((nightbird)))))))

ive enjoyed what you've added along with everyone.. i brought your previous post out and also your subsequent statements about timing....

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probably why i had difficulties with my timing in life. the cart before the horse thing. being impatient - missing the shot. not concentrating on my moves - missing the shot. going way too fast - missing the shot. not seeing the route in it's entirety - missing the shot. not having set the goal to make the shot - missing the shot.

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i can picture the scene ... the balls are spread across the table... one teacher told me how every ball on the table matters.. each has its place and purpose....

i take my time, i look at the way the balls align with each other.. i imagine 'the run' .. sometimes its hard to see.. for everything to work, cue ball placement is the controlling factor.. getting the cue ball to the last shot and making it is the goal... a long way to go before that happens tho..

kebs said:

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I can picture myself hitting the ball into the pocket. But I must also know where the cue must hit the ball (high, left, low, right, center on) and with what force (too much or too little) to achieve my goal. That is the part that takes practice, practice, practice

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like life... just where to toouch to send the ball rolling in just the right way... how hard, how soft.. what specicic spot on the ball will achieve the goal?

i'm standing there, chalking my stick, looking it over... the stick has to slide across my hand bridge smoothly.. hand chalk helps... the tip of the cue stick matters... the smoothness of the felt on the table.. in a professional establishment, management knows these elements are important, in fact critical...

professional management will do its best to give the players the best and cleanest equipment available.. some of these games are high stakes (tho thats hardly discussed openly in public)

optimally, the table is one of the finest, but, sometimes, the table is less than perfect... adjustments are needed.. maybe the table is squared perfectly with the floor or the slate is warped... perfect shots wont work right under those conditions... a case of being perfect in an imperfect environment happens for some people at times... elements outside our control.. like life sometimes....

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it's like being on the beam ... on the right spot ... something I was not consistent with as many things in life threw me for a loop.

being distracted, and even disoriented at times, heart-broken, or struggling to get through one thing after another, i feel i missed the mark more times than not.
one struggle after another was the proof. i'd see others lives less affected than mine, and it scared me. things were difficult, and overwhelming for quite a few years for me.

my timing was off so bad, do to the problems i had, that by the time i figured things out or could get things squared away to actually be in a position to do something - i'd missed the opportunity already.

that's how i see my timing in the past.

thankfully, now i have less responsibility, less contact with disruptive people, and my ill mother who did great harm to my life personally, has passed away ... so i've created a safe haven from where i can do what i can handle - and not take on what i cannot, for whatever reason.

my timing is improving because i am now able to make things happen - instead of missing the boat, i'm steering it.

i still make mistakes, but my timing i am accountable for now, as i am no longer a victim to others, or circumstances, or my own disability.

i feel more empowered, and am a more cautious person, able to think things all the way thru, so i can shot a game of pool the way it needs to be played, and be a better partner or competitor in the game, and reliable where i will come through with the shots, that is ... unless the unexpected comes up ... and if i'm having a bad day, i'll take a raincheck.

that's my timing thing.

peace and love,
night

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and this is where timing and distractions blend for me... moving with the people around me... letting the conversation end before taking the shot... then.. silence and concentration ...

(in the old commercial this where the chip eating guy takes a big bite of the super crunchy potato chip and ruins the poor guys shot)

in real life we like to try and overcome obstacles... its better that way... so we practice and practice and practice...

timing, lighting, equipment, knowledge, environment, skill, practice.............

probably left something out, just like i do in life at times.... but its fun to try... its great when the practice begins to show signs of working... its something that can be learned, like life....

thanks to everyone for your thoughts... going to do some practicing now....

peace all