Re: Precision Thinking

Well, first off you shouldn't play when you're bored, with or without a friend. If you're not focused, continuing to play will only install bad habits into your thinking, PSR, and execution.

It is more than possible to learn intensity during practice. Mental discipline and focus is a skill, just like any other, that you can develop.

The other part is a good insight and the flip side of the above: you need to always be precise in your thinking, PSR, and execution. What many players fail to realize is that even though the balls might be wide open, precision will tremendously improve your odds of getting out and the percentage of times you get out. That's what separates the better player from the ball banger.

Of course, good players make it look easy and it's possible to get the impression they're being cavalier in their execution because they take so little time. But what they're showing you is the result of thousands of hours of reps. They've seen and executed all the shots before; they've seen and executed all the position plays before; they know where the pitfalls in a run are, and consequently they're running all the bits of data they must consider, very efficiently through their wetware. If you lack their familiarity with the shots and sequences it's harder to work through the problems.

Precision is a very subtle thing and a moving target. If you continue on up the mountain, what you now consider "precise" execution or position, or even your PSR, will be laughably imprecise to you a few years up the path. It's why I love practicing 14.1. As your run lengths increase, the level of precision and focus you must maintain (especially on a triple-shimmed table :-)also increases. Then, you truly do come to appreciate the pleasures of small motions.

Lou Figueroa


Ed McCune wrote:
I've been asking a lot of questions here lately about improving your game through competition etc. and I may have got a glimmer last night about why competition is important.

I was watching my opponent run me out from the break. He is one of the better players around here. He had a very tough layout and kept making amazing shot after amazing shot but that wasn't what I noticed. It was the precision with which he faced each and every shot. No matter how tough or confused the layout he took the time to precisely map out each shot and where each ball would go, and he was accurate in most cases.

But it wasn't the precision of his shooting or shape that excited me it was the precise way his mind worked. He was zoned in on every shot. He knew precisely what each and every ball was going to do on each and every shot. Then I noticed that a master level teammate of mine does the same thing. Then I realized I was doing the same thing(at least this time) and that the one game I lost that was my fault I didn't do that.

But, I don't always do this and I think this may be important. You must have a precise mind and attitude when you play and even more importantly when you practice.

This is what I believe competition teaches you that you can't get in
practice. The intensity of competition teaches you to be precise. In
practice we get sloppy as we get bored. Even when we are not bored,
like when we play with a friend for fun, our minds are often on other things. We have to learn to focus on the moment when we play and be precise. Don't be satisfied with playing shape somewhere over there. Be disciplined and play precisely on this line to that spot.

I don't know if this makes any sense at all to any of you but I'd welcome all comments anyway, even if you think I'm full of crap or a ballbanging hack with no killer instinct. Think of this as an opportunity to show off all that you know, if you know who I mean.

Ed "The Wannabe Precision Thinker" McCune
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