Training Topics
Below is a collection of pool wisdom to aid you in your game.
Lagging and speed control.
Winning the Lag is very important in alternate the Break 9-Ball format.
The winner of the lag, for an elite level player, means they can Break and Run 30%. The person that wins the first game of a set goes on to
win that set 56.4% of the time. The person that loses the first game of a set wins the set 43.6%.
The first rack is valuable and a big deal. In boxing they always talk about “who gets off first”. In pool you can really set the tone of a
match and must fight much harder to win that first game as if it is the final game.
In alternate the Break format if you win the lag and then later the match goes hill/hill, you get the last Break, and if you are elite, 30%
of the time you Break and Run…that is a big deal.
“Mental toughness is the ability to consistently perform towards the upper range of your talent and skill regardless of the competitive
circumstances. It is all about improving your mind so that it is always on your side; not sometimes helping you nor working against you as we all
know it’s quite capable of doing.” ~ Dr. James Loehr
You can develop the psychological edge that allows a player to deal with the inevitable struggles and adversity that competition brings about.
The concept is being more consistent than other players with your determination, intense focus, and confidence, when under maximum pressure.
The mental game is an area often overlooked or dismissed by the less committed player and is an area of pool where you can distinguish yourself
from the majority of your opponents.
Pressure reveals the extent of how much a player really wants success, winners are more resilient and have extreme confidence in their ability
to obtain their goals. Mental toughness allows for quicker recovery from the inevitable set-backs and disappointments.
Opponents often fall victim to a posture of “ego defense” and offer excuses for a less than stellar performance which then accelerates the
“death spiral” as negativity invades the psyche.
Great players resolve negative feelings quickly and understand that sometimes they must achieve success while only having their “B” grade game.
Lesser skilled players give in to the struggles and explain to those around them and themselves that-
- the waitress walked in front of their shot
- the table plays bad
- it is too hot
- a cell phone rang
- the opponent is getting lucky
- all of the above
Accepting that fear and anxiety are certain while confident that both will be met with overwhelming positivity. This is the point that being fully focused produces long term results. Relentless positivity aids the ability to execute the detailed skills required for producing high performance pool in the competitive arena.
Mental toughness equates to having great composure, a high degree of emotional control, under harsh conditions.
Mental pool skills are wrought from the preparation and planning to consistently put yourself through increasing challenges that insist on maximum mental effort to generate success upon long term exposure to tough conditions. These mental skills require investment for both training, practice, and competition, by putting yourself in difficult circumstances that force you to apply and expand the knowledge base and application of learned abilities. Confidence is then created from this endeavor. The ability to zero in and concentrate on what is important while blocking out everything else is a necessity.
Resilience is your unwillingness to give up. You have to be willing to press forward despite frustration or self-doubt.
This toughness is a crucial component for creating genuine far reaching goal successes. Study, develop, practice, and improve your mental toughness.