5 Reasons You Keep Missing in Pool

Everybody misses, but some of us miss more than others. In this video, I review some notes I took at a pool tournament and discuss what I think are the top reasons amateurs and pros alike miss shots they shouldn't.

If you enjoyed the video, it really helps out with the algorithm when viewers comment on and like the video. I am shooting for 10,000 subs by the end of this year, so if you are new here and enjoy these kinds of videos, consider subscribing.

[jimmysupafly]

I toured and played professionally for over 10 years. When i first started i got nervous all the time. Then i started to tell myself whenever i had a tough shot " if i know its hard he kmows its hard" i would focus on my aiming point and draw a line on the table to my target. Then id just concentrate on my stroke following that line. Anytime it was tough id force myself to like the shot. Eventually i seemed to make the harder ones cause i knew it would make my opponent just a little more scared of my game. Eventually hitting more of these shots would get them more nervous than you and they start missing balls they shouldnt too.

[jacobparrent]

A comment I saw on Fb "If the pressure is getting to you, you are probably thinking about the outcome and results. Your focus has to stay on the shot in front of you. That's all you have any control over."

[johnpendleton]

You've touched on virtually everything there is that makes us miss. The biggest fundamental sins I’ve seen people make are: shooting too hard, jerking their stroke, and lifting up as soon as they shoot. I have some additional thoughts based on my experience (APA):

1. Don’t worry about what your opponent does. You can’t control what he/she does. You can only control what YOU do when it’s your turn at the table. That includes not worrying about what the score of the match is. There are two people keeping track of the score (APA) and they’ll let you know when the match is over. Just focus on your own game. There have been quite a few times when I got down to take my next shot, only to be stopped by my scorekeeper and told to shake the hand of my opponent because I just won the match without even realizing it.

2. Block everything out and find your “zone” when you get up there. Do all of your thinking while you’re still standing up; that is, how you’re going to make the shot you’ve committed to and how you’re going to position the cueball for the next shot. Once you get down on your current shot, focus solely on making that ball. If you’re “over thinking” and still thinking about position on the next shot, you’re almost guaranteed to miss the current ball. A good strategy for position on your next shot is useless if you don’t make the ball you’re currently shooting.

3. Find a “rhythm” to your game. If you start making balls and capture a good “feel” for the pace of your game, stick with it, regardless of the difficulty of the shots.

4. If you miss even an easy shot, don’t get upset. Forget about it, shake it off, take a deep breath and keep focusing on the rest of your game on your next turn.

Well, that’s my two cents. I hope it helped. This is a great video I happened to stumble across, and I want to thank you for sharing it. You have a new subscriber. Cheers, and good luck!

[Tidoublemy]

A female pool player - I think it might have been Emily Duddy - said that on the last ball in 8 ball (as an example) you should pretend in your mind that there is another ball to get position on after. This keeps you focused as if you're still playing the rack instead of feeling the mountain of pressure.

[TonyTen]

Great video! You are definitely spot on with all your points on why we miss. My two cents on your points
1. Improvisation is key for pool. You sometimes cant commit to a run out 2-3 balls ahead if you get out of line, you have to evaluate and improvise and know when to play the shot or play the safe.
2. Your only as good as your B game. In a tournament you may play lights out the first two matches and have a hour and half wait. You get on the table cold and you need to rely on your fundamentals to get back into stroke and get back into your rhythm.
3. Spot on answer. Only get down on the ball when you commit to a shot. If you have any second thought you immediately stand up and start your pre-shot routine all over again from the beginning.
4. Playing under pressure and delivering is very difficult. Your answer is spot on though. Exposing yourself to more and more to high pressure helps you build tolerance to the pressure. I usually take my time to evaluate the shot and position. Then i get down on the shot. If i feel any type of hesitation or doubt immediate get up, take a Deep breath thru my nose and out my mouth slowly to help drop my heart rate (this helps me tremendously), re-evaluate the shot and position to make sure its the right option, and start my pre-shot routine again. When i get down on the ball I visualize the ball going into the pocket. In your reenactment of that shot on the 2 ball, it may have been better to go two rails instead of holding it. You’ll notice the pros like to go the extra rail if its a touchy shot for position.
5. Taking a shot for granted happens all the time and can only be avoided with a solid pre-shot routine. And sometimes i still miss so we are just human.

[ann-margaretklineburger]

The best thing that helps me relax is breathing. I always tell my teammates to relax and take a deep breath in through the nose and slowly out of the mouth. This has helped me tremendously.

[BladeRunner-tdbe]

Another gem of a video here. A few things about dealing with high pressure situations and I played league pool for over 10 years as well as the APA when it first started for 4 years. Amazingly we went to nationals every year I played. Ok enough about my experience with high pressure shots.

1: The players who have the strongest fundamentals deal with high pressure shots better than those who don't.

2:: Accept the possibility that you might miss but realize it wouldn't be the end of the world. Every player who ever played this game for very long has missed in high pressure situations so you are not alone.

3: If you do miss, forget about it, it's over. Move on. By the way you might have missed that 8 ball and took 2nd place but I'll bet in your life you've come through many more times than you've missed.

[Sharivari]

I see you raised your production value. Looks nice.

[TrillionTalents]

My suggestion for high pressure.

1) breathing. Before you shoot, exhale. When you’re nervous you tighten up. Exhaling loosens your muscles.

2) think the shot before you get on the table. Look at the shot, walk around if needed, think what spin if any, where’s the cue ball going to land and visualize it before you even get down. When you’re confident you know where the ball is going, you will make it.

3) stop being negative - negativity is contagious and so is self doubt.

4) play for stakes - by playing in small tournaments, it will help you learn how to be clutch. Don’t worry about winning. Worry about making each shot and focus.

5) don’t get distracted. Playing in bars is great for tuning out noise. If you can play in a bar, you can gradually tune out the noise so when you’re in a tournament, it’ll seem so quiet.

6) hold the table at bars. See how long you can hold off challengers to your reign. It gets you in the groove, improves confidence each time you win and you just relax so much more.

7) a lot of times people miss because where they think they hit isn’t where they’re hitting. Work on learning how to shoot CENTER. A lot of times people put accidental English without knowing. You have to know how to shoot with English and without it. For long shots that’s where people mess up - they accidentally put a little left or right and it throws the ball off.

8) speed - learn to shoot pocket speed. If you shoot too fast, you will jaw the pocket and it rattles. Pocket speed usually works and is more forgiving

9)rushing your shot - stop rushing your shots. Do all your thinking before you even put your hand on the table. Reset if necessary. Take the time to shoot.

10) STANDING UP too much. STAY DOWN on your shot even after you make it. Staying down will definitely improve accuracy. Standing up changes where you will hit the ball at the last second.

[ronniebishop]

I used to play snooker as a young kid and didn’t even think about pool. Now I’m old and just put a 9ft pool table in my house. My problem is trying to listen to so many people telling what to do instead of just focusing on what I know, a stick a ball a pocket. But I’m learning so much from you young guys and hopefully it’ll click soon. Thank you

[johnpalermo]

I liked this video bc it spoke to me. The best thing I can tell you about pressure or "anxiety" is something I read a few years back, & this is the best advice I've found...it is called "Your Inner Rocky Voice" I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but the truth is, is i picked up a martial arts book in the martial arts section of BAM & read it & it said this...your inner Rocky voice...if it tells you "you're going to get hit, then you're going to get hit. If you tell yourself you're going to hit the person, you're going to hit the person." I don't recommend taking action, of course... but it pertains to fight or flight...same thing with pool...pay attention to the "mental game" you have lined up for a shot HUNDREDS OF TIMES...if you tell yourself you're going to pocket this ball "with confidence" then there is at least a high percentage, I am thinking 95% to 99% or even YES A 100% chance!!! you're going to pocket this ball!!! If you are nervous & feeling pressure you're already telling yourself you're going to miss & then failure completes your shot leading to a miss. This is anxiety. You either control it, or it controls you. Be confident, & work on doing your best to focus. Don't just practice pool, practice confidence, practice focusing, practice breathing techniques, & practice saying "I am about to pocket this ball."

[billspicer]

Lee Brett and Bert Kinister both said the same thing on how to shoot under Pressure. They said just focus on your Routine. It works well for me most of the time when I take the time to remember it. Hope this helps. Thanks for the Video. It was a good reminder.

[petehendo]

Great video! In my opinion when it comes to dealing with pressure it all about staying in the moment. Pressure is you basically thinking about the consequence of you missing the ball and that takes your focus away from the shot and adds anxiety. The way I deal with this is to focus on my surrounding. smells, the texture of the cloth. Be in the moment

[cutnedge]

Regarding the high pressure felt during a match or shot. When I was learning pool in the mid 70's, I read a book titled "Mastering Pool" by George Fels. If you've never read it, do yourself a favor, get it, and MEMORIZE the WP's (Whenever Possible) in the straight pool section--even if you don't play straight pool. They will apply directly to 8 or 9 ball as well. Anyways, somewhere in the book about being in pressure situations, I learned two things that were invaluable. One, when it is not your shot, put your cue in a holder, another table, anywhere. Just get it out of your hands as to avoid "clenching" it which will surely bring on stress when it's your turn to the table. Two, now this one seems strange, but if I hadn't tried it myself, I would have just dismissed it. George wrote that somewhere along the way in his playing career he figured out that when he was in panic mode, he ALWAYS relieved that stress by concentrating on the back of his tongue. I know, right, but for whatever reason it works!

[randyb]

I think the most solid advice you gave, which in reality is about 70 percent or more of the game is fundamentals. My biggest issue was staying down on the shot, especially when I was shooting a tough one. As far as pressure goes, I think it comes with experience. We all hate being pressured, unless your name is Strickland. Best advice I can give, breathe, focus and let your muscle memory take over. Great video!

[GarrethandPipa]

Please excuse me while I pontificate my 45 year trek .


We all miss shot for 3 reasons: Lack of skill, Lack of concentration and/or fear.


To mitigate these flaws in our game. We practice to hone our skills. We practice longer to hone our concentration. Ah but fear that thing isn't so easily defeated. But I do have some suggestions that might help.


AVOID CRUTCHES
Earl Strickland I think is a good example. All that bullshit he does... wraps and tape et cetera. The guy is a great player so why the non-sense? He is trying to distract himself so he can defeat his own fear.


Their are quite a few talkers this is a mental game to keep from getting tight... a distraction from the gravitas of the match. I was taught the concept to relieve my stress during play. It was a bad lesson to learn and finally to unlearn. It is a razors edge where you can easily let your "bad luck" turn from a smolder into a raging fire. Getting angry just makes me look and feel like a fool. I recommend avoiding anger it is just a distraction.


PRACTICE
Folks often talk of mechanics, it isn't just the mechanics it is the repetition of this dance. It is a table presence when you size the shot, chalk, step into line, get down on the shot, stroke and fire. This pre-shot regiment is important like all dances. It is about timing, precision and confidence. It can be your biggest tool to find that serenity to ward against the fear.

RECORD
Keep track of your shots. How the hell can you say that was a low percentage shot? If you don't know where you are strong or weak shooting wise. If your this guy it is about luck and not skill. For position play if you leave toward your strong shots asking corner or side is a moot point. This is where confidence is earned and games are won.


FIND: The "ZONE"
For one, ignore the past. So you just played a bad shot. Who cares? It already happened. Stressing out about it won't send you back in time to fix it. Just let it be and move on.
Really sing a song. Tell a joke but let it go. Mentally and emotionally.

Secondly, ignore the future. Yes, the future is coming up, but the future won't be very good without the present. Here's our motto: Complete focus at the table lies within presence.
Aware of the problems to come but all the focus on the now. Not the next rack, stake or prize. Where you going to eat later or if your significant other is zonking the mail person.

The present is the only thing we have control over, so it makes sense to put all effort here. Some may think that presence means focusing on just technique or the mechanics of the game. Micromanaging every little detail of your playing has no place at the table and will often lead to mistakes. Save that for practice. Play to your strengths. Avoid your weaknesses. Control your shots. Master the table to defeat your opponent. Lastly don't get burned out. Excellence is a journey not a destination so have some fun why dont ya.

[mike]

Big Pressure Situations--I certainly agree on the "focusing on the fundamentals" approach but I think there are multiple ways to overcome this issue but it all depends on what is physically and psychologically happening to the individual. There's a common notion in basketball when a player is in a shooting slump--they must shoot themselves out of it. The idea is that the player, assuming that there are no glaring fundamental deficiencies, is to keep doing what they've always done and NEED TO SEE THE BALL GO INTO THE BASKET. Similarly, many pool players have gone through slumps--for myself, it was the 8 BALL itself. I would just miss and after a couple misses on moderate to easy shots, it got into my head. I would be down on a shot and think about the prior misses and that gave me doubts, conversely, I would also try to instill confidence by telling myself that I was going to nail this shot. The problem was much like the fully commitment flaw you already talked about where players in between two shots and not stand up would miss... I think that any thoughts beyond execution of the shot are mental distractions--even the confident internal monologue as the mind needs that clarity for that muscle memory to truly take over. I think many players, myself included, make a shot and lose the cue ball just a bit--the following shot isn't difficult, but there's a lingering disappointment that doesn't allow for that clarity. I've also been guilty of being down on a shot thinking about how pocketing this ball will change the score of the set, how I've looked forward to beating this particular player or, and possibly in your case, how if you make that shot or finish that run how your team will be victorious--we must learn to block out everything.

In short, for my experience on the 8 Ball issue, I got over it by seeing the 8 ball fall. That might not sound like a real solution because it seems like the wrong order of events, but the mentality changed after I made a few in a row and the reality of being quite capable overcame the doubts of missing an easy shot. Also, high stakes are called such for a reason and it might not be practical to remove all nerves... after out team's last trip to Vegas for the BCA tournament, one of out guys noticed that nearly every shot we missed was soft shot--that touch is sometimes needed but should be avoided if possible. The softer the shot, the more those micro-flexes from your muscles can affect where the cue strikes the cue ball where the firm shot mitigates that issue.

Thanks for another great video!

[richardsantos]

Hi, I've played for some years, Best this to do is (if your underpressure) Stand up.. Chock your que, clear your mind, and THINK, , , I am playing the table..not the person. and yes.. Know I've made this shoot before.
Approach the table CORRECTLY. Get in your stance. and stroke your shot. Wow you made it. Cool, Great Job

[billspicer]

On High pressure shot what I was taught by Lee Brett, he said there is no such thing as pressure. It's just in your mind. He said just do your normal routine and don't think about the shot. It works for me most of the time. Bill.

[benniesteenkamp]

One thing to remember, you think there's pressure on you? Just imagine how your opponent feels, poor fecker is probably thinking after every miss that he's played his last shot so learn to capitalize on someone's mistake, and if you make a mistake on your own, then your opponent will be so bewildered that you missed, that he'll probably have no game plan and he'll be feeling even more pressurized than you, thanks for the awesome video, really gave me a few things to work on! :-)