There have been many opinions on the subject of grip pressure and whether you should hold the cue lightly or firmly for the best results. I have seen many players in my time and have asked them, somewhat indirectly what gets them the best results. Some of the older players still hold firm to the idea that you should hold the cue very gently and allow it to do the “work” for you. This seems to work very well when there is very little pressure and you have absolute control over your coordination. The problem is apparent when the heat is turned up and you get a little bit nervous.

When you are playing with allot at stake it is human nature to tighten up a bit mentally and physically. If you are trying to stay loose you are fighting against what is naturally going to happen and not setting yourself up for success. If you don’t like, or have trouble playing under pressure then you probably know what I’m talking about.

I have something you might try if you feel your game going down when the pressure is turned up. It is called consistent grip pressure and it is used to control the cue through the entire stroke, beginning to end. The way that I check to feel how much pressure is appropriate is to get down beside the cue ball and do a practice stroke like in golf. I will notice the degree of firmness that I reach in the follow through and then raise up and feel what it would be like to use that exact pressure throughout the whole stroke. When you start with the finish in mind, and stay consistent then there is nothing that can break down under pressure because if you feel like you are going to tighten up you can do it from the very beginning and you won’t even notice that you’re nervous.

I have played in a great many pressure situations and this has held up for me and pulled me through in situations on ESPN where I turned a potential loss into a win and I think it will work for you as well.

Last month I described the feet as being the foundation of your set-up. Every time you line up for the shot, you must put your feet in the same position relative to the line of the shot. This gives you the best possible chance to get the rest of your body into a consistent position.

There are three major things that I do to get myself into position. First, I look directly down the line of the cue ball to where I want to hit the object ball, then put my right foot directly behind that line. Second, I step my left foot into position by placing it shoulder width apart from my right foot, and point it parallel to the line of the shot. I like to keep the weight evenly distributed with a feeling that I could jump straight towards the ceiling, yet solidly anchored to the floor. This creates a solid, balanced foundation.

The third fundamental aspect of good positions involves pre-setting the upper body. I look directly down the line of the shot with a clear view in my mind’s eye of the shot in completion. I want to get down on the shot as if it had already been made or at least that is what I’m striving for which leads me to pre-setting the upper body. As you stand looking comfortably down the track that the cue ball will travel you should preset the exact position that you will be in when you get down before you get down. I establish my bridge and put my left arm in the same basic angle that it will be in when I get down on the ball. I really want to emphasize that your upper body should go down on the line of the shot simply by bending over without increasing or decreasing the angle of your arm. This sets up a routine that you can repeat time and time again and it doesn’t break down under pressure.

The thing that I’m wanting to instill in your mind is how important it is to have a pre-shot routine. You will never be as consistent as you could be without one that works. I learned in my study of the martial arts how important a correct body position is. One of my favorite books, Zen and the Art of Archery, was a story of a man that went to the Far East to study with a master. In one instance, the student told the master that the only reason the master could hit the target every time was because he had been shooting there for many years and was very familiar with the area. The master then told the student to come back that night where he proved that even in the dark he could hit the bull’s eye. It should be the same in your pool game. When you get down on the ball correctly, you will be able to turn your head and still make the shot. I can actually run a rack while turning my head before each shot — only because my approach is consistent. Without an effective pre-shot routine, I would never be able to do this.

The difference between the amateur and the professional is the amateur will practice until they can do it right and the professional will practice until they can’t do it wrong. It is only possible to get to the point that you “can’t do it wrong” by practicing to develop a routine that allows you to get into the same basic position time and time again. Remember, if you can’t do it wrong, then you must be doing it right.

If you have any questions or comments regarding your game or my articles, you may contact me at cj@cjwiley.com.

I just returned from the US Open Nine-Ball Championships which is the first tournament of my return to professional pool. There are many things that I used to take for granted when I was competing consistently all over the World. It seems that putting yourself in the right frame of mind is just as important as the physical practice and training you must do before a big event. I’ve spent some time lately just remembering what my routine was to get in to the “zone” that you hear some much about in top level sports. Martial arts routines are part of my personal preparation, and the most important part of this routine is something that anyone can do because it is consitrating of something that all of us do on a very regular basis. Breathing is a very interesting phenomina because you can think about your breathing (like you are right now) or you can go for a very long time without even giving your breathing any thought at all. I look at breathing as the “bridge” between the conscious and sub-conscious mind because just by bring attention to your breathing you can have an immediate effect on your mind. I want to share a simple breathing exercise that you can do to put yourself in a better frame of mind for competition or to just get yourself ready for a meeting or business speech you may be preparing.

First, get yourself in a comfortable positon where you can relax and clear your mind of whatever internal dialogue you have going on . Breath in through your nose and count to 6 (in seconds), then hold your breath to a count of 9 seconds and slowly exhale to a count of 12. You can start out doing this just 5 times and you will feel something happening mentally that should let you know that it is having a positive effect. Work your way up to doing this exercise 10 times and be sure to be aware of the positive effects (your brain waves will actually be lowering as you do this routine) and if you have any negative feelings you may want to check out your respiratory condition with your doctor. Breathing is a powerful force in your life, so take control of it and receive the benefits this natural process brings you and enjoy it it’s free.