What should my punishment be?

[Billy_Bob]

I was playing a league tournament last night (BCA 8-ball) and won 4 matches. I then was playing my 5th and final match, had ball-in-hand with one remaining ball on the table and the 8-ball near a corner pocket...

All I kept thinking was that if I made these two balls, I would get a perfect 50 points. (I have never done this yet.)

So I shoot in my last ball, then have an easy cut on the 8-ball. I kept saying to myself "This is it. A perfect 50". Man was I nervous! Then I go and miss on the 8-ball by undercutting it. (Expletives deleted.)

Then my opponent ran in his last ball and then the 8-ball. (We shook hands, said good match, etc.)

Looking back, I could have looked at the 8-ball cut, lined up my cue as to where to hit the ball to make the pocket, and taken more time. But I didn't.

I want to kick myself! So what should my punishment be? Make myself shoot that same shot 100 times? Any advice for shots like these under pressure?

 

[sjm]

I was playing a league tournament last night (BCA 8-ball) and won 4 matches. I then was playing my 5th and final match, had ball-in-hand with one remaining ball on the table and the 8-ball near a corner pocket...

All I kept thinking was that if I made these two balls, I would get a perfect 50 points. (I have never done this yet.)

So I shoot in my last ball, then have an easy cut on the 8-ball. I kept saying to myself "This is it. A perfect 50". Man was I nervous! Then I go and miss on the 8-ball by undercutting it. (Expletives deleted.)

Then my opponent ran in his last ball and then the 8-ball. (We shook hands, said good match, etc.)

Looking back, I could have looked at the 8-ball cut, lined up my cue as to where to hit the ball to make the pocket, and taken more time. But I didn't.

I want to kick myself! So what should my punishment be? Make myself shoot that same shot 100 times? Any advice for shots like these under pressure?

Your diagnosis is accurate. You went away from your normal pre-shot routine and it cost you. Your punishment is that you must practice for one hour, maintaining the same pre-shot routine on every shot.

 

[Williebetmore]

Do what SJM said, but also I think you should play "Jerry Briesath three ball" for 1 hour also. Throw out three balls (or four if you are a star), then make all three in rotation with cue ball in hand. The kicker is that you must have 3 totally easy shots - it doesn't count if its a tough or even slightly missable shot. If you had gotten better position on the 8 we wouldn't be having to punish you like this. There are very few 3 ball positions that are impossible to succeed with, and there are NO 2 BALL POSITIONS that aren't easy.

P.S. - If the 8-ball was totally easy then please ignore this post.

 

[Purdman]

I was playing a league tournament last night (BCA 8-ball) and won 4 matches. I then was playing my 5th and final match, had ball-in-hand with one remaining ball on the table and the 8-ball near a corner pocket...

All I kept thinking was that if I made these two balls, I would get a perfect 50 points. (I have never done this yet.)

So I shoot in my last ball, then have an easy cut on the 8-ball. I kept saying to myself "This is it. A perfect 50". Man was I nervous! Then I go and miss on the 8-ball by undercutting it. (Expletives deleted.)

Then my opponent ran in his last ball and then the 8-ball. (We shook hands, said good match, etc.)

Looking back, I could have looked at the 8-ball cut, lined up my cue as to where to hit the ball to make the pocket, and taken more time. But I didn't.

I want to kick myself! So what should my punishment be? Make myself shoot that same shot 100 times? Any advice for shots like these under pressure?

Bailiff, whack his wee wee!!!!!
Purdman

 

[breakup]

I hope this doesn’t stray from the thread too much but I took a lesson from Grady once. I don’t want to try to quote him verbatim, but he told me something to the effect “when you cut a ball, line it up and then over cut it a bit”…” I would rather miss the ball entirely than cut it fat” I still think of that all the time and it really makes a difference for me. I rarely cut a ball fat. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got from one of the greatest legends in the sport.

Thanks Grady!

 

[Railbird]

As others have already pointed out you have to stick to your pre-shot routine, repetition-repetition-repetition.
There is however one other thing I believe helps when the pressure is on, stand up and take a nice long deep breath and clear your mind of everything but pocketing that ball, seems to work for me when I really need to come with a shot, it helps you to focus your concentration.

Good Luck,
Jim

 

[piglit]

Bailiff, whack his wee wee!!!!!
Purdman

And stay away from this guy- you dirty chokin' DOG!

You see, I believe you should be made fun of. Next time, make the ball and make us all happy!!

-pigi

 

[chefjeff]

<snip>
So I shoot in my last ball, then have an easy cut on the 8-ball. I kept saying to myself "This is it. A perfect 50". <snip>QUOTE]

What did this exact shot have to do with a "perfect 50?" None more than did the rest of the shots that evening, right? It was just one of many, right?

Let me ask you, were you thinking on your other shots that "This is it. A perfect 50?" No?...there's your solution....don't ever think that thought during any shot.

You don't need to add anything, including punishment, to your shot; just include and practice an ingredient that will automatically replace a bad thought with a better one.

imho,

Jeff Livingston

 

[Williebetmore]

What did this exact shot have to do with a "perfect 50?" None more than did the rest of the shots that evening, right? It was just one of many, right?

Let me ask you, were you thinking on your other shots that "This is it. A perfect 50?" No?...there's your solution....don't ever think that thought during any shot.

I would say that Cheff Jeff sounds like a great player. I've said many times that the toughest part of the game is developing that relentless attitude towards shooting each shot with the exact same mechanics and thought process (one that is totally focused on the shot at hand with NO THOUGHT towards outcome of the shot or match). Reliance on the mechanics and pre-shot routine is a recipe for success and the way to defeat the pressure; thinking about the match/the prize/the potential embarrassment is a recipe for disaster. It sounds easy, but in practice it is only the top pro's who succeed (I must be stupid, stupid, stupid).