Performance coaching - humour me.

[Dingdell]

It was very obvious to me at the weekend that my mind just wasn't on the game in hand at Luton.
Lots of things happened before the game that although very little seemed to affect me, and although I didn't really think I was a superstitious player they all seemed very important at the time.

On the way to the second day I realised I had left my earrings at home, I had bought them in Brighton last week, came second and therefore after one game/one cash they had become my very precious lucky earrings. (complete madness). I had to turn round and pick them up, making me nearly miss the start of the game.

Previously when I have done well I have read a chapter of Harrington before the game just to start focusing, I didn't have time to do that so I felt I wasn't well prepared.

I always put some money in a slot machine, and if I make money I feel it's an omen about the game. At Brighton I got paid £293 before the start of the second day, at Luton I spent £20.

As for Tighty - don't get me started.........unable to rail me as he was playing in the Blonde Sizzler obviously completely tilted me and that was goodnight for me.   

All of this is ridiculous as none of those things should affect the cards and the game but the state of mind I had before the game was affected by some of these issues. This can translate at the table to looking weak etc etc. Lets face it, the times I've done well I have been feeling pretty confident having been buoyed up by Blonde/Red etc. I tried to replicate those feeling of confidence myself on Sunday but it just wasn't happening.

If I could feel confident and on top of my game all the time without having to ask for encouraging posts and looking really needy all the time all the better!

So I have taken it upon myself to get professional help ( Long overdue in some peoples minds - I want to overcome these mental barriers - so like Tiger Woods and others I am getting a performance coach. 

Albeit my game isn't great, to me the mindset is important and while I work on understanding some of the more important points of the game, such as does a flush beat a full house, my mental approach on the day will help towards the whole package. In Brunsons supersystem he says if you can't leave your troubles at home don't play, I don't really have any troubles at home (bok) but I allow other things to interfere.

I'm telling you this because I think that acknowledging possible weaknesses and taking public steps towards improvement gets you half way there. A bit like Tikays stop smoking campaign I have an added incentive to improve.

So - I am having one session of coaching which may involve visualisation/hypnotism etc.  The guy has promised that if I find pocket aces he won't make me cluck like a chicken - I hope he's right. I thought it was worth one go and take it from there.

Thank you for listening, may the force be with me 

[M3boy]

A posiive and correct mindset MAKES you play better , it just feels that when in the correct frame of mind that good things happen.

GL

[madasahatstand]

good luck with it dingdell. i would be interested to find out if you feel more confident, relaxed and focused after your session.

all the best

mad

[pokermuppet]

every time i see you play you have a smile on your face....and certainly looking at your recent results youre not doing a great deal wrong-you play poker the way its meant to be played, its a shame more people dont play like you!!

[AndrewT]

The biggest barrier that decent players have is not being able to play their best game all the time - which is almost entirely a psychological/emotional thing.

Anything you can do which helps you to access the poker knowledge lodged in your brain in the heat of battle is a good thing. Though this motivation should be entirely internal, coming from your own thought processes, rather than relying on lucky earrings or slot machine wins.

Jonny Wilkinson famously visualised kicking his penalties/conversions into a clown's mouth between the goalposts, because aiming at something specific (the clown's mouth) is easier than aiming at a space with things around it (between the goalposts). He developed a set routine for every kick and trained himself to do the same thing every time. No matter what the atmosphere/pressure, every kick became exactly like all the ones he perfected on the training ground. Getting yourself into a place where you play the best you can every hand will work wonders for your game.

Good luck with things Tracey.

[tikay]

Good Luck Tracey.

But.......you already have a good game, (see your Results!) and many a good game (in Poker, Golf, Tennis, etc) has been ruined by tinkering with it. Do be careful, please!

[Snatiramas]

I have a range of self hypnotherapy techniques which help me relax.

My results before and after have been similar but I feel better and it does help me relax after a bad beat particularly the one Micky Wernick inflicted on me in the £500 last week.

You pays your money and takes your choice. As long as one is seeking enlightenment then one is walking down the right path regardless of the route.................or some other bollox

[RED-DOG]

Wow! Trace, for what my opinion is worth I think you're right and wrong all in one post.I'm playing just now but I will post my two cents when I get a moment.

Then you can feel free to ignore me. 

[ifm]

Confidence is the key to all success IMO, if you have faith in your own abilities then you cannot let yourself down.
When i play golf i *know* without doubt that i am going to stand over the ball on the first tee and smash the drive 350 yards straight down the middle, there is no other possible outcome in my mind.
Others i play with are often heard saying things like "i hate the first hole, never do any good" or "it takes me a couple of holes before i get properly warmed up" etc.
This defeats them before they start, how can you do well if you are already convinced you won't?

That is the thing about superstitions, lucky charms etc. we all know they actually mean nothing in themselves but they do have the ability to affect your confidence and this is what does make them crucial.

So i say do whatever is needed to get that mindset right, whether it be wearing sunglasses (if you are paranoid that people can see what cards you have everytime you blink then they are right for you) or seeing a diviner or kissing your kids in alphabetical order before you leave the house.

[Colchester Kev]

Before I went to Singapore (did i mention that i won a seat to singapore ? ) a very kind blondeite pm'd me and generously offered me a lucky charm to use as a card protector, I declined the kind offer stating that I nevr use a card protector as it becomes a lucky charm if you do well, and then if you forget it one day , you will be thinking about that instead of cencentrating on your game and it will affect you mentally ... I feel that if you rely on too many things other than your own ability and self confidence, you are just putting obstacles in the way of your progress.

Having said that, while in Singapore, we visited the "Royal Selangor" pewter factory & Museum where i purchased a rather fetching pewter fish .... This is now my card protector and will be for ever more ..... But im crap at poker anyway, so whether i forget it or not, it wont affect my game

[ifm]

Having said that, while in Singapore, we visited the "Royal Selangor" pewter factory & Museum where i purchased a rather fetching pewter fish

So in singapore you went on a museum tour?

[Wardonkey]

It's unlucky to be superstitious...

[AndrewT]

It's unlucky to be superstitious...

It is, that's why I've never been superstitious and never will.

*touch wood*

[Dingdell]

Having said that, while in Singapore, we visited the "Royal Selangor" pewter factory & Museum where i purchased a rather fetching pewter fish

So in singapore you went on a museum tour?

Well some of the things he saw were very old.........but that was just down to budget. 

Thank guys - can't wait for my session - off to Vegas on the 29th so we'll see how it works!

[DaveShoelace]

This is great, keep us posted.

I myself have been researching a number of body & mind subjects and their link with poker, so far its just been the link between fitness/diet and mental performance at the poker table. My results at the cash game tables has increased significantly since ive been a regular at the gym and the greengrocers.

Im planning on recuiting a sports pyschologist in 2007, might have to get a few pointers from you too