Ok... I'm going to start off by being honest here... I totally stole the idea for this particular blog from www.pool.bz This is the same place where I create all of my table layouts. They have this forum that I occasionally post things in that's pretty cool. And one of the topics was from Dave Manasseri "To spin, or not to spin?" Which got me thinking... and writing. Lucky you!!
Have you ever missed an easy 8 ball or 9 ball in a game? Be honest! Most people have! And still do!!! When I said 'easy' I meant easy for YOU. An easy shot for me may very well not be an easy shot for you and vise versa. But it's a shot that clearly you can make at any other point in time. So why did you miss it? Pressure? Maybe. Wanna' know how to make it next time?? Keep reading.
I teach a lot of people that get to the point in their game that they miss 9 balls or whatever 'out' ball we are talking about just because it's the money ball. And I don't care if it's actually for money, or for league, or just for pride... it's the money ball- that's the lingo :) They know how to make the ball... and do it all the time so why miss it just because it's the last ball?
What's the difference between the LAST ball we have to shoot in and every other stinkin' ball we shot in before it? Ahhh... SHAPE. That's the difference. Normally you occupy some of your brain thinking about shape. This is how hard I have to hit it.. this is the english... this is the side of the pocket I need to hit... etc... You get down on that last shot and if you aren't thinking about shape... you are actually shooting that shot totally different from any other shot you shoot!!!
Not to mention the approach to the last shot. Instead of thinking about shape you might be letting your mind wander to... 'OMG I could win' or 'OMG I could loose' or 'this is so easy' or 'this is sooo hard' or 'I wonder what Brad had for breakfast' you get my point.
You've set yourself up perfect, straight in shot in the side. Why do you have to think about shape for goodness sake? Because you don't want to FOLLOW THE CUE BALL IN AFTER!!!! Geeezzzz...
I know I'm going to get "Yeah, yeah, yeah... pro's don't think of shape off their last ball" Oh WAIT... they think about scratch shots... therefore... they must have thought about the cue balls path after making the ball... thereby... thinking about shape!! I love it when I'm right. Ok.. so I love it more when Hayner is wrong but.. oh, did I say that out loud????
Anyway.. back to shape on that last ball. If you look to see if that last shot has a potential scratch to it, you already are thinking a little about shape. Now all you have to do is pick a spot and get the cue ball there. And trust me it'll get to the point that you don't even realize you are doing it... it'll just be part of your game. And that's the point right? Making the money ball just part of your game.. no unneeded pressure, no random misses... just a clean flowing game.
Here's a couple of shots to set up and do this with... some are intended to scratch some are not. Enjoy!!
