I was recently asked this question by a friend, and after I sent him my answer….I though it might be an interesting topic for a blog. Especially given the fact that I so rarely blog about pool. So here goes….
Q. I've seen a lot of potential in my wife's play, even with her limited playing time. But her biggest struggle seems to be mental toughness. How do you go about in your preparation and competitions? Do you have routines or books you read that give you more confidence?
Regarding mental toughness...the best advice I can give is that good preparation is the foundation for a strong mind. Doubt and fear are very powerful emotions...ones that can cripple a player's confidence. The best protection against this is to know your shots 100%...to have your cue be an extension of you...to be so confident in your knowledge and stroke that there is no room for doubt or fear. The only way I have found to achieve this is through practice.
If I shoot the same shot 100 times...and make it 100 times...then when the 101st time rolls around...there is very little chance I will miss it.
If I shoot/make it 1000 times...that chance gets much, much smaller.
If I shoot/make it 10,000 times...I would bet my entire bank account, my car, my 401K and my dog's life that I won't miss the ball.
It's like anything else in life. You have to make it as natural to shoot a 9-ball as it is to tie your shoes or start your car in the dark. Repetition is the key to making that happen. (Think of walking into your bedroom in the dark. You don’t fumble around looking for the light switch for 5 minutes. You aren’t afraid or nervous about finding that switch. Your mind and body know where the light switch is through years of repetition…so there is no room for doubt or fear.)
Now, once you get to a level where you can compete amongst the best, there are other things that can be done to help boost your confidence and keep your brain in a calm and steady state. Jennifer Barretta works out...because for her a strong body equals a strong mind. She feels more confident about herself when she is exercising regularly. I like yoga...because it helps you find your center and learn to create a calm, steady state through deep breathing. Others listen to music to clear their mind...while some write blogs or journals. Preparation techniques are as individual as the players themselves, but I promise that you that 95% of the top players stick to the same basic routine in preparation for a match. This is all part of the repetition…training your body and mind to respond the same way in every situation.
Repetition = Confidence
Believe it people.
