The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 10

TITLE: Ingredient 10 - Always Learning (A wise person can extract gold from a dirty place)
DATE: 04/08/2008 04:23:37 AM

There is something quite divine about the fact that despite all our learning, we never really get to the end of full knowledge. The goal of full knowledge always seems just around the corner and out of our grasp. Like in everything, there always seems to be someone who is smarter, stronger, faster, or more experienced. Champions are constantly being replaced by other champions and there seems no end to how good humans will get in any one particular sports discipline. Of course, the same applies to the game of billiards and so it behooves us to keep improving our game and to recognize this fact of life and embrace it.

I know in my case, despite all my training, experience and knowledge of the game, I am still learning to this day and like any truly competitive player I am always leaving my ears and eyes open to any little "nugget of gold" I can pick up along the way. There is good reason why we have two ears and two eyes but only one mouth! Sometimes we just need to know when to be quiet and take in new information. And believe it or not, it can appear in the most unlikely circumstances. I cannot count how many times I learned something from another player, even if they were relatively inexperienced or struggling to handle the pressure of the occasion. There was always something I picked up from them and filed away for another day.

When observing another player we may get all hung up about their fundamentals, or lack there of, and just dismiss this player as someone that we can not possibly learn anything from. However, this would be a huge mistake. Every one of us has something to offer. We are all unique individuals with our own set of unique experiences. No two people are the same, and therefore it follows that no two people have the same set of knowledge or experience to draw from. Granted, some players have more valuable knowledge than others, but we all have something to share. Therefore a wise person knows how to extract these genuine "nuggets of gold" from the oddest places.

Take for example something that happened to me very recently. On the way back from a tournament I went to visit my good friend Jim, who loves pool and is a pretty good player. I was showing him a jump shot that came up during one of my matches. Then Jim showed me another way to play the shot using a different method. I really liked the shot and practiced it at home. I didn’t realize the value of his opinion until a month later when I was playing on ESPN in the WPBA National Championship final against Kelly Fisher. Ironically, in the final game to win the event that same type of jump shot came up. I had to jump over the ball a certain way and I used the method Jim showed me. I made the shot, achieved perfect shape for a carom on the 2-9 to win the Tour Championship and with it the Player of the Year title. The point is that I listened to my friend who wanted to share something he had picked up from playing around on his table. I had an open mind, wanted to listen, and learned a valuable lesson.

I encourage you to be aware at all times and to seek out these "nuggets of gold" in life and in billiards. Never stop learning, for in billiards, or life in general, without the quest to learn our life would be a terrible waste of humanity.

(c) 2008 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Billiard Aim Trainer

The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 9

TITLE: Ingredient 09 - Respect and sportsmanship (Be a champion of character first)
DATE: 04/08/2008 03:53:16 AM

There is nothing as appreciated in any form of sport than a humble winner or a loser who praises his opponent. It’s refreshing to see this because it focuses our attention on the most important aspect of any game, and that is respect.

Respect is something we all crave. It is an inherent need of the spirit because it reminds us of our own true value and uniqueness. We are all unique. There will never be another person like us. And that is something we can always be proud of and thankful for. Only when we truly understand our uniqueness and value is it possible to see it in others. The first thing in learning to be a good sport is to be kind to yourself. You see, “Charity begins at home”.

Another way to put it: respect in, equals respect out. Or conversely, garbage in, equals garbage out. What you invest in yourself will reflect outwardly to others. If we constantly beat up on ourselves then we can be sure that this same negative attitude and disrespect will flow towards those around us. Similarly, if we think positively, speak positively and generally feel good about ourselves, then this same positive energy will follow us in our interactions with others.

Billiards, like all sports can and should be a setting in which personal character, including integrity, respect, responsibility and fairness are built. The essential elements of ethics in sports are honesty and integrity.

Winning is a consideration, but not the only one, nor the most important. Remember, we all got involved in billiards for fun and enjoyment first and foremost. We should never lose sight of that core motivation.

Rather than just striving to be champion of the world, first strive to be champion of character; a champion of integrity, honesty and respect. Accept both victory and defeat with pride and compassion; never be boastful or bitter. Congratulate your opponent in a sincere manner following either victory or defeat.

Here is my 5 step program for building a champion attitude:

1. Always respect your opponent and make the effort to genuinely congratulate or encourage them, leaving aside all ego, reservations and insecurities.
   
   
   
2. Never demand respect but earn it through a professional and quality-based attitude. Respect should be welcomed and not stolen.
   
   
   
3. Believe in yourself. You are absolutely unique and special. Your set of skills and character are uniquely yours. Appreciate it and grow as a person to realize your true potential.
   
   
   
4. Never allow others to control or change your reality. The power others have over you is the power you freely give to them.
   
   
   
5. Stop all negative talk. Only speak what you want to happen in your life. Your words are literally molding your future right now, so choose them wisely.

(c) 2008 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer

The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 8

TITLE: Ingredient 08 - Staying centered (Don't play your opponent's game)
DATE: 01/28/2008 03:46:23 AM

The next time you play a match take careful note of your thoughts while you wait your turn to shoot. I'll bet you are like most people and are probably either focusing on your missed opportunity or your opponent as they survey the table and ultimately execute their shot. . The scenario will be something like this:

“I can’t believe I just missed that shot… That could cost me the match… Is he going to play safe or go for it, if he goes for it, what sort of opportunity is he going to leave me... What is taking him so long to shoot the shot… Why did he play it that way… He is getting all the rolls…” etc, etc.

The problem with over analyzing a missed shot or your opponent's game is that you lose focus on your own game. The fact is: your viewpoint from your chair will never be as good as your opponents who can circle the table and have a better look at the layout. Moreover, his selections are never as important as your own. So why waste your time critiquing him? Your mental gymnastics will have absolutely no bearing on your opponent's actions, and will only hinder your performance and preparation. So why bother?

It is far better to take the time to center your thoughts on your game and rid yourself of any negative thoughts that may still linger from having just lost control of the table. It is important to take a brief moment to analyze why you missed or executed a shot poorly but then let it go. There are a few trains of thought to consider while you wait to get back to the table. Circumstances will dictate which option is suitable for you.

1. Keep your focus and attention on your own match and don’t allow your thoughts to stray on outside interferences that you have no control over.
2. Visualize the table and shot selection as if you were still shooting. Never get caught up in critiquing or wishful thinking as your opponent is playing, but rather analyze the shot as if you had to make it and what you would do. If your opponent gets out-of line or fortunate stay focused and think about how you would play the next shot.
3. Relax the mind, regulate your breathing and prepare yourself for your turn at the table. Take the time to recharge your body and revive your confidence with self-talk. If you wish to visualize scenarios in your head, then recall those times when you played like a champion and had full confidence around the table. Pump yourself up and get ready for your turn.

In other words, focus your energy inside and not outside. Your ability to change the outcome of the game once you have lost control of the table is zero, but your ability to change your self-confidence and your actions once you are back at the table is unlimited.

In boxing, the one-minute break between a round is an opportunity for the fighter to recharge and refocus for the next round. While the boxer sits there looking at his opponent across the ring, the trainer will tell him to take deep breaths while the corner man massages the boxer's neck to rid him of any tension. Despite all the chaos that surrounds a championship boxing match, you can be sure that between rounds the champion will always be relaxing.

So the next time you have to leave the table, don't beat yourself up and start directing your energy out. Rather, take the time to become centered on your mission: to win – somehow or other. Deep and regulated breathing can significantly refresh the mind and help you to think clearly. It is these short "recharge" moments that can give you the competitive edge, especially in a long tournament match, or in a game where your opponent is slow.

It doesn't matter how good a player you are, at some point in time you will give up control of the table. The negative player will see a return to their chair as a defeat, but like the boxer, the champion will always see it as an opportunity to refocus and recharge before they come out swinging again with even more vigor and authority than before.

(c) 2008 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer

The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 7

TITLE: Ingredient 07 - Don’t air dirty laundry (Playing poker with your opponent)
DATE: 01/28/2008 03:45:30 AM

In a game of poker it is not uncommon for players to wear dark sunglasses to hide their eyes. Why, because the eyes can speak volumes about a player’s confidence. It is the same in boxing. Have you ever watched a stare down at a boxing match? The two combatants will intensely stare each other in the eye with such ferocity that it seems like the fight has already begun. Indeed it has. A slight turning down of the eyes or look away is a sure sign of fear or doubt. Seemingly one guy has already won the bout without even throwing a punch.

The next time you’re watching Rocky III, take note of the stair down between Rocky and Mr. T. In their first encounter, Rocky looks down and clearly shows weakness and doubt. Soon after, he was blasted by Mr. T in three rounds. In their next match, however, Rocky has regained his “eye of the tiger” and beams at Mr. T with unbridled confidence, looking Mr. T squarely in the eyes. It is Mr. T this time that looks down, revealing his own self doubt. Rocky goes on to win that bout and regain the championship.

What we learn from this is that a competition can actually be won or lost before the bell even sounds. The same can be said in the relatively passive world of billiards. Unconsciously the two opponents will be sizing each other up, watching how the other reacts to certain situations in a game. It is these reactions, the facial expressions, body language and the things you say that will reveal everything to your opponent. So what can you do about this? Think Vegas…and put on your poker face.

When you “air dirty laundry” you in effect give your opponent way too much information about yourself and this can become a huge advantage for them. For example, if they notice that you get upset when they hook you, if they’re a smart player, they’ll do it again and again until you break down. Any discriminating player will look for the weak points in their opponent’s game. It is common knowledge in martial arts that you can defeat your opponent by simply focusing on their weak point. Even Archimedes once said: “Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world.” The “place to stand” in our context is the weak point in our opponent’s game.

So if you want to keep your opponent on the back foot and always guessing, then don’t give free information. Keeping your inner game to yourself and not revealing your game plan or your discomfort over a given situation is just plain smart. There is nothing more frustrating than to not know what your opponent is thinking or for them to appear completely unflustered even though you are dominating. When a player keeps their cool and remains focused, not revealing any weaknesses or concerns, it sends a message loud and clear that this player is in control and therefore still a very real threat.

If you keep your opponent guessing you have at least achieved one thing: you have them focusing on you and not their own game and this can only lead to them making a mistake. A game that seems to be lost can quickly turn around and all of a sudden you are making a comeback as your opponent’s confidence starts to dwindle and doubts start to creep in. Your “poker face” style of play will fuel the situation even more as your opponent completely loses focus.

So never underestimate the power and influence you can have with your body language and your face. When times get tough, just refocus and remind yourself that you are a winner and conduct yourself like a winner. Very soon, you will be winning more often and no one will be the wiser.

(c) 2008 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer

The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 6

TITLE: Ingredient 06 - The Pause (Learning to transition)
DATE: 01/28/2008 03:42:16 AM

Oh, the power of the pause…

Now, where was I? Oh, yes, pausing of course. That brief moment when the whole world seems to stand still; a temporary inaction, while we focus on the future and prepare to commit our next move is called a pause. Why do we need to do this when playing pool?

Simply because when we pause we allow our energy and thoughts to collect and then gracefully unwind into fruition. When we pause we create a moment of freedom in the mind so that what comes next is pure poetry and as natural as possible.

After every pause, comes something anticipated and hoped for. We see this happening during a championship match when all of a sudden there is a tipping point; a change in the landscape that we all instinctively know will mean something special is about to happen. It is the pivotal moment in a game when the crowd holds its breath and becomes silent and waits. The atmosphere become thick with tension and expectation as the next chapter of the event unfolds. What will happen? No one knows, but you can be sure that the pause introduced that special moment.

Like the calm before the storm, the pause introduces the next event in our quest for victory. So embrace it and use it to your advantage.

According to the dictionary, a pause is a point in time where there is inaction, but I would prefer to say that a pause represents a smooth transition between two points in time. You see, when we pause in our stroke there is never a point in time where there is inaction. Rather, there is just a smooth transition and a slowing down of time as we move through our stroke.

I like to imagine that there is a natural loop as the arm slows down such that it appears as if it has stopped but in actuality, it continues to gradually loop back in the tiniest of increments. There is no actual stopping in the action, but rather a continual (albeit, very, very slow) smooth transition from the backswing to the final forward stroke.

When we make a conscious effort to slow this part of our game down so that there is a pause on the last backswing, we allow the muscles to relax so that they can spring into action gracefully with the most natural and pure motion.

The art of pure motion is the science of transition from one position to the next. Just like the ballet dancer, Brazilian Jujitsu fighter, or the professional race car driver, all of them at every moment will be working on smooth transitions from one situation to the next.

The untrained eye may see erratic disconnections, but the expert will see the beauty and logic of each move. The same has to be said of a smooth and graceful pool player.

In pool, the action is very simple. In fact, it couldn’t be more simple and yet we tend to complicate things and allow our emotions and nerves to get in the way. If they do, we need to slow down and learn to flow more. As I explained in my last article, develop a rhythm around the table as you play. And good rhythm necessitates good transitions. Good transitions necessitate a pause. It may be subtle, it may be brief, but it must be there.

Slow down “grasshopper”. Breath, flow and pause before every major transition in your routine, of which the transition between the back swing and the final stroke is paramount.

If you watch play, you will see that I can pause up to 3 seconds before my final stroke. It certainly hasn’t hurt my game and I encourage you to try it out.

(c) 2007 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer

The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 5

TITLE: Ingredient 05 - The Rhythm of Success
DATE: 11/07/2007 04:57:02 AM

We wonder at nature because of the rhythm and beauty with which it moves. Every part of the wondrous eco-system moves like a symphony with every other part. There is a natural flow of energy, and harmony is what keeps it all going strong. When we upset that balance, problems occur, and we get results that we do not want. Hence, the horrors of global warming, as mankind continues to upset the balance of Mother Earth and the natural flow of her energy.

In the same way, when we play pool, we need to tune into our body’s natural flow and learn to develop a rhythm that best matches it. You see, we are also nature. Every part of our body is made up of the same energy and substance as that which surrounds us. Learning to listen to our body and moving in ways that create balance and rhythm will make us happier and more effective in whatever we do.

So how do we determine our natural rhythm when playing pool? We start by carefully observing what works. It is important that we don’t just artificially copy someone else, but develop our own style based on fundamental principles that make up the rhythm of champions.

Just like in nature, each tree finds its own way to the sun; each river finds its own way to the lake; and each species finds its own unique way to survive. In the same way, we have to recognize and honor our own individuality, all the while observing and learning from the success of others.

The shot routine is the most fundamental part of a champion’s arsenal. Every single good player has one, and although there may be elements of similarity, each one of them is uniquely theirs.

So what are the fundamental principles of a good shot routine?

ALIGN

You need to decide on your aim while in the standing position, and then align your back foot with the line of the shot.

WALK-IN TO THE SHOT

I gently walk into the shot all the while staying focused on exactly where I want to shoot the cue ball. This allows me to place my cue and body on the correct line.

TIP TO THE CUE BALL

Once you are down, your first position should be to place your cue tip at the cue ball, do one final check, and pause to see if your alignment is correct.

WARM UP WITH RHYTHM

Here is where you are going to see a lot of variation among players. I highly recommend that you develop a rhythm to this part of the routine and stick to it. Some players have a set number they always use while others will match their eye movement by looking at the object ball on the back swing and the cue ball on the forward swing.

SLOW BACKSWING

Often overlooked, but a slow final backswing is critical for a smooth and consistent stroke. If you can only manage to incorporate one thing into your routine, do this one.

PAUSE BEFORE FINAL DELIVERY

This is where you will see a major difference in the stroke technique of snooker players and traditional pool players. All modern professional snooker players will pause at this stage. My pause can be as long as 3 seconds. I recommend you pause for at least 1 second.

DELIVERY WITH ACCELERATION

As you begin your final backswing your eyes should slowly make the transition from the cue ball to the target. As you accelerate through the cue ball keep your eyes locked on the target. This insures two things will happen: a) no body movement; and b) the cue tip finishes beyond the cue ball.

FINISH, FREEZE AND EVALUATE

Give yourself the best chance for accuracy by holding your position after impact. Staying down on the shot allows you to: (a) greatly reduce your margin for error; and (b) have an opportunity to analyze the shot to see whether the shot was executed perfectly or if there was a flaw.

(c) 2007 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer

The 10 Ingredients of Playing Pool - Number 4

The Yoga of Pool (the body mind connection & flexibility)
DATE: 09/27/2007 12:43:38 PM

The word “yoga” in its original sense has little to do with exercise, but in fact comes from the Sanskrit verb yuj, to yoke or unite. Of course, we understand that the original intent is to unite with God, but just for fun, let’s use the principle of yoga to help us unite our body and mind as one.

As I mentioned in my first lesson, we have to make our mind our best friend so that it works for us and not against us. We do this by first understanding that we always have a choice. Our intelligence is above the mind and so the power of discrimination that defines our intelligence always has the ability to overrule any silly suggestion our mind comes up with. The key now is to unite our trained and experienced intelligence with the actions of our body.

We achieve this in two ways: 1) By training and repetition of a good thing; and 2) By writing down our realizations and contemplation.

There is no doubt that practice makes perfect. The game of billiards like any skill requiring great precision requires serious practice and concentration. It is simply not good enough to knock some balls around every so often and consider that training. You have to work on drills and when something works, you have to try to repeat and firmly establish that skill in your mind and muscle memory.

Since the mind can be so frivolous, it is best to establish a set time for such training and some sort of routine. In the same way that you would discipline a mischievous child, you have to take the same regulated disciplinary action with the mind. Set up a time, place and a routine that works best for you and do it. Outside of that set time, have as much frivolous fun as you want, but during this time, you have to be serious.

Monitoring your progress and writing down your realization is a wonderful way to train the mind and sharpen the intelligence. In the same way that you would monitor your achievements at the gym, note down how you are progressing in your training drills. You see, when you write something down, you are ten times more effective in remembering and retaining the knowledge. And that is what we want because you have to learn from your mistakes and remember what worked.

Writing down realizations simply means, to capture on paper those “Eureka” moments when something makes sense for the first time. For example, the time that you realized and experienced first hand, that playing your cue ball with one tip of inside English deflected the cue ball. Whatever little instance of illumination you experience, write it down. Even it is just a few words.

Finally, our lesson today would not be complete if I did not address the importance of flexibility and of course another comparison to yoga.

Although it is possible to play well without being able to turn your body into a pretzel, it is well documented in sports literature that having a flexible and toned body is a great advantage in any sport.

The fact is that the posture needed to play pool is not at all natural to the human body. There is nothing in this world that would require you to assume such a bodily position as you do when playing pool. The same could be said of golf. So what does the world number one golf player say about flexibility:

“Although I have a lot of natural flexibility, I still work hard to maintain it. As we get older, our muscles tend to lose some of their elasticity….Every golfer should be concerned with maintaining suppleness in the shoulders, neck, back, chest, thighs and hips--all valuable power sources.” – Tiger Woods

(c) 2007 The Billiards Training Company

By Allison Fisher & Paul (BATman) Turner
Inventor of the Allison Fisher Billiard Aim Trainer

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