Subconcious potting

[kiwisnooker]

Hi all,

Just wanted to get other people's view on this!

I have read on here before about humming a tune while on the shot. I have tried it and found my break building has gone through the roof (30's & 40's consistently), I also do another couple of things like doing multiplication in my head and concentrating on my elbow and the feel of that!

I find this helps me by not making me twitch or give me the yips. Wondered if there is some sort of sub-conscious potting training that can be done or if anyone has heard of or what are your techniques to beat the twitch?

Thanks in advance!

[Stupree]

What a nice way to get your action flowing. I am very interested to know what you are humming?

I have been told that one successful pro says the word 'Strawberry' in his head to time his follow through as it has a nice flow and gets him to build a gradual acceleration of the cue. I believe he does this until he finds his rhythm and no longer needs to do it unless he feels he needs to recalibrate - "SSSSTTRRRRAAAAWWWWBERRYYYY"

[cantpotforshíte]

"The Inner Game of Golf" by W. Timothy Gallwey is all about this. It's a fascinating book, and very well written, and needs little or no translation for snooker.

[itsnoteasy]

I remember Stephen Hendry getting interviewed and he said he commentated his own break in his head.

[kiwisnooker]

"The Inner Game of Golf" by W. Timothy Gallwey is all about this. It's a fascinating book, and very well written, and needs little or no translation for snooker.

This is where I heard about the 'Bounce hit' so after a quick youtube search of Tim Gallwey he give a brief interview about it. I have purchased the E-book but havent got around to reading it yet:snooker:

[vmax4steve]

I now practise listening to music through my MP3 player. Kind of empties my mind of what I'm doing physically and gives me an adrenalin rush that isn't tied to snooker, that isn't detrimental as I feel I'm controlling it through what I listen to.

[Catch 22]

I sometimes explain my break in my head as if I'm teaching someone . iE " ok I'm gonna pot this black with just a little screw to come back to this area here to leave me a choice of this red or this red here" I think I started this because when people were helping me this is how they wold talk me through it .

[kiwisnooker]

What a nice way to get your action flowing. I am very interested to know what you are humming?

I have been told that one successful pro says the word 'Strawberry' in his head to time his follow through as it has a nice flow and gets him to build a gradual acceleration of the cue. I believe he does this until he finds his rhythm and no longer needs to do it unless he feels he needs to recalibrate - "SSSSTTRRRRAAAAWWWWBERRYYYY"

I usually just hum a nursery rhyme like 'Hickory, Dickory, Dock' or 'Humpty Dumpty' and contact the white ball on a certain word which gets my rhythm sorted out. Will have to try strawberry

[thelongbomber]

I remember Stephen Hendry getting interviewed and he said he commentated his own break in his head.

Now THAT is interesting. I might just try that tonight. Great for pre-visualizing the play. Problem is I might end up getting bloody Virgo or Willie stuck in me head. That could have serious consequences

[thelongbomber]

I now practise listening to music through my MP3 player. Kind of empties my mind of what I'm doing physically and gives me an adrenalin rush that isn't tied to snooker, that isn't detrimental as I feel I'm controlling it through what I listen to.

Would that not cause problems in match play in that you don't/won't/can't have the music going? I would think that adrenaline is something you want to reduce, not increase.

[vmax4steve]

Would that not cause problems in match play in that you don't/won't/can't have the music going? I would think that adrenaline is something you want to reduce, not increase.

Adrenalin helps once you understand what it is. When controlled it enhances your senses and you can use it to good effect. You're right about the match situation though, but I've only recently started to do this in practise and it's working well. I'm hoping the effects will transfer subconsciously to get me in a sort of artificial zone situation through music in my head rather than through my ears in the future.
If it doesn't work then I will have lost nothing as I'm not tinkering with my cue action, just trying to find a way to stimulate my concentration.

[Byrom]

Right anyway came across this and a few things struck a cord like humming a monotonous tune to empty the mind and play to a rhythm or using key words when striking a ball - not many people commented on this thread but I feel when I play my best I am sensing the game hitting from the forearm and timing the grip consistently and feeling the shots keeping to a rhythm rather than thinking about this and that technique wise or sighting wise whilst on the shot - some might relate or call it muscle memory. I feel my best snooker comes when making snooker a more sensory game using the contact points on the body for feedback and keeping everything the same where the shot allows.

It is a technique talked about in golf - anyone care to expand on their experience at snooker?

[MrRottweiler]

I used to like practicing to music as it helped me go on autopilot and play shots without thinking. I didn't like using headphones as I still wanted to hear the sound of the table so I would have a stereo on quietly in the background. Mostly Otis Redding as his soothing voice helped me get in a groove but other soul or blues worked and even Classic FM sometimes.

It helped but I also liked silent practice as well where I could put my game under the microscope and drill down in to my technique and what was working or causing me problems with 100% focus. Something I discovered helped my potting was to make sure my wrist was straight during delivery because I had a tendancy of bending it outwards which would affect accuracy. During feathering I would be thinking about my wrist and elbow and making sure I'm hitting the cue ball in the right place and during the pause I would say in my head "all good.....check.....GO!" or something like that to signal to my brain I was ready to strike. When I first took up the game my pause was terrible so this was a great way to make it more consistent. I found it helped my breakbuilding because I felt more confident.

[mikeyd100]

I remember Stephen Hendry getting interviewed and he said he commentated his own break in his head.

I like that idea

[Byrom]

I like that idea

I agree - this might be worth trying. Pick the right commentator though - can you imagine having Virgo's "Where's the white ball going!" sounding in your head after each shot?