game. I think you have to be truly comfortable with your surroundings, comfortable with yourself, and have a goal set prior to even walking into the building that your are going to win the tournament. You stay focused on the game, not talking to a bunch of folks and drinking too much. Your head is at the table instead of elsewhere. Even when you are not playing, you are watching other peoples games, analyzing possible routes, critiqueing (SP?) their shots, etc.

You have no fear of your opponents, whoever they are and how they play. You play to win whether you are playing someone you know is a mid-range B or an A. Dont play down a lower skilled person. Sometimes I get Bu7tterflies in my stomach when I play someone I know plays really well, that negatively affetcs me because I am not focused solely on my goal. Dont have a care in the world about who you are playing, play the table.


Finally, I feel like my senses are very acute when I play Dead on. It is one of those nights where you look at the shot and POW it goes in, No guesses on exact angle. Bank lines appear on the felt like that 1st down laser marker on the field in the NFL. BAM!
Maybe it is a combination of what we ate and how much sleep and if the wife put out and all that stuff in your recent past that puts your mind in that state. I can only surmise!

If you figure it out TS, bottle it up!
 
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Hey KC, I'll fax that list up ASAP LOL.

Yeah I think the confidence factor has been a big contributor in deadstroke and the way that I have been playing lately. I have played in over a hundred tourneys, but most against bar players. I have played in the good poolhall tourneys with the better players, (Dr. Cues), but rarely got into the money. Had a "Great, I have to play (JD, Mike Z, Atwell) in the first round..again" type of confidence killer. I think that I have got passed all of that now. If they run out, they run out..that's what the pros do...just take advantage of what you get, when you get it.
 
"Triggering" deadstroke might not be the ideal way to describe it, because it implies an active measure on your part -- and actively thinking about deadstroke is usually what kills it. As Bob Fancher explains it in The Pleasures of Small Motions, internal verbalization interferes with your body being able to relax and do the nonverbal task that you have trained it to do. And, as the other posters write, there's nothing like lack of confidence to get you jabbering to yourself.
 
Fast Larry responds:

Fast Larry Responds

I can go in and out at will, I do it with pre programmed codes and commands, it is called Zen, I teach this.

:D Left clic the below underlined web site and see it come on.
 
Anger seems to be my trigger.

When someone makes me angry every other thought in the world leaves my mind except sticking it to anyone I am up against. All the worries, pressure, and doubts vanish as well as the "If I miss this what will my opponent have" thoughts.

Just last week I was playing in a 5 way ring game and this same guy kept wanting to redraw for the shooting order. I went along once or twice but when he then said he wanted to change order every game he made me mad. After arguing for 5 minutes I told him I was done playing around and was going to start running racks. He laughed at me in response.

My next turn I ran from the 2 out, broke and ran out, broke and ran to the 8 and got out of line on my shapes. Needless to say it shut him up. I then continued to shoot well until everyone quit on me.
 
KingCarem said:
I think it has alot to do with true inner confidence in yourself and game. I think you have to be truly comfortable with your surroundings, comfortable with yourself, and have a goal set prior to even walking into the building that your are going to win the tournament. You stay focused on the game, not talking to a bunch of folks and drinking too much. Your head is at the table instead of elsewhere. Even when you are not playing, you are watching other peoples games, analyzing possible routes, critiqueing (SP?) their shots, etc.

You have no fear of your opponents, whoever they are and how they play.
Click to expand...

This is a great post. When you're in the zone, everything is enhanced. You are confident, focused, and can't wait to get back to the table. Your emotions and game are well under control. Under these circumstances, you are allowing yourself to play your best.

Chris
 
There are things I tell myself and then my stroke cadence changes. When that changes and I am no longer hearing anything around me, I know I am going in. I also cannot always get in. I know my key but have not totally mastered control over various aspects of myself.

I know it is odd for a person who has played for a relatively short period of time to have these experiences, but I had them in other sports prior to pool and have also studied zen and meditation.

IMO, to do this at will comes with study of spiritual principles like zen, such as Larry suggests. I do not do this for some reason in a quiet place. It seems that for me, noise is required.

Larry may disagree, but in watching and talking to players, it seems like each person gets in there in a different way.

I once talked to an A player who was getting ready for a tournament. He informed me that when he entered the tournament, the pockets would be breadbaskets and he would not be able to miss. Apparently he had found the key, but could not tell anyone what that key was.

Laura
 
Jay Z said it best -- "I can not lose!"

I don't think I have ever been in dead stroke, I don't think I am at that level yet, but when I have the mentality that I can not lose, I usually don't, I just start playing smarter. I've only had 2 break and runs in 8-ball in my last 2 years of playing. Ive never BNR a rack of 9-ball when it mattered, but I was able to outplay my opponent mentally to a win. I wish I could find the dead stroke so I wouldn't have to think so much when I am playing.
 
TATE said:
This is a great post. When you're in the zone, everything is enhanced. You are confident, focused, and can't wait to get back to the table. Your emotions and game are well under control. Under these circumstances, you are allowing yourself to play your best.

Chris
Click to expand...

Again from Pleasures of Small Motions, when you're in this state: you can see the entire table. Meaning you give the table a glance, and you can already see the runnout. When you come to the table to play a shot, your body actually tells you subconciously what shot you have the ability to pull off. If you start looking at options 2 or 3, you may feel uncomfortable over the shot. So, in most cases, you go with the first instinct because your body has those shots filed away in it's muscle memory.
 
How i fall in to deadstroke" Is when i'm down on rackes and i need to win.I call it, "Fear to lose stroke". Some people have it and not know it.But it's there always ...It saved me a lot of time in big matches.The first time i knew i had it. I was in ATL GA playing in a tournment .And End up playing Tony W. And U know who he is .I was down out the gate 3 to 0 and I was in fear of get beat by him so .I happen to get back in the game tie the score and "still" lost . 9 to 7 .It was sweet.Because i'm just a low key pool player.And he big time .So feel if you have it in your heart and your mind you can fall in DEADSTROKE MODE TO ....
 
deadstroke

Mr. blud ....Does the deadstroke come in every cue or is it optional like an inlay? start each day with an open mind and end it with a full heart.
 
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