Dr. Cue’s Pool Secrets: Left Brain vs. Right Brain Strategy Explained

[@mikestuckey]

This is my favorite video by far! I hope you get something out of it. AND I just got off the phone with Dr. Cue!! I reached out to see where I can send him some money for his outreach ($1 per "like" in 24hrs) and he called me back!! Like and Share this video if you will! And thank you ALL for the engagement. It's a HUGE encouragement to me and my game. Blessings!

[@godjhaka7376]

So $257?

[@mikestuckey]

@@godjhaka7376 so technically $185 is the number at the 24hr mark. But i’m going to round it up to $200!

[@fastbreakreport]

The point I think Dr. Cue was trying to make is that pool is mostly a game of feel. You can teach someone where to hit the cue ball and the object ball. But you can't make the shot for them. That is the aspect of the game that cannot be taught. That's where is left brain / right brain logic is coming from. You want your shots to just be second nature to you. I've always thought it but never actually said it. But if you have to stop and think about a shot, odds are you won't make it because you're doing something that isn't second nature to you and you're also breaking the focus you had prior.

[@mistysaldana3277]

@@fastbreakreport yes it is a feel game. Give a sec for subconscious mind to absorb then see it, know it, do it. I shot for two years without my eyes. I just knew where the pockets were 😂

[@kendellsmith104]

You suck at pool

[@rigneyte]

Been playing about 30 years, used to play for money quite a bit. This is an excellent video that explains how some of the "tricks" used by opponents manage to be consistently effective. If you can get an opponent talking (even a word or two) on the shot before the 8 ball (or 9) it disrupts his final leave. If it's a seemingly unobtrusive conversation they never realize what is happening and it can work all day. When an opponent went mute you knew you might want to find someone else to wager against. This video filled in so many cracks in knowledge for me, I enjoyed it very much. Also...don't second guess your interjection(s) with additional info, it's your content and you can create whatever you feel is right. Once you call your shot, never consider alternative solutions while executing it. Just make it, then continue the conversation.

[@mikestuckey]

I enjoyed your comment! Thank for chiming in!

[@doncardinal912]

You bring some great intermediate level content, which is where most players reside. The mindset, commentary, and passion are spot on. Kudos Mike.

[@mikestuckey]

Love this! Thank for the kind words!

[@mistysaldana3277]

@@doncardinal912 thx

[@jacquesnascimento1260]

It is almost 'impossible' to keep 100% focused, even pros can't be. There are a lot of variables that can interfere and key is how to manage them, personally I split it in 2 groups: mental (pressure, stress, environment,fear, over confidence), technical (stance, stroke, angles, table and others). Let me start with technical highlighting a few points: the shooting process must be mechanical, and you can not be thinking about English, soft/medium/hard stroke, aiming 1/8 1/2 3/4... so every time that you stop to think about it when you are playing your focus is gone and you must reset and start from the beginning of PROCESS; for mental, it starts depending on each situation it could be a day or days or hour(s) before the match, you should have a PROCESS on my case it starts a day before when I see myself playing, shooting successfully and winning and 1h before the match I started to listen songs and motivational speeches like lion/best mentality, there's a parentsys for songs my Playlist for it has classical or instrumental ones that boost your emotions to go a war and adventure of a lifetime from Coldplay because of message, daily I try to play in most different environments and conditions: noisy, people talking to you, sharking, bad tables, pristine ones, quiet places and etc. It helps me to improve my PROCESS and deal with all of them. In addition to them, I try to arrive early to shoot some balls to know the table and warm up, I do not play games with other ones as warm up, I practice some simple drills and play host. I eficized the word process it is extremely important each one must have you own proces, it will drive your discipline and the progress and success will the result of your effort in keeping and improving it. Personally it is helping a lot and in 2 years playing pool in APA I'm 5x 9 ball season champion, 2x 8 ball, 1x double champion, played 2x 9 ball Regionals (final and semi) 1x 8 ball regiona champion) ended 8 ball vegas single 62 or 64th and 8 ball doubles 17th. I am still average player SL4 and learning everyday, I am not sl5 or higher because I am not being 100% focused and not being consistent because when I play season games I don't play as high tournaments. I love to play against pros because I always 'win' despite losing 98% of games, my mental coach made a comment recent about how i can extract/pick learnings of that and developing my resilience and technique and w/o building a loser feeling/mentality. Try to read the book The Inner Game of tennis, it is my bible. I am sorry to be longer and I hope that you can take something that could help you. Thanks for your initiative to share that.

[@mikestuckey]

this is great. I enjoyed reading this. thanks so much for sharing!

[@JerryLee..]

This video is spot on. In college, I studied with headphones to get used to studying with noise. I also trained myself that if I listened (heared) to the music, I was actually just reading but not absorbing. My self-training was to get into a zone which was 100% focus on the material I was reading. I do this in pool as well, but need to develop the same consistent discipline because unlike reading, you don't get another chance to take the same shot during games. *GREAT VIDEO*

[@mikestuckey]

great points, Jerry! super helpful!

[@JerryLee..]

@@mikestuckey You replied, you earned my subscription. I will be going back and watching your videos.

[@mikestuckey]

enjoy brother! Just promoting the game the best I know how! Thanks for the sub!

[@Ray-Dun]

Very watchable! An entire series could be made on his L/R brain principles. I'm in a 9 ball tournament this weekend, and found some tight pockets to practice on today. I usually play on the forgiving Brunswick 4.5 in pockets. I moved to a 9ft Diamond today for a 2 hour practice. My game is mostly analytical left brain lazer focused as I have changed my whole relationship to the game from bar room shot maker to retired league player and tournament chaser. So, I was using the left brain approach today, narrowing my target to a smaller pocket, it went pretty well, but I was having trouble putting any good runs together. In a moment of frustration, I just got down on the ball and stroked and it landed dead center. This repeated for around 4 shots, until I began thinking about making the shot instead of just making the shot, I knew I was very capable of making. I saw your video when I got home today, and was like, Yeah! that just happened to me.

[@mikestuckey]

Wow haha that's exactly it! You know you can make it and you've made it before, now pull the trigger!! Thanks for sharing that. I'm playing a 9ball tourney this Sunday!

[@Ray-Dun]

@@mikestuckey We had an APA All Brevard Cup 9 ball tourney today, top 48 teams competing for 5000$. My first "team" tournament in this league. We won our first match handily, and I played first as a 5 against a 6. I destroyed him. The rest of the team did good and we won in 4 matches. They complained to the LO that I was a sandbagger and I was raised to a 6. I don't mind, as my goal is to be a 7 by Christmas. huh, sandbagger, not me. I've played 2 sessions and have raised from 3 to 6 in that time, with a win rate of 90% first session, and 100% so far this session. Hardly a sandbagger. I don't even care if we go to Vegas, I just love shooting pool and making freinds. It's sad that sandbagging has gotten so prevalent, that every player that rises to the occasion and plays his best game is accused of cheating. Oh, well. MVP next weekend, I hope I play well win or lose!

[@SenseiNatePlaysPool]

There’s a LOT to say about how the brain works while playing pool and what is really happening inside a players head. I have some videos partially scripted out on this, but it’s an endless subject. Feel free to check out my video on flow. I think it’s one of my oldest videos. Maybe I’ll do a part 2 to that. Sounds like you learned some good stuff here. 💪🏼

[@Shaboogiemax]

Thanks for sharing that brother! Dr. Cue taught me a lot when I was young and your video is supporting me in remembering! Namasté

[@mikestuckey]

that’s awesome! thanks sharing that with us!

[@timyinger7464]

GREAT video and info. I have an older gentleman who has been helping me learn and he just shoots without thinking and makes balls all the time! He's a classic example of what Dr. Cue was talking about. Awesome to watch my friend work the table, he's been shooting since he was 11. Love watching your content! Stay positive!

[@mikestuckey]

Thanks for sharing and for the good feedback! I’ve know a few guys that play that way lol. Crazy isn’t it! 😆

[@daviddicicco171]

This is so good! Thank for sharing this. Lets go!!!

[@mikestuckey]

Let’s go!!

[@icastel01]

Dr. Cue! Thanks to a video of his I learned how to make side pocket shots consistently by retraining my brain. His explanation just made sense. Nice content, Mike!

[@mikestuckey]

I’ve got to find some of his training videos! Thx for chiming in, my friend!

[@mauriced9878]

Though he scratched, that bank shot was clean! Thanks for posting and sharing!

[@jdaviswarren]

This makes me want to get back into league. Good video as always Mike. Hope to be seeing you more in the upcoming weeks.

[@mikestuckey]

miss ya bro! yea I cut out a couple nights. from 5 to 3 lol. will definitely be posting more soon!

[@typshii7187]

Cool video my guy keep it up 👍🏽

[@mikestuckey]

Thanks bro!!

[@mjg1185]

On seeing the 9 going into the side, it's super important to just walk around the table and see where every ball goes. Like he said, it wasn't amazing, it was just walking around the table. On getting on the 8, you didn't hit it too hard, you gave yourself the wrong shot with ball in hand. I get the whole "put the cue ball below the ball and send it up table" strategy, but the object ball was too close to the rail for that, you should have put the cue ball well above the object ball relative to the rail and given yourself a half ball hit to get up table. And I am not saying this arrogantly by the way, I make this mistake myself all the time, that's how I recognized it. I'm just relating to you. Thanks for another excellent video.

[@mikestuckey]

thanks my friend! great thoughts!

[@mjg1185]

@@mikestuckey Thank you. Hope to get to play you some day.

[@ogezpb3927]

Never been happier to like a video. Great job!

[@jackensor6404]

Great video! I look forward to the next one.

[@jameshooks7740]

That was good. Great video bro ,he was very entertaining. 👏🏾👏🏾

[@godjhaka7376]

Great learning material

[@garykboykin7498]

Mike, Great content, I ran across your channel a few days ago. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr.Cue in Vegas 2023 SPA Championship. Let's get together a knock them around soon.

[@22nstewart]

Great video Mike, keep 'em coming sir

[@mikestuckey]

Thanks my friend!

[@DannyTeurmanDuck]

Now I know who taught kaci the kick combo 9 😉 thx doc very insightful

[@mikestuckey]

hahaha dude dr cue and venom have those kinds of shots at the ready!! it’s wild playing with them!

[@Blinkerson55]

Will put it to use tomorrow.

[@mikestuckey]

get after it!! it’s been helping me as I practice today!

[@henriquebarroso4641]

What a cool dude, Dr. Cue

[@Ducci-the1st]

Yo what’s up Mr Stuckey, it’s your ole pal Reagan, (Luke and Owen’s best friend)

[@dumbref1459]

This was a gem

[@mikestuckey]

my favorite 💯

[@RealAmateurPoolMatches]

Good stuff.

[@nineballjunky]

I am a HUGE fan of Dr. Cue. I’ve been following his instructions and content for 20 years, but I disagree with him about not remembering every detail when you’re in deadstroke. Ask Tiger Woods, Magnus Carlsen, or Fedor Gorst for a play-by-play of any round or game they play right after they play it, and I GUARANTEE you they’ll be able to remember it with 99-100% accuracy. I would argue that not being able to recall games shot by shot right after you play them is an indication that you’re NOT focused.

[@mikestuckey]

@@nineballjunky hmm! valid points. something to ponder for sure. thx for chiming in and sharing, great great man nonetheless!

[@billpugh4162]

Great video

[@mikestuckey]

thanks my friend!

[@davidsiltz]

Nice video. Tom is always a win.

[@mikestuckey]

Always! Thanks David!

[@johncantone7463]

Great Video!

[@mikestuckey]

Thank you John!

[@anthonymoore986]

Love this

[@Crazywaffle5150]

I usually have a problem getting into focus. However, when I do find focus, I'm unbreakable. I'm not a highly skilled player. When I get into the zone I'm deadly and have taken down 500-600 fargo players as a 300.

[@mikestuckey]

love to hear it! trying to find my path to “the zone”!

[@dfynt1G]

This reminds me of one of many Bruce Lee quotes "When there is opportunity I do not hit, it hits all by itself"

[@kb3170]

Paralysis of analysis

[@mistysaldana3277]

When I get playing the world goes away, I'm in my zen and I can't even hear music then next thing I know, it's dawn.

[@mikestuckey]

love it!

[@allenfrench5415]

I love the video but I have say it and I cant believe that I am the first person to comment about it. Somewhere in the building there is something that needs some WD-40 really bad. Im positive that I am not making it to left brain focus with that screeching noise.

[@mikestuckey]

@@allenfrench5415 hahaha I actually meant to say something about it on the video but I was caught up in what Dr Cue was saying as I was reacting. I guess it was a door nearby. Lol so annoying.

[@mistysaldana3277]

I ran a century , plus and it was such a blurr, so fast I only remembered the last shot; the one I missed. Yeah, I didn't remember anything, really.

[@mikestuckey]

that’s awesome bro. yep it’s happen to me before too!

[@devinshannon2995]

I usually remember 3 to 4 key moments. The rest is a blur.

[@mikestuckey]

haha sounds about the same for me

[@godjhaka7376]

His wife is Miscue 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mikestuckey]

hilarious

[@ronaldaragon5687]

should have banked the 8 ball back into the left hand corner, the same pocket you shot the 7 into.

[@mikestuckey]

dont think I even noticed that. would've been a great idea!

[@kennethdennisflaboy8506]

You're doing good Mike keep it up I wish I can play you one day blessings bro.

[@rigneyte]

You mean YOU should have, except it wasn't your shot, or game, or content. In your highly informative, nicely crafted original content you can call whatever you like, Mike's call was the correct call, for Mike.

[@ronaldaragon5687]

@@rigneyte you are correct. I should have said something like you could have banked .....the shot, etc. I said it as though it was mine. It was not the intention, which I believe others understood. But you are correct. Thank you for pointing that out. I will endeavor to not make that mistake again.

[@TLPSh0ckW4ve]

why is the chalk LIKE THAT on the table it bothers me

[@mikestuckey]

hahahaha now it bothers me 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@fromdonwithlove]

What a gift to share that moment with Dr. Cue and have the opportunity to document it! Thanks for sharing it with us, Mike!

[@mikestuckey]

You’re welcome, bro! I really like this one haha! So glad to put it out!

[@RichardsWorld]

Great video. One thing to think about is use more rails to get position, if it makes sense of course. When you had ball in hand on the 7 ball you tried to use one rail for position. But, you came up short. Also, the 9 was possibly in your way. A better shot would be move the cue ball about 1 foot towards the middle of the table from where you placed it, and use a little bit of high left, and you want the cue ball to hit the bottom rail (from this point of view) and go towards the 2nd diamond on the upper right rail, and ideally go another 1-2 feet. Try to have the cue ball travel in the line of the next shot, or in the zone of the next shot. The way you tried to shoot it gives you very little margin of error.

[@mikestuckey]

@@RichardsWorld spot on, Richard. It all feels like a lack of real practice and focused table time. Thanks for the reminder about the rails. There’s so much I know but so little I implement.

[@DanielMorris-cc8hx]

The fact is he talked so much he was useless. He over analysed the shot and made himself actually over think the shot. You kind of have to do it in flow state. There you have touch and feel.

[@DanielMorris-cc8hx]

Also the speed you play the shot effects the side off a rail so aiming for the leg of a chair means nothing as it will depend on pace of shot as well as having a lot of experience of the reactions of the rail on that particular pool table that day.

[@mikestuckey]

which shot are you referring to?

[@cj-ef1rp]

The easiest way to play that 6 is with high right; that’s the natural path. Using high left, you’re fighting the tangent line and forcing yourself into a very small area where the 7 can go in the side pocket. Yes, he hit it too soft, but if you follow the path his cue ball was on, it had no scratch in side nor in bottom pocket. A large area to land in.

[@mikestuckey]

💯 Hope you’re good CJ!

[@cj-ef1rp]

@@mikestuckey this video is a perfect follow-up to your “Mood” video. As I said in that video comment, you’re only in a funk in your mind. Emotions (high or low) impact your stroke and thinking. Try hard to stay “in the moment” when playing pool. Look at the table, assess your strategy for a runout, and then play your game smoothly and deliberately. Keeping your tempo shot-to-shot is what makes you play to your best level. 👍

[@rigneyte]

​@@mikestuckeyif he was that good he'd understand each player strives to find the path that best fits not only the obvious math but also their individual strengths. Something something skinning cats.