Almost everyone has experienced "choking" of some type whether they admit it or not. I have learned it is a huge part of my game. Not choking so much as just talking to myself or being nervous over a shot, second guessing. I know it is my sub conscious that makes the shot but I can't always get my conscious mind out of the way.
It seems so odd to me that I get nervous for what my conscious mind says doesn't even matter. Like most people I have a natural desire to win vs. lose and make a shot vs. miss it. Why this creates a shaking or nervous reaction in a match that has almost NO impact on my life, or even my standing or my team standing, is a mystery.
Here are some things I have tried and my impression of what works so far. Maybe you can add ideas or comments to help me and others as well.
1. Positive thinking and talk. Worthless to me and I have not seen it play out well for others. It is more like bragging. The one who says how great they are going to do something ultimately performs much the worst. I actually hate it when my teammates do it. It seems to have the reverse effect. They set a bar so high they can't make it and put even more pressure on themselves.
2. A standard pre-shot routine. Good and helps me make sure my mechanics don't cause a miss. But doesn't do much to overcome the shakes.
3. Focusing on staying down and watching the ball go in the pocket. Good but on a bad day I forget and jump up.
4. Medications. Some players believe they play better drunk. That is probably possible for some, not for good players but for some bar players. I have learned that anti-anxiety medication taken way before a match can help me when I am in a match hours later. The problem is it is such a balance. Too little no help, too much and I simply don't care enough to even focus.
5. Practice. This has turned out to be the best elixir of all on all fronts. It has taken me a couple of years but I have hit so many balls and made so many shots I get down on a shot and just don't picture how I am going to miss it. Even on hard shots I realize my percentage, load that into my strategy and don't fret if I miss a shot I am only 60-40 to make to begin with.
6. Getting mad at your self. I have one friend who gets "dominate". He thinks he can "will" himself to play well. It is funny to watch but he speeds around the table, calls his next ball as soon as he pockets a ball and marches around. He is showing the world what a great player he is. In reality he is trying to show himself. It only works sometimes and usually after the match has been determined and his game doesn't matter any more and is a result of a weak performance to that point.
7. Getting Even. I have another teammate who also thinks he can just "decide" to win. He is motivated by the other team. If they wish him bad luck or make an 8 ball break and celebrate or celebrate almost anything. He keys off that and gets a determined "I'll show them mind set". It is like he normally doesn't play all that hard but if they say the wrong thing it motivates him to strike back. He also likes to be the underdog. If he wins, he tells me later what he heard one of the players say, like, "I wonder who we will play next after we win this match", so "I just ran out on them". Again, like he can do it at will and when he doesn't it is just because he isn't really motivated.
I just played in our State finals and did the best I have ever done. I had the second highest match average of about 150 players. I scored 29.36 out of a basic round where 30 is max (3 ten point games alternate break) although an 8 ball break is 1 extra point and a break and run is 5 extra. The top guy averaged 30.5. Everyone else was way below me. I shot 7.66 balls per match above my all time average and was never nervous. This was a first for me. I did take a very low dose anti-anxiety drug in the morning but mostly I was comfortable with what I was doing and when I did miss it didn't draw on me.
I suppose it is all about confidence and see people achieve it in many ways.
Many years ago Ronnie Allen challenged a bunch of "hustlers" in a late night pool hall to play for $1500 at $100 a game. That was a lot of money in those days. They said "why do we have to play for $100 why not $20". Ronnie said "I know I can make a ball for $100. I don't know if you can.".
It seems so odd to me that I get nervous for what my conscious mind says doesn't even matter. Like most people I have a natural desire to win vs. lose and make a shot vs. miss it. Why this creates a shaking or nervous reaction in a match that has almost NO impact on my life, or even my standing or my team standing, is a mystery.
Here are some things I have tried and my impression of what works so far. Maybe you can add ideas or comments to help me and others as well.
1. Positive thinking and talk. Worthless to me and I have not seen it play out well for others. It is more like bragging. The one who says how great they are going to do something ultimately performs much the worst. I actually hate it when my teammates do it. It seems to have the reverse effect. They set a bar so high they can't make it and put even more pressure on themselves.
2. A standard pre-shot routine. Good and helps me make sure my mechanics don't cause a miss. But doesn't do much to overcome the shakes.
3. Focusing on staying down and watching the ball go in the pocket. Good but on a bad day I forget and jump up.
4. Medications. Some players believe they play better drunk. That is probably possible for some, not for good players but for some bar players. I have learned that anti-anxiety medication taken way before a match can help me when I am in a match hours later. The problem is it is such a balance. Too little no help, too much and I simply don't care enough to even focus.
5. Practice. This has turned out to be the best elixir of all on all fronts. It has taken me a couple of years but I have hit so many balls and made so many shots I get down on a shot and just don't picture how I am going to miss it. Even on hard shots I realize my percentage, load that into my strategy and don't fret if I miss a shot I am only 60-40 to make to begin with.
6. Getting mad at your self. I have one friend who gets "dominate". He thinks he can "will" himself to play well. It is funny to watch but he speeds around the table, calls his next ball as soon as he pockets a ball and marches around. He is showing the world what a great player he is. In reality he is trying to show himself. It only works sometimes and usually after the match has been determined and his game doesn't matter any more and is a result of a weak performance to that point.
7. Getting Even. I have another teammate who also thinks he can just "decide" to win. He is motivated by the other team. If they wish him bad luck or make an 8 ball break and celebrate or celebrate almost anything. He keys off that and gets a determined "I'll show them mind set". It is like he normally doesn't play all that hard but if they say the wrong thing it motivates him to strike back. He also likes to be the underdog. If he wins, he tells me later what he heard one of the players say, like, "I wonder who we will play next after we win this match", so "I just ran out on them". Again, like he can do it at will and when he doesn't it is just because he isn't really motivated.
I just played in our State finals and did the best I have ever done. I had the second highest match average of about 150 players. I scored 29.36 out of a basic round where 30 is max (3 ten point games alternate break) although an 8 ball break is 1 extra point and a break and run is 5 extra. The top guy averaged 30.5. Everyone else was way below me. I shot 7.66 balls per match above my all time average and was never nervous. This was a first for me. I did take a very low dose anti-anxiety drug in the morning but mostly I was comfortable with what I was doing and when I did miss it didn't draw on me.
I suppose it is all about confidence and see people achieve it in many ways.
Many years ago Ronnie Allen challenged a bunch of "hustlers" in a late night pool hall to play for $1500 at $100 a game. That was a lot of money in those days. They said "why do we have to play for $100 why not $20". Ronnie said "I know I can make a ball for $100. I don't know if you can.".