Ever Overthink a Shot and Miss?

Not usually an over thinker but I’ve done something far more stooopider.
Playing 9 ball I have ball in hand on the 1.
There was a small window from the 2-3.
After the 2 it was shooting ducks in a pond.
If I get bad on the 2 I can duck.
I’m looking to runout.

Well after I went brain dead I placed the cue ball exactly where I need for the 2 ball.
I shoot the 2 and lay right on the 3.
Now I’m good to go.

My opponent calls foul and I’m looking at him like wtf is this guy trying to pull on me.
He looks and says you forgot to shoot the 1 ball.
 
Yup, I have ran countless racks with some revisions required!(grin) However, when I make the revision it is once again to a planned safety or runout. When I played my best pool I very rarely stumbled into a safety after a shot. I often played a safety several shots before I had to because it led to a much stronger safety.

While I will make a ball or three to set up a monster safety I think the philosophy behind my play and your "don't make a ball if you can't make them all is basically the same. If I can't make the money ball I try to leave the opponent the nastiest runout possible! If that means safety on my first shot or later, whatever works.

Funny how out of hundreds of thousands, even millions of shots, there are a few that haunt us! That would be a fun thread. Name the one shot or up to three that have haunted you for years.

Hu
Fire away!!!👊🏻
 
OK, this post is probably going to run a little long or a lot long, three more or less separate things:

As Greg and others have mentioned. Think standing. If you can't quit thinking or are uncomfortable with the shot, stand up! If your mind absolutely will not quieten in the down position, think one word related to the shot or a very short phrase. My mantra is "smooth" whether I am shooting pool or five steel plates in just over two seconds. I use it for almost any activity.

On to my pet peeve, keep thinking three shots ahead! Nope, don't do it. That means that you have to think after every shot and I am trying to make the entire inning one continuous action. It can't be if I have to stand up and add a ball after every shot. I plan my path to a safety or past the money ball every inning. Notice I said past the money ball. I know where the cue ball is going on the money ball shot too and I planned it at the beginning of the inning. Call that information a freebie, one more thing left to talk about.

Information. Information is a valuable commodity. Watch the other player carefully for any information large or small they might give away. Try to give away as little as possible yourself. You know where you want the cue ball after the shot, locking your eyes there a second or two can drive that home if you feel the need. Point the cue at that spot and you just announced the spot to the world and everyone including your opponent can evaluate how well you are shooting. We can give out false tells and I sometimes did, especially indicating shots I didn't like. I was like Br'er Rabbit, "please don't throw me in that briar patch!" Usually wasted effort, a lot of other things to focus on.

A piece of candy to close with, most players shoot too hard most of the time! As the Eagles sang, take it easy!

Hu
I hope you realize how much you gave away for free right there. 😆I can hear guys crying that paid a helluva lot of money for what you typed.😭
 
I hope you realize how much you gave away for free right there. 😆I can hear guys crying that paid a helluva lot of money for what you typed.😭

No worries. The ones that need the advice will ignore it. Those that value it will just nod their head, they have been knowing these things for years.

A stranger came to town one fine day. Didn't speak to folks around him, didn't have too much to say. Wooops, a momentary possession by Marty Robbins! It was actually three young men. A good sized tournament that weekend so that wasn't too surprising. What was surprising was that they played with an old man's skills and knowledge. These young men had a lot of training, years, not a few days or weeks. The young men's bodies and nerves along with the old man's knowledge took a bucket full of money with them when they left.

All the talk in other threads about players of today and yesteryear, the big difference is that knowledge is laying around for the taking. I bought Joe VIllalpando's first two DVD's and alternated between being amazed and a little mad. $69.95 and three months work would put someone where it took me five years to get! still one of the best buys on the planet if you swing a cue.

Hu
 
No worries. The ones that need the advice will ignore it. Those that value it will just nod their head, they have been knowing these things for years.

A stranger came to town one fine day. Didn't speak to folks around him, didn't have too much to say. Wooops, a momentary possession by Marty Robbins! It was actually three young men. A good sized tournament that weekend so that wasn't too surprising. What was surprising was that they played with an old man's skills and knowledge. These young men had a lot of training, years, not a few days or weeks. The young men's bodies and nerves along with the old man's knowledge took a bucket full of money with them when they left.

All the talk in other threads about players of today and yesteryear, the big difference is that knowledge is laying around for the taking. I bought Joe VIllalpando's first two DVD's and alternated between being amazed and a little mad. $69.95 and three months work would put someone where it took me five years to get! still one of the best buys on the planet if you swing a cue.

Hu
Its all out there, if you look for it. I wonder where we might have been had access to that knowledge been readily available??
Then again, I know for a fact that even tho I paid dearly for some of it, I had a helluva good time getting the rest!!
 
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