My "Tunnel Vision" error

B

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
I lost a game this morning because of tunnel vision.

I pocketed the 3-ball in the upper-left corner. I overshot position on the 4-ball but saw that the CB/4-ball ended up in perfect line to be banked into the lower-right corner. By "perfect line" I mean it was like God himself had placed the balls for me for a super-easy bank. No pre-shot routine needed for this easy bank, right?

Except that the 9-ball was sitting right on this perfect line about 12" from the pocket. Of course, the 4-ball bounced off the cushion on a perfect line to the pocket but slammed right into the 9 and my turn was over.

I was so focused on where I was hitting the 4-ball to the cushion that I simply forgot to look at the full path the 4-ball would need to take. I ignored the first step of PSR: look at the whole table!

I'd like to say that this is the only time I've rushed a shot and paid the price...but I'd be lying.

You?
 
I've seen guys do the same thing. They'll even shoot straight into a distance corner and fail to see the green six ball in their peripheral, they're dumbfounded when the object ball runs into it.

My biggest one is assuming a ball goes and then waiting until the last second to check it.
Then I find out it's either blocked, or you need to hit it like Captain Accurate to make the shot barely bobble in.

I've also gotten locked into an 8-ball pattern and then when my leave gets a little squirrely midway through, I insist on sticking to the original gameplan instead of switching to an easier shot and just improvising.
 
I thought about being a gynecologist,,, but then I heard you end up getting tunnel vision,,,,, so I stick to pool! :)
 
bdorman said:
I lost a game this morning because of tunnel vision.

I pocketed the 3-ball in the upper-left corner. I overshot position on the 4-ball but saw that the CB/4-ball ended up in perfect line to be banked into the lower-right corner. By "perfect line" I mean it was like God himself had placed the balls for me for a super-easy bank. No pre-shot routine needed for this easy bank, right?

Except that the 9-ball was sitting right on this perfect line about 12" from the pocket. Of course, the 4-ball bounced off the cushion on a perfect line to the pocket but slammed right into the 9 and my turn was over.

I was so focused on where I was hitting the 4-ball to the cushion that I simply forgot to look at the full path the 4-ball would need to take. I ignored the first step of PSR: look at the whole table!

I'd like to say that this is the only time I've rushed a shot and paid the price...but I'd be lying.

You?
Click to expand...

I have played shape for the wrong ball more that I'd like to admit by not looking carefully. Thinking the 5 was the 3 and so on. Heck, just last week I shot the 4 in while playing shape for the 3 LOL. The guy was nice though and just played the shot where it landed not taking ball in hand :sorry::embarrassed2:

I've also, at least once, shot the 8 ball in while not seeing a hanging ball in the pocket that was left in my group.
 
Last edited:
hang-the-9 said:
I have played shape for the wrong ball more that I'd like to admit by not looking carefully. Thinking the 5 was the 3 and so on.
Click to expand...

The other day I did this, playing for a ball lying on the left rail. Overran shape, ended up close to the right rail and thinner than I'd like on that ball.

My buddy points out it's the wrong ball. I look to my right and there's the ball I overlooked... I fell in a nice narrow window and got easy on it.

It occurred to me that'd be a great way to screw with someone's head. Get perfect on ball A, walk up and line up on ball B while shaking your head and acting all bothered that you played shape so shitty.

At the last second, realize you need to shoot ball A, act relieved and laugh.
 
CreeDo said:
My biggest one is assuming a ball goes and then waiting until the last second to check it.
Click to expand...

Yep, I do that all the time too.

hang-the-9 said:
I have played shape for the wrong ball more that I'd like to admit by not looking carefully. Thinking the 5 was the 3 and so on.
Click to expand...

That one too!

I had a new one today: My opponent tried a 3-7 combo in the corner pocket, but missed it. I was so focused on the seven that I walked up to the table and pocketed it! The funny thing was that both of us were so focused on the seven that neither of us realized my mistake. It dawned on us when I lined up for the 8-ball with the 3,4,5 and 6 still on the table.
 
CreeDo said:
It occurred to me that'd be a great way to screw with someone's head. Get perfect on ball A, walk up and line up on ball B while shaking your head and acting all bothered that you played shape so shitty.

At the last second, realize you need to shoot ball A, act relieved and laugh.
Click to expand...
That's brutal! I love it!

Now, if I could only figure out how to get perfect on ball A...
 
SloMoHolic said:
That's brutal! I love it!

Now, if I could only figure out how to get perfect on ball A...
Click to expand...

Yeah if you could do that all day, you don't even need to get into the opponent's head.
That will disturb him plenty all by itself.
 
hang-the-9 said:
I have played shape for the wrong ball more that I'd like to admit by not looking carefully.
Click to expand...

What I've done more times than I'd like to admit is play shape on my next ball, then when I get on the shot line to shoot it, realize that the ball won't go into the intended pocket I was intending to shoot at. Sorta like the OP's scenario, only I PLAYED shape for a blocked pocket. Doh!!!

Maniac
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top