Thoughts on the best way to remove tension when shooting in league/tournaments?
- Thread starter newcuer
- Start date
When you're practicing at home, there are no consequences for missing or having a bad day. Organized competition is loaded with consequences. You can make a mistake that makes you look bad in front of your peers. You only get one chance at each shot. No do-overs. All of your flaws will be exposed for the world to see. The list goes on and on.
Make a list of all the things that can go wrong in competition and then decide ahead of time how you will deal with each thing, should it happen to you. You don't have to compete a hundred times to experience all those things and learn from mistakes in how you deal with them. Figure out how to deal with it BEFORE it happens to you.
You can also pick up a lot of info by watching how experienced players act in competition and how they deal with adversity.
Going into a competition mentally prepared, regardless of your level, is how you combat the nerves.
Make a list of all the things that can go wrong in competition and then decide ahead of time how you will deal with each thing, should it happen to you. You don't have to compete a hundred times to experience all those things and learn from mistakes in how you deal with them. Figure out how to deal with it BEFORE it happens to you.
You can also pick up a lot of info by watching how experienced players act in competition and how they deal with adversity.
Going into a competition mentally prepared, regardless of your level, is how you combat the nerves.
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The book McGoorty: a Billiard hustlers life, gives his encounter with that situation. His narration of expecting to escape the situation and finding bars on the window is priceless.
I experienced a very similar situation. I had been practicing on my self built table, at home after work.
I got to where I could run em all using Willie Mosconi booklet as guide. So when I took my homebuilt game to the local tavern (uh 1976? Maybe) and challenge the money table. Just a dollar minimum.....I could not win.
Then I met this Gal and was a couple of weeks into the relationship.
We were in her hometown, the cowboy capital of the world. The tavern sport was, "first one to hit the ground buys the beer". I had spent my last dollar courting on Friday night. It was closing time...well last game. As I prepared to break the rack for partners 8 ball. She whispered in my ear, "I just bet them a 6 pack of Michelob (for the exit party). I was young and well uh straight into prepare for Crash. I broke 'em.....and ran 'em. I won the Gal too!
Oh yeah our opponent s were the team rope Champions that jumped from the moving horse...at least 180 @ with me at 160....oh my imaginary alternative ending involved the taste of blood. A close friend quote, "the taste of blood excites me" ......well I prefer the imaginary kind. But my first fight at 6 years old involved that taste.
Respect Replaces Fear.
Good morning Fran.thumb
Good morning Fran.thumb
But my first fight at 6 years old involved that taste.
My father came home from work and inspection of my split lip was complete. He simply stated, "Son, I am going to have to teach you how to fight......Don't lead with your face."
My father came home from work and inspection of my split lip was complete. He simply stated, "Son, I am going to have to teach you how to fight......Don't lead with your face."
I jumped from the first page to the fourth. You already have the right answer over and over, breathing is the key. Slow deep breathing lowers your emotional temperature. On the other hand when it is five in the morning and the rooster is crowing and you are sitting on the hot seat but flat footed as hell deliberately breathing faster and a bit shallower can get the blood to flowing.
You can read books by the dozen and go to zen coaches but the answer is as simple as breathing. Your breathing changes with different emotional states but it's a loop, you can change your emotional state with your breathing.
It is also good to stop and think. If it is a small tournament with a few dozen people or a big event with a couple hundred people, even thousands at a few events in Vegas, there is only going to be one winner. Every other person there will be a loser. Don't feel like you are the Lone Ranger!
One thing that can help you a lot is never talk negatively about yourself. You came planning to win the event, own up to it. If you can't make yourself admit to others that you came to win at least say something neutral like Fat Albert, "Hey, hey, hey, I am here to play!" Don't plan to lose, don't hang with losers with no chance of winning, don't say or listen to a lot of negative talk, it is contagious.
First time I went to a big invitational with people from other countries and all over the US I was a bit intimidated. I cruised the crowds and found that only maybe thirty came to win the rest were just there to enjoy the experience of being in the event. When I realized that three-fourths of the field were just cannon fodder I was OK. I competed with thirty people or more most weekends.
Confidence is key. You don't have to be loud and ugly about it but you came to win. Telling yourself anything else is inviting nerves. Something else I do that works for me is flipping things around. Most look at some of the best in the world and figure they are the pace setters that have to be beaten. I always see myself as the pace setter. I am laying down my best performance possible, everybody else has to try to outperform me. It's a mental thing, but we have to win the mental game before we have a shot at winning the physical one.
While talking breathing, do it! Some people hold their breath while shooting. Sometimes we take a few extra practice strokes and find ourselves short on air by the time we are taking our final stroke. Get up off of the shot, now when you get back down breath shallowly but keep breathing so if the shot takes an extra fifteen or thirty seconds you still have oxygen. Never try to shoot when you need to breathe!
Works for me, everyone's mileage may vary.
Hu
You can read books by the dozen and go to zen coaches but the answer is as simple as breathing. Your breathing changes with different emotional states but it's a loop, you can change your emotional state with your breathing.
It is also good to stop and think. If it is a small tournament with a few dozen people or a big event with a couple hundred people, even thousands at a few events in Vegas, there is only going to be one winner. Every other person there will be a loser. Don't feel like you are the Lone Ranger!
One thing that can help you a lot is never talk negatively about yourself. You came planning to win the event, own up to it. If you can't make yourself admit to others that you came to win at least say something neutral like Fat Albert, "Hey, hey, hey, I am here to play!" Don't plan to lose, don't hang with losers with no chance of winning, don't say or listen to a lot of negative talk, it is contagious.
First time I went to a big invitational with people from other countries and all over the US I was a bit intimidated. I cruised the crowds and found that only maybe thirty came to win the rest were just there to enjoy the experience of being in the event. When I realized that three-fourths of the field were just cannon fodder I was OK. I competed with thirty people or more most weekends.
Confidence is key. You don't have to be loud and ugly about it but you came to win. Telling yourself anything else is inviting nerves. Something else I do that works for me is flipping things around. Most look at some of the best in the world and figure they are the pace setters that have to be beaten. I always see myself as the pace setter. I am laying down my best performance possible, everybody else has to try to outperform me. It's a mental thing, but we have to win the mental game before we have a shot at winning the physical one.
While talking breathing, do it! Some people hold their breath while shooting. Sometimes we take a few extra practice strokes and find ourselves short on air by the time we are taking our final stroke. Get up off of the shot, now when you get back down breath shallowly but keep breathing so if the shot takes an extra fifteen or thirty seconds you still have oxygen. Never try to shoot when you need to breathe!
Works for me, everyone's mileage may vary.
Hu
Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
I don't wear or use ear buds but a friend of mine does from time to time , as for what music works the best I'd say whatever you enjoy listening to on a regular basis , something up beat and positive .
George the Greek
Well-known member
There were no ear buds back in the day and basically some poolrooms with no music and some with low background music. I liked something with a beat that put me in the groove and the monster was unleashed.
Yeah. Melodic Death Metal is My goto.
should be no music in a pool room. you can easily use your own to your own tastes.
forcing people to listen to someone else's music for maybe many hours at a time has to lessen the experience even it its just unconsciously felt.
pool rooms with poor business practices have send most to the auction block. but then again good business people tend not to open a pool room.
forcing people to listen to someone else's music for maybe many hours at a time has to lessen the experience even it its just unconsciously felt.
pool rooms with poor business practices have send most to the auction block. but then again good business people tend not to open a pool room.
That brings back a fond memory. Wink. The brash young man that thought he was big enough to play for money said, "I never lose to Freebird," as it came onto the juke box as he lifted the rack for the third time. I gave a little wink and said, "I never lose to Freebird either" as he paid.
I have the ability to play music in my hearing aids from my phone via Bluetooth. I haven't used it in years. It could be used to cover the opponents attempts at sharking via loud conversation. At my age I prefer the subtlety of, "When it's your turn, you talk all you want. When it's my turn you sit down and Shut The F*** Up"
Righteous anger brings my best game.
Ah the medical Marijuana brings relaxation....as long as I can remember which balls are mine.
I was quite familiar with the use well better play through chemistry. The accelerants were employed by many . I had the privilege of close observation of Cole and many more, that prompted my lab coat les experiment with same. It was intoxicating. I saw the addiction but was able to walk away. Of course I have participated in many, "Experiments ". A favorite was at the Coaching conversation regarding how to play the lone 8 ball. It was The Championship game. Hill hill, bases loaded kind of spot.
The 8 was at such a location to make a scratch available if I played to the corner or side. Our team Captain had big ball cueball expertise. I played mostly small ball. So my question to him was "corner or side?" His hesitation was long enough for me to inquire, "what about the bank?" It was dead straight and a natural. His uh. ,"Can you Feel It?" Got the reply, "one way to find out. Thank you. 8 ball cross corner." Pow Splat is the result. Dead Center!
The little league coaching was, "bottom of the 9th bases loaded full count 2 out. You Have to Want to be the one at the plate." Or the Bob Lilly quote, "it ain't the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog."
My medical seems to be working just fine. Gabby is my tell.
I was quite familiar with the use well better play through chemistry. The accelerants were employed by many . I had the privilege of close observation of Cole and many more, that prompted my lab coat les experiment with same. It was intoxicating. I saw the addiction but was able to walk away. Of course I have participated in many, "Experiments ". A favorite was at the Coaching conversation regarding how to play the lone 8 ball. It was The Championship game. Hill hill, bases loaded kind of spot.
The 8 was at such a location to make a scratch available if I played to the corner or side. Our team Captain had big ball cueball expertise. I played mostly small ball. So my question to him was "corner or side?" His hesitation was long enough for me to inquire, "what about the bank?" It was dead straight and a natural. His uh. ,"Can you Feel It?" Got the reply, "one way to find out. Thank you. 8 ball cross corner." Pow Splat is the result. Dead Center!
The little league coaching was, "bottom of the 9th bases loaded full count 2 out. You Have to Want to be the one at the plate." Or the Bob Lilly quote, "it ain't the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog."
My medical seems to be working just fine. Gabby is my tell.
So one is NOT supposed to eat the whole rope at once?More experience being in those situations definitely helps.
Breathing exercises can help too, deep slow breaths will help calm the body.
A 2.5mg microdose gummy isn't bad either
Good grief
Cole spoke of using or needing the alcohol to take the edge off, when feeling nervous. So that's not an answer for An alcoholic. The cannot stop part was not pretty to watch.
That's not sustainable!