That's What I'm Talking About

By Keith McCready

Here's the Skinny

Have you ever been down o­n a shot, ready to pull the trigger, and in a split second your focus is shaken? The odds o­n pocketing that ball or creating the perfect safety play have now been greatly diminished. Recognizing the mental shark and reacting to it are important fundamentals of the game.  Ignoring them can bring disastrous results and many times will place your opponent in the driver's seat en route to the almighty win.

In the illustration, there are two possible ways to shoot the 8 ball and get leave o­n the 9: slice the ball in the side, or cut the ball in the corner. Recently, I was faced with this exact shot at the Skins Billiards Championship held at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino. I elected to roll the ball in the side, hit three rails, and get natural shape o­n the 9. The alternative would be to cut the 8 in the corner, but I sensed a scratch or a possible skid o­n the brand-new Simonis cloth adorning the pristine Olhausen table.

Funny things can happen in the heat of battle. I was playing the last leg of a 12-game match in the semifinals. My bracket consisted of four players: 2003 World Pool Champion Thorsten Hohmann, "Rocket" Rodney Morris, and Canadian Luc "Machine Gun" Salvas. Hohmann had just defeated Rodney and Luc, and he needed a third consecutive win to score the skin that would have allowed him and Rodney to advance to the finals, and the o­nly thing stopping him was me.

At the beginning of the set, Rodney had gained a skin, the o­nly o­ne in our foursome, and he was sitting mighty comfy alongside the table, beaming from ear to ear. Luc, o­n the other hand, watched my every move intently like a trapped animal. I could hear Luc pulling me in, saying "Come o­n, Keith. Come o­n, Keith." He needed me to end Thorsten's run, which would have resulted in a sudden-death playoff, his and my o­nly chances to advance.

So here I was getting ready to run out, and the o­nly thing that prevented me from doing so was a lapse in judgment. Under pressure from a 30-second shot clock, I fired and missed. In hindsight, I should have stepped back in order to regain my composure and, most importantly, my focus.

Look at the diagram. If executed properly, the 8 ball will roll in the side pocket, and the cue ball will come to rest with perfect position o­n the 9. It is essential to study the angle when determining how much to cut the object ball. In this circumstance, the side pockets are usually a little bigger and more forgiving, while the corner pockets have a smaller window of opportunity.

An even follow-through stroke with medium speed will allow the cue ball to hit three rails and nestle itself near the 9 ball. Before stroking, take a moment to look at the point of contact o­n the object ball. This pause will help you to accurately strike the ball with precision. Even in practice, you should have a clear picture in your head of successfully pocketing the ball. It is crucial that you never take any shot for granted.

Thorsten Hohmann seized the moment, effortlessly pocketed the two remaining balls, and advanced to the next level in the Skins Billiards Championship. He joined Rodney Morris, Charlie "The Korean Dragon" Williams, and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands in the finals. Pressure is o­ne of the normal aspects when competing. When practicing, maintain your focus in order to bring about a peak performance.  Soon you will attain the mental control you need to play your best game. Spend less time thinking about problems and more time focusing o­n solutions. Practice hard, and enjoy the game.

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