Sports psychology and how it relates to poker

[StLouisMike]

Sports Psychologists teach their students of developing routines so that they can focus intently on the job at hand (i.e. a hitter seeing the ball). These routines include the little bat wag you see most hitters doing and Nomar's OCD antics with his batting gloves. I seem to think that Chris Ferguson has implemented this into his game as he always takes the same amount of time to make a decision. If poker is a game of tells why not develop a routine? Something like counting to 5 before you bet, push your chips in the same manner EVERYTIME, always keep your hands in the same spot while making a decision, etc.

[jskills]

I agree here about the betting time and way to push chips in. It makes sense.

Another sports analogy you coud look at is shooting free throws in basketball. Any of the great free throw shooters will tell you it's not how you shoot, but that you shoot the exact same way every time.

[StLouisMike]

And I would agree that if you watch basketball players shoot free throws you would see a "pre shot routine" just like I was talking about. I really surprised no one has brought this up before.