That's What I'm Talking About

By Keith McCready

Positive Vibes

Everybody has o­ne shot that they will never forget, and mine occurred in 1979 o­n a day when the lights went out in California. The Golden Cue was hosting the Sacramento Open, and the $3,000 first prize attracted a field of 96 players consisting of regional champions, road agents, and world-beaters. My game was strong but unpredictable, and I sometimes struggled with self-doubt.

The 9-ball tournament was held o­n gold-felted Brunswicks, then the table of choice. The biggest hurdle to overcome-so I thought-was the humidity in the poolroom. The air-conditioning had broken down, resulting in sticky balls and wringing-wet tables. The railbirds were fanning themselves feverishly, and most of the players were literally sweating bullets. 

I managed to squeak through a couple of rounds and found myself staring at Roy Futternick, a straight shooter not to be taken lightly, in the quarterfinals.In order to win, I knew I would have to deal with the sweltering heat, bring my "A" game to the table,and conquer any mental stumbling blocks. We were both up-and-coming stars in that era, and when they called our names to go to the designated table, Roy rolled those eagle eyes of his and stared right through me, increasing the pressure to the boiling point.

We came down to the wire, like two racehorses going head to head all the way down the stretch. Racing to 9, the score seesawed back and forth. I got to the hill and made a tough shot o­n the 7 ball but ended up o­n the wrong side of the 8. The cue ball was almost frozen to the 9 and a little off angle, pointing towards the left-hand corner pocket. I was so close to winning I could almost taste it, and here I was facing this shot in disbelief, with no answer and beginning to doubt myself.

But then it happened. The ground started shaking, and I thought it was the end of the world. The room became pitch black, and we all stood there stupefied. It was o­nly a tremor, not unusual for California, and when the lights magically came back o­n a few seconds later, my shot had changed. The balls that weren't touching before were now frozen, providing me an out. Much to my surprise, I was almost straight in, and this was a shot I had in my arsenal-the throw shot.

As shown in the diagram, the 8 and 9 are frozen and slightly off-kilter towards the left-hand corner. With a smooth downward stroke and low left draw, at about 8 o'clock o­n the cue ball, you want to aim at about 2 o'clock o­n the right-hand upper side of the object ball. This will throw the 9 ball into the corner pocket. English not o­nly affects the cue ball, but it also determines the amount of spin or "throw" o­n the object ball after contact.

The ball speed is as essential as the draw. I like to jack my cue stick slightly up in the air, a little looser, and execute a medium stroke. If you hit the cue ball too hard and the english does not catch, it will not take to the object ball. Practice this by using a softer touch, at a closer distance, and this will help you establish a level of comfort and the correct "feel."

After the shaker, I had a newfound sense of confidence, and I made the shot without a blink. I ended up winning the tournament, the biggest o­ne in my young career. It took an earth-shaking moment for me to realize that positive thinking is the single most important element to victory, an approach I have held o­nto ever since. Self-doubt, anxiety, lack of confidence, and fear can have a significant impact o­n o­ne's performance. The first win is always the hardest, but after it happens, the second o­ne comes easier. Frequent practice is, of course, a necessity, but in order to elevate your game, you must maintain a positive attitude and a will to win. With these fundamentals in place, you will find yourself o­n a collision course with success.