Subconscious Mind in Petanque .....

The actions of the subconscious mind is what we call an "instinctive actions" and is part of every sport. If you had magical powers and you had to bake a pie, you would think of it and "Poof" the pie would be there. This is how the subconscious mind works.

Without, these magical powers you would have to instruct the mind of all the work of gathering the material for making a pie, preparing it and even calculate the time needed to cook. These instructions are our conscious mind instructing us what to do.The two minds or type of thinking are involved in all our actions and especially with the training of Muscles for performance. "Muscle Memory" is the muscle in performance by uniquely the subconscious mind and no instructions.

In order to know and feel the subconscious mind you must have a delay between the performance and seeing the result. In some sports, like small court games (tennis, alley bowling) the action of preparation for a performance (delivery or Serve) is immediately followed by the action and then you see immediately the result of the action. Therefore, the individual does not feel the separation of these two mind as each perform. In golf and Lawn Bowls the several seconds between the performance and seeing the result of the performance is sufficient to allow the athletic to see and feel the transfer of mental control between the  conscious mind  and the subconscious mind. During this time, we find ourselves in a "void of thought" for a partial second while the subconscious or instinctive aspect of our performance  has happens.

 This month, my number of readers on these blogs exceeded 100,000 and it is interesting that from one year to the next, the total number of visitors is always the same for the same period of the year. (Why change subject ?? - Saturation and "a nothing topic" allows you the reader to stop reading and think about it).

 Players from the Northern countries and players from the Southern countries seem to have a continuous interest as they start their sport and thus do regular visit to this site. The statistics of the blog (below) are the same time period of the last two year. The Blog stats below are 2023 and 2024 end of October and probably are reference the Australia Lawn Bowls Season starting. Australia has the largest number of clubs and members as Lawn Bowler is the most popular summer activites. (photo was updated to show my 2024 "Christmas day" surge of visitors. (500)

This particular blog is intended for advance level coaches whom are beyond the introduction teaching of new members (level 1 "Club Coach") or helping individuals to correct an action or fault created from some wrong development during their practice. (Level 2 or "Club Coach"). As the club members and coach's student moves into competition; the work of coaching is more of their mental problems like  stress or concentration and we find them seeking out a previous champion for detail coaching. Some large clubs have a Level 3 or "Competitive Coach" which deals with knowledge about "Muscle Memory", mental stress and actions of the Subconscious.

We have learn that when you instruct the mind to do an action like to throw or roll a ball (or bowl); it is all a "conscious mind" (thinking of how to do the action) with instructions to the muscles that perform the actual sport's action. After many times doing the same action in practice and always making corrections to get the required results; we find that any instructions to change what has become a "Muscle Memory" or habits are difficult. Why ?? We find that these changes to an established muscle routine of performance (delivery or serve or swing) are unique subconscious memories based upon learned instruction. The athletic in reaching this level of perfection has begen using their "subconscious mind".  These instinctive muscle performance or what has been developed through endless hours of practice as "Muscle Memory"; are the subconscious data and can not be erase or changed easily.

To many developed athletics, their sport's "Muscle Memory" and "Practice" is different. To me, over the past 20 or more years with my sports of Archery, Bowls and Petanque it has become a simple transfer of conscious control to an instinctive "Subconscious" performance.

 In searching the World Wide net for "what is "Muscle Memory" we often fall into body building, where the athletic see "Muscle Memory" as  the muscles cells ability to remember it previous strength development or building and with ease it seems  that with a little training it is possible to return to that previous developed state after an short absence of training. This is not the same as "Performance Muscle Memory". One is the cells able to return to previous development of strength and the other is a instinctive performance based upon the memories of how to do a muscular action after much practice.

Also in some short duration action sports; we can actually perform our "Muscle Memory" actions but we are not aware  of our instinctive movements or "Muscle Memory" because the sport (line soccer) requires that we continue onward and immediately move into a followup play after that last action. (soccer, hockey, basketball). Of course, in every sport we are remembering how to do these necessary action which we have learned by practice and continual corrections but now we are letting the subconscious mind perform instinctively the actions.

 Braking a car in time of danger, is often given as an example of the instinctive action we all experience as a "Subconscious" actions. We don't think to do the action, but when it is finished we are surprised how fast it happen. The subconscious mind is explained by some who study the mind, as a collection of experiences which were developed as our "Survival reaction" in time of danger.  Because the survival of our species required us to react quickly many times afterward we feel relaxed and satisfied to be out of danger. Only in sport do we study our feelings during these actions and aftward following how the subconscious was involved and study in detail how to interact.

This information, about the two minds' interaction may be a bit advance for some; but it does not hurt for an athletic to know and still not understand it. A major problem in knowing about the  two minds' (conscious and subconscious) and their  interaction during a sport performance is that we must be able to accept that we do not have a control over what is happening instinctively.(performed by the subconscious mind) Yes, we always want to be in control (conscious mind doing the instruction) but for successful quick and repeated actions of a precise performance; the athletic must continue to allow the subconscious mind to have it's independence and control. Allowing  it to do what it knows how to perform, often is defined as  " Precise Muscle Memory" because it so developed that time after time it does the same performance instinctive. 

A pinterest.com photo

Athletics will notice that these actions are done by allowing the action to be performed in  a "void of thought" or a "Zen moment". Certainly, it is hard to control  an actions which happen in what we call "Muscle Memory". In this instinctive actions of a "Subconscious mind" we have a  perfected and unique sport performance. Because you have been practicing the performance of this action many short duration sports (like Petanque), the athletic remains in their "Prefection Stage" of Development. They prefect letting the subconscious mind doing it things and never advance beyond that point of personal development. If something is being done they just accept it as a bad performance.

This blog  will show a bit of what a "Level 4"(Competition Coach) or even higher "Level 5" (International Coach with physchologic knowledge) is able to develop in an athletic as they teach them to practice telling the subconscious mind how to change something but not letting the conscious mind do the action. This is not easy to communicate, because when you think the action it is conscious instructions to be performed by the muscles and therefore the subconscious mind wants to return control to the conscious mind to allow it to do the action. If this happen the "Muscle Memory" is gone for that performance.

Every sport has different actions which are perfected, from the wrist movement of throwing a dart to the swinging arm movement of a Petanque roll or a Lawn Bowls or a Curling delivery. Although these three  sports have the same physical movement in the beginning of their delivery action; they each have a little bit of a different muscle movement or performance. Most important is instruction for this small change which is to occurs, must be communicated to the subconscious before the athletic has began and is completely committed to their performance of their peak performance movements or action.

The time between beginning the sport's performance and the finish of the performance when the athletic sees the result of their finished action is also different for each sport. This is of a major importance with the conscious mind instructions as it is simply a "Do this", or  a " No do it this way" action; but for a major corrective action in the subconscious (instinctive) action we must understand how this communication must be polite and gentle so as to not allow it to be an interruption of the subconscious mind. Sort of like correcting a child who is doing something wrong but with wise parental tricks which does not seem to be telling them they are wrong. Too much detail and the child seems to hears nothing. Likewise, too long a communication with the subconscious mind and it has transfer control back to the conscious mind. Sort of like a teenager saying "Oh ok do it your way".  

In attempting the change of an action of subconscious we are like a parent after watching a child learn something; thinking it is not perfect and suggesting the change.While it is their conscious  mind doing the thinking of how it must be a communication which does not prevent the transfer of action to the instinctive performance. With all sport actions, the subconscious mind is there in the background, always learning and ready to make a different action if not letting the conscious mind do the action. Remember, the subconscious doe not see any of the problems which have or might occur because it does not analysis  but receives thoughts from the conscious mind, which are then only access or stores as memories. And example is "Feedback" thoughts. The subconscious mind will store the visual memory of that action as the thought analysis the performance. If you lost your balance it will have that memory data of how the performance went when you lost your balance. This memory will be used by the subconscious mind to modify and improve that learned performance if the conscious mind suggest "Balance".  

For this reason, in making corrections to an athletic's performance there is the need of a "Level 3 coach" who is fully aware of how it is possible to attempt a change by a conscious thought to the subconscious mind's control of the muscles. It can be difficult when it comes to detail and causes a lost of any part of the control of the "subconscious"; and a knowledgeable coach knows how important that thought not replace the actual memory associated with that corrective action. Like that child that the parent is trying to teach something; the subconscious mind does not want the instructions or any interference from the conscious mind (or parent).

How do you communicate with the Subconscious mind?  The same way as a parent is dealing with a child's suggestion to their parent that their request is wrong or not possible.  Mild suggestions.  Take for example, a Petanque player is required to do a rather long take-out shot and they know they always miss these type of shots; (Negative and harmful) You can almost hear the teenager comment of "that not how we do it"  The object of the communication is to suggested various changes which will allow the shot to be more successful. (the first is to destroy the negativeness)  Because the successful distance of  most shots in Petanque is usually about 6.5 to 8.5 meters,  this longer shot occurs seldom unless the opponent has placed the jack at that distance. Remember that the maximum distance of a legal "cochon" or Petanque ball near the "Jack"  can be over 10 meters).

Suggestions of  "Lift your arm higher before release the throw". "Bend at the knees and spring upward with the throw". are all instructions to the muscles by the conscious mind. Yes, it will have switch off the subconscious mind's instinctive performance. At that time the Conscious mind is making changes to the muscle performance for the action but it is not developing or improving that instinctive action. Wrong communication will have now taken the total control of the action for performance by the conscious mind.  A thought like "Aim at the top of the ball" are conscious thoughts. "Aim" is a conscious action of seeing, projection and remains a conscious action until the Petanque ball is thrown. (not a good choice of word).

 To communicate to the sub-conscious we must first see the athletic as either "vocal" or "visual" in their thought communication or preferences. Knowing this the coach can instruct a "vocal word" or "visual image" as a suggestion to be incorporate in the routine which leads up to the "Muscle Memory" of that long take-out shot which will still be done as an instinctive action.

Because it is difficult for us (the mind) to judge distance and the target "petanque ball is  only about 3 inches large; your take-out shot at a such a long distance need the help the subconscious mind to judge the distance. Here is another aspect of "Memory data" retrevial and where "Routines" become involved in "Pre-Muscle Memory" communication. In the photo (right),we see a bit of the answer. What seems as simply an action of repairing or prepare the surface in front of the target ball; is actually a communication with the subconscious. The subconscious is given time to adjust to the actual distance which it just felt as the athletic was walking from the shooting circle to the target. This walk also supplies  a level of confidence prior to the shot.

Most importand is that this walk  which is helping the subconscious mind know the distance was developed and added to the pre-shot routine of the athletic. It is not a verbal or visual instruction but a part of the athletic's preparation for their performance.  It is needed so build into the Pre-Performance Routine.  Myself, I have also by watching the lips of the athletic or their eyes, have sometimes seen them counting their steps. Body language is important to the "Level 3" coach as some of these actions by an athletic with their tricks actually destroy the "Muscle Memory"

. Looking away at a "nothing time" in the "Routine" is a different thougt and tnow he subconscious mind which was collecting  information is now occupied with some other conscious thought. (thought of what a family member in the bleecher is thinking ... a distraction of the routine).  I have seen shooters who simply walk half way toward the target ball for the same reason. Knowing the distance is important. So you ask "Why not just tell yourself the distance ? Like, "the target ball is at 9.5 meters" these words is a conscious communication and you can not give instructions in words  to the subconscious mind; you must be communicating the distance by letting the subconscious actually measure the distance. When the athletic started walking to the target or back from the target, as they had done many times in practice; the subconscious mind know the important of knowing the distance this routine was used to collect the data. The walk seems to gives you confidence but the subconscious mind is actually expressing this feeling of confidence as confirmation it has the collected the data.

Later, I will explain how I used a "tag" in an athletic's performance to flag (tagged) a change in the performance routine. See blog on ( Tags in Muscle Memory) Because something during our performance we find that a part of the routine is different, the subconscious mind for a micro-second pauses (questions itself about what was different) and heard (word) or sees (image)  of that something different. In these example, the "tag" was a small added movement (of a foot tap) with a word "Bowls" which during the "Muscle Memory" the subconscious sort of stopped and thought; "Oh yes, this is different". If the audio was too long it would have been a command from the conscious mind; but being short and just for a micro second interruption of the instinctive action, it was enough to create the change. Visual people add an image to their routine to create this difference and interruption vocal individuals hear the thought.

I sometimes in coaching an Petanque

shooter tell them " If the ball is far , beyond 8.5 meters; aim at the silver highlight on top of the ball and if it is closer than 6.5 meters see the shadow under the ball". You can see this image (seeing) is for a visual individual. Remember the difference between the top highlight of the bright part of the petanque ball and the shadow under the ball is only about 4 inches so it is not the aiming that is happening; but the looking at the unique part of the ball is an action  or a "tag"  which interrupts the subconscious for a micro second and causes the subconscious mind to do a re-adjustment of the information it will  be using in performing the take-out shot. Sort of like us doing a mental calculation and forgetting our numbers and re-starting the calculation. In this case the "tag" has for a small micro-second interrupted the action with a suggestion to do a recalculation of the distance. The result, after much practice in Subconscious communication will be an increase in shot accuracy. Yes, has you practice many times to learn the takeout shot, you must practice this subconscious communication too.

In a similar thought, and understanding or knowing the subconscious interference; if in throwing a baseball ball to a person you the person performing the action, was to close your eyes and not watch the ball's flight and arrival; you might be surprise with what happens. After the ball had been thrown, you watching it does change it flight. In a similar manner during a Petanque shots, the shooter experience of a "Void of Thought", which occurs during the transfer of control to the subconscious (instinctive) mind does not change the result. 

The same emptiness, as the above action of closing your eyes during the throwing a baseball is something you must feel. This "void" during the of throwing a "take-out shot" which is difficult to feel afterward;  indicates to us that the conscious mind was no longer actively giving instruction to the muscles. The duration of the baseball throw and the Petanque take-out shot is so much different that Petanque players don not feel this void of their actions done by the subconscious mind. What is called "muscle Memory action" is the subconscious mind entering the "void" (of conscious thinking) and performing the action. (the same feeling of closing your eyes after throwing the baseball) It is the feeling you look for and develop in Step two of your "Performance Perfection". 

During your practice you don't feel this "void of thought" because many times you see the result of the take-out shot immediately and are in "reward mode" as satisfied or not. When you are in these modes; Reward or Dis-satificated" you must use your "Pre-Routine" to return to a balance of mind. If the  action of the interruption. the  "tag" was more than an image or thought (word): it would be too long and create an interruption of the subconscious. You will know this as wrong because you would feel the mental control of the action being switched  back to a conscious mind which now wants to  control  the movement and muscles involved.

A great Youtube video showing the subconscious action is in this  2024 "Tête-à-Tête competition  of Dylan Rocher and Marc Cognard  ( video has  2 Parts )  we see the shooter doing several repeated action  (11 or 12 times); which could maybe be a mental re-evaluation of the target distance. First, I must thank Marc Cognard for allowing this opinion on his performance as we learn always from even the best at time of great stress. Second, in a discussion recently with a Youtube Petanque  watcher it was suggested this over performance routine may have been because of back pains.  Probably, this opinion of my friend was something he had heard during the video's comments. As I am not french it is probably that I missed this information while I was viewing the video.

First it is for the reader to know that Dylan Rocher is recognized as the best Petanque player of the past several years and has the most First place placement in International competition than any other. For Mark to be playing the Pairs final against Dylan, it is easy for reader to feel that this is a critizism  of his style; but my object is to suggest that where this action is common in Lawn bowls because of the long distance to the jack, that this is Mark's "Pre-Shoot" routine.  It also reflect a major problem which occurs when a great athletic tries to change or add to the "Muscle Memory". There is a resistance which the subconscious can create to be changed which creates doubt in the performance.    

Watching his long "Take-out" Style, one would think that it is not having confidence with the  coming shot at such a distance; but what I believe he is doing is that he is using a "Mental image" of seeing his ball flying toward the target ball during a previous take-out shot which his subconscious has stored. The trick here, which is common in Lawn Bowls; ( see the  Vimeo video of the 2016 Final of   Lawn Bowls between New-Zealand and Scotland)  is when the changing of the memory has the correct "target distance" he will transfer control to the subconscious to do the shot with established "Muscle memory" performance.  But because this memory which he is viewing  is not the correct distance; he choses to repeat his routine and use another memory of this similar shot. We see in the suggest Lawn bowls that the athletic had redone the movement until it is feels correct. Then their Pre-shot routine would transfer control of the shot to "Muscle Memory".

One of the problems is feeling that confidence that the shooter or bowler (lawn bowls) has now the proper data for that distance. No I am not talking about having confidence in the performance. but a feeling of release of control with "Yes that is it".  With everything right the conscious will now communicate that it is the time to do the "Muscle Memory".  Often when he feels that it is not the correct distance to the target ball his  "Ok do the shot" instruction is replaced with "Redo with another "Memory Image".Marc, however is changing that viewed memory image too often. The "subconscious practice" here is not the performance confidence but the need to feel the "Ok do the shot" as his mind transfers control to the subconscious for the shot.  It is hard to release this control (which the conscious mind wants because it feels it is going to make the shot) What happens as an athletic progress into this 2nd step of Perfection, after many years of performance communication with the subconscious, it becomes just an action of "See the shot" and "Do the Shot". 

I once wrote about the danger of this sort of information to beginning or intermediate players where they feel the "Void of Thought" and began working to change their performance from within the Subconscious action.  This can not be done.. When you try to change at this, the "instinctive" performance stage of your sport action; you are requesting control of the performance to be returned to the conscious mind.  

 The "Pre-shot Routine" which we see in the video as stepping out of the shooting circle and back is a necessary routine in all sports. In Lawn Bowls the "Club Coach" goes through 15 or 16 different instruction to teach the sport to the new student. Eventually the student learns a good delivery and moves onto the "Pre-Mat Routine". (probably in petanque more a "pre-circle routine" as the communication of expectation is given to the subconscious mind from feedback and errors detected by the athletic.  Then the final action of the Pre-Action Routine is performed and the subconscious is instructed "Ok now do the shot".  I would encourage Dylan to build a Pre-Circle routine not as a "confidence" indicator but as "do this, do this, do this" (three times only). If it an action for the distance calculation  by the subconscious mind which is using "Memory images" of previous "take-out shots.

 Remember, the subconscious will eventually with practice of the Pre-shot routine be quick to find the right distance memory (like 3 new memories or even non at all).  That confidence feeling  which the subconscious routine sends to the athletic, allows the performance of "muscle memory" to do the perfect take-out shot. I may be wrong, but there appears to be a Conscious control conflict in Dylan's new style where he is not letting the Subconscious do the shot but as time begans to run out he takes the shot anyways.

Ofcourse, any Petanque athletic will tell you there is much more than this distance evaluation to the "take-out" shot. Beginning Petanque shooters are seeing a 3.5 inch ball and just wanting to hit it.  Eventually when the shooter begans aiming at the 3/4 inch "cochon" he is still seeing the target object as the complete "cochon".  But the shooter who is developing his abilities must think of the "shot type" (Pre-ball shot, carreau (hit and stay), angle shot to not distribute the other balls) and there are several other types.  Yes the direct hit shot and "Carreau" is the nicest but success in removing the target ball and the finishing perfect take-out action of the Petanque shot ball is what really counts. The point being won.

 

 When the player has the correct distance and feels his subconscious, the subconscious tells him to do the shot. A major problem of Petanque is "Pride Destruction" (afraid the action looks stupid) feeling that other petanque players seeing this sort of action would say "Have confidence". Because, opinion of others who are thinking the delay is a caused by lack of confidence; must be controlled with "if it works I am ok with it"; the making of the shot is the Pride builder not the evaluation of others watching the performance.

 This mental development happens in many sports where the subconscious has data of a previous type of action and it is used to create a precision of distance.  But like learning to talk this action is developed after years of mental development  in your sport where "tags" and "mental image projection" has been perfected. 

In the Vimeo video of 2016 Lawn bowls Pairs final of New Zealand and Wales   (we see the same re-calculated of distance as Angela Boyd of Wales prepares to roll her bowl to the jack. In Lawn Bowls the maximun distance that the jack can be from the delivery mat can be over 30 meters so if the player wants their bowl to roll and stop next to the target "jack" then they need the correct distance. 

 Now a new topic. (pause and work the idea previous).  In some sports we do not easily identify the actions of the subconscious mind because these sport are an "open sport" and the actions are often performed without need of the action being evaluated by the athletic. In an "Closed sport" where the performance is done  in a  "void" of thought, the athletic see immediately and evaluates the result of his performance. In the "open sport" like Soccer, the athletic avoids an opponent's action and continues running. An evaluation is necessary or is extremely difficult to identify as that of a subconscious action.. In a "Closed sport", like petanque, the instinctive action happens and we are found to be awake from an absence of thought and actually amazed at what had happen. Also we immediately judge the success of the action which is "feedback data" for evaluation used by the subconscious mind for finding an improvement. Yes we do think of the action, which is a conscious evaluation; but in an "Open Sport" we immediately move on. Our conscious thoughts are fixed on the next performance of a soccer offensive play no  on the last one. 

subconscious mind 
explained on Youtube

 In an "Open sport" like Soccer or Hockey it is say that we are always "Open" to what is or has just happen around us. We are making adjustments for those actions in our sport as we encounter them. An example is when a opponent player is approaching on your left so you move the ball or puck to your right side. In seeing the player we have a "Open Sport" awareness and the subconscious action is done instinctively as you move away from that danger. This action of avoiding the opponent happen so fast you did not realize you (or the subconscious mind) had done it but after years of playing and game experiences, your subconscious mind knew the necessary corrective action and you did it.

 I should mention here that the "over the head - upside down Soccer goal kick" of a soccer athletic is more of an action of a "closed Sport" routine which was practice and perfected. Like Bowls or Petanque, that soccer athletic developed "Muscle Memories" and is now seen as performing a subconscious action when the shot was performed correctly.

 Until you are in the top percentage of athletics of your sport and against similar level players and/or involved in  a national and international competition; you may not know or even think about these "Subconscious" actions. Because Petanque is a "Closed Sport" and you are alone with your performance you sometime get lost in a world of self-ego and impressed with your performance.  This "Self-ego" is a feeling of success and creates other mental problems which we see at "game end". (over confidence)  

"Focus" is keeping mental thought on your game, your performance, your need for improvement in your immediate sport action. Also Focus may involve evaluation of the opponents as strategy builds on their weakness or your strength. Even the rules of Petanque (and Lawn Bowls) are created to prevent and remove outside distractions from others players. Concentration is important but when rules are made to allow you  to develop your actions with a unique "Subconscious" ability like "Muscle Memory" performance; you are moving into the "Zen Mental Attitude" more than trying to block out distractions. 

Sports like Petanque, still require a lot of practice as your self-development and your abilities progress through practices; but a good "Shooting Takeouts" or  a well executed "Pointing with an Effect action" is developed until it is done subconsciously. Finally, you become aware that each Petanque action, shot or pointing, doesn't just happens. You know the presence of the subconscious (instinctive) performance. You think it, you accept to allow it to happen and you do it.

In "Closed Sports" like Petanque the performance is never began until after much conscious thought; and usually the athletic has a routine developed for their checking of important information before they release the conscious thinking or thought instructions to the "Subconscious" mind.  "Petanque need that same  "Preparation routine"; but after the conscious  evaluation of the  previous "Performance" (Feedback) has been evaluated.  Then decision made, you decide if it is now necessary to communicate the new change to the subconscious mind; or maybe it is easlier to do a new performance routine with that new objective. (A tool from the Toolbox)

 Using this Pre-performance routine you instruct your subconscious on its performance and the next or new expectation. If you spend endless hours perfecting this pre-performance routine you know of it's  two parts.  "Controlling actions" and movements to allow the subconscious to perform from the same "starting point" and "Decision actions". You expect there to be changes in the next "subconscious" performance based upon the new information  just collected.  Why "evaluate and feedback" ?  The subconscious mind has it things and ways of doing what it needs, but sometime the  conscious evaluation and information of the athletic thought or memory of images from a previous game's action is intended to direct the subconscious to the athletic's new expectations. You must always be in focus and know that all the thoughts or data from the previous, just finished, action becomes a part of the subconsciious next performance.

With the "Preparation Routine" and all it conscious parts finished; you are now ready and are beginning the "Shot Routine" as you do little or no thinking and transfer control to the subconscious; you simply  think the shot and "Bang", let the subconscious mind perform the shot. A qualified Coach with knowledge of the "Conscious and Subconscious" conflict will work with an athletic to decide on transfer of control and the best way to do it. 

In the above Petanque video suggested, the athletic can be seen in this "Conscious and Subconscious" conflict. He starts his "Shot Routine" then returns to conscious control and restarts again and again.  Because following of the actions of the "Shot Routine"; the "do it" thought leads to the subconscious action, thetransfer is faster than a few microseconds and the athletic is coming out of his "Zen Void" and seeing the result immediately. There is always a fear of transferring of control from the conscious (thinking) mind to the subconscious (instinctive). 

In "Muscle Memory" action and because of this short passage of time during the actual performance; you may feel their fear of "Lack of Control" with the subconscious doing the shot. But you should accept that strange feeling of coming out of your "Zen Void" or "Subconscious mind's control and like on a computer doing a file save; just let it happen and be confidence it was done correctly. Self build Pride is like food to the subconscious mind.

 You think it, you see it happen as the shot is being done (in a fraction of a second) and you hear the sound of the ball hitting it's target as you awake to the fact that  every thing is now finished. When discussed, the athletics often says "I don't think, I just do the shot". or "It just happens". 

The website  of (Conscious and Subconscious)  gives a good insight into the interactions of the two minds. The develop of man's survival has been that during times of danger or sudden changes the subconscious mind has used the data that had been collecting and made a quick decision with a quick action of defence. Today, this subconscious mind is  often missed as happening but is still very important. With the except, in Sports, where we  have practice our performance hours on hours; we now identify how difficult it is to instruct the body or subconscious mind to accept the use the  collected data which the subconscious has collected from previous practices or competitions.

 We all know how things happen instinctive and quickly, but we seldom learn how to control it or the very least, to instruct the "Subconscious" of our changes. Like learning to talk another language it is a matter of time.

Remember it as two minds, when we are making practice moves or decisions so as to make a change in our performance, it is the conscious mind operating and telling the muscles what performance to do. But when we are finished thinking of what we want to do or about that actions we release our "Conscious mind"  control to the subconscious mind.  The actions are just done. "Muscle Memory"  must be wisely modified and used at the correct time in your competitions.

For an action like jogging, a "Open Sport" with objectives of performance; (lose weight, or endurance for longer runs) we decide consciously to run and instruct our feet to start running. When that pain in the side or breathing occurs we don't find our self in danger but we work on an endurance and teach ourself to continue. If while jogging an event was to occur, like a person running toward you, there is a survival instinctive action which occurs  and we becomes aware of our need to modify our actions. You find yourself now stepping to the side while still jogging. This is a "Closed Muscle Memory" action which the subconscious mind works completely invisible of your thinking and did the necessary thinking. In our "Muscle Memory" we must develop with practice how to communicate.

Blogs, and Podcast are great, but a good website like  Thinkability.com  can and will instructs/consult its readers into a  better performance through mental disciplines and analysis. Their idea and discussion make us realize the important that some people being auditive while others are visual. Since each individuals will therefore express and develop their mental abilities differently, we must communicate our wishes to the subconscious mind in the individual's method. Teaching a student to check a fault or error which occurs during "Muscle Memory" action could be a visual memory recalled or an auditive sound to remember. 

  Both types of individual, of course, spend a lot of hours of practice and the  "Muscle Memory" building has advanced into an ability of creating of an subconscious action. Everything in time.  We Practice, Muscle Memory develops, and Subconscious communication is expressed; and even we work to extend the "Void Durations" of the Subconscious.  Some sports, like Golf, have the longer Voids of "Muscle Memory". an example is Tigar Wood who on  a Youtube video  says. "Between my back swing and seeing the ball in flight out front of me; I have no memory what happen".

Myself, I think in images so in transmitting an instruction to the subconscious, I see the image of what I want done and then let the subconscious mind do that action when I enter my  "Performance Void". So in reality, if an auditive individual want to correct a performance error, rather the though of a "Don't twist the wrist", or other conscious word instructions; we need something even shorter like "Umm", a breathing sound, for  not twisting". These "tags" always occur before you are allowing the "void of thought" to brhin with the approval of "do it" command for doing the "Muscle Memory" action. 

  Instinctive Performance and Mental Training are not easy but by using Conscious actions to build certain Subconscious actions we eventually bridge this duel mind divide. When asked by a student, "What is the most important mental strength of an athletic?" The answer given by the international athletic was " Focus". In a blog which discuss "Muscle Memory" and the Subconscious control of those performance; we  must not forget the many aspect of "Subconscious interferences". Always the mental balance of emotions and the mental strength needed during a performance require that the athletic stay in focus at all times.

The hardest aspect of instruction to the subconscious is during times of failure. Many athletics need to be able to "Restarts" or "Reset" emotions. Deep breaths, a mental image or even chewing gum can help us deal with many mental interferences which attacks or strains our performance during a game or in a major Competitions. 

There is still a lot more unique self awareness and training of many parts of how the subconscious has been a part of our life for the complete history of mankind. Studies are now seeing the problems and corrective actions are now starting to be engage by professionals as since studies it a bit.

 Actually studies on electrical impulses of the brain has shown that even just the thought of a muscle action has the result of sending a electrical impulse to the muscles, Sort of like a warning from the brain to the muscle saying that a request in coming and so be ready. This is where a basketball athletic is told to practice his shot while sitting on the bus riding home after a game. He sees the shot and the subconscious mind data retrevial is a routine building the communication of conscious and subconscious minds.

One last thought. These has always been  spiritual beliefs and a attempt to understand the subconscious abilities in a sports like archery where "be the target" and "draw the arrow to you"; the athletic is developing a Zen like of performance. Actually in one type of archery, the student is not permitted his shooting glove until he has reached a plateau of spirital concentration. 

In many sports we find the athletic accepting tools developed to improve their performance. The bowsight of the archer has removed the instinctive nature of his sport and although the instinctive class still exist in Archery Bowhunting competitions there are few and fewer pure instinctive shooters.

The photo (above) are my three medals at the Quebec Trois Rivieres  Canadian nationals when I was at my height of  Instinctive training. At that time, a small group of us, were doing shooting exhibits as we show the ability to shoot bouncing tennis balls, flying coffee cups, and even shooting beer caps flipped into the air. At a early 80's Rendez Vous gathering targets were thrown into the air in a Baseball type of game which all the participants tried. (3 color rings were painted on the foot large targets, which indicated if the shooter achieved a single, double, triple or home run). Pure instinctive archery exibitions still occur for Traditional Archers.

 Of interest is also that at a higher level of this mental development, it can become so intense that it is possible to appear that you are outside the body looking down at yourself and the performance.  A strange experience and maybe just one's imagination but once it has happen you can better understand the strength of the mind and what is really possible if we let the mind perform for us.

The North Americian Indian believed so strongly in the spirit of the wood of their bow, and that it was involved in their performance and ability to provide for their family; that the wood to be used in making a new bow would be hung for the winter months overhead in the teepee where it would learn and better know and judge the family.  Actually there are world class musicians who feel the same love and  have a belief between themselves and the spirit of their guitar's wood.

Because this blog deals with Petanque a french sport very popular in my area of Montreal Quebec I was translating it to french with Google translate and Microsoft "Ai" got involved in the translation. Not at my request but it supplied the following comment. Interesting how a machine has an evaluation of the blog..

Note: added December 12, 2024

Also this year France hosted the Olympics in Paris, and there was a lot of discussion why Petanque was not included as a "demonstration sport". Discussions often suggested two reasons given. The coaching structure was weak or not established in home countries and often officials and the Petanque Game Rules are seldom applied or respected. In France there is a "3 level" FIPJP Petanque coaching structure and France has produced great athletics who had learned the sport in the first years of schooling. 

Note: added January 1, 2025

   To show how strong the subconscious mind is and how it works independant of our actions or thinking I give you this strange dream as I was waking up and hungry for my morning coffee. As in the dream the subconscious had added "data" it had collected from something which happen many times (like a practice) so also when in "Muscle Memory" you do a "Tag" you are building data which will be added to the Muscle Memory and eventually change or correct the error. Eventually, the tag will be a part of your "Pre-Muscle Memory" routine and you won't need to think it during your delivery or takeout routine which occurs before you do the actual action.

Dream - I use my apple Smart phone "Siri" a lot for alarms, inquires and even texting. As I was waking up near noon and was wanting my morning cofffee  I dream I was in a big and beautiful kitchen, not my kitchen but this one was automatic. I said "Siri" make me a coffee with 2 cream and 1 sweetener". At first, it was the microwave I was talking to and nothing was happening. I realized this and went then to the coffee maker and said the same thing.  As I watch the coffee maker drop the coffee into the cup and waited for the cream and sweetener I heard the sound of the Sweetener sack being shaken (the same that happen every time I go to the coffeeshop as the clerk make my coffee and shakes the small sack of sweetener before tearing it open).

Dreams are the subconscious mental help where depression, worries and even hunger are treated with images to remove stress.  The subconscious used the data it had collected of the many times I ordered coffee and the clerk had shaken the small sack of sweetener; and included it into the dream. Likewise, when we are changing our practice (conscious instruction practice) the subconscious is collecting data like you watching the action and seeing the result and like in the dream it will include it into your performance or "Muscle Memory"

Talking to the Subconscious mind 2/3

 Why would we want to talk to the Subconscious? We all have raised children and we know how they seem to have their own opinion and usually do what they feel is right.  Well, your subconscious mind is much like our children. When it gather data about a delivery and wants to use that data in the next or a future delivery; it is very hard to change that from happening. With a child we suggest where their idea or opinion is not what it appears to be.

In communication with the subconscious mind we must take it aside and talk to it as we would a young child at home.  This taking it aside is what in Lawn Bowls is called the "Pre-Mat" Routine. 

Yes, to many as we learn Bowls, the "Pre-Mat" routine is the time to verify all the different things we learned and do not want to make as mistakes.  But the next step in your Bowls development is to use these "Pre-Performance" Routines and "Post-Performance"  Routines to talk and discuss with the Subconscious mind. The photo (right) from BrianTracy.com webpage discuss the role of the subconscious mind in our personal and professional life. Our sport performance is often overlooked because we see sports as performance and perfection and are not willing to accept we are not in total control of it.

When we hear your words in thoughts or as instructions in our sport, we are involved with telling the conscious mind what to do. Your instructions are to be used in controlling your muscle's movements. At a point in our performance we simple "Do it" and work on perfection. At this point the subconscious mind is involved and  we hear terms like "Muscle Memory" ass the performance is done instinctively from previous experience or practice. This is the beginning of an absence of communication. Much like the silence of the teenager in our family.

Often during this Subconscious silence during the actions of performance we discover  that we were in a "Void of thought" during the action. (Instinctively we did it) A conscious action or modification to correct our performance are our conscious thoughts, But the subconscious mind takes control and performs and returns control to the conscious mind afterward. From the time this instinctive performance begins, we are in a "void of thought" and there is no changing the sequence of the performance. If the "Muscle Memory" or instinctive action to be performed needs something changed; it must be done with a brief visual images or verbal thoughts to the subconscious prior to this "Void". Just prior to beginning or  starting the actual delivery or sport action; as a last thought in the preparation routine we can suggest a change.

 Because thess thoughts or visual images are short and  the last thinking the subconscious mind receives prior to beginning it performance or action; the "tag", or short thought (image) will instruct the instinctive action to make a certain change to the sequence of events in the performance. Like with a child at home being taught a habit, the subconscious may need many introduction of the "tag" prior to becoming a new aspect of the performance.  Sometimes, the "tag" is not a corrective action but a one-time action. Like saying "Don't forgot to Lock up when you leave" to the co-worker or child leaving soon. These short "tags" are helping hints. 

This blog is 2/2 on "Talking to the Subconscious" and if you have not read the 1/2 where I discuss "Muscle Memory" as instinctive performance and suggest the use of "Tags" and "Tells" as communication to the subconscious mind; you might get a better understand by  reading it also.  However, because readers jump between blogs I will refresh here some of that previous information. But it is still better to read 1/2 before this blog because the basic idea is what this blog builds upon.

 "Muscle Memory" is the ability of the mind to remember muscle performance routines which we have developed over many hours of practice. A competition athletic progress in their training to a point where the subconscious mind is performing their bowls delivery or sport routine completely instinctively. However, often we need to correct something in "Muscle Memory" and we therefore send images  of short vocal thought which then become the communications to the subconscious. Too much or many words and the mind will revert back to the conscious control and see it as instructions to the muscles.

During this time the athletic is often in a "void of thought" as the subconscious mind (or his instinctive actions) are performing the action or developed routine. In a Youtube video with Tiger Wood, he saids "Between the swing and seeing the ball in flight, I have no memory of what just happen" which is his explaination of his performance. His perfection of delivery (or golf swing) is now to the point he only thinks of his shot and then lets the subconscious do it instinctive.

"Tags" and "Tells" are signs of the athletic's talking to the instinctive action or subconscious communication. A "Tag" is an action inserted into the pre-Delivery routine which does not affect the performance but distracts the subconscious mind just prior to the action of the "'Muscle Memory". If we suggests something the subconscious see our routine is a bit different and does a few quick changes. As an athletics expands their mental perfections they will allow more and more subconscious control over their performance. If we watch their routine, we often  see   a "Tell" (or a strange action) as their communication with the subconscious just before their release of control to the subconscious and allow it to  perform.

Dogs Playing Poker by
 Cassius Marcellus Coolidge,

 Like in poker where a professional player may make a facial action following having receiving a good card; and that small thing is telling others of his satification with the card. The "Tell" is often seen during a performance delay just prior to the individual begans to communicates with the subconscious.. The athletic's subconscious communication may be to indicate the raison for a change from normal routine or even a remainder to the subconsicous about a recent change in performance that it wants to perform correctly. Yes, the subconscious mind, like a child, can be confused when a change in action is suggested and will began to doubt that the athletic is requesting to take control and do the instinctive action.

Lets look at three similar sports. Curling, Lawn bowls and Petanque. All three roll, slide or throw an object to a precice distance. Curling is the easiest because it is one constance distance to the target from a "Release Line". Petanque has a shorter distance as the "Cochon" or target is between 6 meters and 10 meters, but each endo of play may find the distance has changed. Now the subconscious has memories of distance and beside the routine of delivery now has a difference of force for the new distance of play. But in Lawn Bowls the "Jack" distance is anywhere in the 10 meters between a "short jack" at 21 meters and a "long jack" at at it 31 meter if starting the game or even up to maximun of 33 meters if it has not been moved during play.

"Muscle Memory" developed with practice is the subconscious knowing how to perform for that fixed curling distance and we see the curler becomes natural as they draw their stone to the centre of the house. Their only modification is a little more weight (energy) and a small wrist twist for the spin of the curling stone.

 In petanque, the shooting player can throw his "Petanque ball" through the air and hit the target ball which is in a "counting position" and because it is between 6.5 meters and 8.5m ( the greatest common distance of the "cochon") this short 2 meters difference makes the shot easly. Expecially if he has the correct direction as a hit on the ground in front of the target still produces the required result. With practice the Petanque player usually is rather accurate and immediately after his performance he sees  the result of his performance. But because he is throwing a 3.5 inch ball at a 3.5 inch ball, the shooter knows the mind  can gets the measure of the distance of his target. (has learned from practice). 

However, Lawn Bowls which has the large distance to be played requires more precision on the delivery weight (energy) if the bowl is to stop near or touching the "Jack". Secondly,  even with the fast playing surface that distance and the delay until the bowls stops can be 8 or 9 seconds. This delay is  important because after the subconscious performance and choice of the calculated  distance; the mind returns conscious control. In the waiting time of those 8 or 9 seconds the Lawn Bowls athletic feels his "void of thought" as he watches for one more roll of the bowl which can means being shot (point) or not. This "performance delay" means many things, even the flick of a finger during delivery; can mean two feet farther before the bowl stops. It is here that the athletic need to communicate with the subconscious mind. What is a habit of the delivery routine might need to be changed. If you are during your  "Pre-delivery Routine" thinking this change it is instruction to the muscles; but to do a small suggestion to the subconscious (instinctive) performance will force the re-calculation of the energy for that shot.

So lets look at "Muscle Memory" and communicating with the subconscious as a method to improve the Delivery performance. "Memory Distance Retrieval" is a method of using "Memory Data" to know the distance to the jack from the mat in Lawn Bowls.  During the "Pre-Delivery Routine" you need to judge the distance to the jack and if you think of the TV game show "The price is Right" you will find that distance. There is a game of "Find the price" where the individual guess the price of a product and the game host says "Higher" or "Lower" as the player attempts to find the right price.  In the "Talking to the Subconscious Mind 2/2" we see in the video the athletic doing several arm movements before delivery.

It is suggested that she seeing in her mind her bowl being delivered and rolling to the jack but not being the right Memory Data" for that distance she is doing it again with a different distance.  The athletic's mind as she learn the distance  in Lawn Bowl is doing that "Closer" or "Farther" study of the distance to the "Jack". Remember, the eye judges distance by the tension of the eye muscles as we focus on the object which is  easlier at a close distance like Petanque. But after 20 meters or more  it takes a lot of practice to be accurately knowing the distance. 

So in the blog 1/2  we see the video of the 2016 World Bowls Finals in Christchurch NZ how  Angela Bold (NZ) is rocking and swing her arm as if to deliver because she is seeing the bowl roll to the jack but her image does not show the bowl going all the way to the jack so she choses a different memory image and again does an armswing and see her bowl going to the jack.  She may do this several times and when she has the correct distance there is a feeling and she know now to "Do it" and moves into the subconscious "Muscle Memory" performance.

In the same way, there are only two methods for the subconscious to know the distance of the Petanque Thrower's target (for a take-out) or the Lawn bowler's Jack distance for a "Draw" to the jack.  One is practice and practice and the mind feels the distance, and some time very precisely. But in Lawn Bowls, this take years of practice to arrive with that proper feeling for the longer distance and then the surrounding can influence  the subconscious mind's calculation.  Example, a club house behind the "jack" make it seem closer to you because of the big object in you line of view; as also a open field or space behind the jack makes it seem farther away. 

For petanque the short 6.5 to 8.5 distance to the "cochon" it is easy for the subconscious to feel the distance; but when the "cochon" gets to 9.5 meters or farther we find even the Petanque players using the "Memory Data Reteival" method. Although Dyan Rocher is the best Petanque shooter of our time and usually does a one-arm swing take-out; we can see in the 2024 Petanque "Tête-â-Tête" Final of Dylan Rocher and Marc Cognard  that Dylan does several back and forth steps into the shooting circle. (probably do a distance calculation like the lawn bowlers above).

This second distance calculation is more difficult and the telling our self a little "Farther", "farther" as the subconscious works to find the proper distance need a lot of practice to feel the "OK do it" for to instruct the subconscious to activate the "Muscle Memory" When you have a established  "Muscle Memory" for an action it is fixed (like fixed in stone); and it is hard to change later and especially hard to interrupt to do something different.  (Stats  show that volume of reader visitors are Lawn Bowls)

For the success of "Memory Distance Retrieval" it is done prior to the Subconscious activate the "Muscle Memory" performance.  In time the subconscious will need only a "Tag" or small remainder and it will do the re-calculation automatic with only one or two visual swings. In the above example of Petanque Dylan is probably just starting to develop this part of his Muscle Memory interaction and has yet to get  the feeling of distance. But with practice and an established "Tag"; communicating with the subconscious will eventually come and  be easy with a couple of swings. (Tag,Tag, Do it)  

In many Petanque take-out shots, the Petanque player's subconscious mind goes into the void of doing the shot with the player is just looking at the ball to be hit and feeling it's distance. And some players just go to the shooting circle (mat in Bowls) and do a single swing and throw their ball (or roll the bowl). But like in Lawn Bowls, the Petanque player has more precision at certain distance and seems to miss more often at other distances which is why the "Tag" is used. 

The lawn bowler learns to know his "Natural Distance" where if he does a relax performance his rolled bowl goes a certain distance. Of course, he gets to read the distance as a marker on the side boards indicates 21 meters (the legal short jack) and from there to half way  to the back boards is 5 or 6 meters farther and the Backboard of the Lawn Bowls green is 31 meters. But to tell the subconscious mind the distance in words causes a revert back to conscious instruction delivery.

In the blog of December 2016 "Muscle Memory and The "Zen" Zone" I mention  "the Petanque video of Mark Wildboer where he taps his toe.. (his "tell" of pre-visualizations )  in the video  before his actual action of throwing his takeout shot. At the time of his shooting he is in a "Void of thought" and we say he is  "In the Zen Zone".  This blog was remade and updated in February 2023 and may contain new material. 

 In the video, what we see is that Mark  has established the "Tag" for his subconscious to find the distance to the target and if he is  "seeing his shot mentally" he is doing the shot. If he has chosen the wrong memory for that distance he will have gone back to retrieval another memory of a longer distance but unlike the video of Dylan Rocher he has limited himself to only 2 or 3 retrievals.   To those of us who do this type of previsualization we feel the correct distance and then do the throwing of the take-out shot of the rolling of the bowl.

 In the above mention of the 2016 World Bowls Pairs Finals  both leads bowlers ( Angela Boyd and Laura Daniel) each have different methods of "Distance Projection but once their communication with the subconscious is finished and they have found the correct distance; theu let "Muscle Memory" roll their bowl to the jack as they very quickly look at the jack and roll. 

We all realized with the movie camera and television that the eyes captures only a part of what it sees (about 1/60th of a second) and the brain creates our understand. To finish this blog I wish to warn you that the subconscious mind sometimes make a decision which it concluded happen but it was wrong.  The raison for these errors is the instinctive nature of actions was developed for survival and prevention of danger and sometime the decision of danger still prevents us from doing things which we would never think of doing as Survival or an Instinctive (subconscious) Action. Don't believe everything you think you see because the mind does make mistakes but the following example show how extremely the subconscious can be in calculation of what it sees.

Several years ago, maybe 20 years or more, I was showing the precision of the subconscious mind to a Petanque athletics who was practicing and was expected to go to the World Petanque Competition within weeks. Because of my own experience in Archery where I was an instinctive shooter (no sights) I learn that you can't always believe what the subconscious mind send you as information.

The Petanque "cochon" or jack is about 1 1/4 inch in size and in shooting to hit it at a distance of 6 meters or 7 meters, as many Petanque players do; your take-out shot must be precise. To show this to Alex who I had asked to hit the "Cochon" which  was hidden behind the petanque ball but which is a shot which many players can make. His object shot was to pass over the top of the petanque ball and hit the jack. A shot he and many at his level had done many times. However, as Alex walked from the target 'cochon' and ball to the shooting circle; I  removed the "Cochon" which I now had in my hand.

 Alex had not seen me remove it, so he thought it was still hidden behind the petanque ball and with his first shot, which was too high, he knew he had missed it. But on the 2nd shot; his shot was exact, and if the "cochon" had been there he would have hit it. But because he did not know it was not there, his mind expected to see the "cochon"  go flying into the distance as happens when this shot is made successful. 

His subconscious mind could not show him that it went flying into the distance because it was not there. But Alex's mind expected to see that and so the subconscious mind took a similar memory of when a "cochon" had been  hit in the past and show that image (a thought) to Alex.  Alex walked to the area of the target ball adn "cochon" and knowing his shot was good and excited. He said as he discussed the hard shothe had just made that  he had seen the "cochon. go flying off to the left of the playing area. So we both went there to look for the "cochon". After some time I show Alex that I had it in my pocket and explained how I had removed it when he was walking back to the shooting circle.

Explaining  the reason for this deception exercise was to show how precise the subconscious mind is in calculations as it develops it "Muscle Memory" and "Performance Feedback". The reason that Alex went off to the left to locate his "cochon" which he saw fly after his shot was that the subconscious had seen the take-out shot would had hit the "cochon" (if it had been there) on the right side and send flying to the left. Therefore, in this case the subconscious showed a memory of  what Alex should have seen. But what is important is not the memory replacement; but that the subconscious was able to see within a fraction of an inch at over 30 feet away where the ball would had hit the "cochon". For the 3/4 inch "cochon" to be hit on the right side at about  1/8 inch near it's edge was Alex's mind seeing precisely these few millimeters at over 30 feet away. The precision of the subconscious  is amazing and this exercise makes the point to not be too sure what you think you see but with practice we can be amazed what the subconscious mind can do.

This exercise was to teach Alex to let the subconscious mind do it's work. Too often we feel we need to analysis and then change things.  Just have confidence and let it happen and be surprised that you did so well. Pressure at a World Competition may force an individual to try to take more control (return to conscious instructions) when all that is needed is confidence in oneself ( that the subconscious can do it). Remember, you have practice for this moment, don't make the competition a practice where you change everything. If you have to suggest a change to the subconscious use your "Tag" to say, "Opps check this".