Specifically, what do ya'll do to master or at least control them in high stress, competitive pool? I have spent my entire ;life/career in athletics...all state in football, wrestling, and baseball (many moons ago!), but other than wrestling I've never played an individual sport competitively. Wrestling is easy...nerves lead to adrenaline, adrenaline to aggression, fast twitch engagement, explosiveness, etc.
. But in pool, where fine motor skills and concentration are key, that can be counterproductive. I am not talking about those times when you are in the zone and every pocket looks huge and runout patterns highlight themselves for you. I am talking about those times when they ain't falling, you start second guessing every decision, and it seems every ball is tied up and every pocket blocked.
Sometimes in those situations I'll get down on a straight in shot, one I shoot and make 100 times during the week, and I can feel a tremor in my backstroke, my throat gets dry, hot flash, breathing gets screwy, and when I make the shot it seems like such a huge relief, but it kind of repeats throughout the match...
Heck a guy on my team last night with hundreds of league matches and a high win percentage, comes over between shots and his hands are shaking...he has no idea why he is so nervous and tense...
I have tried playing with earbuds with various music types (classical, soft rock, hair band, metal) but that doesn't seem to do anything but make me lose focus...Just interested to hear if this happens to any of ya'll and what your techniques are to manage it.
. But in pool, where fine motor skills and concentration are key, that can be counterproductive. I am not talking about those times when you are in the zone and every pocket looks huge and runout patterns highlight themselves for you. I am talking about those times when they ain't falling, you start second guessing every decision, and it seems every ball is tied up and every pocket blocked.
Sometimes in those situations I'll get down on a straight in shot, one I shoot and make 100 times during the week, and I can feel a tremor in my backstroke, my throat gets dry, hot flash, breathing gets screwy, and when I make the shot it seems like such a huge relief, but it kind of repeats throughout the match...
Heck a guy on my team last night with hundreds of league matches and a high win percentage, comes over between shots and his hands are shaking...he has no idea why he is so nervous and tense...
I have tried playing with earbuds with various music types (classical, soft rock, hair band, metal) but that doesn't seem to do anything but make me lose focus...Just interested to hear if this happens to any of ya'll and what your techniques are to manage it.