Choking on the 9ball - why?

phjunky

phjunky

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I realized that I choke really often on the 9ball (on the 9ball game). This is probably the worst thing to do... i often make a beautifull run... 6-7-8, i control my CB pretty well, i get set for the next shot, and i make the shot on the 9 an easy one, but i miss it in like 95% of the time... I hate that! I kinda spoil the job i did before to get to the 9. When I practice, it doesn't happen. I try to think that the 9 is a shot just as important as any other i make... but not more. I even try to think : "ok, it's the 1, let's set the CB there for the imaginary 2" but i miss it quite often. I don't feel that much pressure. That sucks, huh! Am I alone?! I'm quite a beginner, so, i guess that problem will be fixed with time and experience, but it kinda pisses me off sometimes.
 
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It sucks you say?? Tell me something I don't know. That's the magic of 9-ball I guess...
 
You have attributed something special about the 9 ball in your head. You already know it is like any other shot on the table, work on taking the pressure off.
Put the 9 ball out on the cloth and the cue ball. Shoot the ball in. Repeat. Roll it all over the place, and sink it a few hundred times. Shoot it with ball in hand, shoot it without (where ever the balls come to rest when you roll them out). If you dont have a good shot, try to leave it safe (9 and cue on opposite end rails etc).
It is just a ball, so quit thinking about it and start pocketing the thing.
Chuck
 
Are you getting into the shot too quickly? Do you maintain the same pre-shot routine? Do you plan the shot the same way you planned the previous shots?
Maybe you are thinking of the outcome of the game rather than the shot. Maybe you get a rush of adreneline on the money ball that causes you to tense up a bit.
There are several possibilities, most of which can be dealt with once you identify the specific cause.
Steve
 
I think you need to bring in a designated hitter?

This is a barrier most folks go through on the road to "learning how to win". It's all in your head and you need to find a way to finish the deal, mentally you need to get your mind in a comfortable place at the end of a game.

This past Sunday I was in a 8-Ball tourney and drew what I thought was a good partner (never saw him play before but others had) and he shot great for the first 4 games. The closer we came to finishing in the money the more nervous he became, I noticed his hands shaking and he couldn't make a shot. At that point I had to step it up and we came in second. The first 4 games he made 80% of our shots but he didn't know how to control his emotions at the end.

Find a way to calm yourself down on these 9-ball shots, everyone is different but I come to the table with "natural stroke" in my head when the game is on the line.

BK
 
Play for position

Years ago, the "seniors" (no offense intended) who practically lived in the room I first started learning in told me to make sure I shot the nine ball with the intention of playing position for the ten ball. Pick a spot you want to put the cue ball after you make the nine. You should start making that money ball witthout "dogging it" as long as you have a plan for where the cue ball should be when you complete the shot.
 
phjunky said:
I realized that I choke really often on the 9ball (on the 9ball game). This is probably the worst thing to do... i often make a beautifull run... 6-7-8, i control my CB pretty well, i get set for the next shot, and i make the shot on the 9 an easy one, but i miss it in like 95% of the time... I hate that! I kinda spoil the job i did before to get to the 9. When I practice, it doesn't happen. I try to think that the 9 is a shot just as important as any other i make... but not more. I even try to think : "ok, it's the 1, let's set the CB there for the imaginary 2" but i miss it quite often. I don't feel that much pressure. That sucks, huh! Am I alone?! I'm quite a beginner, so, i guess that problem will be fixed with time and experience, but it kinda pisses me off sometimes.
Click to expand...

I think we all have problems from time to time making the game winning shots... To me, there are two ways to explain it. One, you might be noticing your missed nine-balls more than the misses on the other balls, which could cause an illusion of "I miss the nine ball more often than other shots". Second scenario, you *do* miss on the nine ball a disproportionate amount of times. If you think perhaps the former is the case, then maybe you just need to keep working on shots, regardless of the ball. If the latter is the case, then read on.

So, if the nine is truly a problem ball, for whatever reason, I think there are two ways most players look at the situation. One way is to get it out of their mind that it is the game winning ball, and like you said, "I try to think that the 9 is a shot just as important as any other i make... but not more". I think this mindset can help things if you normally feel a high level of anxiety and worry about making the shot. The other way, if you think maybe you aren't giving the nine enough importance and slacking off on it, is to do the opposite, make yourself so abhorred inside about missing the nine that you will force yourself to make certain that you are extra careful when lining up the shot and executing. But, I think it's important not to take this too far and stray from your normal shot routine. Focus hard on the nine, remind yourself that this is what the entire rack has led to, the one-yard line, the moment before the slam dunk. Personally, my problems with the nine are usually of the "not giving it enough mental importance" variety, so I tend to use this second mindset, reminding myself that the shot on the nine is essentially the entire game wrapped up in one shot. I feel like I need to give the nine that extra mental importance in order to really focus and be sure of my shot.

What I sometimes tell myself when getting ready to shoot the nine ball is this: "The ghost of Willie Mosconi is here analyzing the players in this here pool hall, trying to find the ones with a perfect stroke, the killer instinct, and perfect clutch execution. Make him notice your perfection!". I definitely believe this helps me to bring out my best shots on these utterly critical game-balls, but everyone's mental workings are different. Just a few suggestions. I hope they help you out!
 
I've been known to do the same thing. Personally I hate a game where you make 8 balls and your apponent makes 1 and wins, just don't seem fair. I always chalk it up to being a 8 ball player, after I make the 8 ball my mind says I'm done.
Its all in the head. One way to practice would be to get a full rack of nothing but 9 balls and just start shooting rack after rack. I have used this to break people that dog the 8 ball, it works.
Chris
 
phjunky said:
I realized that I choke really often on the 9ball (on the 9ball game). This is probably the worst thing to do... i often make a beautifull run... 6-7-8, i control my CB pretty well, i get set for the next shot, and i make the shot on the 9 an easy one, but i miss it in like 95% of the time... I hate that! I kinda spoil the job i did before to get to the 9. When I practice, it doesn't happen. I try to think that the 9 is a shot just as important as any other i make... but not more. I even try to think : "ok, it's the 1, let's set the CB there for the imaginary 2" but i miss it quite often. I don't feel that much pressure. That sucks, huh! Am I alone?! I'm quite a beginner, so, i guess that problem will be fixed with time and experience, but it kinda pisses me off sometimes.
Click to expand...

Try staying down at all times. A lot of times, a player is so excited to get to the end of the rack that they take a win for granted. They just look to move onto the next rack and so, they jump up a little early. If you make an effort to stay down, you may improve your accuracy.
 
Pretend there's a 10 ball nearby and you have to control the cb to get a shot at the 10 ball.
 
phjunky said:
I realized that I choke really often on the 9ball (on the 9ball game). This is probably the worst thing to do... i often make a beautifull run... 6-7-8, i control my CB pretty well, i get set for the next shot, and i make the shot on the 9 an easy one, but i miss it in like 95% of the time... I hate that! I kinda spoil the job i did before to get to the 9. When I practice, it doesn't happen. I try to think that the 9 is a shot just as important as any other i make... but not more. I even try to think : "ok, it's the 1, let's set the CB there for the imaginary 2" but i miss it quite often. I don't feel that much pressure. That sucks, huh! Am I alone?! I'm quite a beginner, so, i guess that problem will be fixed with time and experience, but it kinda pisses me off sometimes.
Click to expand...

Realize what you are looking at last before you pull the trigger.
 
gregoryg said:
Years ago, the "seniors" (no offense intended) who practically lived in the room I first started learning in told me to make sure I shot the nine ball with the intention of playing position for the ten ball. Pick a spot you want to put the cue ball after you make the nine. You should start making that money ball witthout "dogging it" as long as you have a plan for where the cue ball should be when you complete the shot.
Click to expand...

I was just going to relate my own experience and this exact same solution. Part of my pre-shot routine is determining position for my next shot. I realized long ago when there was no next shot, that my routine was disrupted and it brought me out of my unconscious zone. Imagining shape on a "10th" ball was my solution as well.
 
phjunky said:
and i make the shot on the 9 an easy one, but i miss it in like 95% of the time... I hate that!
Click to expand...

I bet you don't actually miss the 9-ball significantly more often than other balls... but because it's the last ball you notice it more.
 
My thoughts

I think that what happens a lot (and not just with beginners) is that when we get into a position where we look to win the game or set our mindset starts to change. How many times have you seen someone get up by 4 or 5 games in a set and then the opponent either makes it hill hill or even wins the set. I thin that some people as they get closer to the win start to focus more on the result than the process. In other words between shots or maybe even during a shot they are thinking things like if I make this nine I am up one set or all I need is one game to finish the set and they get away from the thought process and pre-shot routine that put them in position to win in the first place. Focus on the process and the results will take care of themselves.
 
I do the same thing, far too often. Get down on the nine (or in 8-ball, the eight), and I *know* that this is the game-winning shot, and I dog it because my attitude changes.

Just last night I had it happen to me in a little 8-ball tournament - I'm playing a pal of mine, who's the best shot in that tournament by far - and I run out a few balls and get down on the eight, a long nearly-straight shot down to the corner. Perfectly clean, easy shot - but I mentally wig and I poke it and screw it up. Meh. :P

(Bright side of that story is, it was double-elim - he sent me into the loser bracket right at the end of the winner's bracket - I came back and ended up beating him with a much more difficult 8-ball long cut shot *grin*)
 
I have been afflicted with the same issue as most people as far as missing the 9. One of the things that helped me with this was to throw nine "9-balls" out on the table and just warm up that way. Of course working at a pool hall helped with that. It seems to have helped me not get intimidated by the yellow striped beast as much.:)
 
phjunky said:
I realized that I choke really often on the 9ball (on the 9ball game). This is probably the worst thing to do... i often make a beautifull run... 6-7-8, i control my CB pretty well, i get set for the next shot, and i make the shot on the 9 an easy one, but i miss it in like 95% of the time... I hate that! I kinda spoil the job i did before to get to the 9. When I practice, it doesn't happen. I try to think that the 9 is a shot just as important as any other i make... but not more. I even try to think : "ok, it's the 1, let's set the CB there for the imaginary 2" but i miss it quite often. I don't feel that much pressure. That sucks, huh! Am I alone?! I'm quite a beginner, so, i guess that problem will be fixed with time and experience, but it kinda pisses me off sometimes.
Click to expand...

Try to keep your rythm constant. Don't spend too much time worrying about

the shot, just go through your pre shot routine. I think after you figured out what you want to do with the shot, spending anymore time just has you pondering how to miss the ball.

If you are a slower more calculated the player, or if any negative thoughts creep into your head, take a drink of water, go through your pre shot routine again.

Remember there is no use considering what happens if you miss the ball. The answer to that is easy, you lose. If you can truly convince yourself that its not worth considering the negative outcome then it may cause you to just focus on success. Then again it may add more pressure.

I'm sure you have heard that pool is mostly mental. The trick to this game is to find some mind games that work for you, that take the pressure off and or cause you to focus in a way that breeds success.

The other piece of advice I have is this. Try to find a recording of one or two pros playing terribly, I mean absolutely dismally. Now after you have had a frusterating day of pool, watch the tape. It's always very comforting watching worlds best play like B rated amateurs :D. My match is Rodney Morris vs. Satoshi Kawabata at the WPM in England. I've never seen anyone scratch so many times :D.

Good Luck!

P.S. Everybody goes through this, so don't worry about it. I'm sure Earl Strickland and Efren Reyes had the same problem early in their learning process.
 
Thanks to everyone for your tips.

I've been playing last night with my pal. We met a A player who wanted to practice with us. He gave us tips, showed us some exercises, and stuff. One other thing : I used to always try the shots, i didn't use to think about making a safety shot (not often enough). After the guy left, me and my friend kept on playing and we were shooting so great, it was awesome. I was feeling that our skills had gotten another step, another level. I was relaxed and i had a good, calm rythm, just like i love. And I didn't choke on the 9ball at all!!! I mean, yes, i've sometimes missed it, but never on an easy shot, never when i've set the cb for the shot. That was great pool :)
 
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