Dogging the 9 Ball--How do you prevent it....

ososlow said:
I make sure that I play the cue ball to a certain spot, You play position on all other shots! Kinda seems to me if you dont pick a spot for whitey to go you are not completing the entire shot
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That's what I was going to say! I've been trying to do that lately because I dog that last ball SO OFTEN :banghead: I haven't been doing it very long (playing shape when shooting the winning ball) and often I "forget" because I get so caught up in the moment, but today, right now, sitting at my desk, with my cues miles away, it's a great idea. LOL! (you wouldn't believe how many racks I run in my mind throughout the day. And my break is AWESOME from here) :joyful:
 
ososlow said:
I make sure that I play the cue ball to a certain spot, You play position on all other shots! Kinda seems to me if you dont pick a spot for whitey to go you are not completing the entire shot
Click to expand...

You beat me to it. I make believe there is a 10-ball on the table for my next shot with easy position. eems to work for me. Johnnyt
 
I had a problem dogging the 8 years ago and bought half a dozen 8-balls to hit during practice..............it seemed to work. At least the color of the ball wasn't the issue anymore.
The keys to not dogging/choking/missing:

career/work good and solid!!
wife/girfriend happy!!
kids safe and happy!!
confidence high!!
stroking smooth!!
hitting 456,000 balls a week!!
mechanics!!
pre shot routine!!
shut voice in head off!!
think of pool and pool only 24/7!!

But........... we know all of this stuff already, and still miss some times. I could never get past #2 on my list LOL

Mike
 
enzo said:
the obvious answer to this question for me lies within one's position play.
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Actually, that's not so obvious. The shot mentioned in the original post, I was exactly where I wanted to be, with a shot in the side that I will make 98% of the time. I missed not because of poor position, but rather the circumstance, and what the shot meant to the match. In fact, it seems when I miss such a shot, it is usually a very easy shot....much to my dismay.
 
poolhustler said:
You should have the same "pre shot" routine on EVERY shot !!!
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I agree, and I try to do just that. Unfortunately, it's not the pre shot routine that's the problem.....it's the actual shot. I know what you're trying to say about not changing anything just because it is an important shot.
But you can't trick your mind into believing that the shot is not important. Your mind knows the difference between a thin cut on the nine to win the first game in a race to 7...and the same thin cut when the score is 6-6. So the problem becomes how to train your body and mind so that you stroke is not affected. Other posters suggested playing position on an imaginary 10 ball. This actually may help take the focus off making the shot and allow your brain to be occupied with something else besides making a critical shot. It may work.
 
Next time you get that feeling go outside look and make sure no one
around and scream ,get off my back ,take a deep breath go back inside.
( CURED )

I have a friend who once was a road player ,played scary good, no world beater but might of been if drugs where never invented ,anyway this
guy never rattled whether he was winning or loseing.I ask him one day ,do
you ever get nervouse? His reply was when im playing someone and there
shooting im rooting for them, i play every shot right along with them,and
when they do miss im ready.I guess this was his way of not letting negitve
stuff enter the mental side of pool.I think everyone gets nervouse on the
moneyball or key ball which takes us out of our preshot routine.I think its
in your preshot routine if not you just missed. But what do i know.
 
?????????

Cure for dogging the 9rock. Don Watson (Portland Don) he used to get 18 inches behind it an straight in. If you are unable to do that. Do what I do dog the 8ball......Hope this helps................
Pinocchio
 
Dogging the 9 Ball

I have played pool for 35 years and I learned the most important lesson of all from my brother who plays basketball. He loves to have the last shot in a game to win or lose. I asked him how he can come thru the pressure and win the game. He said simply:

Focus on execution and don't worry about the outcome.

This is the key to winning anything. Don't worry about what may or may not happen!
 
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