Top players have to be able to do many things well.
60-90%+ They have to convert on their scoring opportunities with a high level of consistency.
40-60%+ They have to come with difficult shots, positional plays, and safeties to win games in which they don't hold much advantage at all and where the threat of loss looms large.
10% or less They have to steal some games in which they are really up against it with an occasional hero shot.
10-40% In my mind the biggest leak for many players is how they handle the situation when they are just a slight underdog. These are the games in which they are probably going to lose, but in which their decisions and execution at the table will dictate how often they are able to turn the tables.
This leak is often caused by the player feeling more hopeless than they are. This leads them to either 1) Give less than their full effort, or 2) Make a poor shot selection by going into desperation mode. For example:
1) A 9 ball player is playing shape for the 8 and hooks themselves behind the 9 ball. The 8 ball is in the middle of the table and the player has to kick to the end rail. There is no controllable shot or safety, and it is likely that even with a good hit the game will be lost. So our player gets discouraged, shoots hard and quickly, missed the 8 ball entirely, and finally rakes the balls and concedes that game.
2) A 9 ball player has a full hit on the 8 ball from long distance but doesn't have a good shot or a good safety. They are playing a tough opponent and feel that if they don't lock them up they will lose. They consider a few alternatives but none of them look attractive. Finally they decide "If I'm going to lose I'm going to go down swinging!" and they shoot at an off angle long rail bank, miss, and sell dead out.
In my experience these are the games that most often win and lose sessions. Of course converting on scoring opportunities is critical, but I think everyone understands this and that is where they put their focus. But these are the games that lead to huge momentum swings. Give your opponent an easy win and watch their run out game smooth out even more. But wrestle and steal a game like this away, or even just grind and make them earn it if you lose, and you keep the pressure on. This wins you more games as well as more future opportunities.
In watching Chang's matches in the US Open he shined in many ways. Of course he ran out like a machine when the balls were runnable. But he also did a great job of realizing all of his equity when he was in difficult situations. I don't recall ever seeing him go into desperation mode, no matter the ball layout, the score, or the skill of his opponent. Instead he stayed in the present, made common sense decisions, and did his best with the opportunity in front of him to make things as difficult for his opponent as possible.
Meanwhile Ko, who played superbly all tournament, blew an 11-7 lead in the finals by trying to force opportunities that weren't quite there. Granted they were difficult, but I really got the feel that he was trying to deliver a knock out punch and win the tournament with one great shot. Those choices resulted in Chang getting the opportunities he needed to win 6 in a row. Chang on the other hand kept cool and in control with common sense decisions, giving Ko chances to make these types of mistakes. I really think if Ko had settled for what the table had offered a bit more in his last 3-4 chances he might have stopped Chang's rally and had a shot at the title.
I think we all do this well when we're in the zone, but when we are struggling this is one of the first things to go. We have to stay present and have belief that things can turn around. If we don't feel confident we have to remember we're not entitled to feeling confident, but that confidence can be earned. If we stay calm and earn another inning we may be presented with an opportunity we handle, and next thing we know we feel totally different.
Maybe this has to do with having the wrong goal. If our goal is simply to 'win the game' we might be extra discouraged because it doesn't look likely. But if we shift our goal to 'making the best decision we can and giving it our best effort' then we do better, because that is a goal we CAN hit.
So next time you find yourself in a difficult spot that you feel is hopeless, and you find your brain suggesting hail mary shots, slow down and take a breath. Ask yourself "If I lose with this shot will I be kicking myself for taking it on as I walk back to my chair?", and if the answer is yes then find an alternative you can stand behind. Then, once you do, give it your best effort and be proud that you are a fierce competitor. You can't win them all, but you might be surprised how strong your results become from growing more and more comfortable and optimistic in losing positions!
60-90%+ They have to convert on their scoring opportunities with a high level of consistency.
40-60%+ They have to come with difficult shots, positional plays, and safeties to win games in which they don't hold much advantage at all and where the threat of loss looms large.
10% or less They have to steal some games in which they are really up against it with an occasional hero shot.
10-40% In my mind the biggest leak for many players is how they handle the situation when they are just a slight underdog. These are the games in which they are probably going to lose, but in which their decisions and execution at the table will dictate how often they are able to turn the tables.
This leak is often caused by the player feeling more hopeless than they are. This leads them to either 1) Give less than their full effort, or 2) Make a poor shot selection by going into desperation mode. For example:
1) A 9 ball player is playing shape for the 8 and hooks themselves behind the 9 ball. The 8 ball is in the middle of the table and the player has to kick to the end rail. There is no controllable shot or safety, and it is likely that even with a good hit the game will be lost. So our player gets discouraged, shoots hard and quickly, missed the 8 ball entirely, and finally rakes the balls and concedes that game.
2) A 9 ball player has a full hit on the 8 ball from long distance but doesn't have a good shot or a good safety. They are playing a tough opponent and feel that if they don't lock them up they will lose. They consider a few alternatives but none of them look attractive. Finally they decide "If I'm going to lose I'm going to go down swinging!" and they shoot at an off angle long rail bank, miss, and sell dead out.
In my experience these are the games that most often win and lose sessions. Of course converting on scoring opportunities is critical, but I think everyone understands this and that is where they put their focus. But these are the games that lead to huge momentum swings. Give your opponent an easy win and watch their run out game smooth out even more. But wrestle and steal a game like this away, or even just grind and make them earn it if you lose, and you keep the pressure on. This wins you more games as well as more future opportunities.
In watching Chang's matches in the US Open he shined in many ways. Of course he ran out like a machine when the balls were runnable. But he also did a great job of realizing all of his equity when he was in difficult situations. I don't recall ever seeing him go into desperation mode, no matter the ball layout, the score, or the skill of his opponent. Instead he stayed in the present, made common sense decisions, and did his best with the opportunity in front of him to make things as difficult for his opponent as possible.
Meanwhile Ko, who played superbly all tournament, blew an 11-7 lead in the finals by trying to force opportunities that weren't quite there. Granted they were difficult, but I really got the feel that he was trying to deliver a knock out punch and win the tournament with one great shot. Those choices resulted in Chang getting the opportunities he needed to win 6 in a row. Chang on the other hand kept cool and in control with common sense decisions, giving Ko chances to make these types of mistakes. I really think if Ko had settled for what the table had offered a bit more in his last 3-4 chances he might have stopped Chang's rally and had a shot at the title.
I think we all do this well when we're in the zone, but when we are struggling this is one of the first things to go. We have to stay present and have belief that things can turn around. If we don't feel confident we have to remember we're not entitled to feeling confident, but that confidence can be earned. If we stay calm and earn another inning we may be presented with an opportunity we handle, and next thing we know we feel totally different.
Maybe this has to do with having the wrong goal. If our goal is simply to 'win the game' we might be extra discouraged because it doesn't look likely. But if we shift our goal to 'making the best decision we can and giving it our best effort' then we do better, because that is a goal we CAN hit.
So next time you find yourself in a difficult spot that you feel is hopeless, and you find your brain suggesting hail mary shots, slow down and take a breath. Ask yourself "If I lose with this shot will I be kicking myself for taking it on as I walk back to my chair?", and if the answer is yes then find an alternative you can stand behind. Then, once you do, give it your best effort and be proud that you are a fierce competitor. You can't win them all, but you might be surprised how strong your results become from growing more and more comfortable and optimistic in losing positions!
