Donald A. Purdy said:
Purdman,
Are you sure he wasn't talking about your strategy for pinball? I'm sure you're a "wizard".
You Have Only One Thought...What?
- Thread starter drivermaker
- Start date
Purdman,
Are you sure he wasn't talking about your strategy for pinball? I'm sure you're a "wizard".
drivermaker said:
"You've screwed up every other shot, what makes you think this one will be any better ?".
Seriously, I don't think I have a thought. Instead I see much clearer pictures of the ball paths (all of them). Sometimes if I'm playing particularly well these little movies I see in my head will illustrate something I had not considered in choosing the shot ... like an unintended kiss after 2 or three rails ... I've learned to pay attention to these movies. When they get blurry or 'unfinished' I have problems.
Dave
Purdman
Banned
Williebetmore said:
Williebetmore, I have never claimed to be a wizard at anything. I will tell ya one thing though. If you work in a 2 million sq. ft. building and the AC quits working, I am your man. 1275 ton chillers is my thing. My AC went out at home on a monday two weeks ago. 2 hours baby and back on line. Whole new unit. I am sure you are good at something also.
Purdman
here's an offshoot...how often do you get into dead punch and how much better do you play versus when you're in a high gear? I've gotten into deadstroke maybe twice this year and was wondering if other people get into it more often.
Williebetmore said:
Only when he includes the "touch me" part!!
drivermaker said:
Your thought was, "I think I'll post on az about having no thoughts---whoops, I just had one."
Concerning the speed thought...to me, this is the last thought to have before squeezing the trigger. I have already done all the necessary work to know what and how to shoot this shot, so now as I finish my last practice stroke, I only think of how hard to shoot the shot, the last variable. Everything else is already set; the speed of my stroke is my last bit of control.
When in deadstroke, I don't consciously think of this, though. But as soon as I shoot and get the results, I always go above the awareness level to understand what happened and integrate it. Then I automatically go back to below the awareness level.
Which reminds me...is deadstroke always subconscious? Or can it be obtained consciously, too? Or by being conscious, is the definition of deadstroke null and void?
Jeff Livingston
Not nearly as often, as I'd like, but enough to keep me trying. The funny thing about it is, as you progress, your definition of dead stroke evolves. What I mean is, many people's idea of dead stroke when they were relatively new to pool, is probably a few gears lower than their current average gear.Egg McDogit said:
Tracy
In the few instances that I have been in that zone, my routine is: determine where the cue ball should end up for the next shot, what needs to be applied to the cue ball to get there (english and speed), aim while standing back a little from the table, go down into my stance and then . . . . . . . blankness. I try to think nothing about the stroke or mechanics and just feel the quality of the hit of cue tip on ball. I know from that feel if I hit like I planned or not.
I guess that makes my last thought "is the aim correct?".
I guess that makes my last thought "is the aim correct?".
DaveK said:
see, this is why I suck I think. I am more linguistic/ logic oriented than feel/visualization. I have a lot more language oriented thoughts than movies. And my movies are subtitled like a depressing foreign film or something. So I get tied up in knots and play mediocre. Same thing in golf. I have noticed I can sometimes play better when I try to turn the language down.
drivermaker said:
Zero thoughts, I think. You are right about lining up, but it just seems like you are lining up with only the actions of lining up. Once in a while a thought might pop in though it is because of a crititcal situation. You address it very quickly and put it away and back to no thoughts.
JPB said:
OK, so maybe I can really screw you up. I believe that it was George Plimpton (sp ? the author anyway) who described his swing thoughts as 'a bunch of Japanese Admirals' on the bridge of a ship all shouting directions into those intra-ship comunications hoses. This is a very bad thing. Do not think of this when trying to swing a golf club or stroke a pool cue.
Perhaps you should try to block the lanuage by listening to instrumental music on headphones while practicing. A little sensory overload can be good for a distraction.
Dave
RichardCranium said:I did have 7 putts for 9-holes once....I only hit 1 green in regulation though....
Sounds like the greens were quite small too ... or your short game was real strong that day. And you were obviously not thinking about those Japanese Admirals, good work
Dave
If I've chosen my aim, where I'll hit the cue ball and the speed at which I will play the shot, the only thought I need is "stay committed to the plan I've made for this shot." When I'm in the zone, that commitment is impregnable, and it puts my whole game on automatic pilot.
drivermaker said:
My biggest problem when shooting is the voice in my head telling me not to leave a shot short, or under cut it, or whatever. When I'm playing well, I'm usually only thinking about where the cue ball needs to go next and where it needs to go after that. When I'm playing well I'm thinking 3 or 4 shots ahead as I'm playing. When I'm playing bad I'm thinking about the shot I'm on and how not to screw it up.
DaveK said:
DaveK,
Was that a "Bogey Man" George Plimpton reference???? If so, far out; kudos.
IMO this is the best thread in months. I'm pretty sure my thoughts revolve around one thing and that is my aim, because everything else just feels perfect and I have no need to adress anything BUT my aim.
People say if it looks wrong but feels right, you will make it, but if it looks right and feels wrong you will miss. What do you all think of that saying?
People say if it looks wrong but feels right, you will make it, but if it looks right and feels wrong you will miss. What do you all think of that saying?
LastTwo said:
It's compelling, but I don't like it.
If it looks wrong or feels wrong, begin your pre-shot routine all over again, because you'll be hard pressed to stay committed to your shot if you don't. Set up again, and don't pull the trigger until it looks right and feels right.
Just one man's opinion.
sjm said:
I think he’s trying to suggest that at times your eyes may deceive you. But your gut instinct is right. An example might be when one is shooting a very close OB to CB cut shot into a pocket far away.
I tend to agree with you, if anything doesn’t look or feel right then reset and start again.
Rick