There is an old saying in pool: A player can’t win if he’s in his chair.

It’s a cute little saying, meaning, of course, that if you’re at the table shooting, your opponent can’t pocket a ball.

I say, “Bunk.”

You absolutely can win from your chair. And I don’t mean winning from your chair because your opponent fouls for the third straight shot or scratches on the last ball.

I mean after you’ve missed a shot and you return to your chair. You may think you’re powerless to alter the game or match, but you’re not. If you believe in your ability to win, it doesn’t matter what else happens on the table. You can win that match from your chair. It’s all about staying calm and focused. You must get yourself ready to win when your chance comes.

On the other side of the coin, you can definitely lose a match from your chair. I have seen players punish themselves for their mistakes. All that does is create a negative mindset, and negativity feeds on itself. You can’t sit in your chair anxiously praying for your opponent to make a mistake. You have to stay calm and focused.

Over the years, I developed my own routine for staying in the match, even when I’m 10 feet from the table. I truly believe that this routine has helped me win matches that appeared to be lost.

First, when I miss, I immediately accept the fact that I screwed up and I make up my mind to move on. I’ve actually seen players miss match-winning shots and get so down on themselves that they miss the shot again when an opportunity suddenly gives them a second chance.

If you let yourself get overcome by negative thoughts and self-punishment, you will most likely not take the time to gather yourself when you get back to the table. You’ll likely rush into the first option you see instead of taking your time and examining all the options available at the table.

Another thing I do while seated is mentally go over my list of fundamentals. Am I setting up correctly? Am I staying down on the shot? Are my backstroke and stroke acceleration smooth? Constructive thinking will quickly get you back on track and will get your head back in the game. Diagnosing my mistake instead of dwelling on it will help me be prepared for my next trip to the table.

I take long, deep breaths to calm myself. And I focus on the table. If my opponent makes a great shot, I immediately tell myself, “Wait until you see what I can do at the table!” Positive thoughts like that can really help energize you.

Finally, I ask myself two questions: How bad do I want to win? And do I want to win bad enough to do whatever it takes? As soon as I’m convinced that the answer is yes, I know I’m ready to play.