Comments on: “Dead Stroke” vs. “In Stroke” http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9cdead-stroke%e2%80%9d-vs-%e2%80%9cin-stroke%e2%80%9d/ random smatterings of pool thoughts, articles, news, & reviews Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:53:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nolimitdave http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9cdead-stroke%e2%80%9d-vs-%e2%80%9cin-stroke%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-2325 nolimitdave Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:56:59 +0000 http://www.pooltipjar.com/?p=2154#comment-2325 I've experienced this high level of performance. It is difficult to describe. The Zen philosophy can shed some understanding on the mental state, that pool players refer to as, "being in dead stroke." Golfers sometimes call it, "being in the zone." It's probably understood in a myriad of performance/creativity endeavors. Zen talks of a level of mental purity, deeply calm and relaxed where the body just performs quite effortlessly. It has to do with focus, relaxation and clearing of the mind. It's an awesome feeling or experience but I've found it to be very fleeting. Whenever I've entered that extremely pure and calm level of performance, and just when I begin to feel the awareness of it all, that's when it can vanish away in an instant. In fact, as soon as I attempt to feel or understand the experience, it suddenly is no more and I seemingly return back to my physical self. When people in the past have asked me what it feels like, I have at times described it as a feeling of being "one with the universe." I’ve experienced this high level of performance. It is difficult to describe. The Zen philosophy can shed some understanding on the mental state, that pool players refer to as, “being in dead stroke.” Golfers sometimes call it, “being in the zone.” It’s probably understood in a myriad of performance/creativity endeavors. Zen talks of a level of mental purity, deeply calm and relaxed where the body just performs quite effortlessly. It has to do with focus, relaxation and clearing of the mind. It’s an awesome feeling or experience but I’ve found it to be very fleeting. Whenever I’ve entered that extremely pure and calm level of performance, and just when I begin to feel the awareness of it all, that’s when it can vanish away in an instant. In fact, as soon as I attempt to feel or understand the experience, it suddenly is no more and I seemingly return back to my physical self. When people in the past have asked me what it feels like, I have at times described it as a feeling of being “one with the universe.”

]]> By: DC http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9cdead-stroke%e2%80%9d-vs-%e2%80%9cin-stroke%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-1996 DC Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:43:39 +0000 http://www.pooltipjar.com/?p=2154#comment-1996 I think that this dead stroke thing is highly overrated. I think that hypnotism to achieve a goal and to say things to promote oneself as if one is God is just evil and nothing good can come from it. "What good is it for a man to profit the world but to lost his own soul?" I think that this dead stroke thing is highly overrated. I think that hypnotism to achieve a goal and to say things to promote oneself as if one is God is just evil and nothing good can come from it. “What good is it for a man to profit the world but to lost his own soul?”

]]> By: Billy Chilton http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9cdead-stroke%e2%80%9d-vs-%e2%80%9cin-stroke%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-1367 Billy Chilton Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:45:30 +0000 http://www.pooltipjar.com/?p=2154#comment-1367 Samm, I enjoy reading your articles. In your recent article titled, "Dead Stroke vs In Stroke", one of your quotes is very close to my opening thoughts from a blog that i posted over a year ago. http://www.breakandrun.blogspot.com/ Most of this blog material are notes from a book that I started several years ago, but have not taken the time to finish. Take a look at it whenever you get a chance. Regards, Billy Chilton Houston, Texas billychilton@comcast.net Samm,
I enjoy reading your articles.
In your recent article titled, “Dead Stroke vs In Stroke”, one of your quotes is very close to my opening thoughts from a blog that i posted over a year ago. http://www.breakandrun.blogspot.com/
Most of this blog material are notes from a book that I started several years ago, but have not taken the time to finish.

Take a look at it whenever you get a chance.

Regards,

Billy Chilton
Houston, Texas
billychilton@comcast.net

]]> By: John Baker http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9cdead-stroke%e2%80%9d-vs-%e2%80%9cin-stroke%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-1346 John Baker Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:23:36 +0000 http://www.pooltipjar.com/?p=2154#comment-1346 this is the same thing as a runners high,or second wind but I have not had the fortune to see this in person as I have just started serious pool shooting and am (and always will be) a learner Irish this is the same thing as a runners high,or second wind but I have not had the fortune to see this in person as I have just started serious pool shooting and am (and always will be) a learner
Irish

]]> By: Adi http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9cdead-stroke%e2%80%9d-vs-%e2%80%9cin-stroke%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-1344 Adi Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:28:49 +0000 http://www.pooltipjar.com/?p=2154#comment-1344 The ability to be "in dead stroke" is something I have been working on acquiring for the last year. I call this this the art of aiming without aiming. Using the subconscious mind to play pool in auto pilot is the same technique that all of us use to drive or walk without having to micromanage how we do it. Once you master the art of doing something with subconscious competence, there is no reason why (just like driving), you can't choose how much control you have and how much is on autopilot. The ability to be “in dead stroke” is something I have been working on acquiring for the last year. I call this this the art of aiming without aiming.

Using the subconscious mind to play pool in auto pilot is the same technique that all of us use to drive or walk without having to micromanage how we do it.

Once you master the art of doing something with subconscious competence, there is no reason why (just like driving), you can’t choose how much control you have and how much is on autopilot.

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