I know what you mean, but you can change it!
Inzombiac said:
I don't know what it is... I practice for hours on end. Ball after ball, set up after set up. I can run every single ball flawlessly but I have yet to run an entire rack in 8-ball. Even when I'm only playing against myself, I get to the 8, choke, miss, and then demoralized I end up missing way more times than is necessary until either the other person wins, or I win by the skin of my teeth, giving up more points than I really should have. Then I'm so pissed off I can't even think.
I think its because subconsciously I'm scared of totally dominating a match. I get so nervous over that last ball that symbolizes perfection and then I never make it.
Does anyone ever get this way? Anyone know how to kill that nervous feeling, so I can step my game up what is necessary to win?
Hi Inzombiac,
God, do I know what you mean! I struggled with making the game ball for years in both eight and nine ball. I finally got over it, and from my experience I realized that my problem had to do with not only the mental side of pocketing the game ball, but also with my position and pattern play. The truth is that any player, regardless of their skill level, would rather shoot a hanger than a missable shot for the cheese or the trophy. If you plan and execute your runouts properly, you will have many more situations in which the shot on the money ball is such that it is almost impossible to miss.
On the mental side, you must repeat to yourself, both in the chair and in your time away from the pool hall, that you deserve to win. Practice breathing exercises, such as those desribed in Bob Henning's The Pro Book, to keep your breathing and heart rate regular and to promote relaxed concentration. You should also remember that the eight ball doesn't know that it's the game ball. It's just another shot. Play position when you're playing the eight ball just like any other shot, except that you can cinch it and not have to worry about doing anything special with the cue ball.
A great tip that I picked up from Babe Cranfield's book is to establish a good pre-shot routine and to make sure that you can feel the weight of your cue on your fingers before you shoot. If your hand wrist and arm aren't relaxed enough for the cue to hang naturally on your fingers, you're not ready to shoot the shot. By focusing on your regular routine, you take your mind off the significance of the shot and you focus it on what's important--executing the shot.
Finally, develop your competitive nerve by competing. Play in as many tournaments as you can, or if it falls within your code, compete in money matches at a level you can comfortably afford. In time, you will relish the shots at the game ball.
Good luck, and remember to try without trying.
I can't go ask the guy at the front desk for 15 9 balls...
