Trust Your Arm

One of the things you often here people say about someone who is shooting well is that “He is unconscious”. They will continue on with how easy it appears for this player to make balls and send the cueball obediently to its next roost. What they are seeing is a player who is confident enough in his ability to relax, trust his aim, and trust his arm. You see, he is not telling his arm how hard to stroke. After he visualizes his shot, he knows that his arm knows just how firm the stroke must be in order to get around the table to the proper area for the next shot.

Beginners do not start out by trusting anything about their game. They struggle with aim and stroke, often making the ball only to see the cue ball go someplace worthless. But by practicing and playing, the movements of the game become comfortable, and, finally, automatic. This all works because the mind is a wonderful computer that stores the information gathered in all of your shooting experiences. So, with time, you will be able to visualize your shot, and while you are focused on aiming, your arm will automatically uncork the required stroke to get you where you want to go.

And how do you get there? How do you get your arm to go on automatic and learn to relax in the comfort of your ability? The same way you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice. But while you are practicing, stop telling your arm what to do. Just bend down and stroke it. With each error you make your mind and arm will make adjustments. Soon your arm will earn your trust and your game will become easier and more fulfilling.