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 and actions following the subconscious involvement and study it in detail.

This information, about the two minds interaction may be a bit advance for some; but it does not hurt an athletic to know and not understand it. A major problem in knowing about the  two minds' (conscious and subconscious) interaction during a sport performance is we must be able to accept that we do not having a control over what is happening instinctively. Yes, we want to be in control (conscious mind doing the instruction) but for successful quick and repeated precise performance; the athletic must continue to allow the subconscious mind to have it's independence and control. Allow it to do what often is defined as  " Precise Muscle Memory". 

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) remain in the "Prefection Stage" of Development. This blog  will show a bit of what a "Level 4"(Competition Coach)or even higher "Level 5" (International Coach) is also possible to develop in an athletic as they practice telling the subconscious mind how to change something. 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 return control to the conscious.

Every sport has different actions which are perfected, from the wrist movement of throwing a dart to the swinging arm movement of Petanque roll or a Lawn Bowls or 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 and a small change which occurs before the athletic has completed their peak performance actual action.

The time between beginning the sport's performance and the finish of the performance when the athletic sees the result of their action is also different for each sport. This is of a major importance withthe conscious mind instructions, it is simply "Do this", or " No do it this way"; but for a major corrective action in the subconscious (instinctive) action; we must understand how the communication must be polite and gentle with it's interruption of the subconscious mind. Sort of like correcting an child who is doing something wrong. Too detail and the child hears nothing. Likewise, too long a communication with the subconscious mind and it does not work.

In attempting the change of an action of subconscious we are like a parent watching a child learn something while it is their mind doing the thinking. With all sport actions, the subconscious mind is there in the background, always learning and ready to make a different action. However, the subconscious doe not see any problem which might occur because it does not analysis but only access or stores memories and do those learned performance.  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 conscious thought to the mind's control of the muscles. It can be difficult when it comes at a lost of any part of the control of the "subconscious" ; and a knowledgeable coach knows it's important. Like that child that the parent is trying to teach something; the subconscious mind does want the instructions or interference of the conscious action or parent.

How do you communicate with the Subconscious mind?  The same way as 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) They have been suggested various changes which will allow the shot to be more successful. (The successful distance of  most shots in Petanque is usually about 6.5 to 8.5 meters, although the maximum distance of a legal "cochon" or ball 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, switch off the subconscious mind may help; but you are not developing or improving that instinctive action but now taking your total control of the action.  A thought like "Aim at the top of the ball" are conscious thoughts. 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 as an instinctive action.

Because it is difficult 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 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.

This walk is helping the subconscious mind know the distance and by watching the lips of the athletic or their eyes, we sometimes can see they are counting their steps. Body language is important here. Looking away is a break in your "Routine and the subconscious mind whichwas collecting this information is now occupied with a conscious thought. (thought of what distracted 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 Dylan for allowing this opinion on his performance as we learn always from even the greats. Second, in a discussion recently with a Youtube Petanque  watcher it was suggested this new style was because of back pains which Dylan has been experiencing. Probably, this opinion was something that my friend had heard during the video's comments as not being french it is probably that I missed this information.

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.  It is easy to misunderstand or feel that I have a critizism in this blog; but my object is to suggest an action which might be happening during his "Pre-Shoot" routine.  It also reflect a major problem which occurs when a great athletic tries to change the "Muscle Memory" and the resistance which the subconscious can create to change.    We can see his old style  between himself and Michel Hatchadourian in the 2020  PPF Grand Final  "Tête à Tête  of what is called "Passion Pétanque Francaise" (PPF) recorded by P J Petanque. Here we see Dylan Rocher in his greatest performance where after stepping into the shooting circle, he does a practice swing (or not) and hear the loud bang of a direct hit "take-out", sometime with a "careau".

Watching his long "Take-out" Style, one would think he is not confidence with the next or coming shot at that distance; but what I believe he is doing is that he is useing "Mental image" of seeing his ball flying toward the target ball during a take-out shot which his subconscious has stored. The trick here is when that memory, which is creating the "Mental image" is for the correct "target distance" he will transfer control to the subconscious to do the shot with "Muscle memory" performance.  But because this memory which he is viewing in his subconscious mind is not the correct distance; he choses another memory of this similar shot and redoes his Pre-shot routine.

One of the problems is feeling that confidence that he has now the proper data. No I am not talking about having confidence but a feeling of "Yes that is it" which communicate that now 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". Dylan, 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"