Your opinion on preparing for the big shot...

Respect every shot !

Treat every shot the same. Like if you miss you loose. How many "easy" shots have all of us missed? If we treat every shot as though it is a game winner then we instinctively know how to prepare for that shot every one thinks is so important.

So treat every shot with respect. Very hard to do !
 
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As Bob has said, a solid PSR helps alot.

I also practice being present in my thoughts so I'm able to stop thoughts like "If I make this I win!" type of thoughts that only cause you more tension. So, be weary of what you're thinking when shooting the last ball; the only pressure you feel is the pressure you're putting on yourself because your thoughts go unchecked.

In addition, you can give yourself something else to focus on by playing shape to an imaginary ball. Your brain can't tell the difference when you're concentrating on getting to an area on the table instead of just pocketing the ball.

All in all, as I said, I deal with this by being aware of what I'm thinking. Your thoughts create your emotions, your emotions affect your body, so if you learn to monitor your thoughts you're in control.
 
In last year's BCAPL Open division, I had a pretty good run going for a while but much of it was possible because of a hill-hill game I won early on. I was pretty much toast. I had one ball on the table, my opponent was shooting and had plenty of options. What's more, he was a solid player too. There was no reason to think I was getting back to the table. Then, oddly, he missed. I can't even begin to explain why. He just had some odd brain fart and there I was, shooting again.

It was not the easiest of layouts because I had to punch my last ball in and go across the table to land on the short side of the 8 but definitely within my abilities. I ended up clinching my cue and deadening the action. The cue-ball didn't go anywhere and I was left with a long bank shot.

I told myself I had two things going for me. First, I'm still at the table and that's always worth something. Second, I was dead straight on the bank so at least I had that to be thankful for.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. Smiled to myself. Then, I reminded that no matter what happened right now, one of us was going to walk away feeling the match was stolen from them and the other was going to feel very fortunate. I took a deep breath. Not only does that relax you but it provides as much of a boost to your brain as you're allowed in that situation and I was going to need everything. I imagined exactly what I wanted it to look like. Contact, the 8ball rebounding off the rail and taking a perfect path to the pocket. Once I saw it perfectly, I got down and imitated my imagination. I still remember seeing that 8ball running down the length of the table, barely looking like it had enough angle, my eyes watched it roll until it disappeared into the pocket. It never touched the rail and went in like it had no place else to go.

Stay loose. Take deep breaths. Be positive. Give your brain a moment to register what you want done.
 
CJ was wrong... besides solid pre shot routine, shooting tough shots until the become easy is a good thing. I shoot 45 deg. full table cuts down the rail over and over at various speeds with different amounts of English. Two things help me a lot 1) Shooting the shot the intent of leaving the cueball in a certain area is important. It helps you avoid scratches of 1 or 2 rails and it takes makes the pressure shot, just another shot.
2) Calm intensity/confidence. The latter is easier said than done. Having a strong will to make the shot is important. Worrying about missing means you have already lost the battle.
 
Drop The Rock said:
1) Shooting the shot the intent of leaving the cueball in a certain area is important. It helps you avoid scratches of 1 or 2 rails and it takes makes the pressure shot, just another shot.
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I like this a lot. In 9ball, it's very common for the 9ball to stay in the same spot throughout the entire game. I'd say at least half the time, it stays right there. It's a huge benefit to feel comfortable shooting this shot firm and taking a path that you know will never scratch.
 
Drop The Rock;546 1) Shooting the shot the intent of leaving the cueball in a certain area is important. It helps you avoid scratches of 1 or 2 rails and it takes makes the pressure shot said:
I do this on every shot. Even the simple shots right in the hole.

I also look at my cue ball last, which most people don't do. If I don't know where I hit the cue ball or don't know where the cue ball is going after I make the shot, how do I even have the confidence that I'm even aiming where I'm supposed to?

If I'm confident the cue ball is going to go where I want it to, I'm already convinced in my mind that I've hit the object ball in the right spot to make it.
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I've seen rather many over confident cocky individuals lose because of their cocky overconfidence.

Shooting a particular shot a hundred times until it seems easy is no guarantee that one will make that same shot when it comes up.

I can see how one might become quite over confident if one thinks pocketing a particular shot a high number of times makes it any easier to shoot that shot a week or two or three later when it comes up.

Yes one should have confidence in themselves & their ability, but once that is obtained, it's not about making a shot that one knows how to make a hundred times.

While one is doing that, one is losing time that could be spent on something that they actually may NEED work on.

Now if one has an issue with any particular shot then yes one should shoot that shot until they are confident that it is no longer an issue.

Just a bit of food for thought.
 
ENGLISH! said:
I've seen rather many over confident cocky individuals lose because of their cocky overconfidence.

Shooting a particular shot a hundred times until it seems easy is no guarantee that one will make that same shot when it comes up.

I can see how one might become quite over confident if one thinks pocketing a particular shot a high number of times makes it any easier to shoot that shot a week or two or three later when it comes up.

Yes one should have confidence in themselves & their ability, but once that is obtained, it's not about making a shot that one knows how to make a hundred times.

While one is doing that, one is losing time that could be spent on something that they actually may NEED work on.

Now if one has an issue with any particular shot then yes one should shoot that shot until they are confident that it is no longer an issue.

Just a bit of food for thought.
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I tend to miss the easier shots because I have made every ball on the table thousands of times and people tend to let up when they think something is "easy".

I missed two or three shots yesterday that were two inches from the hole. How many times do you see golfer hit incredible shots to get to the green and then miss simple putts inches from the hole?

It happens to everyone, whether there is pressure on not.

That is why it is important to treat every shot the same. It is easier said than done though. We all screw up at the most inconvenient times.
 
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