Help With Nerves

[pair0nineballs]

Since i started playing pool i've always had this problem where when there is people watching me i play ABSOLUTELY terrible. I've been in a few LITTLE tournaments around here. The closest thing we have to a poolhall is an arcade with three 7 foot tables fairly close to each other, and about 2 feet from a wall. Anyway, in those little tournaments I play against people who dont really even know how to play the game, but for some reason my hands start to shake, I start to sweat like a fat kid wanting a number 1 supersized with a coke, and i miss easy shots, pop the ball off the table numerous times, and for some reason am unable to "see" the table correctly. I just shoot ball for ball not thinking three ahead and playing terrible position. Any idea why this happens? or where i can read up on some of these reactions to maybe, lessen my nerves or whatever is causing this problem?

 

[Rickw]

You need to have a littany of things that you need to do, e.g.; decide where you want to shoot the ball, where do you want the cb to end up, line up the shot, check your stance, check your bridge hand to ensure you are applying the appropriate english, etc. If you have a checkoff list something like this, it will give you something constructive to think about instead of how many people are watching. This isn't something that works 100% all the time but it will help. This refers to the pre-shot routine that you need to develop. Everyone has a little different routine, find the one that helps you the most. Good luck!

 

[bsmutz]

Relax

Pair0,
Pretty much everybody recommends putting yourself in these situations as often as possible to help get rid of nerves. If you are over 21, a beer or two should help you overcome the nerves. I have the same problem you do. One pint of ale does the trick for me. Another technique that seems to work well is to take some deep breaths before you shoot. Once I get comfortable, I feel confident all the time. I also slow my game down and give myself a chance to relax between shots. Walk around the table, chalk your cue, take a deep breath, look the shot over, then get down and shoot. Confidence is the biggest ally you have in those situations. Reach into your acting bag and make yourself feel like a professional. Think to yourself, all these people want to see me shoot a good game. I'm going to give it to them. I'm unbeatable! If I see someone miss a shot that I'm pretty sure I could have made, that's another confidence builder. You're putting on a show, so make yourself feel like a showman.

 

[piglit]

You just gotta get more comfortable in that situation. I think that you do that by getting in it as often as you can.

I don't agree with the beer suggestion, however. I like to get lit, well, dog gotta hunt, but beer during pool just makes me foggy.

How long have you been playing? How many tournaments have you done?

-piglit

 

[1pRoscoe]

Practice. Play more tournaments. Get in front of people as much as possible.

 

[dinovirus]

Since i started playing pool i've always had this problem where when there is people watching me i play ABSOLUTELY terrible. I've been in a few LITTLE tournaments around here. The closest thing we have to a poolhall is an arcade with three 7 foot tables fairly close to each other, and about 2 feet from a wall. Anyway, in those little tournaments I play against people who dont really even know how to play the game, but for some reason my hands start to shake, I start to sweat like a fat kid wanting a number 1 supersized with a coke, and i miss easy shots, pop the ball off the table numerous times, and for some reason am unable to "see" the table correctly. I just shoot ball for ball not thinking three ahead and playing terrible position. Any idea why this happens? or where i can read up on some of these reactions to maybe, lessen my nerves or whatever is causing this problem?

Good advice above. My own thought is that you have to learn to LOVE the spotlight, not to FEAR it - the same as an actor on stage. Staying positive is a helper too. Next time you come to the table, take a good look at the lie of balls, plan out your run, then tell youself, "this is an easy layout. 1-0 for me!" Then go ahead and do it.

 

[drivermaker]

Practice. Play more tournaments. Get in front of people as much as possible.

There's no real secret to it other than the above. It's just a version of what an actor or someone speaking in front of a group of people experiences....STAGE FRIGHT! The more you do it and put yourself out there, the easier it becomes and you don't even think about it. And if you do start feeling the symptoms coming on, you'll just understand that it's a natural occurence and you'll figure out how to deal with it.

 

[CaptainJR]

Some people here have heard my music. I get butterflies every time I play in front of an audience. The bigger the audience, the worse it gets. I dealt with this in many of the ways mentioned here. There were a couple of times that trying to deal with it, didn't work and I made some rather noticeable mistakes. 'So what.' right. I was just entertaining and it didn't really matter. In playing pool it matters. Not that it is life or death if you win or loss, but you would like to win.

There was one time that it mattered. I was ask to play for the POW/MIA remembrance program at the Navy Base I work at. They offered a small amount of money, I wouldn't take it. It was my honor to do it. I did it in honor of my one buddy that didn't make it back with me. (a little irrelevant, but wanted to mention that). Anyway, about 3 weeks before the event they called and ask me if I'd also open the program with the Star Spangled Banner. It took me a moment to respond and then I said I would. Now we are talking about something that really mattered to me. Playing the National Anthem in front of 500-1000 people. I'm thinking to myself, 'I can NOT make a mistake while playing this'. I was starting to get nervous already and it was still two weeks away.

Here is what I did about it, something that hasn't been mentioned here yet, and how to apply it.

I practiced the Star Spangled Banner so much that I could actually play it with my eyes closed. It made it easy to play with my eyes open. Allow your practice to eliminate your nervousness. All over this forum practice gets mentioned and I don't think you can exclude it from this thread. In a pool match you may have a few tough shots, but the majority of your shots should be shots you've practiced over and over again. Don't allow yourself to get nervous about these shots. You don't need to, you know you can make them. If you must get nervous, do it on a tough shot and allow it to be a reminder that you need to bare down. If you feel it coming on during an easy shot, try to step back and realize there is no need for that at the moment. I played the Star Spangled Banner flawlessly and after that I practiced more for future performances. If you realize you don't need to get nervous about the easy shots I think you find it will eventually carry over to other more difficult shots, to a degree. But I think everyone gets a little tight when bending down to a tough shot.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Either give up pool or work to overcome it.

This sounds like "stagefright" which people have trouble with when speaking in front of a crowd, actors on stage, etc. This is a very common problem for many people... So there is lots of help out there for you!

It is easy for some people to overcome simply by playing a lot of tournaments, maybe speaking in front of people, going to a city council meeting - standing up in front of everyone and giving your opinion about something. i.e. Doing exactly what makes you nervous and doing it a lot.

Other people may have a difficult time doing this on their own and may need help form others by taking a public speaking class or maybe getting some counseling.

I would suggest signing up for a lot of tournaments and taking a public speaking class and/or an acting class. The following links may help or search on google.com for stagefright, fear of speaking, etc. The first link below talks about a guy who forgot the second section of his piano concerto because he was so nervous...

Stagefright info...
http://www.dominicsmusic.com/Leblanc_Bell_stage-fright.htm
http://www.antion.com/articles/stagefright.htm

An example of a public speaking class...
http://www.msjc.edu/comm/suhl/public_speaking.htm

 

[Templar]

Since i started playing pool i've always had this problem where when there is people watching me i play ABSOLUTELY terrible. I've been in a few LITTLE tournaments around here. The closest thing we have to a poolhall is an arcade with three 7 foot tables fairly close to each other, and about 2 feet from a wall. Anyway, in those little tournaments I play against people who dont really even know how to play the game, but for some reason my hands start to shake, I start to sweat like a fat kid wanting a number 1 supersized with a coke, and i miss easy shots, pop the ball off the table numerous times, and for some reason am unable to "see" the table correctly. I just shoot ball for ball not thinking three ahead and playing terrible position. Any idea why this happens? or where i can read up on some of these reactions to maybe, lessen my nerves or whatever is causing this problem?

Hey! This sounds too painfully familiar. Relax. You aren't the only one who suffers from shaking hands when competing. In fact, more than one pro has responded to this problem with the simple statement, "you just learn to play with the shakes"! Some people drink beer (or whatever) to calm themselves down but this causes me to lose my coordination. I have found that when I play in front of a crowd, in some sort of competition, I tend to play better even with shaking hands. If I play somone who I know is better than me, I also tend to play better. In the few instances when I am put up against a player who I know isn't very good, I don't feel the nerves, my hands don't shake and I play much worse. Doesn't make much sence but that's me. I am a skill level 6 in APA 8 ball. Last week I played another S/L 6 whos game I really don't respect, played the worse game of pool in my life (like a nightmare!) missed three shots on the 8 ball (easy ones at that!) scratched on the 8 ball -God it was horrible! And left the place feeling totally lousy. But, I wasn't nervous at all. Last night I played another S/L 6 who really knows his way around a pool table and I was nervous. But I won five games in a row. I only missed 3 shots in those five games. He would miss, and I would run out. I could "see" the table perfectly and my execution was nearly flawless...shaking hands and all! Stay with it. And practice...practice...practice...

 

[pair0nineballs]

Thanks everyone!

I will try to play against more people and not to be nervous. It's weird because sometimes I am playing "perfect" and have no nerves going crazy and I consintrate on the rack. Then most of the time I just totally do what I said in the above statement. I will try everything you guys said, but I will add one more thing. I have played in a Death-Metal band (dont know if any of you have heard that music before) called Defilement. Local band but playing bigger and bigger venues all the time. Just incase any of you have heard this type of music, obvious bands would be Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Six Feet Under, or Mortician...just to give an example. Anyway, I am the singer for my band and since the first show i have ever played which starting out was in front of 500+ people I have never been nervous or anything like that. I believe it is because I have confidence in my singing abilities and dont worry about it at all, but with pool, it is completely different...have no idea. But thanks guys I will try to do the things you told me...and btw i've only played in a few tournaments, won them...but I should have whooped the people I played, seems like i gave WAY to many chances.

 

[Billy_Bob]

...I believe it is because I have confidence in my singing abilities and dont worry about it at all, but with pool, it is completely different...have no idea...

OK... I have an easy solution!

Just sing while you are shooting a shot!

 

[pete lafond]

Since i started playing pool i've always had this problem where when there is people watching me i play ABSOLUTELY terrible. I've been in a few LITTLE tournaments around here. The closest thing we have to a poolhall is an arcade with three 7 foot tables fairly close to each other, and about 2 feet from a wall. Anyway, in those little tournaments I play against people who dont really even know how to play the game, but for some reason my hands start to shake, I start to sweat like a fat kid wanting a number 1 supersized with a coke, and i miss easy shots, pop the ball off the table numerous times, and for some reason am unable to "see" the table correctly. I just shoot ball for ball not thinking three ahead and playing terrible position. Any idea why this happens? or where i can read up on some of these reactions to maybe, lessen my nerves or whatever is causing this problem?

I think every one does. I know for a fact that when I don't start out shaky, I seem to play my worst. That shaky feeling is a great kick off to total focus. I find that if I manage it in the right way it will lead me into total focus followed by in-the-zone. If it helps, what I like to do is to force myself to focus on an exacting spot where the object ball will be pocketed. I mean the tiniest spot inside the pocket. I find that this helps to confuse by conscious mind into absolute accuracy instead of negatives and distortions. Concentrating on my stroke does nothing. Concentrating on the end product which is pocketing the ball in an exact spot inside the pocket works for me. Even if I hit that tiny spot in the pocket, I keep working on it each shot after until it happens automatically. Shaky and unfocused is a very broad feeling, every thing has no definition to it, no straight lines and no edges. Ugly feeling huh?