Now that we have talked about Square Feet in a recent post. I thought I would continue the trend of talking about body parts relationship to craps!!!
Recently, I have just not had good practice sessions. The truth is that I have always been a better GameDay player, performing better at the real game….but, that being said, I do rely on practice for form purposes and it is a bonus when there are good results.
I reviewed my recent Video Elite session and tried to grasp what was going on with my toss using the advice from BTK and NFF as a take off point. I noticed that my throws were better when reminded by them to focus on my fingers and release and "feel" with my finger tips and actually feel the dice leaving the fingers.
I started to throw and before each throw, during the set up, I consciously focused on my hand when in the set position just before my backswing.
I consciously put the essence of my being into my hand and fingers. I told myself that my center of gravity was in my hand. I told myself that my hand was the only thing that I could feel at that moment.
I imagined that my hand was "heavy"…..like the head of a golf club. I repeated to myself: "heavy hands" and kept the feeling through the swing and release. The release point being similar to the meeting of the golf head and the ball. Everything else that goes into the throw becomes secondary and the elements that deal with the hand take over from back swing to release. My eyes were fixed on my target zone.
Of course, I used everything else that we have learned in the process….position, pick up, grip, set, loose held dice, let the dice fly out of the grip on their own, etc.
I have been practicing this way for 3 days now and I have seen a marked improvement in the target zone strike, the hit to the back wall, and the roll out to a result.
So much of this game is physical as we know. That is the static part of the game. There is a method that must be followed to increase our chances of success. But there is also a dynamic part to the game… often it is the mental part of the game. That includes your mind telling your body what to do, visualization, etc. In this case, by focusing my energy onto my hands and fingers and constantly reminding myself to have "heavy hands", I have found a way to reinforce the mind over body element to the game.
For now, this is working. My goal is to do this repetitively until it becomes second nature and the constant reminding to have "heavy hands" is just part of the routine.
But I can tell you that it is a part of the game I will take to my next visit to the casino’s.
Replies:
Posted by: ACPA on April 24, 2013, 2:10 pm
I have been more in the camp that the thought process is equal to the physical process. Thanks for posting.
Noah
Posted by: GameDay on April 24, 2013, 2:23 pm
I should have a chance to try it out this weekend for a very short stop on my way to a conference in upstate NY. There is a casino along the way, that I will have a few hours to play at, if all else falls into place. New place for me. Don’t know the tables, but will try the focus and see how the results are.
Will post results if I do stop and play.
Posted by: getagrip on April 24, 2013, 4:05 pm
You made some really good points and thanks for posting these tips! 😎
I have a similar mantra that I use. Mine is "be the dice" which sounds very "Grasshopperish" 😆 but I basically use it to focus on how the dice feel in my hand and try to have them feel the same way every time.
I too will be interested in your next casino outing. Hope it’s a great one!! 🙂
Posted by: brothelman on April 24, 2013, 5:43 pm
"Getagrip" wrote: Gameday,
You made some really good points and thanks for posting these tips! 😎
I have a similar mantra that I use. Mine is "be the dice" which sounds very "Grasshopperish" 😆 but I basically use it to focus on how the dice feel in my hand and try to have them feel the same way every time.
I too will be interested in your next casino outing. Hope it’s a great one!! 🙂
no it sounds more caddy shackis nananana be the ball danny nananana
Posted by: brothelman on April 24, 2013, 5:44 pm
Posted by: getagrip on April 24, 2013, 6:05 pm
Brothelman,
LOL!! 😀
Posted by: Dice Pilot on April 24, 2013, 6:24 pm
Posted by: SectionEight on April 25, 2013, 6:53 am
It is close to something we used to do in practice. Tommy2Names came up with it, so i can’t credit for it…but is a great tool.
Take 3/4 inch squared steel or aluminum, cut it to 1 1/2 inch length. This simulates two standard sized (3/4 inch or .775 / .755) dice together. Obviously practice throwing this into the grass, a pillow or someplace that will withstand the heavier metal hitting. A craps rig or table will not react too well, and you may find some expensive damage to the material.
Throwing this metal will do several things. First, once you thow it once or twice you will (sometimes painfully) see errors in how level your shot is. Thow until you can consistently keep this metal level.
The second benefit is, throwing with a heavier material allows you to consciously set up better, getting everything square, and ready to make your toss.
Third, once you switch back to real dice, your arm will feel so much lighter but still "remembers" that it didn’t take much to deviate from a good thow. You’ll find that you’ll develop a lighter touch and toss as well as a more consistent and level shot.
Every little bit helps. Thanks for your post on this as I’m going to try it tonight! 🙂
Regards,
SectionEight
Posted by: SevenTimesSeven on April 25, 2013, 7:14 pm
"GameDay" wrote: Now that we have talked about Square Feet in a recent post. I thought I would continue the trend of talking about body parts relationship to craps!!!
…………..For now, this is working. My goal is to do this repetitively until it becomes second nature and the constant reminding to have "heavy hands" is just part of the routine.
But I can tell you that it is a part of the game I will take to my next visit to the casino’s.
Yes, sounds good. But beware the short sessions of success.
I have had experimental practice sessions where I wing the dice to the backwall
and the results were very good, over 9 SRR for two 60 throw sessions.
To judge a technique successful you may have to do many throws to average out.
Posted by: GameDay on April 25, 2013, 7:21 pm
