Why do you miss when you miss?

chefjeff said:
I think that most misses come from doing something that you should NOT be doing, as opposed to leaving out something you shold be doing. When you miss, write down the reason immediately. Usually, you'll analyze this and see that it is something you should NOT have done, vs something you should have done. Then simply take out what NOT to do.

This is removing the negatives first, as opposed to adding more positives. That is, clean out the closet before hanging more coats in it.

Jeff Livingston
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I don't know Jeff. I think maybe you need to take it a step farther than that. The thing that you should not be doing is likely to be a result of leaving out something that you should be doing. Even if you don't think this is likely, you would almost have to think it could be.

I don't think you can make it a blanket statement like that.
 
playing pool is like riding a bike...easy to do if you don't over think about it....let the natural talent come out
 
CaptainJR said:
I don't know Jeff. I think maybe you need to take it a step farther than that. The thing that you should not be doing is likely to be a result of leaving out something that you should be doing. Even if you don't think this is likely, you would almost have to think it could be.

I don't think you can make it a blanket statement like that.
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I agree, Capt. My point was supposed to be that the FIRST thing to do is clean up the shouldn'ts and THEN add the shoulds. It seems beginners want to know what to do, instead of wanting to know what not to do.

When one removes negatives first, then the positives fill the void almost automatically. If one tries to add positives first, there's no room in the shot for them, so to speak.

Jeff Livingston
 
do you ever ...

Not very often, but every once n awhile, I will get down on a shot, and a thought goes through my mind like one of the signs that flash across. Its usually says, 'you are going to miss this', and usually I do. Other times, I may get down on a shot, and a thought goes zipping through my mind, 'you have a tendency to undercut this shot', and then I will try overcompensate a little so I will not undercut it, and it usually helps me make it. Like I said, it is pretty rare, but it is pretty disturbing when it happens.

I am not consciously thinking it, it just pops in my mind by itself.

Does this ever happen to you? And it is not predictable to when it happens,
it just happens at the damnest times. I am used to pressure, and have shot
quite a bit of bigger money, so that is not the problem. It is like something just
comes out of the blue ...
 
a lot of my misses are caused by not hitting the cueball with the english I had in mind and not practicing enough.
 
drivermaker said:
And I often ask myself....why try? I need a vacation.........
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i'm with you.................i think i'm going to make a few people happy and stop posting, or at least limit my posting for a while. :p

VAP
 
I miss some shots because they're inherently difficult and I don't have the skill to make them every time. I miss some easy shots because I get wrapped up in a secondary aspect of the shot--like using the cb to break up a cluster--and just neglect to take the small amount of trouble necessary to pocket the ob.

AS
 
I want to thank all the posters who have made positive, constructive contributions to this thread. Once again, there are a few naysayers who have nothing constructive to contribute. For all of them, I say- We can't be perfect. People will always miss shots. And I'm not trying to be overly analytical here with this thread. But when we miss a shot, we miss for a reason. Sometimes due to flaws in our stroke, sometimes due to a mental mistake, sometimes because the shot just required too much precision. If it's something that is easily corrected (like playing too fast, for example) and can get us a little closer to perfection, then why wouldn't we try to correct it? Should we just accept how we play currently and not attempt to improve? Why post on this board? Hell, why practice? Just accept how you play and don't worry about how to get better. Do you post on this board because you have a passion for pool or because you just like to be rude? Agree. Disagree. Whatever. I don't care what anyone's opinion is if they act like an adult and express it maturely.
 
JLW said:
I want to thank all the posters who have made positive, constructive contributions to this thread. Once again, there are a few naysayers who have nothing constructive to contribute. For all of them, I say- We can't be perfect. People will always miss shots. And I'm not trying to be overly analytical here with this thread. But when we miss a shot, we miss for a reason. Sometimes due to flaws in our stroke, sometimes due to a mental mistake, sometimes because the shot just required too much precision. If it's something that is easily corrected (like playing too fast, for example) and can get us a little closer to perfection, then why wouldn't we try to correct it? Should we just accept how we play currently and not attempt to improve? Why post on this board? Hell, why practice? Just accept how you play and don't worry about how to get better. Do you post on this board because you have a passion for pool or because you just like to be rude? Agree. Disagree. Whatever. I don't care what anyone's opinion is if they act like an adult and express it maturely.
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OK daddy....(now walking to my room with my head down and my hands clasped behing my back) (And I say it once again...when I miss, I miss just because I miss...doesn't need to be thought out and analyzed any further!)
 
Blackjack said:
Because we are human.
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With all due respect David, I would expect a more elaborate reply from you. I know the question has been asked before and he could have done some research to find his answer, but don't (most) all people needed to be treated the same. You are right, we miss because we are human, but that is very vague.

Once again I do respect you David and I appreciate your input on this forum and all you are doing (trying to do) for pool. :D I just think you could have been more elaborate.
 
sizl said:
With all due respect David, I would expect a more elaborate reply from you. I know the question has been asked before and he could have done some research to find his answer, but don't (most) all people needed to be treated the same. You are right, we miss because we are human, but that is very vague.

Once again I do respect you David and I appreciate your input on this forum and all you are doing (trying to do) for pool. :D I just think you could have been more elaborate.
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Ask anyone that knows me personally, that has always been my standard answer. Its a fact of life. Sometimes you're going to miss. Watch game 1 of the 2004 US Open Final between Gabe Owen and Thorsten Hohmann. Thorsten missed a straight in 18" inch shot on the 9 ball. No explanation for it... it just happens sometimes. If you can figure out how to prevent it from ever happening again then you will make a lot of money.
 
I am a very good player, but it's hard to analyze why I miss when I do it dozens of time on any given day.

In every match you have the same amount of turns as your opponent. It's what you do during your turn that determines if you win or lose.
 
The Real World Of Pool

JLW said:
Let me start off this thread by clarifying that I'm talking primarily about intermediate and above level players here. I'm not talking about people who are still learning how to hold a cue and how to move their arm when they shoot. Obviously, they miss most of their shots because their technique is s&^t. (NO) I'm talking about people who have reasonably good strokes and can run a rack here and there.

There has been a great deal of interesting discussion on this board lately about aiming. Lots of talk about different methods of aiming and the pros and cons of each method. (I COULD NOT FIND ANY) It got me to thinking. The goal of working on aim is to improve your shotmaking ability. And so much of making shots seems to be external; you have to have (good body posture NO) and alignment, (NO) have a proper grip, (NO) have a straight stroke, (NO) be balanced over the ball, (NO) utilize effective bridges, (NO) and on and on. (NO) But, IMO, when you miss, the cause is very often internal. (NO)Sure, poor mechanics can cause misses. (NO) But in intermediate and above (players, I think other elements are very often responsible. Here are a few I came up with:

Lack of focus (NO) often due to not establishing and utilizing an effective pre-shot routine (NO) when a player just doesn't have their head in the game.(NO)

Rushing the shot (NO) letting yourself be taken out of your game (NO) Often due to a lack of confidence and a desire to "hurry and get the shot over with before you miss it. (NO)

Indecision (NO) not deciding exactly what you want to do at the table before you shoot.

Poorly played patterns and position- results in sometimes leaving yourself extremely difficult shots that you must attempt in order to keep your run alive. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEMPT THEM< THAT"S WHAT SAFETIES ARE FOR.

Not playing the equipment- for example, trying to use lots of side spin on a (Snooker) WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POOL HERE)

These are just a few off the top of my head. But I think you get the idea. It seems to me that one of the things that sets pros and amateurs apart is the fact that pros have mastered the internal game as well as the external game. Agree? Disagree? I would really like to know what others think. Why do we miss?
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You have no clue how top pros aim any shot on the table, be it caroms, banking 1234 rails, single, double, triple cross corner banks, single, double, triple cross side banks. Their particular aiming system does it all for theim. It is a no-brainer. A walk in the park. Duck soup. Intermediate recreational players can use the same system. As for body mechanics, it is a good deal for instructors to make more money by telling the student that he needs to correct the students stance, head position, how he holds the cue and other drivel. A good deal of the best players in the world have terrible traits. For instance, Nick Varner has the worst stroke in pool. He has what is known as a banana stroke. When he strokes the cue backward, he pulls the cue away from his right side. Then, on the forward stroke he pushes the cue butt back to his right side. The cue describes an arc in the shape of a banana. would you like to adopt his style? Hell no. That little devil rarely misses any shot. He has no straight stroke. Never had. Never will. Would you trade your game for his?. You bet your sweet bippy! Keith McCready has a huge side stroke. Would you like to imitate his stroke? Not on your sweet bippy! But Keith does just fine, and just like Varner, youl would love to have Keith's game. They both know THE REAL WAY to make those balls disappear.

Wake up kiddies. High time to graduate from Kindergarten.
 
sonia said:
You have no clue how top pros aim any shot on the table, be it caroms, banking 1234 rails, single, double, triple cross corner banks, single, double, triple cross side banks. Their particular aiming system does it all for theim. It is a no-brainer. A walk in the park. Duck soup. Intermediate recreational players can use the same system. As for body mechanics, it is a good deal for instructors to make more money by telling the student that he needs to correct the students stance, head position, how he holds the cue and other drivel. A good deal of the best players in the world have terrible traits. For instance, Nick Varner has the worst stroke in pool. He has what is known as a banana stroke. When he strokes the cue backward, he pulls the cue away from his right side. Then, on the forward stroke he pushes the cue butt back to his right side. The cue describes an arc in the shape of a banana. would you like to adopt his style? Hell no. That little devil rarely misses any shot. He has no straight stroke. Never had. Never will. Would you trade your game for his?. You bet your sweet bippy! Keith McCready has a huge side stroke. Would you like to imitate his stroke? Not on your sweet bippy! But Keith does just fine, and just like Varner, youl would love to have Keith's game. They both know THE REAL WAY to make those balls disappear.

Wake up kiddies. High time to graduate from Kindergarten.
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.......yawn.....
 
drivermaker said:
OK daddy....(now walking to my room with my head down and my hands clasped behing my back) (And I say it once again...when I miss, I miss just because I miss...doesn't need to be thought out and analyzed any further!)
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Who said I was talking about you? By the way, how are things going out on the tour?
 
It still comes down to "Mental Focus".

If you don't have the confidence, you won't win. Mental focus breads confidence.

If you loose, chalk it up as a learning experience, when you win chalk it up as a learning experience.

Each loss and win (with the right mind set) helps you learn what to do, and what not to do.

Knowledge = Confidence
 
Blackjack said:
Ask anyone that knows me personally, that has always been my standard answer. Its a fact of life. Sometimes you're going to miss. Watch game 1 of the 2004 US Open Final between Gabe Owen and Thorsten Hohmann. Thorsten missed a straight in 18" inch shot on the 9 ball. No explanation for it... it just happens sometimes. If you can figure out how to prevent it from ever happening again then you will make a lot of money.
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I totally understand your angle, but is that what you would tell one of your students? If a student ask you " why do we miss"? You might say " because we are human", but after that you would elaborate. I realize that the JLW is not one of your students, but being a analytical player such as yourself I thought you would give more of a elaborate answer.

I am not saying your answer was wrong, it is right on target. BUT WHY DO WE AS HUMANS MISS?
 
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