the zone
just got back from my first night of playing pool. I was so nervous - jeesh - you'd think i was in the Olympics or something!
the zone
i fell into the zone tonight.
Holy crap there is not a better feeling in the world then that.
The whole world disappears and it's only you and balls and the process.
I had a tough 5 ball out (with ball-in-hand) and everything but the table and the balls disappeared and i ran out. At the time I didn't realize what I was doing until the team captain said "nice 5 ball out". I *woke* up from the zone and thought 'holy moly that was friggin' cool!"
oh boy - is that feeling addicting...feels good when i get in the zone on a bike too...but the pool zone is different than the bike zone...
Oh yeah - i won my match.
holding emotions in check
In order for me to play well I have to hold my emotions in check.
Friends tell me i look so serious when I'm playing and i play like a robot.
I make a good shot - no facial expression change (even if i'm very happy with the shot) I make a bad shot(even if i'm bummed i missed an easy shot) - no facial expression change. This helps keep me grounded and thinking.
When the other person is shooting it's easy to get sucked into thinking negative thoughts about them. Once upon a time i spent a lot of energy on thinking negative thoughts. I would hope my opponent played poorly or would miss. a terrible waste of energy and that didn't make me a very good person either.
So now I say to myself - 'I hope they play their best and i hope I play my best.' When the "rolls" are going their way i don't get emotional about it i just think the "that means the rolls going my way soon - my turn is coming."
For me the mental toughness means: 1) respecting the other player 2) not getting nervous 3) keeping an even keel mentally 4) always be positive 5) focus on the process
the zone
i fell into the zone tonight.
Holy crap there is not a better feeling in the world then that.
The whole world disappears and it's only you and balls and the process.
I had a tough 5 ball out (with ball-in-hand) and everything but the table and the balls disappeared and i ran out. At the time I didn't realize what I was doing until the team captain said "nice 5 ball out". I *woke* up from the zone and thought 'holy moly that was friggin' cool!"
oh boy - is that feeling addicting...feels good when i get in the zone on a bike too...but the pool zone is different than the bike zone...
Oh yeah - i won my match.
holding emotions in check
In order for me to play well I have to hold my emotions in check.
Friends tell me i look so serious when I'm playing and i play like a robot.
I make a good shot - no facial expression change (even if i'm very happy with the shot) I make a bad shot(even if i'm bummed i missed an easy shot) - no facial expression change. This helps keep me grounded and thinking.
When the other person is shooting it's easy to get sucked into thinking negative thoughts about them. Once upon a time i spent a lot of energy on thinking negative thoughts. I would hope my opponent played poorly or would miss. a terrible waste of energy and that didn't make me a very good person either.
So now I say to myself - 'I hope they play their best and i hope I play my best.' When the "rolls" are going their way i don't get emotional about it i just think the "that means the rolls going my way soon - my turn is coming."
For me the mental toughness means: 1) respecting the other player 2) not getting nervous 3) keeping an even keel mentally 4) always be positive 5) focus on the process
Comments