Pause from "The Pause"

[Mike P]

[QUOTE=1lawyer;403973]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....

1lawyer,

I agree with your statement about reading up on different sighting methods, F** your game. I think that the trick is finding parts of a system that work for you and discarding the rest. Even aiming for the light reflection on the ball will sometimes work if it happens to be in the right location.

I find that most of my missed shots stem from a break down in the delivery, as compared to sighting. Thanks for the tip on the bridge hand, I will try to pay more attention to it. Also I have considered moving my head to the left, due to my left eye’s sighting being so poor. I am just too stubborn to try just yet.

I went on a spree of taping myself for a while. I was fortunate enough to record myself make a total clearance in line up. While watching a few things stood out, that I try to repeat while practising. Anyone who has ever been in stroke will know what I mean when I say, I had a strut to my walk. Also my decision making was almost instantaneous and I stepped into the line perfectly. Another thing that stuck out, was I could hear a funny noise while watching the taping. It turned out to be me, whistling (out of tune mind you) to the music, even while down on the shot. Talk about playing with No Mind.

Mike

[Mike P]

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....

Mike,

I do agree, but I also enjoy the read. It is had to argue with, JUST GET DOWN AND POT THE DAMN BALL.

When all else fails the above is never the wrong choice.

Mike

[Mike P]

Roy,

To get things back on topic, I do believe that varying the pause can make certain shots more consistent. Thanks for the observation, I’ll give it a try, even though Mike thinks we’re pussies.

Mike

[1lawyer]

Mike I believe you have answered your own question...

When you made that total clearance you did not think of anything and you were so relaxed you even whistled a tune what does this tell you?

Mike Wooldridge and Kizzy have both had many centuries and both have had a 147, so they are better qualified to speak about this than I as my best is only 118 against someone although I have had higher in practice etc. All three of us though think it is best not to put to much thought into sighting methods because it can throw your natural game. The light method you mention is something that is flawed as lights can often be in different positions over different tables and so this can be unreliable method to use I would suggest. No two players are identical but the one thing all the top players tend to have is have the same approach to each shot (pre-shot routine) and a constant action on every shot, messing with this can throw your natural game for a while and messing with the sighting can throw this off for a while because you are giving yourself other things to think about that you would not do normally.

So many players try and find the secret to snooker and there is not one thing it is just many many hours of practice until it becomes natural. How does a 12 year old Luka Brescel (spelling wrong) get a 147 in 9 mins? Is it by thinking about all these sighting methods, or does he naturally see angles because he has played the same shots over and over and over. I agree with you that learning how others sight is something that might help your game but be aware it is also something that could hinder it too. This is because if you learn a different method and have a bad day you start switching around back to what you used to do etc., This is what I call over learning the game.

Mike Remember when you first learned to drive and you crunched the gears taking your eyes off the road to look down at the gearbox? Bet you juddered the car up the road yes?
Now you drive and change gear without thinking and make a regular journey without much thought and the ride is much smoother yes.

Same with snooker:snooker:

[khizzy]

i believe that every players style of play is like his dna,its absolutely unique to him,anyone who tries to copy others will eventually falter and mess up his game,a certain trick might work for some but it does not work for everyone.

[Asi]

JUST GET DOWN AND POT THE DAMN BALL.

DO NOT BECOME A TECHNICAL BUFF.

so simple so effective !

[Mike P]

1lawyer,

I was joking when I stated the aiming at the light on the ball. Like you said the overhead light could be anywhere, there might not be a light over the table. Not lately but in the past I lurked in a news group from the States. I would be amazed at the people that swore by some magic system for aiming or playing. There have been many hot debates about aiming systems, the Houle system comes to mind. Your body learns from repetition and once it knows something it screws up mostly because your mind gets involved.

I have a large collection, some of which are books. I enjoy reading up on systems, but this is mostly diamond systems. The only way or system for aiming that I use, would be considered the ghost ball. The only adjustments you have to make are due to the balls clinging together and when using siding. I realize that I am coming across as if I am doing too much thinking while I am shooting. The only time that I have found myself thinking, is when I am tired or mentally exhausted. Often, these thoughts are not even about the task at hand.

I do not believe that there is a magic system that makes this game easier. From all the literature I have read, there are only three things that I have ever used in my game. It has become a fact that having a consistent pre-shot routine is essential in many sports. I also stand squarer to the shot than I did before. This I changed about 9 years ago. The last thing that I found helped my game was to pause, before starting the forward motion of my stroke. I could be wrong but The Quiet Eye (I’ll see after I read it) has more to do with the length of time you look at your aiming point. From what I can tell they are talking fractions of a second.

The only secret, if you want to call it that, I do believe in is this. Everyone at some point recalls getting into stroke,(when things seem to flow effortlessly) or whatever you want to call it. By walking around the table from shot to shot with your in stroke strut, you can cause yourself to enter the zone.

Ghost Ball Mike

[dpdubai]

Personally I believe in balance in all things, the chinese refer to this as yin/yang I guess other cultures or religions have similar beliefs also.

In terms of snooker I think the same applies.

On one hand you have technique, knowledge, pre-determined strategies if you will that you have accumulated from books, friends, pro's coaching dvd's whatever.

On the other hand you have your natural game "get down and pot it" as Mike said.

If you have technical knowledge to the extreme you will be a mess when you go to the table, worried about where your foot should be and where your eyes should be looking at each stage of the shot etc.

If you have natural "go in and pot it" attitude too much to the extreme I believe your overall game will lack the kind of finesse that we see demonstrated by some of the top players today and you have no formula to find the answer when things start to go wrong.

Therefore it must be the successful combination of these two elements and thats what works for me.

[1lawyer]

I am enjoying this thread and am in total agreement with the above post. Although like Mike P though I think there is an interest in trying out different systems and I don't think any dvd, book or coach properly explains all of these methods and this aspect of the game in depth because there are different variations on what many people do to remember the shots or potting angles.

I would love it if more pro's came forward and spilled their guts in detail instead of just giving the basics of the game out.

Anyway this is about the pause so I will pause from mentioning it anymore.

[noel]

The more competitive. The more perfectionist. The more a player will try to analyse their errors or faults in form or concentration and self-correct. In a match, from moment to moment, back on the practice table, by replaying the missed shots over and over until the fear of failure is replaced by confident skill.
Studying your sport, reading about techniques and strategies are all vital to developing superior consciousness and, hopefully, greater success. But the recipe book is not the meal, just as watching tapes of future opponents in the boxing ring is not the same as not getting punched in the face.
So, in the process of "Just Do It!", at a certain point, all players in all sports hit a wall.
That wall is the not so obvious fact that the eye cannot see itself without an accurate mirror.
That mirror is .... The Coach.

I believe everyone has a natural gift for something (I wish mine were snooker)
A perceptive coach/teacher/mentor is there to nurture your seed of talent.
To shine a gro-light of awareness on it. To water and fertilize it with encouragement. To stop you from ****ing into the wind.

Q: Who, reading this, does not want to improve their game?


=o|

Noel

[Monique]

I would love it if more pro's came forward and spilled their guts in detail instead of just giving the basics of the game out.

Coaching or teaching isn't the same as doing it... not at all. It requires a different set of qualities.
My old teacher and "directeur de these", Paul Libois, was an excellent mathematician and highly respected, but not top. His best talent however was revealing the talent and ideas of others. He was marvelous at that, discussing with him was an experience of seeing your ideas emerge miraculously bright and clear ... not many can boast about having be mentors to the like of Pierre Deligne (medaille Fields) and Jacques Tits (prix Abel).

Coming back to snooker I remember Ronnie being asked "how he did it" and answering honestly "I don't know ... I just see it". Intuition of course is often a "shorcut" of the mind, the result of integrating knowledge and intensive practice. But when it comes to that point it might be difficult to analyse and put it to words as in a way that would be "defeating" (and even "destroying")the intuitive knowhow. I wouldn't be surprised if most top players were equally at loss at explaining it. While top coaches are not necessary top players...

[C-J]

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....

I think this thread is turning out to become about what a lot of us really want to know and what a lot of others(good to very good players) do not really understand.

I agree with the statement above that the thinking starts when you not getting really better dispite trying very hard.I was always very good at all sports incl soccer,golf tabletennis and really good at tennis already when i was young.But snooker beats me.And i couldn't understand why.I wanted to compete with the best in my club but somehow couldn't manage.So my natural thoughts were it was by the sightning.I played competion for a couple of years and practised alone but no real results.

I'm playing for 4 years again now after a 10 year break and slowly got my understanding.But it takes a lot of practise to really understand what you are doing,practise which won't make me the best player i now realise.

But it still gives me joy,a lot of joy and pleasure!I like to play a good opponent but i really like it when i'm alone.A lonely afternoon in the club with some nice soft music,hitting the ball well.

C-J