Wow...Breathing is important!

RichSchultz

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Who knew??

What a mistake, trying to practice, with a bad cold. Couldn’t focus, got dizzy, etc.

People who don’t think pool is a sport are minimizing it.

That was just a frustrating hour.
 
Everything matters in pool. It's a mental game as well as physical. I firmly believe in the benefits of eating right. I get kind of nervous, so I don't drink coffee before the tournament, because I know it makes it worse. Also I try not to spike my blood sugar.

I recently played a tournament and I was ill with the flu, it was just setting in at the start of the tournament. I was sweating and stumbling around and my brain was completely fried. I still managed to win a few matches, but I couldn't think clearly and I only managed to run routine racks. After years of playing the "autopilot" is not too bad, but when it gets rough, it's not up to the task.:(

I think the strangest part of being sick like that is the fact that it's almost impossible to get into the zone while playing. It's like watching yourself on tv, rather than being there 100% like you would normally. No matter how hard I try, I just can't get in the right mindset.
 
Everything matters in pool. It's a mental game as well as physical. I firmly believe in the benefits of eating right. I get kind of nervous, so I don't drink coffee before the tournament, because I know it makes it worse. Also I try not to spike my blood sugar.

I recently played a tournament and I was ill with the flu, it was just setting in at the start of the tournament. I was sweating and stumbling around and my brain was completely fried. I still managed to win a few matches, but I couldn't think clearly and I only managed to run routine racks. After years of playing the "autopilot" is not too bad, but when it gets rough, it's not up to the task.:(

I think the strangest part of being sick like that is the fact that it's almost impossible to get into the zone while playing. It's like watching yourself on tv, rather than being there 100% like you would normally. No matter how hard I try, I just can't get in the right mindset.
True, but interestingly, the first tournament I ever won was done while my back was in such pain I was unable to stand up straight. The pain did something to cause hyperfocus.

Weird.
 
My best take away from Mark Wilson's book on pool was his chapter on breathing patterns and your pre shot routine.
He listed examples and graphs related to military snipers and their breathing patterns when taking a shot where upper body stillness crucial to executing the perfect shot.

Embedding the need for controlled breathing into my pre shot routine and general play has paid dividends.
 
My best take away from Mark Wilson's book on pool was his chapter on breathing patterns and your pre shot routine.
He listed examples and graphs related to military snipers and their breathing patterns when taking a shot where upper body stillness crucial to executing the perfect shot.

Embedding the need for controlled breathing into my pre shot routine and general play has paid dividends.

Yep and I learned it from a sports shrink who was a x military shrink and taught it to sniper teams


1
 
Low balling is when somebody offers me less than I was
asking

A generous offer is when i make a lower offer unless you
prefer to call it a helpful option

Dean
 
I have always thought breathing was important. I do the same thing when shooting my bow. I always exhale, go perfectly still and release the arrow.

I incorporated the same thing in to Pool Last summer. I always counted to make sure my practice strokes were consistent. Now that they are, I stopped counting. I always take nice slow breathes. Relax my hand in my grip, breathe out, touch the tip on my tongue to the roof of my mouth and stroke the ball. I know it sounds ridiculous. But it has helped me immensely.
 
Also, important to breathe
slow and deep as your turn approaches. At , least it seems to help me settle down under pressure.
 
Who knew??

What a mistake, trying to practice, with a bad cold. Couldn’t focus, got dizzy, etc.

People who don’t think pool is a sport are minimizing it.

That was just a frustrating hour.

Breathing is key, it`s a bit like target shooting, you need to findt that rythm :smile:
I got a rare condition called tracheobronchomalacia wich means that the bronchi are weak, so when I breathe hard they collapse, mine closes so I really can`t get any air in or out.
On days when it`s real bad, playing good pool is simply impossible as the breath is erratic and my whole upper body simply moves too much to stand real still.
 
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