Choking nine balls? Help!

[hang-the-9]

Some advice from a Wannabee.

1. Buy another cue, maybe 2 or 3. Make sure they are sparkly. Sparkles add 2 feet to your draw shot.

2. Shoot the 9 hard enough to send it 3 rails into a totally different pocket that you were aiming at. If it goes into another table alltogether, it counts as 2 games won. Act like you were aiming for there all along.

3. If you miss (you probably did not hit it hard enough, see 2 above), look at your tip, then at the players at the next table, then at the cloth. Blame one of them for the miss.

4. Play some-one else who hangs up more game balls than you. When you make one ball per rack and the other guy makes 8, you can still say you are better.

 

[BillyKoda]

I used to miss them on a regular basis but now I hardly ever miss the money ball. I always think about where that ball is going if I miss it and play position for a tough shot for the opponent (like all my other shots). Lots of games is what cured the problem for me. Repeat after me! It's just another ball. It's just another ball. It's just another ball.

 

[hang-the-9]

I used to miss them on a regular basis but now I hardly ever miss the money ball. I always think about where that ball is going if I miss it and play position for a tough shot for the opponent (like all my other shots). Lots of games is what cured the problem for me. Repeat after me! It's just another ball. It's just another ball. It's just another ball.

I don't know if thinking about the end position of the balls is a good idea. You are taking focus off making the shot.

 

[JoeyA]

Shoot The Money Ball Shot A Hundred Times Or More.

RoadKill, you already have LOTS of GREAT advice and I'll add this tidbit as well.....When you miss a critical shot, remember the shot, think about why you "dogged" it and what you did to "dog" it. Missing a shot is both mental and physical and you should know both reasons.

When you have time, go to the practice table, have the advice you have already been given in this thread and practice the shot over and over and over, until the shot becomes your own.

I'm not talking about 20 or 30 shots. I'm talking about 100 shots and MORE. I've practiced the same shot for over an hour and so have the pros.

Thinking about why you dogged it is nearly as important as what you did physically to miss the shot. Sort out the why and then work on the what.

You already have all of the advice except REMEMBER what was posted in a recent thread about stop shots. The slightest amount of side spin can have dramatic effects (object ball throw) when a simple stop shot is used. To reduce the effects of (accidental) minute amounts of side spin, use a little low draw or a little follow.

When you play shape for the nine ball, play shape to your strongest position, which for me is a slight angle to the money ball (NOT STRAIGHT IN).

Good shooting.

JoeyA

 

[ironman]

Tonight I was playing in the finals of a local tournament and missed the nineball in two games. Due to these misses, I came in second place.

Is there a cure for this disease?

Play position closer to the ball.

 

[Fatboy]

"Firing" the ball in was your first mistake.

A long time ago when I was learning how to play straight pool, I was told to never sacrifice accuracy for power. You have now learned why I pass on that priceless advice to my students.

as the old saying goes "Shoot hard sleep in the streets". I heard that from a snooker player many years aog, cant remember who but I will never forget that line.


As far as the 9 or what ever $ ball is concerned, its easy because all you have to do is make it and not scratch-its no different that any other shot, if your missing it it a weakness or some sort of guilt feeling to knock out your opponent, or something else.

Chop their asses is what alot of pro's say. I agree. Get the rest of the noise out of your head man its just another ball, make it and move on.


best of luck.


PS I had this problem years ago for a while, I cured it, I have a friend who played a little better than me less than a ball but better , he is easy o beat vecause he awalys finds a way to miss the $ball in any game. he cant shake off that feeling of winning, perhaps he likes to lose deep down in-if thats the case pich a nez game like R/C airplanes and go fly them. agaib best of luck

 

[MinoInADixeCup]

A few years ago, my nephew who plays on my pool team, was having trouble with the 8 {playing 8-ball} after making a really nice out. I told him to pick a spot for shape on the next ball and stay focused. Now any time he is in a pressure situation, on his last ball, he will find his spot for shape, and almost always gets there. Its a great stress reliever to not think about that winning shot. Have a great day.......

This is one of those things that I kind of always dismissed as not being very useful, like only practicing with the 9 ball or 8 ball. Maybe I need to give this one another chance.