Proof of Focusing (video clip)

I've been wanting to write about this for a while but needed some dedicated time to write this one up.

Before I go into the details of focusing, I'd like you to review this video below.  See if you can beat my score!  You need to watch closely to see if you can count the correct number of times the ball is passed from the girls only in the white shirts.

If you can't view this video now, go ahead and come back later - it's the whole premise of the topic.

Ready to beat my score??





So, if this was your first time viewing this video clip, then you are JUST as shocked and surprised as I was.

Even weeks later after seeing it, I will walk down the hall and see the coworker who shared this with me and still say something to him because I simply can't believe it.  And of course, as soon as he showed me, I just /knew/ it would be a blog topic!

Basically, the video is proof how well we can focus on pool, and be in the zone.  It also proves that we can indeed focus on things and miss other things.

I could write prolly 10 topics just related to this video and focusing in matches, but let's only touch on a few:

1.  Team Captain:  This video shows why a team captain is important.  Some players need to focus on their game and wont be cognizant of the dynamics of what is going on around them.  And that's good!  We want their best game.  And so the Captain can be the person who sees the entire picture.  As captain, it's their role to see who is playing well, how to change up the line-up, or maybe help someone who is dealing with high emotions (as an example).  Letting the players focus on pool, allows the Captain to focus on the players.

2.  Focus on the Table:  This video kinda encapsulates why you can be in the zone and not notice anything else around you.  It also PROVES that you can be THAT focused on one thing.  And for us, that is the game at hand.  If you are focusing solely on 3-balls-ahead-shape, I guarantee you nothing else will enter your mind.  That's the type of focus you want.  If you are struggling with focusing or you think you can't focus lately for some reason, think about how well you watched the balls from the girls in the white shirt and what you missed.   Yep!   See?

3.  Multi-Tasking:  What the video doesn't show but it attests to in documentation, is that if you were to see all three changes (curtain, the walk-on, and someone leaving), then you may not have counted the correct number of passes.  The neurology of our brain to do calculations is resource intensive, so if we are doing too much, other things may slack off.  That's why it's crucial to try and focus only on the game at hand when we are playing pool.  That's why when we get distracted by something external, we don't play as well.

4.  Practice versus Tourney Play:  This video also explains why during practice we play so much better sometimes than in competition.  In practice, we are not distracted, having fun, making all our shots.  Here comes competition and we are worrying about our "status" in the event, who our opponent is, who is watching, why someone just said something crappy to us, etc.  How can we possibly play our best being distracted?  That's why it's important to let things go, focus on the table, and regroup quickly when something distracts you or throws you off.

Hope this helps prove you CAN focus well, and how important it is.  :)

The Talker

On Saturday my boyfriend and I went to a local pool room to play in a tourney and low and behold the guy I played back in October and April was there.

And he was barking.

And we said yes.

I have already mentioned I'm kinda in a rut and boy did it show this day!  Ouch.  Not to mention I was hung over and tired, so the combination wasn't a good one at all, lol. 

During the first set I notice a friend of mine watching.  Older gentleman, always nice to me.  Then I noticed he was practicing, so I didn't even think about it anymore.

The guy I'm gambling with is a HUGE talker.  He talks before he shoots; after he shoots; while he shoots; after he misses; when he gets out.  ALL THE TIME.

However, this doesn't bother me. 

I'm actually used to it.

The first time I played him, the guy backing me told me, "he's a talker, he likes to talk, so I'm going to talk to him for you."  So I knew right then and there what he was about.

And it didn't bother me.

Even this third time, he was still a-talkin'.

Didn't bother me.

My boyfriend talked right back to him the entire time, too, and I just played pool (well, tried to through my struggling game).

The first set goes hill-hill, even though I was up 8-6 in a race to 9 for $150.

We start over for $200.

I am down 4-5 and I win 5 in a row to win 9-5!  Saweet!  I was rushing and felt like I was trying to much and once I said that out loud to my boyfriend, I worked on NOT doing those things and it really helped me focus to win the set.

During the next set, he jumps up 3-0 on me.  I'm starting to struggle real badly.

All of a sudden, the older gentlemen slides over from his far away seat (which I didn't know he had come back to watch) and whispers to me "He's trying to get into your head.  Don't listen to him."

What?

No THAT bothered me!

Let's see now.  I go hill-hill the first set.  Win the second set, and now you think his talking is bothering me?

Honestly, YOUR talking is bothering me!

He made me AWARE of my opponents nonsense!  More aware than I had been the whole time, honestly.

I am struggling more and finally get a game.  I'm down 1-5.

And then... yep, he tells me that AGAIN!

I finally retort back, "It doesn't bother me!"

"Oh, okay."

I found it ironic every time he said something to me my boyfriend had gone to the bathroom. shm.

I keep trying my little heart out to come back but I'm still struggling so badly.

The gentlemen tries to tell me one more thing and I just nod my head but didn't hear him.  This time my boyfriend heard and they discussed not to chat with me anymore (thank GOD!).

I admit I was pretty miffed.  I had to vent to my boyfriend about it because it was bothering me so much.  He told me not to worry about it and already took care of it (he could tell I was bothered).  But, to deal with struggling, people pointing out things, being tired, trying to catch up, made it very difficult for me to FOCUS.

I made a small comeback but it wasn't enough and I lost 9-4 or 9-5.  :(

Although it was a good practice session for me, and although breaking even isn't losing, still sucks I broke even when I should have won the first set and the whole day could have been different.

But hey, don't let this talking get to you.