Why do I always miss the money shot?!
- Thread starter curacao2
- Start date
I'm not the greatest player and there will be a lot better answers but when I was in that funk I looked at it as just another ball. I picked a spot on the table where I wanted to leave the cb, lined it up and acted like it was just another random ball on the table.
Last edited:
"Why do I always miss the money shot?!"
Don't look away from the movie :grin:
Oh that is not good, but was sooo out there.
Sorry.
Back on topic, stop thinking about the shot, you start thinking "I make this I win" or "better not miss or you'll lose", anything like that, your hands start moving funny, your eyes lose focus, you work against yourself. Focus on the routine of the shot, get down, aim, practice strokes, breathe, etc.. like any other shot. Best games I played I won and did not really realize the game was over. I've won sets and was so focued I did not know I won, basically "snapped into the moment" back into reality from the table focus.
Don't look away from the movie :grin:
Oh that is not good, but was sooo out there.
Sorry.
Back on topic, stop thinking about the shot, you start thinking "I make this I win" or "better not miss or you'll lose", anything like that, your hands start moving funny, your eyes lose focus, you work against yourself. Focus on the routine of the shot, get down, aim, practice strokes, breathe, etc.. like any other shot. Best games I played I won and did not really realize the game was over. I've won sets and was so focued I did not know I won, basically "snapped into the moment" back into reality from the table focus.
typically if I dog a ball, it's because I was thinking about something other than the actual mechanics involving the shot at hand. For example,
"man, that was a great out I just made..." as I drive the 9 into the rail
'whooo--hooo...break and run...' as I miscue on the 9
'ok, you're perfect on this ball, just cinch it...' as I decelerate on the downstroke and don't get a rail
"you know...I'm not lined up on this shot right" and I pull the trigger anyway and miss
or your nerves are getting the best of you, you've got the shakes, and instead of standing up, resetting, focusing; you just 2-stroke and poke
as another poster said, pick a spot on the table for your CB, treat it as another shot, and focus on the execution of that shot. develop the discipline to stand up and reset if any random thought start creeping in
"man, that was a great out I just made..." as I drive the 9 into the rail
'whooo--hooo...break and run...' as I miscue on the 9
'ok, you're perfect on this ball, just cinch it...' as I decelerate on the downstroke and don't get a rail
"you know...I'm not lined up on this shot right" and I pull the trigger anyway and miss
or your nerves are getting the best of you, you've got the shakes, and instead of standing up, resetting, focusing; you just 2-stroke and poke
as another poster said, pick a spot on the table for your CB, treat it as another shot, and focus on the execution of that shot. develop the discipline to stand up and reset if any random thought start creeping in
Two reasons:
1. You tighten up your back hand and arm on the butt of the cue, causing a jerky stroke that misses. Keep that arm relaxed, think about relaxing it before you shoot so that you are aware of it. This comes from your nerves signaling your muscles to stiffen and be ready for fight or flight.
2. You look away from the shot too soon and at the next ball or the pocket. Lock your eyes on the object ball and stay down and follow through and don't look away for anything.
And for gods sake, breathe.
It's not the easiest to cure, but you need to remember each shot exactly and take it to the practice table and shoot about 50 times.
Make it 10 to 15 times without missing and you won't dog it anymore… it's alot harder to make that shot 15 times in a row.... If you get to 13 and miss, you have to start over, no exceptions. It will force you to concentrate like never before. Thats all it is, you are loosing concentration.... Sounds simple.
Make it 10 to 15 times without missing and you won't dog it anymore… it's alot harder to make that shot 15 times in a row.... If you get to 13 and miss, you have to start over, no exceptions. It will force you to concentrate like never before. Thats all it is, you are loosing concentration.... Sounds simple.
This might upset you, but it's partially because you make statements like "Why do I always miss money shots?" Many people have been programmed to tell themselves they fail or will fail with statements like this.
Instead when you make a brilliant (or even lucky shot) tell yourself, "Yeah, that's like me" and continue on in confidence. In time you'll realize it IS like you and you DO make brilliant shots and are capable of doing so on demand. Because you are capable.
If you're really serious about becoming competitive in any sport, I would read Lanny Basham's books. He was a world champion rifle shooter and Olympian who is now a mental coach. The same mental game applies to pool as shooting a rifle, shooting an arrow out of a bow or kicking tail in a board meeting.
Watch how you talk to yourself because you're listening and programming your thoughts for tomorrow's shots.
And with anything, practice. But practice well, with the right effort in every shot, not just the game winning ones. The "money shot" is no different than the shots you take alone during one of your best runs.
Go try it, every time you put in an amazing shot, tell yourself that is your style and kind of shot and it's like you to make shots like that.
Instead when you make a brilliant (or even lucky shot) tell yourself, "Yeah, that's like me" and continue on in confidence. In time you'll realize it IS like you and you DO make brilliant shots and are capable of doing so on demand. Because you are capable.
If you're really serious about becoming competitive in any sport, I would read Lanny Basham's books. He was a world champion rifle shooter and Olympian who is now a mental coach. The same mental game applies to pool as shooting a rifle, shooting an arrow out of a bow or kicking tail in a board meeting.
Watch how you talk to yourself because you're listening and programming your thoughts for tomorrow's shots.
And with anything, practice. But practice well, with the right effort in every shot, not just the game winning ones. The "money shot" is no different than the shots you take alone during one of your best runs.
Go try it, every time you put in an amazing shot, tell yourself that is your style and kind of shot and it's like you to make shots like that.
You're probably just not good enough yet.
To win tournaments you must become tournament seasoned. Quite simply put, you need to play in a lot of tournaments.
If you have the talent, and the experience, then you will win at tournament play. :smile:
To win tournaments you must become tournament seasoned. Quite simply put, you need to play in a lot of tournaments.
If you have the talent, and the experience, then you will win at tournament play. :smile:
About the only game I play is 8 ball.
Over the years I seemed to dog the 8 more than I should, or maybe it was that I just remembered those shots more.
While it may sound extreme, this is what worked for me as far as desensitizing my feelings toward the 8.
I found and bought a set of sixteen 8 balls on eBay.
I then practiced shooting with them for a few months.
I would toss them out on the table, or sometimes rack and break them, and then shoot them all off.
I can tell you that once you start shooting nothing but 8 balls, it doesn't take long
before the 8 ball seems no harder than any other ball when you shoot normal games.
May not work for everyone, but was able to help me with my problem.
Over the years I seemed to dog the 8 more than I should, or maybe it was that I just remembered those shots more.
While it may sound extreme, this is what worked for me as far as desensitizing my feelings toward the 8.
I found and bought a set of sixteen 8 balls on eBay.
I then practiced shooting with them for a few months.
I would toss them out on the table, or sometimes rack and break them, and then shoot them all off.
I can tell you that once you start shooting nothing but 8 balls, it doesn't take long
before the 8 ball seems no harder than any other ball when you shoot normal games.
May not work for everyone, but was able to help me with my problem.
play position
A very good player told me that on the money ball he would shoot it
and play position on an imaginary ball. He said when he was learning
to play he would do what you said, run up to the money ball and dog it.
So he thought the only thing different is I'm not playing position on the
money ball so I'll start doing that. Not like anything hard but just some
easy position that he liked to shoot. That way all shots were the same.
Worked for him.
jack
A very good player told me that on the money ball he would shoot it
and play position on an imaginary ball. He said when he was learning
to play he would do what you said, run up to the money ball and dog it.
So he thought the only thing different is I'm not playing position on the
money ball so I'll start doing that. Not like anything hard but just some
easy position that he liked to shoot. That way all shots were the same.
Worked for him.
jack
Personally, I find it happens when I'm not taking it real seriously. I'd guess you are probably taking it a bit too seriously, and letting nerves get to you. Playing position, playing the cue ball to end up in a certain spot, probably would help.
People I play with in tournaments, that get to the fourth, fifth positions often miss some easy shot in those games. Like nerves have gotten to them. Seems like they are the ones that miss a 8 or 9 ball, or play poor shape during the run out and get stuck. Allowing for safeties, or run outs by opponents.
I know I struggle to win larger tournaments, but consistently get in the money in 20 people or less tournaments played in places I'm comfortable. I know part of it is letting myself believe that the other players are better than me, letting nerves get to me in other words.
People I play with in tournaments, that get to the fourth, fifth positions often miss some easy shot in those games. Like nerves have gotten to them. Seems like they are the ones that miss a 8 or 9 ball, or play poor shape during the run out and get stuck. Allowing for safeties, or run outs by opponents.
I know I struggle to win larger tournaments, but consistently get in the money in 20 people or less tournaments played in places I'm comfortable. I know part of it is letting myself believe that the other players are better than me, letting nerves get to me in other words.
Shut up, stop feelin sorry for your sorry ass and realize somebody gotta win. You got a shot and you are gonna MAKE it work
The tip that probably help me the best was from an older pool playing friend. I asked a similar question and what he told me was the following...you are probably over thinking it..rather than considering it the final shot of the game etc. play the last ball as if you had to get position for another shot. It sounded funny to me but at that time we were playing mostly nine ball. So I would simply approach the nine with the mindset that I had to play shape for another shot, play to get to the center of the table etc. I found myself thinking much less about the stress of pocketing that final ball and simply approaching like any other shot.
You said the reason in your post, because you are thinking of the money instead of the shot. I was told once that you may miss because you don't care about where the CB is going, act like you have another ball to get shape on. You will focus on the shot more.---Smitty
Ron Swanson
Banned
Why? Because your head collapses. How do you stop your head collapsing? God knows...
Don't hold your breath.