[Black-dot]

Dear Fast,

Willie Mosconi said concentration is the number one secret in pool, or something to that effect.

I've noticed that after playing for 4 hours or so of intense pool that my stroke and concentration go out the window, and anything more than a little bit difficult in terms of shotmaking becomes very iffy.

What's the solution at these times? How do you handle this?

Black-dot

[FASTLARRY]

Actually Willie Hoppe and Mike Sigel said that.

4 hours is fantastic, bravo. The best I could ever achieve was 2 l/2.

When your mind begins to float, you must take a break and reset your cpu. First, shut it down, turn off cpu.
Go into the john, sit on stool, close door, go to a dark corner of the room and sit down. I keep two bed pillows in my back seat, I go out to my car, get in, run the motor, turn on the AC and lay down to be in private. Close eyes, shut off all brain activity. I also keep an alarm in my car so I can take a 5 or 10 minute nap and be woke up. After a short shut down, you are ready to go.

I actually put my self in a forced self hypnotic trance where I program my self to awake, fully refreshed, rested and totally mentally alert. My mind follows its programming. Before I close my eyes, I put in thera tears, and usually take aspiring and alleve to help keep me loose. It is necessary for you to drink a lot of water during play. Water is oil to the joints and helps. If you get dehydrated or warm, your brain gets fuzzy. The best temperature to play in is 72 degrees.

[Black-dot]

Those are great suggestions.

I've noticed this problem usually occurs during a match with someone who is much better than I am, and where mistakes on my part will probably mean the loss of a game or more. I'm talking about players who are probably out if they get a good shot on the lowest numbered ball and can start a run. Punishment from these guys comes quick.

The idea about going to the john for 10 minutes is a hoot. Imagine taking a 10 minute quickie nap seated on the throne! NOT! LOL

Thanks again for the encouragement!

Black-dot

[BangDaBoom]

My ole pappy used to say son, when you are gamblin, when you lose your head, your ass soon follows.

[ Edited by BangDaBoom on 2006/7/15 17:20 ]

[FASTLARRY]

Spot on, say you are in a match, losing, your mind begins to wander and becomes mush, or, worse yet, you got scared, dropped adrenalan and you are shaking. You know this will last for 10 minutes at least. I just say to the opponent, look, sorry, I have a touch of the flue and a bad case of the runs. I must go to the John, please lets take a break and I'll be back as soon as I can. I go into the stall, close the door, sit down on the lid and meditate in private. Its sometimes a stinky place to do that, but I have came back to refocus and then win.

[FASTLARRY]

And when you lose it and nothing is working, take a day or two off.