One thing's for sure, you have the right attitude. You nailed it - players have trouble being honest with themselves. So many guys overrate their game and won't admit why they missed a ball or lost a match. They'd be horrified to see they run out only 1% of the time when they think it's 20%, or that their average run in 9/10 ball is only 3 balls.
How many times do you hear a beginner butcher a shot, hitting off by a full diamond, and then say "I hit it too hard"?
I predict real improvement in your future.
PS: I think the same way while shooting. I try to imagine every possible thing that can go wrong (wrong side of the ball, on the rail, treetopped, hooked, straight in, too long, too thin, stretching across the table, forced to use off hand, etc.) ...then I just try to put the CB in an area that avoids all those possible problems.
