 We all pass through four stages in this gameAt MMU you can read about the Four Stages of Life, not only in this game, but in our own personal lives. Each person must pass through those four stages if they are ever to reach the top.
In the Masters of Art in Pocket Billiards program each student is expected to send in his/her report as to when they were in the Lonely Conflict and how they worked themselves into the second stage. Here are some reports.
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Here is the Lonely conflict statement you requested.
Please submit one example of you in the Lonely Conflict Stage Give an example of how the Lonely Conflict Stage affected your game.
I was a player that felt he knew it all and was better than 90% of the people I was playing against in league competition, I had felt I was better than my coach and that he had nothing to offer me. To put it bluntly I was a shot maker that was very cocky and into myself. I was wrong I found out that when he approached the table for a time out that if I took the the time to listen to him it just gave me another avenue of thought on what I was going to do. It gave me a breather in the game to reflect on how I was going to approach the next shot, it gave me time to relate to my PSR, I may not have agreed with him and it was still my choice on how to play the shot. Once I recognized the value of the time out, I think that is when I came out of the lonely conflict stage. It allowed me to see different avenues of approach. It also eased the tension that had built up in the team venue. I no longer feel that I know it all and am open to listen to corrective criticism.
I have all of your videos and have been practicing mostly by myself and have made a lot of changes in my game. I now have the honor and privilege to work with fellow Master Kurt to bring my game up to what it should be, I am so thankful that I have enrolled in this program and look forward to seeing you in the finals as well.
I am ready for the next stage. I will leave the Lonely Conflict Stage and learn the things that will take me to the next level. I am leaving the Lonely Conflict Stage today. I am gone.....
You break and run the entire rack with your break cue.
You find out after you are leading three to nothing that you are at the wrong table playing the wrong opponent.
You play a two way shot and neither of them work for you.
You can hear someone talking about your game from three tables away.
You pull off a great shot on the five ball only to find out the four ball is still on the table.
You honestly cannot understand how you could make such a dumb decision after you have failed in a run out.
Most sufferers are filled with illusion. While CDD is not contagious it does seem to run in groups, such as teammates, or tournament friends. CDD couples should not play scotch doubles as they never know whose turn it is. A CDD sufferer will ask you if he has stripes or solids.
Second, you must know why you want to achieve your purpose.
You must devise a plan to reach your desired objective. That plan must build a solid foundation for your game. It must be specific and deliberate. Without a foundation you will be subject to change without notice. You can't rely upon your concentration skills because they are loaded with faults. The execution of your stroke must be natural and become a habit.
Master the Four Strokes of Pool and you will sharpen your execution skills.
Pass through the Four Stages of Pocket Billiards. If you would like a copy of The Four Stages of Pocket Billiards, email me and I will be happy to send you one free of charge.
We know that the stroke determines the track line and the stroke controls the cue ball. So we must first master the Four Strokes of Pool. Then you can see the shot, know the stroke and shoot the shot!
Second, you must learn to exist in the present. There is no tomorrow, and no yesterday or even next hour. There is only the shot you are facing. And there is no, that shot, past shot, next shot. There is only this shot! Stay in the present and observe the shot you are facing. See the shot, know the stroke and shoot the shot.
Do not place any value on a shot. Make sure you see the shot as it is. Do not look at the results of the shot. A shot is a shot. The eight ball does not know it is the eight ball. The nine ball does not know what the score is.
Develop a pre shot routine, and a pre shot shot. Set yourself up to observe the shot at hand. Then go through all the preparation for that shot. You must know when your personal shot trigger works for you.
Develop a pre shot routine.
Develop a pre shot shot.
Place no value on the results.
If you are down on the shot, and all sense of reason based upon past experience tells you that you are not properly lined up for that shot, do not shoot the shot. Most CDD sufferers will shoot the shot and then announce,I knew I was going to miss that shot before I shot it.
Do not listen to a conversation going on two tables away while you are attempting a shot. Nothing can be more interesting than a shot.
Do not think you have won the game when you still have four balls on the table.
Go through all the steps on each shot. When you are getting out your jump cue for an impossible shot, do not look to see if the audience is watching you. You will end up giving ball in hand to your opponent.
Once you are infected with Concentration Deficiency Disorder you need to learn to live with it. You can overcome CDD if you go can face the issues at hand in a sequential manner. May all the rolls go your way.
Approximately nine months ago I was raised to a “6” handicap. I immediately found that I was NOT winning matches any more. I was quick to exercise a long list of excuses:
It’s the “stupid” APA handicap system
The players beating me were “sandbaggers”.
My Captain put me up against the wrong players
etc, etc
{In actuality what was happening was I was playing more advanced players where I could not simply “run & hide”. I needed to play-to-win instead of playing-not-to-lose.},
I actually quit the APA team I was playing with (I was sure it was their fault) and played for other teams. I continued to lose.
It was six months ago when I began reading the “Lesson” and it occurred to me that I may NOT be putting in the effort it would take to get to the next level. I indeed felt VERY-VERY lonely. As I introduced my newly acquired knowledge of the “Four” strokes I improved my winning percentages to become a solid “6”.
I now have set my sights on becoming a “7” and realize (from your enlightenment) that effort and knowledge will not be enough. I truly need to train my mental skills to continue improvement. I now truly believe that I can leave the “Lonely Conflict Stage” with the help of my follow Monk Masters AND a new level of discipline towards all aspects of my training (piling more rocks).
Hope I don't sound too”gushy” – however, I AM beginning to see the value of the MMU system.
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