Mental processes

[Unsightly Picks]

I apologize if this is not in the proper forum or if it is a repeat topic.
I have experimenting with different sensory methods while picking, such as closing my eyes, finger contact on the pick, ectera. My question to you: How do you visualize your picking? Does closing your eyes help interpret? Do you find that things like listening to music help or harm your process? Does the location of the lock in relation of body impact your picking? Example, eye level, chest level, and so on.
I am hoping do find a range between lockies something to indicate how they perceive information (similar how some people learn well verbally where as others learn visually). My own process is something of a visualization, but i don't find closing my eyes to help. Often times my best spp is picking while listening to music or watching a movie. My focus is predominantly on the lock, but i feel less rushed and more centralized for some reason.

[Brother Paul]

I like to close my eyes in a silent room , but i also pick locks while watching movies or ty , but that might be because TY bores me

[darklighterz7611]

Its all about what works for you, If your really interested in the theory and principles i can point you onto some psychological papers.

[Eyes_Only]

I rarely close my eyes when picking cos whenever I do that I find myself mistaking a warding in the keyway as a pin and end up bending my pick tools. But I do often listen to music when I pick locks. Helps clear away my mind from dwelling on unnecessary things that hinder any attempts at picking.

[Schuyler]

If I'm on a lockout & things are going poorly, I'll start explaining what I'm doing to someone there. Walking them through the basics, some of the difficulties, etc. until the lock pops open. I find when I do that I open locks I thought I'd never get open.

[Unsightly Picks]

Darklighter,
I would be interested to look at those if you have a link handy.

Sometimes i have the same issue as Eyes_Only. And while i don't find that closing my eyes helps much, it does feel different in some way and thats what piqued my curiosity.

I'm not sure if it is the same thing Schuyler experiences, but at times verbal analysis can lead to a cathartic moment when something just makes sense. something like, "Oh! thats what that feedback is!"

[darklighterz7611]

Its a pretty hugh topic, If you just lemme know specifically what you wanna read about and irl try and track down a ejournal for you.

Also there is another thread around here on this subject i remember giving a more in depth response on.......

Here we go

[darklighterz7611]

*huge



i wish the edit button stayed accessible for longer

[Unsightly Picks]

Mostly i am curious how effective closing ones eyes can improve focus if you happen to know of anything.

[FarmerFreak]

I rarely ever close my eyes while picking. Once you get a feel for the lock, closing your eyes can have the added benefit of increasing your concentration on the lock through feel alone. Since you will be less distracted by anything else you may be like looking at. However, using your eyes, you will virtually never mistake the warding as a binding pin. I learned fast that you don't want to try and move the warding with a pick. ...The pick always loses.

At some point I recommend that you practice with you eyes closed. Just don't over torque the pick on something that won't move. Doing this should help your fingers learn what is going on without the visual aid your eyes give you. Then hopefully the newly found sensations/feelings that you have honed in on, will just be an added bonus to whatever your eyes may be telling you when picking a lock.

Realistically though, on most pin tumbler lock. All the info your eyes give you is what angle you should be holding your pick at, and how far in the lock your pick is. OH yeah, it also tells you if your tension wrench is about to fly out of the lock if it isn't in the keyway very far.

[Unsightly Picks]

You make a very good point. I also started thinking further about that. Sometimes i have difficulty telling if i have a false set with spool pins and looking at the face and feeling give me enough combined feedback that i can tell where i might have been unsure with either by itself.

[Bad_Jason]

I'm still relatively new, but for whatever it's worth, I do about 90 percent of my picking on my couch with the TV on a program I have no interest in watching and the volume turned low.

I find I'm most successful when I'm looking at the lock with full concentration.

Lord have mercy if I am ever asked to help someone pick a lock out of my natural couch potato habitat.

[Unsightly Picks]

Haha, i totally agree! I pick locks more for the puzzles so i don't feel bad about picking lock in hand, but i mix it up with a mounted one now and again and it is a totally different dynamic.

[jdislandlock]

And while i don't find that closing my eyes helps much, it does feel different in some way and thats what piqued my curiosity.




i find if i close my eyes i can picture the lock alot better. i dont really have the problem of bending picks when i close my eyes, i find it almost easier if i have a tricky lock in my hands sometimes.

[yng_pick]

I try closing my eyes occasionally, but to mixed success.

If I am having difficulty spp a lock on a lockout, I will usually try a couple of different methods mixing raking/spp. But usually at this point it is not willing to pop still, due to pin heights or whatever. At this point I usually have to mentally tell myself to relax and concentrate. It works, my body does relax, and I go much calmer and smoother into it. Often I am rewarded within the next minute with the lock popping open.

I guess I have to work on my zen to get into that mindset immediately, lol.