The Winning Shot by  Frank  "TheBarber" Almanza ãTricks of the Trade Inc.

 

The Winning Shot!

 

Ever go home at night and try to fall asleep after missing the winning shot? I’m sure everyone that plays in competition has. Did we dog it? Were we sharked? Or did we just miss? Doesn’t matter, it’s all the same. We missed and we lost. Sleep doesn’t come easy when you knew you had it in the bag then found a gaping hole in that bag.

Throughout the years, people have come to me to say how agonizing it was to get to the winning ball, just to miss it. How they ran the rack out perfectly to the nine then blew it. How they navigated a beautiful pattern on the stripes to get to the eight ball then…. whoops. What happens at this point? Pressure? Loss of concentration? Too relaxed? Well, maybe you just no lika mony? Maybe you no lika to win? Maybe you no lika to sleep tonight? All kidding aside lets try to figure out why these shots are missed and see what we can do about it. What does it take to make the winning shot?

These thoughts are geared to most of you that are out of the beginner’s stage, but still very beneficial to everyone at all levels, so try to stay with me. Or as they said in TheTerminator movies, "Come with me if you want to win." Or was it if you want to live? Doesn’t matter for us pool players its all the same. So now, the Barber speaks.....

Let’s walk through a rack of nine ball. Here you are, case game, stepping up to the table with both of you on the hill; the score tied 6 apiece in a race to seven. Your opponent just broke the balls, pocketing the five and seven, while jumping the cue ball off the table, giving you ball in hand. Not a single ball tied up and they’re just aching to be run out. You survey the layout and proceed to place the cue ball in position for a shot on the one ball. You pocket the one in the side pocket and follow the cue ball two rails for position on the two, being careful not to overrun it because of the potential danger of getting hooked. Cue ball comes to rest with an acceptable shot on the two ball. Two ball goes into the corner pocket with a firm center ball stroke to stun whitey across the table for the three, being careful not get it too straight because the four is in a location that will require an angle on the three ball. Man are you in tune, your touch was superb on this very difficult stroke. Your confidence is now building to a high level and as you polish off the three and maneuver beautiful position on the four. A perfect stop shot on the four is required for shape on the six ball that is practically hanging in the side pocket. Remember the five and seven were pocketed on the break shot when the cue ball left the table. He probably jumped the rock off the table because he tried to win the game with one shot, which is another topic for another time. Now, getting back to that four ball, it must be hit with a perfect stroke to get a dead stop on the cue ball, for shape on the six. Too low and too hard and the cue ball may pull instead of stop. Hitting the four off center will cause the cue ball to go off to one side or the other. You’re really cooking now, that was real smooth! And there’s that hanging six ball that must be hit very softly with a little right english to slow the cue ball up after it contacts the rail, so that you don’t overrun the shape for the eight. Excellent! Your opponent is now starting to fidget in his chair but you are completely oblivious to his antics because you are now in the zone. A firm draw shot is required on the eight to get on the nine. Being cautious not to miscue you stop to scuff your tip and chalk up. You’re down on the shot concentrating on the amount of power required to draw off the eight then come off the rail so that you will be able to bridge up nicely for the nine. Perfect! And there’s the nine, just a little off angle with a little distance but just what you expected it to be. Type of shot that if someone asked you what you thought of it; you would say, " no problemo".

Now there it is, the winning shot! You look at it with confidence and prepare yourself for the win. But wait, there’s something you must do first, before getting down into position to address the shot, you decide it’s time to reach up and turn off that switch labeled Concentration and Confidence, and turn on the switch for doubt and negativism. After all, this shot requires a different formula than all the previous shots. This shot doesn’t require position for another ball. This one requires other elements such as not too hard, not too soft, don’t miss, don’t miscue. Don’t’ scratch, …don’t win.

Now you get down into position and say, What’s going on here? All of a sudden this nine ball is starting to look larger than before, and the pocket even looks smaller now, also the location of that pocket is starting to fade. Possible scratches start to dominate your thoughts. The idea of missing is now becoming a possibility…What happened to "no problemo? Let’s see……

Your concentration was great throughout the whole rack, till you got to the nine ball, then you decided to change your mind set. Before getting to the nine you kept your mind busy with positive thoughts and there was no empty space in your mind for anything else to creep into it. By turning off the switch for concentration and confidence you allowed your mind to get weak and left an open space for negative thoughts such as the don’ts and no’s to slip in.

Step back, take a deep breath, slow down, and see what you need to do, plan the shot with positive thoughts. We need to train ourselves to keep our mind busy just like we did with all the previous shots.

Attack the last shot with the same intense concentration as all the rest. Have a designated spot for the cue ball to come to rest at.

Let’s sum it up. The winning shot is not just the last ball but starts with the first ball and continues to the last ball. All the balls are the winning shot. The winning shot is the whole rack. Come on, if you’re in stroke, leave that switch on!!