Thinking Ahead Can Cost You (video clip)

I have shared before that thinking ahead in a match can be costly. 

Well, this made the news just this week:



"BEIJING (AP) — They both lifted their arms to celebrate before the finish line."


But for Molly Huddle it was a different story. While slowing down and raising her hands, she had no idea her American teammate, Emily Infeld, was sprinting behind her. Infeld caught up, shouldered her way past Huddle and crossed the line in front of her to capture the bronze while Huddle was celebrating.

The correlation is do not start to celebrate before you make the last ball in a rack!  Don't assume you made the last shot (or out) BEFORE you win.

Do NOT think ahead.

The lady above already slowed down and started to celebrate, yet she hadn't even made her last ball.  Don't find yourself in this position - cross that finish line first!

If you already think you won, that means you are not even thinking of the ball right in front of you.  Your mind needs to be 100% on the table, not thoughts of "I'm about to win."  You haven't won yet!

Focus on every single shot with all your might.  It's the easiest shots that we take for granted.  Those are the ones we don't stay down for, or the ones we shoot too fast.  Treat every shot the same.

Don't ruin a good run-out by missing a ball late in the rack because you are *almost* about to win or because the ball is easy.  Take your time.  Take your time with EACH shot - especially the easy ones.

Don't celebrate too soon!  You haven't won til the last ball falls, and that comes with staying down and following through on every single shot, even the "gimmes."