Why Do You Miss the Simple Shots?

[ShootingArts]

A bit of strangeness

A bit of strangeness from a few years back. I was shooting at the money ball. It was maybe a foot and a half out from the corner pocket and the cue ball was maybe six inches or so out from the side pocket. The nine was maybe a few inches to the side of straight in. Normally a shot we pocket without thought.

I got down on the shot and couldn't see the line! Got up, got down on the shot, couldn't see it. Came off the shot twice and down the third time I was thinking that the shot had to fall and I was feeling like an idiot keeping coming off of a slap in shot. Mostly because I figured my opponent who was a pretty stout shortstop would think I was playing games if I came off the gimme shot again I went on and fired, and missed! Jawed the ball.

Interestingly enough a few months later I was watching one of the big events on ESPN. In separate matches both on the money ball, I saw both Efren and Bustamonte miss almost identical shots, just slightly off straight in ducks.

The shot was truly so easy that I would have bet any of the three of us making it a hundred times out of a hundred, particularly Efren and Francisco of course! They both missed it for a lot of money, cost Bustamonte the match if I remember correctly.

I don't really have an answer. I think there are times when distances and angles are perfect to mess with our binocular vision. Might be something to do with the blind spots we all have in our vision too.

Hu

 

[Matt]

A very good player, 200 ball runner, once observed to me, maybe you really didn't want to make that shot. Silly. Why would a person not want to make a shot that he really wanted too make? It doesn't make sense, does it? But that thought resonates in my brain because I can't think of any other reason why I should miss the shots that I miss.

I've considered this as a possibility before and think it has some merit. When I am too tired or lazy to come up with a plan to deal with a tough rack, whether it's defense, breaking out balls, or getting from one ball to another, I have been known to make a half-ass attempt at making the ball knowing that if I miss my opponent will be faced with a tough out. I don't like to admit that I'm sometimes taking a shot without a definite goal in mind, but it happens...

 

[Matt]

A bit of strangeness from a few years back. I was shooting at the money ball. It was maybe a foot and a half out from the corner pocket and the cue ball was maybe six inches or so out from the side pocket. The nine was maybe a few inches to the side of straight in. Normally a shot we pocket without thought.

I got down on the shot and couldn't see the line! Got up, got down on the shot, couldn't see it. Came off the shot twice and down the third time I was thinking that the shot had to fall and I was feeling like an idiot keeping coming off of a slap in shot. Mostly because I figured my opponent who was a pretty stout shortstop would think I was playing games if I came off the gimme shot again I went on and fired, and missed! Jawed the ball.

Interestingly enough a few months later I was watching one of the big events on ESPN. In separate matches both on the money ball, I saw both Efren and Bustamonte miss almost identical shots, just slightly off straight in ducks.

The shot was truly so easy that I would have bet any of the three of us making it a hundred times out of a hundred, particularly Efren and Francisco of course! They both missed it for a lot of money, cost Bustamonte the match if I remember correctly.

I don't really have an answer. I think there are times when distances and angles are perfect to mess with our binocular vision. Might be something to do with the blind spots we all have in our vision too.

Hu

I think we've all had those moments, and the shot you described (slightly off straight in) is one that's bitten me on occasion. Shooting a ball down the long rail when the cue ball is closer to the rail than the object ball is another one that sometimes plays tricks on me, so I've learned to take a better look at those before shooting.

It also seems like these misses occur more often with a money ball, so there's usually the excitement of leaving yourself with an "easy" shot and your opponent's expectation that they are about to rack to contend with as well. I can't count the number of times I've missed "gimme" shots while my opponent was on the edge of their seat or inching towards the table to grab the rack.

 

[12squared]

Yes, I miss "easy shots"! That is what I always admired about Nick Varner, he approaches every shot the same & with the same respect no mater if it looks hard or easy.

I sometimes miss easy shots after solving a very difficult out. I make some tough shots while handling the cue ball nicely, and once solved with just 1 or 2 more "easy" shots left, I miss. I guess I wasn't finished with my victory lap in my head for doing all the hard work so I took "them" for granted.

dave

 

[dareads]

I've considered this as a possibility before and think it has some merit. When I am too tired or lazy to come up with a plan to deal with a tough rack, whether it's defense, breaking out balls, or getting from one ball to another, I have been known to make a half-ass attempt at making the ball knowing that if I miss my opponent will be faced with a tough out. I don't like to admit that I'm sometimes taking a shot without a definite goal in mind, but it happens...

I'm very guilty of this when playing an opponent that I think I should beat. I figure I'll get another shot and then the guy gets a couple fluke rolls, sloppy leaves, and I'm dead man walking.

Back on subject...I miss "easy" shots for 2 reasons typically, either I'm to worried about the leave and not focusing on the shot, or I'm not worried about the leave at all. The second one is why I think people tend to miss money balls more often. The pressure plays a roll, but also the fact that there is no next ball to set up. Our minds are so geared to make a shot, set up next shot (rinse, repeat) that if we don't have that next ball to go for, everything seems a little off.

I personally try to keep the mindset that there are no easy and no hard shots. There is only 1 point on the ball that you have to hit to make it go in the desired pocket, regardless of angle, or lack there of.

 

[C.Milian]

It's been said that most shots should look the same. I don't know who said it or how they came to that conclusion. I guess the guys that knows better are just giving their insight. How they came to that conclusion I understand takes a lot of hard work. Altho these shots are now easy to them, it doesn't mean they didn't go years wondering if they'll eventually understand it.

To my understanding, simple shots are key to measuring your progress. The other day I realized, its all crumb cakes if you understand what a simple shot is. And thats how it works. You can't just take a simple shot and try to master it. It doesn't work because it truly isn't that simple.

 

[PGHteacher]

Why Do You Miss the Simple Shots?


Not for any different reason that I miss any other shot (fortunately). The order may change for any given shot but I would put them in this order for most shots even some of the very high % shots. We all do it; look at from 02:45-03:20. Those are 2 PROFESSIONAL pool players playing for 1,000’s of dollars; how are we supposed to not do the same kind of thing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYEVXqjAyYw&list=PL2623400C31102C6C&index=3&feature=plpp_video


#1 Failed eye pattern: not looking at the smallest visible contact point before the delivery stroke, blinking, eyes shifting etc.. etc..

#2 Stroke flaws: “chicken winging”, wrist twisting, butt dropping, swizzleing, steering etc.. etc..

#3 Break in pre-shot routine: most often abbreviating it.

#4 Not 100% focus on execution phase of the shot: still have some of the analysis going on in the subconscious.

#5 Other: lack of overall concentration, outside distractions, drinking, hot women, a$$*****, loud or bad music, emotions: nervousness, anger, fear, exhilaration, etc.. etc..

 

[Pushout]

Good thought on the trying to do too much with the CB thing. Johnny, one of the things I'm learning along the way is that there are often positional extensions that will get your cue ball where you want it and allow you to do less with the cue ball. By that I mean, going another rail back and forth, or perhaps letting the CB roll further to get a shot, not on the obvious pocket but to a side pocket or even a pocket in another direction. Looking for them often makes the shot easier.

Lou Figueroa

Makes me think of using english to get to a position spot where it's possible to reach the same spot without english, thereby missing a shot that would have been easier to make without english. If that makes any sense....:smile:

 

[Pushout]

A bit of strangeness from a few years back. I was shooting at the money ball. It was maybe a foot and a half out from the corner pocket and the cue ball was maybe six inches or so out from the side pocket. The nine was maybe a few inches to the side of straight in. Normally a shot we pocket without thought.

I got down on the shot and couldn't see the line! Got up, got down on the shot, couldn't see it. Came off the shot twice and down the third time I was thinking that the shot had to fall and I was feeling like an idiot keeping coming off of a slap in shot. Mostly because I figured my opponent who was a pretty stout shortstop would think I was playing games if I came off the gimme shot again I went on and fired, and missed! Jawed the ball.
Hu

I've done this, not long ago against an AZ member in a 100 point game of Straight Pool, I missed two or three shots like that and lost the game by about a rack. No idea to this day why I missed those shots. I hadn't played anyone in some time, I know that.
Honestly, I agree with a lot of what's been said already. Too much, actually!
There are just so many variables that can go wrong and cause me to miss. That's one of the things that make the game so hard. One of the biggest things for me for, literally, years, was not being able to see center on the cue ball correctly. I now know that when it looks to me like I'm putting right english on the cue ball I'm really hitting it in the center.

 

[JuicyGirl]

I'm finally getting to the point where I'm solid on the easy shots.
Focus, aim, breathe.
Yesterday I sank 2 balls on the break and 6 more after that. Personal record. My positioning is dramatically better and I can sink more.

Credit goes to the crew on AZB:lovies: and lots of drills.

Winning!
Loren

 

[Cuaba]

I usually miss easy shots when I'm trying to do too much with the cueball in an effort to make the next shot easy.

 

[lfigueroa]

Most of the time it's a matter of not doing all the things that we do to make the other (less easy) shots. It's why PSR is so important. We half-a$$ it on the easy ones, mayber we're not lined up exactly right or we pull the trigger too soon (one stroke it), whatever...usually we get away with it, but not always...it's different so we miss.

I also like the "don't deserve to win" comment someone made earlier...ever get away with some uncalled slop or fouling on a ball or something, then miss the very next easy shot? You basically tell yourself you got away with something and therefore don't deserve to win, so you don't. It's pool Karma.

WP, the longer I play pool the more nuance and importance I find in refining the right PSR.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Your so right, there are two parts to every shot, make/shape.

That goes back to preshot routine, even the easiest looking shots one still has to implement all the PSR mannerisms. By doing the Same thing over and over again its easier to figure out your error. Often its just your approach. It's much easier to correct a flaw in someones game when they do it the same way wrong every time.

ID, I think especially at 1pocket and 14.1, the path of the CB is so important, and your options so much more limited, that this becomes a big deal.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

I think most shots should be easy, and some are hard. I don't play this way, but observation tells me that's how it is for some people.

Some dudes do make it look effortless.

Lou Figueroa
not one of them

 

[lfigueroa]

This really strikes a chord with me, Lou. One thing I've noticed in my own (admittedly low-level) game is that I always get perfect shape on the next ball when I miss something really easy.

I've obviously taken the shot for granted, and focused only on cueball position.

Chaz, I live that. The CB always goes perfect when the ball bobbles

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

We joke about it, but I think there's a lot of truth in it. For example, if I'm "in the zone" I can keep it up much longer when I'm practicing alone than when I'm playing against somebody. You might think that's because of the distraction of competition, but I've noticed that I actually feel guilty about beating somebody when I'm playing "over my head" - like it's an artificial advantage or something.

pj
chgo

oh yeah, no doubt. It goes to some very deep and scary things in our psyche.

Lou Figueroa
Mom...

 

[lfigueroa]

A bit of strangeness from a few years back. I was shooting at the money ball. It was maybe a foot and a half out from the corner pocket and the cue ball was maybe six inches or so out from the side pocket. The nine was maybe a few inches to the side of straight in. Normally a shot we pocket without thought.

I got down on the shot and couldn't see the line! Got up, got down on the shot, couldn't see it. Came off the shot twice and down the third time I was thinking that the shot had to fall and I was feeling like an idiot keeping coming off of a slap in shot. Mostly because I figured my opponent who was a pretty stout shortstop would think I was playing games if I came off the gimme shot again I went on and fired, and missed! Jawed the ball.

Interestingly enough a few months later I was watching one of the big events on ESPN. In separate matches both on the money ball, I saw both Efren and Bustamonte miss almost identical shots, just slightly off straight in ducks.

The shot was truly so easy that I would have bet any of the three of us making it a hundred times out of a hundred, particularly Efren and Francisco of course! They both missed it for a lot of money, cost Bustamonte the match if I remember correctly.

I don't really have an answer. I think there are times when distances and angles are perfect to mess with our binocular vision. Might be something to do with the blind spots we all have in our vision too.

Hu

Hu, I don't know how many times that has happen to me -- can't see the line. You get up and down and it's just not there. I don't know what the answer to that is other than set up the shot and practice and get more comfortable with it.

Lou Figueroa
go away, Geno

 

[lfigueroa]

I've considered this as a possibility before and think it has some merit. When I am too tired or lazy to come up with a plan to deal with a tough rack, whether it's defense, breaking out balls, or getting from one ball to another, I have been known to make a half-ass attempt at making the ball knowing that if I miss my opponent will be faced with a tough out. I don't like to admit that I'm sometimes taking a shot without a definite goal in mind, but it happens...

We all do this. Shoot and worry about the outcome later.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Yes, I miss "easy shots"! That is what I always admired about Nick Varner, he approaches every shot the same & with the same respect no mater if it looks hard or easy.

I sometimes miss easy shots after solving a very difficult out. I make some tough shots while handling the cue ball nicely, and once solved with just 1 or 2 more "easy" shots left, I miss. I guess I wasn't finished with my victory lap in my head for doing all the hard work so I took "them" for granted.

dave

lol.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

It's been said that most shots should look the same. I don't know who said it or how they came to that conclusion. I guess the guys that knows better are just giving their insight. How they came to that conclusion I understand takes a lot of hard work. Altho these shots are now easy to them, it doesn't mean they didn't go years wondering if they'll eventually understand it.

To my understanding, simple shots are key to measuring your progress. The other day I realized, its all crumb cakes if you understand what a simple shot is. And thats how it works. You can't just take a simple shot and try to master it. It doesn't work because it truly isn't that simple.

I've read this too -- regardless of the angle, the shot is basically the same.

Doesn't make it any easier, but it is true

Lou Figueroa