曾经有过多少次面对着这个冤家，只要打进就将赢得比赛，稍有闪失，前面的努力都付之东流。面前就是一颗“赢钱的球”。在16彩中她就是黑八，在九球中就是黄色的九号，在斯诺克中可能就是超分的一击（当然斯诺克里超分不等于获胜）。我们成千上万次的面临这样的情况，但是却不是每次都能从容的对付。
正是因为这一击对我们来说真是太重要了，不仅仅是为了赚钱，更为关键的是颜面、信心等等，我们会把这一击看的跟普通的击球不一样，所以，压力油然而生。
压力会影响我们怎么样走向球台，影响我们的判断，影响我们击球。猜猜会怎么样？我们开始认为这一击完全不同，即使是非常平常的一击，我们也会觉得它不一样。进球的压力和万一不进的尴尬会吸引我们的注意力。我们被输赢的问题紧紧地捆起来，害怕低级的失误，就好像我们屈服于压力或是过于自大，因为我们观察着围观的人群如何看待我们。我们尝试让自己不要太紧张，可是适得其反，我们开始感觉呼吸困难，开始紧绷、感到窒息。
这是一个巨大的问题，一个我们不熟悉的棘手的问题。我们都会打失制胜的一击。我们都会面对赢钱的关键球，经常满心希望的面对。心理治疗太贵了，而且需要很长时间，而且我们的对手如果知道了也会笑话我们（这样就会让我们更有压力）。这样一来，我们怎么办呢？那些练习可以让我们把赢钱球的烦恼处理好呢？
这里有些小建议：
1、试着不要打破节奏：这里的节奏分成了两个部分:一个是指步骤，就是我们通常击球要有哪些过程，哪些动作。我们从击完上一个球开始，到这个球结束，要经历哪些个阶段，这些都应该是我们长期打球而固定下来的东西，不要打破，但不是说不能重新开始瞄准。另一个指速率，就是我们执行这些步骤要多少时间，要有节奏。我们的这个速率是可以放慢的，但是步骤是不能乱的，可以整体的放慢，因为面对的是关键的球。不要犹豫，不要有什么特殊的想法。
2、不要发力，不要用塞：OK，现在你已经打破了你自己的节奏，紧张感油然而生，可是你还需要把球打进。对于赢钱的一球，你需要做的只是打进而不摔袋。在除了制胜一球之外的每次击球，你都不得不控制角度、速度和旋转。这就是台球难以打好的原因。可是现在，面对赢钱的一球，你需要的只是击球角度。把你所有的精力都集中到入射角度，不要使用没有意义的旋转，使用你的自然的速度，就是你什么都不考虑的速度，闭眼打的速度（力度）。
3、抓住这一击：你希望你的对手没有看到你的手在抖，身体已经紧绷起来，完全失去了以前的那种流畅的击球。你根本不再相信你的出杆。现在我们还是得把它打进，这样，用最短的架杆方式（也许只有4英寸——大约10厘米左右的击球空间），把杆头离母球很近，能够清晰的看到能够打在哪里，用最短的出杆距离，大约2英寸（不等于用最小的力），这样不给自己留下打歪的空间，对手也看不见你手抖。
4、后退：自己不自信，总觉得要打丢，这时候停下来，退后，这总比打飞了强。绕桌子转一圈，用毛巾擦擦球杆，做些深呼吸，总之让时间流逝过去，让你脑中的肾上腺素消耗掉，然后从尽可能远的地方走向瞄准线，一直注意着瞄准线。
5、完成这一击：一定要想进，一定要期望进，一定要相信进。没有准备好不要打。
说的总比唱的好听，能说些什么呢，如果打球都那么简单，谁还来玩儿了？
In most games, there is a moment when we face the game-winning (or game-losing shot)-the "money ball." In 8-ball and 9-ball, obviously it's shooting the 8 or the 9. In straight pool, it's the final point. We've been there a thousand times, and it's not always pretty.
Because sinking this one shot matters so much, and because the ball just sits there waiting for us to decide we're ready, we have opportunities to get ourselves in trouble. We think of the money shot as something different from the other shots, and the pressure begins to rise.
We allow the pressure to influence how we approach the shot, how we feel about it, and how we shoot it. And guess what? We start to see it as a different shot. It doesn't look like it would if it was just a "regular shot." The pressure to make it-and the potential embarrassment if we don't-distract us from the task at hand. We get tied up with issues of winning and losing, fear of missing an easy shot and looking like we succumbed to the pressure, self-consciousness because we feel the judging gaze of the railbirds. We desperately try to avoid choking-and, of course, that causes us to choke.
This is a huge, multi-faceted problem, one we're all too familiar with. We've all missed game-winning hangers. We all face the money ball challenge-hopefully frequently. Psychotherapy is expensive, takes too long, and will have our opponents poking fun at us (causing even more stress and pressure). So what's left? What practical steps can we take to deal with those pesky money balls?
Here are a few tips:
1. Try not to break rhythm. We tend to shoot best with a particular cadence (a series of counts or beats that coincide with the various stages of our shooting routine). We also shoot with a certain tempo (how quickly or slowly our cadence runs). How everything works together for good timing and good results is our rhythm. It's okay to slow your tempo for pressure shots, but don't change the action sequence of your cadence. In other words, try to shoot the money ball just like any other ball. Play basic, easy position. Don't hesitate, don't give it special consideration, don't do anything different.
2. No speed, no spin. Okay, you've broken your rhythm and the anxiety is mounting. You still have to make the ball. on money ball shots, all you have to do is make the shot and not scratch. on every shot except the money ball shot, you have to control angle, speed, and spin. This is why the game is difficult. But now, on the money ball, all you need to control is cut angle. Put all of your focus on cutting the ball, use no unnecessary spin, and shoot at your natural speed. Your natural speed is the speed your body shoots if you're not thinking about speed-the speed you shoot with your eyes closed.
3. Cinch the shot. Now, you're hoping your opponent doesn't see your hand shaking. You're so clenched up, you've lost any fluidity you once had. You don't trust your stroke. Okay, let's just make the ball. To cinch the shot, take the shortest bridge you can (maybe 4 inches of stroking room). Put your tip very close to the cue ball so you can see exactly where you're going to hit. Now, take an insanely short stroke (maybe 2 inches) and sink that ball. You won't have room to go off line, and, with the short stroke, your opponent won't be able to see you quaking.
4. Back away. You're down on the shot, and your head is filled with chatter and doubt. You're not confident. Something is telling you you're likely to miss. STOP and back away. It's less costly and embarrassing than missing. Take a lap of the table. Go wipe down your shaft. Take a couple of deep breaths. Whatever; let some time pass, and allow the adrenaline to drain out of your brain. Approach the shot, walking in on the shot line, from as far away as possible. As you approach, stay focused on the shot line.
5. Own the shot. To give yourself the best chance to make it, you have to want it. You have to expect it. You have to believe it. Don't shoot if you're not ready. Yeah, this is easier to say than to do. What can I tell you? Figure it out. If this game was easy, we wouldn't be fanatics about it.
