Pause from "The Pause"

[1lawyer]

I wonder what Maria Sharapova sounds like on a snooker table???

nudge nudge

[Mike P]

One thing that I have a hard time with, is looking back and forth from the cue ball to the object ball. After walking into the shot, I make sure I am contacting the cue ball where I want to. From there I never look back to it, my eyes are focussed on the object ball. I am confused as to why your eyes should be shifted back and forth. Once you know you are striking the cue ball in the desired location, why not just focus on the target. With my eyes not being as good as they once were, I find it hard for them to refocus on the object ball, due to a difference in distance.

I have done a bit of research on the net, into the “Quiet Eye” technic of aiming. I am about to order the book, Perception, Cognition, and Decision Training: The Quiet Eye in Action. I believe the theory is that the longer(within reason) you concentrate on the target the better chances you have of hitting it, or something along that lines. Its too bad that improvement to whatever the sport, came only from theory. Converting it into action, I guess, is the name of the game.

Mike

[RocketRoy1983]

hey mike

If you simply concentrate on the object ball you may be cueing across ever so slightly as you address the white hence the need to check every couple of seconds.

[noel]

One thing that I have a hard time with, is looking back and forth from the cue ball to the object ball. With my eyes not being as good as they once were, I find it hard for them to refocus on the object ball, due to a difference in distance.

I have done a bit of research on the net, into the “Quiet Eye” technic of aiming. I am about to order the book, Perception, Cognition, and Decision Training: The Quiet Eye in Action.
Mike

Mike, as you know I wear glasses which I take off when I play.
I've tried contacts. I tried out Cliff's Dennis Taylor googles.
Nothing really worked until I reverted back to the eyesight nature has slowly taken away (see photo).
I let the force be with me.
And I can occassionaly score ok.

Will be very interested in your findings from "Quiet Eye"!
Please share that.

Cheers mate!


=o)

Noel

[Mike P]

Noel,

I will let you read it when I’m done. The top portion of your picture is pretty much what my left eye sees at distance. It’s a sucks, getting old.

Mike

[Mike P]

hey mike

If you simply concentrate on the object ball you may be cueing across ever so slightly as you address the white hence the need to check every couple of seconds.

Roy,

I am definitely not advocating the way I do it, I just find that it works for me. My problem occurs when I do not stick to my pre-shot routine. Sometimes I completely forget to look at the cue ball and unintentionally put side on the ball. Also I have found that in practice(because that is mostly what I do, except when playing Noel) if I am down on my shot for more than about 2 seconds, my mind starts getting involved. When that happens it is best, to stand up and start my PSR again. There is nothing worse than thinking once you are down on your shot.

Mike

[1lawyer]

Roy,

I am definitely not advocating the way I do it, I just find that it works for me. My problem occurs when I do not stick to my pre-shot routine. Sometimes I completely forget to look at the cue ball and unintentionally put side on the ball. Also I have found that in practice(because that is mostly what I do, except when playing Noel) if I am down on my shot for more than about 2 seconds, my mind starts getting involved. When that happens it is best, to stand up and start my PSR again. There is nothing worse than thinking once you are down on your shot.

Mike

I agree with you totally spot on about your pre-shot routine, so why not make it part of the routine to stand on the line of the shot from behind the white (imagine the shot you need, imagine potting it) pick the line of the shot from a standing position walk into the line of the shot get down with cue on line of the shot you need, cue up in your normal way and then pot it.... :snooker:

[Mike P]

I agree with you totally spot on about your pre-shot routine, so why not make it part of the routine to stand on the line of the shot from behind the white (imagine the shot you need, imagine potting it) pick the line of the shot from a standing position walk into the line of the shot get down with cue on line of the shot you need, cue up in your normal way and then pot it.... :snooker:

1Lawyer,

Sorry I should have been more specific. I also do all of what you have stated. Imagery is the most important aspect of your PSR. I know that I am not the first to say it, but playing position to an exact spot and not just to an area, seems to help from getting sloppy. Also I have found that when I am down for more than my normal length of time, my success rate drops drastically. I wish I could say that I always stand up and start over, but... Obviously “normal length of time” will vary from person to person.

Mike

[1lawyer]

that is ok then

Just trying to help, I read your post about sighting methods you are going to try and after reading all of them myself I am of the opinion that they can F** your game right up going from this to that but I like you am interested in finding out about all these different methods.

Keeping the game simple and natural to yourself is key which is why you say staying down longer than feels natural means you play worse, this is because you can go past 'your peak' as it where and again you are quite right it is vital to keep to a natural and consistent rhythm for playing I find.

Going back to your problem of cuing across the ball sometimes with un- intentional side this can be cause by a number of things, mostly any slight movement in the bridge hand so I would check this too as it is easy to correct and often overlooked even by the pro's on occasion. I am wondering perhaps also if you should give it a try lining up and sighting under your right eye if that is your good un, this may help?

Joe Davis was blind as a bat in one eye, did not stop him being a legend.

Hope this helps you should very well read in the snooker game to me and no doubt you could help a lot of people improve over there yourself, anyhow good luck with your game...:snooker:

[khizzy]

over the past 5-6 months i had been giving a lot of attention to my cueing,the pause,the sighting and technique,in the process i messed up my game quite a bit,i was concentrating on the techinque more than the pot,my sincere advice to all of you would be to JUST GET DOWN AND POT THE DAMN BALL.

DO NOT BECOME A TECHNICAL BUFF.

[noel]

JUST GET DOWN AND POT THE DAMN BALL. DO NOT BECOME A TECHNICAL BUFF.

Khizzy... good wakeup call mate!
Say, does anyone know if Alex Higgins actually practiced?


=o)

Noel

[spike]

Khizzy... good wakeup call mate!
Say, does anyone know if Alex Higgins actually practiced?


=o)

Noel

Yes, but not enough.

[khizzy]

im more confident down on the shots now,and noticed on my practice tapes that i was going through with the ball much better than before.

[Mike P]

Khizzy,

I do agree with you, somewhat. I do think you can over analyse, but when your form starts to break down, the knowledge and understanding of different concepts, can help you zero in on why you have gone astray. I believe I read, that because of his knowledge, Steve Davis was able to analyse and correct errors that crept into his stroke, before they caused a complete break down. It is similar to reading up on the different diamond systems. All tables play differently but the systems can give you a starting point.

After saying all this, one of the better books pertaining to the mental games we play with ourselves, is The Inner Game Of Golf by Tim Gallwey. His theory is, once we have trained our body to do something, it falters most, when our brains try to control it. Like you and Nike have said “Just Do It”.

One last note, you said you are playing better since you have been going through the ball. Quoting from another book, we should think of spearing the cue ball instead of hitting it.

Mike

[MikeWooldridge]

JUST GET DOWN AND POT THE DAMN BALL.

DO NOT BECOME A TECHNICAL BUFF.

wise words khizzy.

you guys seem to think too much. probably the reason (i'm assuming) you never really get any better or see any genuine improvement. no offence intended, i've met a lot of players with their 'routines'.

JUST GET DOWN AND POT THE DAMN BALL!

and anyway, pausing is for pussies....