The perspective of how difficult a shot is and how a player
approaches it often lies in prior episodes of success or fail-
ure to similar challenges. Some players surrender to the
shot and appear to "hit a ball hard and hope a pocket gets
in the way", while others take a more technical route, pro-
viding a more tried and true remedy for victory. Over the
years I have heard numerous opposing views on specific
shots; therefore, I would like to list a few "Dr. Cueisms"
that you might keep in mind, which will ultimately help
you attain greater satisfaction for the shot objective in
mind.
First and foremost, it is paramount to implant a very pos-
itive affirmation in one's mind before any shot is taken.
In 1985 I returned to the game after a one-year hiatus.
The first thing I did was to convince myself that "every
shot in pool was my favorite shot", regardless of the
analytical impression normally perceived of some shots.
I did this by mentally repeating to myself before EVERY
shot that "it was my favorite shot" and that I would exe-
cute it with a positive attitude and conviction of heart.
Every shot was just another shot with balls rolling and
making a gentle and joyful click in the process. I have
practiced this "favorite shot" principle in my brain over
and over again for over 25 years now, and to such an
extent that shots which would otherwise make no
sense or suggest success have become shots that I
look forward to. Expecting a "joy from the shot" is a
wonderful "key of success" for me.
The second principle to shot success is knowing that
EVERY "straight" shot SHOULD BE a straight shot,
and that EVERY "crooked" shot IS a crooked shot. I
am not referring here to a "straight in shot" versus a
"cut shot", but rather the "straight swing" nature of
the cue in that whatever plane the cue starts on, it
should indeed finish on that same
plane. In other words, no dipping /
diving and no twisting / turning of the
natural rotor motions of the wrist / arm
should exist which might cause a dis-
torted cue movement through the cue
ball. This principle holds true for level,
jump, or masse plane shots.
Remember to shoot the cue down a
straight line and let the cue ball get in
the way of the tip and let the object
ball get in the way of the cue ball.
Focus on the concept of "straight
alignment" and "straight stroke" in
100% focus mode and the cue stick
will "flow straight" for consistent shot
success!
A final perception to work on is that
EVERY long shot is a "short shot in
disguise". A dedicated time of "prac-
tice" walking back from the table
about 10 - 20 feet to view what you
have always thought of as a "long
shot" will produce wonders for your
mental approach to shots of this type.
I have discovered that taking this
"long distance" approach often makes
every "long" shot seem "short" and
makes "short" shots even "shorter".
Practice the above mental and physi-
cal exercises and watch your game
go the next level and beyond until
next time when...
The Doctor's In!
-
SPOTLIGHT
10
8-Ball News & Views
· MARCH 2010
The Dr's In...
Tom Rossman
A Shot Is A Shot...
Is A Shot... Is A Shot!
See
All The
Exciting
2010
Artistic
Pool
Information
at
VNEA.com
Under
the VNEA
Tournament
Listing
Button