Zen and the Art of Pre-Shot Routine Maintenance

[smokey]

ok pj, ya wanna win, huh?? here are some FACTS...

No, it wasn't. You're thinking of an episode described in Zen in the Art of Archery. The "blind man" was the teacher and the author was the student - and the teacher wasn't blind, it was just in a darkened room. The teacher later explained that it was just a fluke shot, and a shot that hits the previous arrow is actually a bad shot, not a good one.

pj
chgo

you are correct about the book 'Zen in the Art of Achery' but that is not what i stated...

again if only you are interested, here is 'only' what i have been led to know and understand, right or wrong, again, only what i have have been led to understand...

according to the myth of Zen Masters there were experiments done on film to determine the veracity of great claims of Zen Masters

the arrow in the bulls-eye by a blind Master was demonstrated, and further, the blind Master then split the previous arrow...

all on camera/s

i would have hoped you would never doubt that i am a fool [not only you, but my wife and children too - lol] and that i never speak without knowledge, but i have had much more important hopes that also failed

so be it

anyway, all the best,
smokey

 

[LC3]

I'd rather try to be creative in applying scientific work (cognitive science) to playing pool ... I can imagine, for example, some Chinese sports minister pairing up with cognitive scientists, and devising such things for Chinese players. The art of pool would be HUGELY enhanced if it could be made into an Olympic sport--and academic experts started applying their discipline to pool.

Excellent point! Zen, a branch of Buddhism, is about achieving enlightenment, not sports excellence. Just as Olympiads aren't trained by monks, pool players should focus on the methods used to build champions in other sports.

Not to derail this thread, but Zen in the Art of Archery isn't a very good reference for Zen, kyudo, or modern Japanese martial arts in general. Eugen Herrigel's teacher, Awa Kenzo, taught kyudo according to his own spiritual concoction, which he called The Great Doctrine, and was considered an eccentric by the kyudo community. Herrigel too was given to eccentric mysticism, so we're left with an eccentric's account of an another eccentric's not-quite-Zen philosophy. On top of that, Herrigel didn't speak Japanese and Awa didn't speak German; a Japanese professor helped out with what couldn't have been more than occasional interpreting.

 

[duckie]

The phrase "pre shot routine" brothers me. If there is a preshot routine than there must be a shot routine and a post shot routine.

Isn't it all really a shot routine. No pre shot, shot or post shot routines involved. Just getting up to the table and run balls.

As long as you think that the shot making process has seperate parts to it and is not a whole process, you'll be stuck. You'll never be free to experince pool at the highest level.

There is no pre shot routine there is only the shot routine.


FWIW

 

[Black-Balled]

The phrase "pre shot routine" brothers me. If there is a preshot routine than there must be a shot routine and a post shot routine.

Isn't it all really a shot routine. No pre shot, shot or post shot routines involved. Just getting up to the table and run balls.

As long as you think that the shot making process has seperate parts to it and is not a whole process, you'll be stuck. You'll never be free to experince pool at the highest level.

There is no pre shot routine there is only the shot routine.


FWIW

Semantics...the shot is the striking of the ball. Pre-shot occurring prior to striking, post-shot after striking. All together, pre, impact, post is your 'shot routine'

You've thought too much here.

 

[JimS]

I don't like the idea of all one routine.

If I had to break it down I guess I'd call that which is done while standing the pre-shot routine, that which is done after lowering oneself into position to shoot might be the shot routine and the post shot routine comes after the moment that the cb has been struck.. i.e. the follow through, hand to chest, staying down, etc.

There are a lot of individual moves to complete from start to finish and it helps (me) to seperate those into catagories.

 

[LC3]

There are a lot of individual moves to complete from start to finish and it helps (me) to seperate those into catagories.

It helps us all. A good pre-shot routine prepares us for a good shot, and the follow-through gives us a purposeful conclusion and an opportunity to check our technique.

 

[smokey]

hey Duckie...

The phrase "pre shot routine" brothers me. If there is a preshot routine than there must be a shot routine and a post shot routine.

Isn't it all really a shot routine. No pre shot, shot or post shot routines involved. Just getting up to the table and run balls.

As long as you think that the shot making process has seperate parts to it and is not a whole process, you'll be stuck. You'll never be free to experince pool at the highest level.

There is no pre shot routine there is only the shot routine.


FWIW

fwiw - you did it again...

great point [imo]

i don't know if this is right, but the only word that comes to my mind is "EXECUTION" and that to me is the ZEN if you will in performance

and as you said, it is all ONE - EXECUTION

and to keep this post short and sweet let me just say, i agree that first you must have a stroke and other concepts in the bank, but at high level that is a given, then all that is left imo is i say it again - EXECUTION

and all of this is just one dumbbell's opinion - mine and maybe yours too - ???

all the best,
dumbbell aka: smokey

 

[duckie]

If one follows the lead dog, the view never changes.

Meaning, instead of repeating or following what is, look for what is not.

Form your on ideas and opinions and not just repeat what others say.

Make something your own.

Be the Budda.

 

[smokey]

If one follows the lead dog, the view never changes.

Meaning, instead of repeating or following what is, look for what is not.

Form your on ideas and opinions and not just repeat what others say.

Make something your own.

Be the Budda.

"ditto"

best always,
smokey

ps: i hope pj thinks about this...
i hope we didn't steal his thread, and, what we think didn't fit into his 'belief system' of 'how things should be'
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