Focus. Because pool is a game of precision, focus may be the single most important factor in becoming a consistent player.

But I’m not simply talking about focusing on a particular shot. To be truly successful, you must maintain your focus throughout an entire rack and, indeed, throughout an entire match. That’s one of the reasons practice should entail more than just throwing the balls on the table and trying to pocket them. You need drills or other challenges that will force you to focus as you would in competition.

One thing I tell my students is that the time between shots is when you reset your focus. After each shot, take a deep breath and reset your focus for the next shot. Developing a routine for that time between shots is a great way to accomplish that.

Here are three tips to help get your mind and body in line with the next shot:

Stick to a Plan: The first key to approach a shot effectively is to make up your mind. All too often, players look at a shot and get down with several options in their head. If you start adjusting your plan of attack — high right, low right, follow, draw — after you’ve gotten down on the shot, you are effectively sabotaging the shot. You aren’t fully trusting your abilities and/or your decision.

Make a decision and stick to it. If the shot doesn’t go as planned, you can make adjustments moving forward. It’s critical that you build trust in your game and your decisions.

In fact, you will need to learn to accept the possibility of failure. If you make up your mind and miss, you will have an easier time making the appropriate adjustments. But if you switch plans while you’re down on the shot, you will have a more difficult time discerning exactly what went wrong and how to fix it next time. Was the plan wrong? Was it the execution? Were you unsure of exactly what you wanted to do?

Take Your Time: Make sure you step into the shot. Don’t approach it from the side, as you move from your last shot directly into place for the next. You have to fight the tendency to get into “quick mode,” where you are getting down on the shot and shooting a little faster because you are comfortable with your stroke and making balls. Developing a good rhythm is important, but there is still a set process you should follow. When you move too quickly from one shot to the next, you may forget or pass over one of the steps in your process.

Find a Rhythm: One of my former coaches told me to always pick up the chalk between shots. On every single shot, chalk up for five or 10 seconds. Those few seconds are a great way to slow yourself down. You can reset your focus on the shot in front of you instead of getting distracted. Of course, chalking will help you avoid unnecessary miscues.