Better Practice

[BrettSmith]

So many people say they are "going to practice", but this isn't what I see. If you are serious about your game, I think it's really important to decide up-front if it's practice or recreation.

Recreation:

I am not implying that every shot "needs to have a purpose" in the recreational set. I love to just blindly smack some pills as much as the next guy, but it's important that you make a couple deals with yourself. First, you really should be throwing all expectations out the window. This is fun time to "do the stupid"- not work time. Second, I think it's really important to ride your mindset or current emotion in the moment. Let your moves just be expressions of the right-sided thinking. Envision shot shapes and make moves with no conscious thought that you feel may bring them to life. have fun with it, but by no means should you be judgemental or critical on any level. Sometimes you may stumble across something that feels good or maybe a new shot you find by accident that you can add to the repetoire. When and if this happens, I would encourage you to make a couple notes about what it might be- but don't shift gears into any one on-going specific mode or operation. THIS IS KEY. The beauty of this is that free yourself and kind of "trip out". Let stuff find you- don't look for anything or look to ingrain anything. Even if you are a serious or competitive player, you NEED some of this time. It's basically mindless research and development.

Practice:

So many people have good intentions to practice something- but lose control of the management aspect. Practice is a focus and a discipline- not a random shifiting like above. Remember, it's about:

-what you are really doing? what is the mission?

-managing yourself and your motions in the best possible way in the moment to build upon

The medical school definition of a <goal> from a clinical standpoint is: "behavoir that is reflective of one's highest level of wellness and independence."

So ask yourself this- Is my BEHAVOIR truly reflective of where you want to be with your game? This really breaks into a discipline of how well you manage yourself and your rationed practice time. What I consistently see, even with people that have good information- is that they have in effect "let the inmates run the asylum"! Poor results from a new application or something not meeting somebody's "standard" triggers an emotional reaction(s) tied to the result and of course subsequent antics and/or disenchantment. Remember you are not only the quarterback here people, but also the head coach.

Practice far and away should be about making motions and training the body- not machine-gunning balls. The practice ball is merely a reference or temperature for the moment when you are training. If you are working something specifically new into your movement or training with a focal point motion- GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. It's not a right or wrong thing in the moment with the result.

<However, it is important that you have been coached or know how to read and react to the result>

Think of an NBA team. If the other team reels off 10-15 quick points and our team isn't responding well- you gotta call the Time Out baby. Here is how you can or should do this:

6-6-6 Routine:

"6-6-6" doesn't have to be the devils sign, but moreof the fact that this is a game-art-discipline where the devil is in the details! Make at least 6 practice moves before you strike 6 balls. And truly make the moves "to feel" whatever it is you are working on... not the faux wave of the club I see most of you do.

Strike 6 shots with the thought and feel of what you are working on. Don't be result oriented, be process oriented!

Next, make 6 motions again independent of the ball.

Now, Strike 6 shots with no conscious thoughts. Remember to not be result orientated, but detached.

How were the shots on the 6 with no thought? If they were poor, than increase the number of practice motions by 6 and repeat the sequence. If 1/2 were somewhat positive, than repeat the same previous routine. If the results were really positive, then work the same sequence, but replace the 2nd 6 with conscious thought and feel to "thoughtless"- so that you have 6 practice motions, preceeding 12 strikes.

This is why you will see most good players take about 6x as long to go through a bucket!

By rationing yourself and staggering your motions, practice can be a whole lot more productive and progressive. Obviously you must have absolute trust in the material otherwise you are wasting time and effort. Remember the body and mind harmonizing "to get it" happens in it's own time. You can't force growth, you can only nurture it- so stay out of your own way. Remember the results in the moment are not your working reality, but the growth curve.

Cheers!

Brett