[Pin]

(Or at least mediocre player becoming good :D )

The confidence 3 thread mentioned confidence as a key factor in making the step up.

I'm going through a big step forwards in my game at the moment, and it occured to me tonight that a change in how you think about yourself as a pool player may be an important element in making this permanent. (This seems closely related to the notion of confidence too.)


As a player who has (I assume) made such a step up, do you have any thoughts on this?


Fast, if you read this, I'd appreciate your thoughts too.
(And anyone else with their 2c!)

[CocoboloCowboy]

When you master the basic parts of the game, move on to the MENTAL PART, that will be a step in the correct direction when you get the Mental Part Down.

[Big_Bad_Bern]

Yes pin, I will be covering this in future parts of the confidence chain series, but suffice it to say that how you view yourself (banger, solid player or pro) has a profound effect on your confidence and therefore your game. Also how others view you can have a big impact on your game (when you are playing with bangers and they think you are great it can boost your confidence and make you play great, also playing with better players can have usually one of two effects 1- they can demean you and steal your confidence causing you to play poorly or 2- their poor attitude can inspire the intention to prove them wrong causing you to play great in an attempt to earn their respect).

Back to the first point, what you view yourself as (banger, solid player or pro) is a direct result of the work you have put into your game (practice) and the positive outcomes you have experienced (game, tournament or match play).

food for thought

Bern

Pin, on Jul 28 2010, 11:57 PM, said:

(Or at least mediocre player becoming good :D )

The confidence 3 thread mentioned confidence as a key factor in making the step up.

I'm going through a big step forwards in my game at the moment, and it occured to me tonight that a change in how you think about yourself as a pool player may be an important element in making this permanent. (This seems closely related to the notion of confidence too.)


As a player who has (I assume) made such a step up, do you have any thoughts on this?


Fast, if you read this, I'd appreciate your thoughts too.
(And anyone else with their 2c!)

[Pin]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Do you think it's possible to short-cut to an improved self-image, or does it have to be an organic result of how the changes affect you?
(Or would you rather save this for the article?)

[Big_Bad_Bern]

Hi Pin, a couple thoughts come to mind in regards to this. Firstly you are what you think you are. Secondly fake it until you make it. Lastly consistantly high caliber pool requires a positve knowing, that is the knowledge that you are capable of playing at that level. This is more than just thinking you can, this is knowledge based on the experience of having played like that. There is a huge difference between thinking and knowing, but you must have a strong belief and think you can accomplish it before you can ever achieve it and aquire the positve knowing.

So the short cut I recommend is thinking and believing you can play the way you want (set a positive mental image of your ultimate best performance, running multiple racks, winning a world championship etc.) and then set about proving yourself right. Just don't allow your confidence or self image to get bruised if it doesn't happen immediately, the only way down that road is one step at a time!

Bern

Pin, on Aug 3 2010, 09:32 PM, said:

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Do you think it's possible to short-cut to an improved self-image, or does it have to be an organic result of how the changes affect you?
(Or would you rather save this for the article?)