Thoughts on the best way to remove tension when shooting in league/tournaments?

Great topic..being comfortable has a huge impact on performance in any sport. And getting comfortable and staying comfortable are learned behaviors. Lots of things contribute to stress or less than comfortable circumstances, being able to recognize what makes you feel that way is the first step. Could be environmental, social anxieties, fears..and the ist goes on. Try to take time before leaving home to think about how you are going to perform....nothing else...plan on how to deal with distractions, and your own frustrations...develop a self talk routine or as some call it "chair tactics"
for when you start to feel anxious or uncomfortable. It maytake a few outtings to get over it, but by learnig to do this you will develope a rock solid way to bring your best with you at all times. And above all else remember to just enjoy your time playing and competing. Good luck.
 
I had a period when I played, that I would make so many silly mistakes and goofy moves, I would make it where I couldn't win unless I played perfect, usually against much higher rated players, even though my opponent had not done anything special,
Then I would go on a tear and make the game close , but still lose , because I made 1 last mistake or they got lucky one last time. I realized I was putting too much pressure on myself, then I started playing with the thought that I am going to lose games, but I am not going to lose any games where I do something stupid , or miss an easy shot, trying to get unmakeable position , I will play position for a safe instead. It was amazing how many more matches I started winning. And I became almost unbeatable by guys who were my speed,or below.
 
ShootingArts said:
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
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SeniorTom said:
Does anybody use music/earbuds to help their mental game? If so, does it help? and what music works the best?
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Whatever you enjoy that keeps you 'up'.
 
Things that I do that help my mental game are:
1) Practicing fundamentals.
2) Making the game what it is, just a game. This is a short life and in retrospect when we look back it is really not that important in the scheme of things.
3) Not having proper breathing.
4) taking my time and having fun as well.

I have been going back to the basics a bit with my stroke, and just trying to hit full length diagonal stop shots into the corners. It's amazing how this shores up your stroke. When you are more confident over your stroke you'll be more confident in the game as well. I have also been working on the mental side in terms of minimizing the importance of winning and losing, because it isn't as important as we make it out to be. I try not to use any negative words in my affirmations, like "I will not miss this shot". Never use a negative word trying to make a positive affirmation to yourself because your mind will naturally pick out that negative word and use it against you. Have fun and enjoy is starting to be my new mantra.
 
SeniorTom said:
Things that I do that help my mental game are:
1) Practicing fundamentals.
2) Making the game what it is, just a game. This is a short life and in retrospect when we look back it is really not that important in the scheme of things.
3) Not having proper breathing.
4) taking my time and having fun as well.

I have been going back to the basics a bit with my stroke, and just trying to hit full length diagonal stop shots into the corners. It's amazing how this shores up your stroke. When you are more confident over your stroke you'll be more confident in the game as well. I have also been working on the mental side in terms of minimizing the importance of winning and losing, because it isn't as important as we make it out to be. I try not to use any negative words in my affirmations, like "I will not miss this shot". Never use a negative word trying to make a positive affirmation to yourself because your mind will naturally pick out that negative word and use it against you. Have fun and enjoy is starting to be my new mantra.
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Well said!!
 
Since it seems we've already gone down the path, a very well known and commonly used 'aid' for musicians, singers, actors, etc. is a simple small dose Beta Blocker, a group of blood pressure medicines. They are not a controlled substance and very easy to get for us more seasoned players! They keep your heart from racing and all the other physical issues that go with that without fogging your brain.
 
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