From your comments, I've seen that you are also interested in the mental side of the game. The lesson I'm sharing here is a very important tool to perform at your highest level. If you want to learn more about the mental side of the game, participate in a monthly giveaway, and even receive secret bonus videos - subscribe for free to my newsletter: newsletter.sharivari.net
"Trust your aim" is what I constantly tell myself in situations like this. Because I found out I missed many shots just because I didn't and slightly corrected my aim. Now I pick a spot where I want to cue ball to go and just do it, focusing only on my stroke and follow through and not at all at the ball I try to pot. And it worked wonders for me.
This is truly a great advice. It worked for me since i doubt my aim and constantly adjusting just to get the perfect one ending up messing. I used this advice it make my shots more accurate since my mind si occupied in just the my strokes
It’s the opposite for me. I play better and miss less when I’m facing tougher opponents. I miss a lot when I’m facing someone I deem weaker so I easily lose the game. How do I fix this? I want to face everyone with my A+ Game every time anywhere
Same. I had this happen last week. I usually step up to a higher level player and play down to lower level competition and make stupid mistakes. Trying to fix this part of my game now.
Auto pilot is what formula one drivers call it, other sportspeople usually call it being ´in the zone´. I remember the first time I experienced it on a pool table, out with friends in the pub I had just run three racks in a row (very unusual) and my friends were a bit pissed. It was like waking from a trance, I couldn´t remember one shot. After that my concentration was broken and I hardly potted another ball.
Good timing because I have been thinking about this aspect of the game lately. I will study this in my upcoming play and take more careful not of my personal experience. I played competitive racquetball throughout my adult life and learned pieces of this mindset but I will readily admit pool is different, with different mind-games going on. You have sparked my interest some more...thanks.
I've found that if I have more than 2 thoughts in my head while going for a shot, it helps me to just step back, take a breath and tell myself to just make that ball and don't worry what happens after. I usually end up leaving myself decent for the next shot.
This is so true. When I’m just playing around I can make some crazy shots. Even seemingly difficult shots with ease… Then when the pressures on I miss super easy shots I would never miss. It speaks to the psychology of the game and how over thinking can really work against you. I have to learn to trust the shot… but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Great video btw.
Same for me. I play against Mt GF a lot and don't care if I loose against her so I shoot better. When people in the dive bar come to shoot me explicitly, I miss easy shots. 🥵🥵😡😡🤬🤬
Very Nice video! Excellent points you make. I learned a long time ago that when I felt that pressure, even just thought about “my opponent is up by three balls, I have to…” I played badly. Thing is, I have always loved pool, and get actual joy seeing (and even more if it’s me making it) a beautiful shot, with cue ball control. So I learned that when it was my turn, just think “I want to see a great shot now” and as you say, the generals view, what needs to happen. Also first bar tournament I played in eight ball, double elimination, my first game I played WAY under my normal game. Got mad at myself, and then thought “screw it, now I’m just gonna have fun” and won game after game. Was in the final against a guy that was kind of a jerk and the whole bar knew it. My first turn I ran all my balls…I was so focused. Thing is, I got great position on the eight, it was just hanging in the corner pocket and I remember breathing out, thinking “this is it, I’ve WON” and shoot and the cue ball follows the eight in the pocket. The whole bar collectively groaned. Was a great lesson that it’s not over until it’s over and if I had just kept focus one shot more would have won.
Excellent lesson! Especially , don’t say I can’t, say “ I will make this shot. In this regard, I am trying to change my mind set from , “ if I miss where will I leave the cue ball for my opponent , to “ where am I going to leave the cue ball for my NEXT shot.” Thanks for another great lesson.
PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS!!!!! Prime example here, sir! I'm BIG on the mental game as I spent over a decade of my life playing professional golf on numerous different tours here in the U.S. As the old golf saying goes, which also applies 100% to pool as well- "The toughest course you'll ever play is extremely short and only about 6 inches long....... It's the gray matter between your ears!!!" . Truer words have never been spoken IMHO. One thing I immediately caught at the first of this video was the quick, and intentional, comment you made to yourself at about the 1:51 mark. You said, "I better not miss this shot.... it's important.....". Now, granted you may have intentionally meant to miss that shot, but in my opinion while facing a pressure shot situation, you wouldn't have stood a chance of pocketing that ball had you really tried because you basically just told yourself that you'd already missed it prior to even shooting. Great lesson learned here! 👍
I like how you focus teaching people on the mental side of the game. Didn’t know that you could be affecting your own self by giving so many directions. Good notes!
I totally agree. Having gone through many slumps over the years myself, I used say to myself that I wasn't putting in enough effort. Granted, you NEED to practice shots and shoot drills to become a better pools player - just shooting games is not enough, But when playing, I now say "don't try to make it happen, just let it happen." And also realize, sometimes it's your day, and sometimes it's not. This attitude has removed a lot of stress from the game and made it fun again for me....and now my slumps are fewer and further apart.
I know a couple of players who are starting to question their entire game whenever they are having a bad day. A while ago, I was also one of those players. But just as you said, sometimes it's your day and sometimes it's just not. Great comment!
@@Sharivari Thanks for the reply. I wanted to share another issue I have been struggling with that goes along with the mental aspect of pool. Having played recreational pool all my life, I've been playing competitively now for about 5 years. The one thing I am struggling with is maintaining muscle memory. If i don't shoot pool for 2-3 days, I need 15-30min by myself on a table to get into stroke, which is rarely possible before league/tournament. And not having the luxury of a pool table at home doesn't help either. None of the home techniques (the bottle, simple stroking, even using the Shooters Pool simulator) seem to work for me besides actually stroking balls on a real table. Any other ideas?
@@two-four_delta2899 Unfortunately, it's very difficult to maintain muscle memory if you are not able to actually play. A big part of my practice without a table was just practicing and fine tuning my bridges on the kitchen table. And watching matches on RU-vid was an even greater impact. In the second half of this video I covered a couple of more things you can do without a table. Hope this helps: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CARYtJl1Czw.html
Once you think too much your are doomed to miss because your mind is trying to comprehend so much and it just can't it wants to relax and be calm and you need that for pool to make the ball and get good shape on the next ball
Played like I never played pool before yesterday night not making many pool shots. Had negative energy in my head. Tonight in race to 5 only made like 1 or 2 positional errors. White washed opponent 5-0. Confidence was very high. Positive mindset.
I played an older player with a vast knowledge of the game,he played a simple and wonderful game,he seldom missed a shot and was never out of line. I was at a total loss.He kept telling me to keep it as simple as possible but i was playing like a novice.He gave me an aiming tip and because of that I was constantly missing shots that I shouldn't have,it complicated my thought process because I started to instruct myself on every shot and you can imagine how that went😂.Thanks for all the great videos sir.
Oke, so if this is true, why do so many pro players need over 30 seconds to do each shot? There are so many slow players. If you just have to trust your practise and body, every shot can be done within 15 seconds.
Because not every shot selection is obvious. Sometimes you need to consider every possible option first and then make a decision based on percentages. This is the task of your concious mind and can take some time. And once you're ready with that, it can also take some time to feel the shot (especially on difficult ones) before you are finally able to go down.
Thanks! Exactly what I needed. When I first started playing, I had no muscle memory, so I had to think a lot. I now have some muscle memory but because I got used to thinking, I think too much (Really overthinking) and then miss shots that I normally make when I am too tired to think. I just realized this this weekend. Guess the magic is to think just enough (whatever that is) and not too much.
I also experimented with different approaches for many years. I think I've found the right balance now, especially when it comes to what I have to think about and what I should not think about while playing. You already did the first step by realizing it this weekend. And with time you will figure it out aswell. And thank you for the donation, I really appreciate it!
Algren: “Too many mind?” Nobutada: “Hai (yes). Mind the sword, mind the people watch (watching), mind the enemy, too many mind... No mind." ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uZZdRy_GGwk.html
Once you know the shot then you shouldn't worry that your aim is wrong just trust your aiming right and trust your own stroke and you should have no difficulty making the ball you want to make
In this video about BHE and FHE I am showing you how I am applying spin. It's at 7:27 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XzReP5txdV8.htmlsi=fUKNWSgnZ9sQrabc
Facts!! Long story short, auto pilot is your best friend in competition.. In March of 2023 i was shooting excellent, now in November with league and tournaments in my area starting back up im on the struggle bus. Why? Because I didn’t shoot with other people much, I mainly shot by myself. So now I have some bad habits to unlearn 😅
It's true that your shot success rate improves with more experience. However, the fundamental strategy remains the same, regardless of how long you've played pool.
I 200% overfeed my brain. Not sure how to shut it off. Been trying to focus on what I need to do vs what the shot means, other details. But they creep in!
It's funny that that is exactly what i discovered a few days ago, and there is me surfing and finding this video. This idea came from watching mohammad soufi playing, and it seems that he follows just his instinct.
personally I have these thoughts often but if its a pressure situation I try to find one thing about the shot to focus on and just think about that. it might be the speed, the contact point of the tip, making sure my stroke is smooth or straight and so on
"just missed a ball in pool", well I rarely post comments, but I also feel that the conception thinking about stuff in life really helps under pressure. I related to that quote for sure :D Good video by the way!
I agree with most of this … with a twist. We don’t need to think much when we face a shot that’s part of our repertoire. I’m a fairly average player so when faced with a shot I haven’t practiced much I have to either figure something out, or accept a horrible position. Safety anyone!!!
But how do you take everything I learned from watching you and walk into a bar room with a table that's not exactly level and the felt is warn out and crappy old sticks with tips?
I completely understand your concern about playing pool in less-than-ideal conditions, like a table that's not perfectly level or with worn-out equipment. It's true that these factors can pose challenges, but remember, everyone playing in that environment is dealing with the same conditions. So, it's not just you facing these hurdles - your opponents are, too.
@@Sharivari same concept. She leans more into hitting key shots 150 times until it's as natural in your subconscious as driving a car or going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
My subconscious mind is better at playing defense. Often times I play better safeties when I'm actually trying to make the shot, and the safety type positioning and leave is merely a byproduct.
