Guy Manges
Registered
Yes I have a kind with your father, I to never wanted my name used or picture taken... I seem to be over that now at my end of life... Guy
Missed the money ball. Why?
- Thread starter Mustardeer
- Start date
Mike Danner would wave his cue under the table, to "Chase the Dog Out".Or maybe dance around the table singing one time before shooting. Works for the Japanese player Oi. Maybe it will work for you too, or me.
Was money ball easy shot you discounted effort it needed?
Pool Hand Luke
Well-known member
One helpful tip I've read is to imagine one more ball on the table and play for shape after you make the money ball. This idea is also useful to avoid scratching after the money ball shot.
Heh heh, you got me.
I just remembered where I had heard a very similar dialogue.
Most players when real nervous take more time then is normal for them to stroke and shoot the money ball.
An old time player once told me that when you are choking to shoot the money ball quickly to lessen the time you are doubting your aim.
Oh by the way his nick name was One Poke.
An old time player once told me that when you are choking to shoot the money ball quickly to lessen the time you are doubting your aim.
Oh by the way his nick name was One Poke.
My solution when ever I hit this wall is to go home, throw about a dozen assorted 8 balls (I have a pretty big collection) on the table and shoot nothing but 8's for a couple hours, days whatever until I see it as just the next shot.
It doesn't help in the moment of course, but it's mandatory for me whenever I miss a couple in a game, that I go home and re-calibrate.
It doesn't help in the moment of course, but it's mandatory for me whenever I miss a couple in a game, that I go home and re-calibrate.
And hope your next match isn't 9 or 10 ball!
Not sure if it's been said.... straight pool. Practicing straight pool and getting close to my # puts huge pressure on me. It simulates the money ball in practice. Could help.
It's normal, don't feel too bad about it. Last night I missed an easy 8 ball first game in a league night, guy made the 8 on the break next rack LOL
There are many shots I am not comfortable with when I am down on them, really the only thing to do is get up off the shot, chalk up again, maybe look at the angle again, then fire it in like you usually do
Most of my "easy" misses are due to my ego or some other part of my brain yelling at me to just shoot it because it's easy and you are good enough to make it no matter what.Sometimes the internal dialog we have with ourselves at the pool table during execution of the shot gets confused amongst itself and the thought process basically gets too overwhelming and scattered to focus, all of a sudden that fly in the area is 2 feet across, the guy ordering a drink is yelling through a megaphone, your shoe is filled with glass, that thing your wife said to you about dirty socks 3 weeks ago is making you angry again as you are aiming, etc...
Believe it or not Mike was the first guy I ever played on my first road trip out of Dayton, when I was 19 years old. My first stop was in Middleton, Ohio where they had a poolroom on the main drag. I walked in with my cue and Mike asked me to play. We played 9-Ball, $1 on the 5 and $2 on the 9. I think I won something like $18 and was pleased as could be. I didn't know what awaited me in Cincinnati where I got ironed out pretty good and had to limp back home with my tail between my legs. It took me two more years before I could actually travel and win money!
Sorry to jack who is your father. Who did he record/play with. Please pm if you do not want to post.
How we soon forget all those who dog it to us. Can't even try and count the tournaments or matches given to me, not as a result of my own stellar play but, to a sweet money ball just laying there like a gift under the tree.
They get over it, so shall we when it's our turn to let out a woof over a scary shot.
They get over it, so shall we when it's our turn to let out a woof over a scary shot.
phreaticus
Well-known member
I think I have to second this - going for personal 14.1 high run numbers to be one of the most self induced pressure simulators in my own practice sessions for getting used to cinching key balls. But trying to beat the Ghost in 9/10/8b practice sets is pretty darn good also… by “good”, I really mean frustrating!
90% of high quality pool is mental, the other 90% is in the head.
I got a theory: Might be right, might be BS.
First off, what got me thinking about this: I was shooting in a midsized tournament. I had a shot on the money ball early in a set so no real pressure. The money ball was maybe sixteen or eighteen inches from the pocket, the cue ball not much further from the object ball. Every bit of the shot fit between the corner pocket and the side pocket on the opposite side of the table with room to swing my stick comfortably. Normally slap this ball in without a thought. I couldn't see the shot! Silly when the angle is just off straight in, but I needed to come off the shot. I came off the shot, twice! I finally decided hitting the ball just off center had to work, Stevie Wonder could make this damned shot. I missed.
Less than a month later I was watching an event. Money ball final game of the set, Efren missed that shot. A later match, same event and same shot but Bustamonte was the one that missed it. Maybe ten degrees off straight in or less, how the hell can you miss this shot?
I believe the reason may be partially mechanical. we all have a blind spot in our vision in each eye where the optic nerve connects to the eyeball. Our brain compensates and just like animals with their eyes way to the side of their head, we see things as complete even when it is impossible to see the complete image or object.
These slightly off angle shots might be right where our brains are creating a synthetic image. My theory and I'm sticking to it until I get a better one. At the very least I was in very good company as Efren was best in the world and Francisco top ten, maybe top five.
Interesting reading: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/ey... spot where your optic,That's your blind spot.
Hu
First off, what got me thinking about this: I was shooting in a midsized tournament. I had a shot on the money ball early in a set so no real pressure. The money ball was maybe sixteen or eighteen inches from the pocket, the cue ball not much further from the object ball. Every bit of the shot fit between the corner pocket and the side pocket on the opposite side of the table with room to swing my stick comfortably. Normally slap this ball in without a thought. I couldn't see the shot! Silly when the angle is just off straight in, but I needed to come off the shot. I came off the shot, twice! I finally decided hitting the ball just off center had to work, Stevie Wonder could make this damned shot. I missed.
Less than a month later I was watching an event. Money ball final game of the set, Efren missed that shot. A later match, same event and same shot but Bustamonte was the one that missed it. Maybe ten degrees off straight in or less, how the hell can you miss this shot?
I believe the reason may be partially mechanical. we all have a blind spot in our vision in each eye where the optic nerve connects to the eyeball. Our brain compensates and just like animals with their eyes way to the side of their head, we see things as complete even when it is impossible to see the complete image or object.
These slightly off angle shots might be right where our brains are creating a synthetic image. My theory and I'm sticking to it until I get a better one. At the very least I was in very good company as Efren was best in the world and Francisco top ten, maybe top five.
Interesting reading: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/ey... spot where your optic,That's your blind spot.
Hu
If it was the blind spot I would have missed it on the home table too.. It was nearly straight with cb on the rail. I thought he moved slightly to give it to me then I realized he wasn’t then all of a sudden the shot looked tough. He didn't shark me or if he did it doesn’t matter no excuses. CB on the rail doesn’t bother me it was all mental. People said the ball skid but I don’t believe in that. 5 years ago he played me big table 100 a set 8B last pocket for him straight 8 for me, race to 10 and I got 8 games on the wire. 8 as in eight in a race to 10. I couldn’t win it was brutal cause he barely tried he was shooting and eating at the same time and talking to his friends about something random I almost quit pool that day I thought I knew how to play back then I was winning some bar tourneys then. These days he won’t give me any weight. Is he in my head. Who knows but he’s still the favorite to beat me even. Give me a year.
You missed the cheese COZ YOURE A DOG.
A damn, dirty...DOG
That's what I usually hear.
A damn, dirty...DOG
That's what I usually hear.
Exact same thing happened to me recently gambling at straight pool, but against a real, authentic ‘PRO’ for the first time. The amount of $ wasn’t all that significant, and I wasn’t especially nervous (I didn’t really expect to win anyway, but there was just nobody else who was game). Like you said, it was as if I forgot how to play. Easy shots repeatedly just wouldn’t go in. Go figure.