Pressure. It rears its ugly dome in various ways. I've played like Buddy for nothing but when the heat is really on all kinds of stuff goes wonky. Maintaining one's pace/rhythm is critical. Its REALLY easy to speed up under the gun causing all kinds of stoke/alignment errors.
Which Variable Is the Cause of Most Missed Shots
- Thread starter ChrisinNC
- Start date
i think it was buddy that said
"if you think the pockets are too big........RAISE THE BET !!!!!!!"
Movement during the shot. Almost every time the above 3 things seem to happen , there was unwanted movement.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Allow me to explain. There are two types of "follow through": physical and mental.
Most beginners have issues with the physical aspects of delivering a complete, fluid stroke from the cue's tip to and through the cue ball. Not staying down on the shot/jumping up is a perfect example. Understanding and applying solid body mechanics has long been widely accepted as an essential aspect of most sports.
I think that most players who have developed to any degree have become aware of and have corrected most problems with physical follow through.
Many advanced players never accepted the existence of, much less worked on, any mental aspect of their game. The problem with the mental aspect, was that many considered it too "touchy feely", or in today's argot, "woke". It was easy to tell a fellow player "you are jumping up" but "we need to discuss the mind/body connection aspect of your game" was a bit much more difficult. In our lifetime, however, a growing awareness, even acceptance, of the mental aspects of pool, as well as many other sports has taken hold. Volumes and volumes have been written and read, but I am not certain that it has ever become a popular topic of discussion around the pool hall. But once more, I have digressed . . .
Mental follow through is the developed discipline of causing one's conscious, and to the degree possible, if any, unconscious thought processes to remain with the table until the balls stop moving. We all go through a great deal of thinking in analyzing and getting down on a shot, but at some point that intense focus begins to dim and other thought begins to creep in -- "did I set the alarm" or "look at this girl". My belief is that the more we can keep extraneous thought from intervening during the actual instants of shot making, the better we will play.
I realize the above is very thin. The mind and how it functions is not my forte. I am going to go talk to Mrs. BB and get her help. In the meantime, if any of you "higher plane" cats out that can help, it would be greatly appreciated.
This isn't on your list so please forgive me, but Loss of Focus.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
That's the word I was looking for. Thank you. Aging is a bummer.
There's actually no contest, shots are most often missed due to lack of acceleration, or even deceleration through the CB. Now, you can argue the cause of lack of acceleration through the ball: missalignment, head movement, pulling up, turning in your wrist, poor mechanics.
It doesn't really matter. To fix the majority of misses, figure out how best for you to ensure acceleration through the CB.
Jaden
It doesn't really matter. To fix the majority of misses, figure out how best for you to ensure acceleration through the CB.
Jaden
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
I'd play "lights out".
Yeah, for me it is definitely a breakdown in stroke mechanics. I’m amazed at how well I can execute a shot when I stay down, follow through, etc., etc. but in the heat of the moment I can tend to lose focus on the mechanics and execution. And that’s when things go awry for me.
I do have nights where I have trouble seeing the line of the shot, that is different, but it’s certainly less common than breakdown of mechanics for me…I think…
I do have nights where I have trouble seeing the line of the shot, that is different, but it’s certainly less common than breakdown of mechanics for me…I think…
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Remember, you asked for it!
I've been working on this, and it has helped me a lot. This basically becomes part of your PSR. It's basically a transition from thinking mode to performing mode.You have to have some trigger to go into "shooter mode." Plan while up, I don't care how you do it, be it just looking at things, performing calculus with diamonds, thinking about a pink hippo... whatever. At some point you must make a conscious decision on what shot to perform. Figure percentages, do whatever you need to do. Make the best decision and convince yourself this is the best option. Sometimes it's hard and you have to practice a good BS meter on yourself. Choose one option, preferable the best option.
Once you've reached the decision and not before, do whatever you need to do to get into shooter/performance mode. Now is the time for your trigger. You must go from an analyzing egghead into stone cold shooter mode. Bang the chalk on the table, snap your fingers, feel the wind on your face... whatever. I prefer breathing in fully to extend the diaphragm and then breathing out fully. It releases tension in your body/muscles/makes you steadier. Once I breath out, it's go time... into shooter mode. It's greatly simplifying things but think of it as a light switch in your head.
Now when in shooter mode you can't worry about things, it's all about performing the shot you chose to preform. Don't worry about the shooter's feelings, he's there to perform and shoot whatever you told "him." Be a robot that follows the instructions you just decided on. There is no room for doubt, do what you instructed the "shooter" to do.
Now if while in shooter mode your mind isn't clear, have a bad feeling, etc. get back up, go into egghead mode, re-evaluate the situation, make up your mind, be if for better or worse, throw some chalk on, do your "trigger" then shoot the shot in shooter mode. Basically you must be fully committed to shooter mode/execution phase. Feel the shot, feel the cloth, feel the air currents or whatever. You're wanting extended body awareness so you can perform the sweetest stroke ever. Feeling while in shooter mode is ok, but thinking and being scared of an outcome is not. It's like if you think "don't scratch" you are more likely to scratch. It can be tough but while in shooter mode shut your head and inner dialog up. At most you could be thinking "pure smooth stroke" but you even have to be careful you don't get carried away with this type of thing.
And stay down on the damn shot and watch what happens. You can learn a lot while watching the balls with a clear mind. It allows you to readily adapt to table conditions, ball cleanliness, whatever. If you don't observe you're shooting in the dark.
I imagine for some this seems overly simple, but it can be a real struggle that takes dedication to achieve. Think back to your last dumb mistake... likely your head wasn't quiet and in "shooter mode" when the mistake occurred. You were at best undecided or maybe even worried about an outcome. And remember, mistakes happen, you gotta let that stuff go. I mean try to quickly understand what happened but don't dwell on it or beat yourself up. That's just sharking yourself and this game is hard enough without mental attacks on yourself.
Another way to put it, you know in cartoons where the little angel and devil are on a guy's shoulder? Don't listen to either of them while in shooter mode. Let them fight it out while in the planning phase and don't believe any BS you hear that doesn't match reality. We're great at self sabotage and thinking while performing a shot is one great way to sabotage your game.
Good luck and remember to wash behind your ears.
Good advice.Remember, you asked for it!
You have to have some trigger to go into "shooter mode." Plan while up, I don't care how you do it, be it just looking at things, performing calculus with diamonds, thinking about a pink hippo... whatever. At some point you must make a conscious decision on what shot to perform. Figure percentages, do whatever you need to do. Make the best decision and convince yourself this is the best option. Sometimes it's hard and you have to practice a good BS meter on yourself. Choose one option, preferable the best option.
Once you've reached the decision and not before, do whatever you need to do to get into shooter/performance mode. Now is the time for your trigger. You must go from an analyzing egghead into stone cold shooter mode. Bang the chalk on the table, snap your fingers, feel the wind on your face... whatever. I prefer breathing in fully to extend the diaphragm and then breathing out fully. It releases tension in your body/muscles/makes you steadier. Once I breath out, it's go time... into shooter mode. It's greatly simplifying things but think of it as a light switch in your head.
Now when in shooter mode you can't worry about things, it's all about performing the shot you chose to preform. Don't worry about the shooter's feelings, he's there to perform and shoot whatever you told "him." Be a robot that follows the instructions you just decided on. There is no room for doubt, do what you instructed the "shooter" to do.
Now if while in shooter mode your mind isn't clear, have a bad feeling, etc. get back up, go into egghead mode, re-evaluate the situation, make up your mind, be if for better or worse, throw some chalk on, do your "trigger" then shoot the shot in shooter mode. Basically you must be fully committed to shooter mode/execution phase. Feel the shot, feel the cloth, feel the air currents or whatever. You're wanting extended body awareness so you can perform the sweetest stroke ever. Feeling while in shooter mode is ok, but thinking and being scared of an outcome is not. It's like if you think "don't scratch" you are more likely to scratch. It can be tough but while in shooter mode shut your head and inner dialog up. At most you could be thinking "pure smooth stroke" but you even have to be careful you don't get carried away with this type of thing.
And stay down on the damn shot and watch what happens. You can learn a lot while watching the balls with a clear mind. It allows you to readily adapt to table conditions, ball cleanliness, whatever. If you don't observe you're shooting in the dark.
I imagine for some this seems overly simple, but it can be a real struggle that takes dedication to achieve. Think back to your last dumb mistake... likely your head wasn't quiet and in "shooter mode" when the mistake occurred. You were at best undecided or maybe even worried about an outcome. And remember, mistakes happen, you gotta let that stuff go. I mean try to quickly understand what happened but don't dwell on it or beat yourself up. That's just sharking yourself and this game is hard enough without mental attacks on yourself.
Another way to put it, you know in cartoons where the little angel and devil are on a guy's shoulder? Don't listen to either of them while in shooter mode. Let them fight it out while in the planning phase and don't believe any BS you hear that doesn't match reality. We're great at self sabotage and thinking while performing a shot is one great way to sabotage your game.
Good luck and remember to wash behind your ears.
- chalk up: think, decide
- chalk down: shut up, do it
pj
chgo
Years ago, before jump cues, break cues, gloves, ball return tables, pool leagues, no smoking, juke boxes and ladies night, I was told to staay down on a shot until the cue ball stopped rolling.
Awful lot of words to basically not say anything. I got thru a couple a sentences before my eyes glazed over.Remember, you asked for it!
You have to have some trigger to go into "shooter mode." Plan while up, I don't care how you do it, be it just looking at things, performing calculus with diamonds, thinking about a pink hippo... whatever. At some point you must make a conscious decision on what shot to perform. Figure percentages, do whatever you need to do. Make the best decision and convince yourself this is the best option. Sometimes it's hard and you have to practice a good BS meter on yourself. Choose one option, preferable the best option.
Once you've reached the decision and not before, do whatever you need to do to get into shooter/performance mode. Now is the time for your trigger. You must go from an analyzing egghead into stone cold shooter mode. Bang the chalk on the table, snap your fingers, feel the wind on your face... whatever. I prefer breathing in fully to extend the diaphragm and then breathing out fully. It releases tension in your body/muscles/makes you steadier. Once I breath out, it's go time... into shooter mode. It's greatly simplifying things but think of it as a light switch in your head.
Now when in shooter mode you can't worry about things, it's all about performing the shot you chose to preform. Don't worry about the shooter's feelings, he's there to perform and shoot whatever you told "him." Be a robot that follows the instructions you just decided on. There is no room for doubt, do what you instructed the "shooter" to do.
Now if while in shooter mode your mind isn't clear, have a bad feeling, etc. get back up, go into egghead mode, re-evaluate the situation, make up your mind, be if for better or worse, throw some chalk on, do your "trigger" then shoot the shot in shooter mode. Basically you must be fully committed to shooter mode/execution phase. Feel the shot, feel the cloth, feel the air currents or whatever. You're wanting extended body awareness so you can perform the sweetest stroke ever. Feeling while in shooter mode is ok, but thinking and being scared of an outcome is not. It's like if you think "don't scratch" you are more likely to scratch. It can be tough but while in shooter mode shut your head and inner dialog up. At most you could be thinking "pure smooth stroke" but you even have to be careful you don't get carried away with this type of thing.
And stay down on the damn shot and watch what happens. You can learn a lot while watching the balls with a clear mind. It allows you to readily adapt to table conditions, ball cleanliness, whatever. If you don't observe you're shooting in the dark.
I imagine for some this seems overly simple, but it can be a real struggle that takes dedication to achieve. Think back to your last dumb mistake... likely your head wasn't quiet and in "shooter mode" when the mistake occurred. You were at best undecided or maybe even worried about an outcome. And remember, mistakes happen, you gotta let that stuff go. I mean try to quickly understand what happened but don't dwell on it or beat yourself up. That's just sharking yourself and this game is hard enough without mental attacks on yourself.
Another way to put it, you know in cartoons where the little angel and devil are on a guy's shoulder? Don't listen to either of them while in shooter mode. Let them fight it out while in the planning phase and don't believe any BS you hear that doesn't match reality. We're great at self sabotage and thinking while performing a shot is one great way to sabotage your game.
Good luck and remember to wash behind your ears.
Oikawa
Well-known member
How is this not saying anything? It's fine if you can't be bothered to read it all but his points are clear and the text is well written. Sure, could be re-phrased into a slightly shorter post, but overall good advice.
TeddyKGB
Active member
depending on the situation, its definitely one of the 3 you listed for myself more so than stroke innaccuracies.
Bottom line is it takes a lot of table time with the same cue/shaft to learn the deflection and throw characteristics, especially on longer shots and tight pockets. But, its necessary. No need in playing center ball and making the shot if youre not going to have position on the next shot unless you have a really solid safety game. Safetys and bank shots can and will bail you out of sub par position play.
Bottom line is it takes a lot of table time with the same cue/shaft to learn the deflection and throw characteristics, especially on longer shots and tight pockets. But, its necessary. No need in playing center ball and making the shot if youre not going to have position on the next shot unless you have a really solid safety game. Safetys and bank shots can and will bail you out of sub par position play.