Do you have any tips on how to improve your concentration and keep playing with quality in a game?
Answer
Play as if you are going to make a mistake on every single shot.
Before each shot, list the possible shooting and positioning mistakes you can make.
Then decide how you will play the ball to avoid those mistakes.
This will reduce the number of mistakes you make and at the same time increase your concentration, which will help you continue to play with good quality.
It is also important to choose a positioning that allows for a certain amount of mistakes.
Details
In the game, there is no best shot to begin with.
That’s what one professional said.
What does this mean?
In other words, it means that you will make some mistakes on every shot, as a matter of course.
It could be that your swing is slightly different than you expected, or that you run your cue ball too short or too long.
This does not mean that you are not playing your best, but rather that it is a normal occurrence.
Let’s accept that this is the reality.
If this is the case, what is the best attitude to take into play?
The best way to deal with this is to anticipate what kind of mistakes you might make when you face the target ball.
The ball tends to be thick and easy to miss. The ball tends to be thin and easy to miss.
The ball may run too far off the cushion after being pocketed.
After pocketing, the cue ball will probably be hidden by another target ball.
After pocketing, the cue ball may run too far, resulting in a reverse flip.
The cue ball is too close to the target.
If you hit the ball too far under the cue ball, the cue ball will jump and you will miss the shot.
It is important to use empirical intuition to foresee what is likely to happen.
Then, choose the cueing style that is necessary to avoid the mistakes that are likely to occur.
This will keep your mind focused and sharpened, and you will be able to continue to play with good concentration and quality.
It is also important to choose a position where you can tolerate a certain amount of mistakes.
For example, this applies to line-taking.
As long as the cue ball runs on the selected line, no matter where the cue ball stops on the line, you will be able to aim for the next target while keeping the ball in play.
If you have a good line, you will be able to secure a good position for the next target no matter how far the cue ball rolls.
On the other hand, there are some positions that are not at all tasty, where no matter how far the cue ball rolls, you cannot aim for the next target.
It’s a good idea to use your imagination and be aware of this when cueing the ball.
