Good Jitter Hitter

[dizAndyVan]

After a two week hiatus from practicing pool for at least an hour 4 days a week, I joined my college campus' 9-ball tournament and I had to run to make it on time (almost didn't make it). The adrenaline was pumping but there was twice the expected turnout. Needless to say i was derned excited. In my first match i was playing faster than normal but i won the first two racks and eventually the game in a race to three, but by the time of my second match i had calmed down and played as i usually did and ended up losing as per usual.

So (tl;dr) do you guys like those jitters from the excitement or do you guys like to play calm and slow?

and for you guys who prefer to play fast paced how do you stay excited? or how do you guys who prefer slower play stay calm?

 

[West Point 1987]

I play very strong on the first couple of racks, just off the street...then as I calm down (after warming up or maybe a first match if I'm entering too late to practice) my game falls off...if I can survive that, I then get to a third stage which is my best game. Fully warmed up, calm, concentration turned on and in stroke.

I think your adrenaline rush heightens your senses and brings out a strong game...but not your best. Then as you calm down, you get to the "not warmed up yet" stage and are playing at a lower speed. The trick is to get there early enough to warm up a little, get past the jitters/urgency stage AND get loose enough to stroke with confidence and have that gear to play your top game.