concentration and focus

[Gary Y]

I have a question for you all .How do you hold your focus ?.I play in a number of leagues and get a high average in them all ,but in tournaments eg grand prix ,local closed tournaments etc i do not do so well.The only thing i can put it down to is lack of concentration ,which is due to everything thats going on around me and the tatics of my opponent to break my focus, eg doing up their shoelace etc .I think if only i could focus and block out all those distractions i would do so much better .If you are a good tournament player please let me know how you do it ,thanks Gary

[Noobarmy]

i tend to just focus on the ball and winning. to be fair that causes its own problems like not watching your opponont or hsi tactics and losing your temper :S, will be watchign thsi topic with interest

[Annie]

I have a question for you all .How do you hold your focus ?.I play in a number of leagues and get a high average in them all ,but in tournaments eg grand prix ,local closed tournaments etc i do not do so well.The only thing i can put it down to is lack of concentration ,which is due to everything thats going on around me and the tatics of my opponent to break my focus, eg doing up their shoelace etc .I think if only i could focus and block out all those distractions i would do so much better .If you are a good tournament player please let me know how you do it ,thanks Gary

Excellent question Gary. :thumbsup:

[HockeyFlash22]

I used to be a regular on the GP circuit and so I got quite used to playing with so many different things going on around me. Its all about finding something that helps you focus on you and block everything else out.

With me I always like to feel comfortable - It's weird i know but I have lucky shirts and unlucky shirts. I also listen to music between games - specific songs help me to foucus. Although I love being able to see who is in my group before a tournament, i somethimes play better when i don't know. I believe you can think too much about what to do and who you are playing.

I would love to hear what other people do!

[DaveR]

Regular tournament play is a massive advantage as most players who go to one or two ten to tighten up when the proverbial hits the fan, instead of applying what they do best.

Concentrate on what you do well instead of what others do, the rest follows if your game can stand up to it. I have seen so many players in British League or other events go like statues just because of the fear of losing which will happen if you don't play your own game!

Having said that the older one gets the more aware of the mistakes happens which leads to exactly what i have just said not to do, which is why the young and bullet proof tend to throw caution to the wind when its tight meaning **** or bust !

[Leeston]

Just as important is to recognise those player's who have poor concentration - you know the one's.....those that get stroppy, blame the bat, the table, the umpire and dwell on the lost ball ! Its all part of the game of chess on the table and is a weakness which can be taken advantage of !

Lets face it, if you can drive a car, while listening to the radio and talking to your friend as well then you are more than capabile of concentrating on a white / orange ball. It's not complicated.

The frame of mind is key to help focus your thoughts on the game / point ahead. This can be easily influenced if you have had a bad day at work, had to rush to the venue, etc. A positive frame of mind on your abilty and enjoyment of the game itself also helps - Winning should be a bi-product of playing a great game. Losing a game is an opportunity of learning ! PMA - Positve Metal Attitude. And it does works !

Here is a real life example - A test was conducted on olympic athletes. Those that pictured themself performing the action completing thier desired achievement before starting were proven in many circumstances to be more successful when competing.

[Annie]

Just as important is to recognise those player's who have poor concentration - you know the one's.....those that get stroppy, blame the bat, the table, the umpire and dwell on the lost ball ! Its all part of the game of chess on the table and is a weakness which can be taken advantage of !

Lets face it, if you can drive a car, while listening to the radio and talking to your friend as well then you are more than capabile of concentrating on a white / orange ball. It's not complicated.

The frame of mind is key to help focus your thoughts on the game / point ahead. This can be easily influenced if you have had a bad day at work, had to rush to the venue, etc. A positive frame of mind on your abilty and enjoyment of the game itself also helps - Winning should be a bi-product of playing a great game. Losing a game is an opportunity of learning ! PMA - Positve Metal Attitude. And it does works !

Here is a real life example - A test was conducted on olympic athletes. Those that pictured themself performing the action completing thier desired achievement before starting were proven in many circumstances to be more successful when competing.

I think this is a great way to think and I'll certainly be using the technique this Saturday when I put the Lottery on. :yes:

[The Windmill]

Why not try to practice at a club that has a lot of tables in use at one time. I find that a lot of local league players detest playing at such venues due to noise and interuptions of other balls comming into court. The more you play in conditions like that the less you will be distracted by noise etc......Also as with Hockeyflash, I usually wear my lucky underpants.....on the outside of my shorts....it usually works :dance3:

[TheMoose]

Just as important is to recognise those player's who have poor concentration - you know the one's.....those that get stroppy, blame the bat, the table, the umpire and dwell on the lost ball ! Its all part of the game of chess on the table and is a weakness which can be taken advantage of !

Lets face it, if you can drive a car, while listening to the radio and talking to your friend as well then you are more than capabile of concentrating on a white / orange ball. It's not complicated.

The frame of mind is key to help focus your thoughts on the game / point ahead. This can be easily influenced if you have had a bad day at work, had to rush to the venue, etc. A positive frame of mind on your abilty and enjoyment of the game itself also helps - Winning should be a bi-product of playing a great game. Losing a game is an opportunity of learning ! PMA - Positve Metal Attitude. And it does works !

Here is a real life example - A test was conducted on olympic athletes. Those that pictured themself performing the action completing thier desired achievement before starting were proven in many circumstances to be more successful when competing.


Nice post and correct to the end, players who consistantly moan about noise and anything else ussualy do so because they simply havnt practiced hard enough and in the conditions that can help them and by that i agree with Windmill play in standard noisy halls where it slower and more tables giving realistic challenges then the tournaments become the norm and concentration is easy after that. Lets face it if you find a little talking offensive then your looking for a way out in my humble opinion,

[Sparky]

The frame of mind is key to help focus your thoughts on the game / point ahead. This can be easily influenced if you have had a bad day at work, had to rush to the venue, etc. A positive frame of mind on your abilty and enjoyment of the game itself also helps - Winning should be a bi-product of playing a great game.

Does not the above apply to other sports or situations in life ?