how do you counteract "the shakes"

practice

preshot routine

proper technique

trust in that technique

perfectly delivered stroke where the CB has all the momentum
 
Besides alcohol which works to a point, when I get nervous I concentrate a little more on my stroke letting my cue do all the work.
Confidence in your stroke & cue will overcome the jitters.
 
As ridiculous as it sounds

I've just started playing after 14 years away from the scene. In the four tournaments that I have played in, I have shot my best while shaking uncontrollably. In the first tournament I dropped my cue on the table wile pocketing the 9-ball to get on the hill with my opponent. In this last tournament the shaking did stop for two matches. I lost both of them. Go figure.
 
Proper pre shot routine and focusing on the individual shots, watching the ball roll and just focusing on watching it move and drop into the pocket (focusing on the actual movement after the shot, not worrying about the shot ahead of time), concentrating on things other than just worrying about getting the ball in or even worse .. the outcome of the entire game ... all can help.

The shakes usually happen due to anxiety and anxiety usually happens when you worry about entire matches or the money on the line etc... You should be worrying about the individual shot in front of you, as it is the only thing you can attempt to influence. Once you realize that and start to focus on the mechanics, the routines, or even something as crazy as hitting the ball and staying down on the shot and counting how many times the object ball rotates before it drops into the pocket (a technique which worked great for a friend of mine, as it gave him something to concentrate on other than the bigger picture) ... you will drop the shakes.

Or you can drink, heh ... or take a beta blocker (high blood pressure med is most common) before the money games you play. There is tons of research on beta blockers controlling anxiety ... but of course, abusing prescription medication is not recommended (even though a few people used this in my old league).
 
slow your breath down = slow your heartbeat down = slow your heartbeat down = dead stroke
 
Hi there,

i am a bit surprised that some guys really recommending alcohol or things like lorazepan etc. --

Just train seriously on your techniques and furthermore also on mental aspects. Don t try to *clear* mental issues with alcohol or medicaments- for me things like that have no place in billiards or any other *sport*.

lg
Ingo
 
I have had the shakes for quite some time now.. At one point it got so bad that I actually went to the doctor and asked her if there was anything she could do for me. She prescribed me with propranolol. I told her that I didn't want anything that would screw with my head or that could potentially be addictive and she assured me that this was neither. The first time I got to try it out was the turning stone which is a tourney that I would be shaking like a leaf any other time... I took one pill the morning of the tourney and I was cool as a cucumber... My friends couldn't believe how steady I was. I was told that they are given to people such as surgeons that need a extra steady hand. Check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol
 
measureman said:
I'm being absolutely straight with you. If you can not control it naturally see your Doctor and ask him about Atavan (generic name is Lorazepam .05 MG).
They will make you lose the shakes and not stone you out if you do not abuse them by taking too many.
Click to expand...

i almost blacked out playing in a tournament from performance anxiety. thought about taking ativan, i'd heard that it helps people whom suffer from performance anxiety, but decided against it for my own reasons. i've found that being more controlled and deliberate at the table helps as well, it used to be when i didn't pace myself that i found myself becoming anxious. i don't get the chance to play in big tournaments, so i though taking ativan was unneccessary. if i was though, i'd probably try it at least.
 
cuesblues said:
Besides alcohol which works to a point, when I get nervous I concentrate a little more on my stroke letting my cue do all the work.
Confidence in your stroke & cue will overcome the jitters.
Click to expand...

Ted-You get the shakes if you are with in 10 feet of a Lucasi. :D
 
miramachine said:
I have had the shakes for quite some time now.. At one point it got so bad that I actually went to the doctor and asked her if there was anything she could do for me. She prescribed me with propranolol. I told her that I didn't want anything that would screw with my head or that could potentially be addictive and she assured me that this was neither. The first time I got to try it out was the turning stone which is a tourney that I would be shaking like a leaf any other time... I took one pill the morning of the tourney and I was cool as a cucumber... My friends couldn't believe how steady I was. I was told that they are given to people such as surgeons that need a extra steady hand. Check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol
Click to expand...


I have the same presciption. This is a beta blocker and works wonders.

But, 3 beers does the same for me.
 
Falcon Eddie said:
The key is to ask yourself , Why ? why are you shaking..anxiety. The thing about anxiety is that it causes us to fear. That fear can be real or imagined. Playing pool and becoming over anxious or fearful.."what if I miss this shot".. "I need to make this shot ''..is putting more pressure on yourself. This fear is not real. You are not going to die if you miss it. We do the best we can and let it go . You need to go through the same routines and focus on deep belly breathing. ( from your diaphragm) . This will help to relax you. When you start to focus on the task and your breathing , keeping yourself moving to your own rhythm, you will start to get into the flow of things.
Click to expand...

I second this. Part of my pre-shot routine is to actually remind myself that the best I can do is follow my process, let go and just focus on the task at hand. I still get tense, but it's helped me a lot. I'd rather not take anything, just a personal choice.
 
Njhustler1 said:
so i was playing in a high pressure situation yesterday and I got a wicked case of the shakes. fortunately it was close to the end of the match and i had enough of a lead where I could hold on for the win. plus i slammed down a long island ice tea, but that was within about 10 minutes of the end of the match so it didnt have time to soak in.

but normally when i get the shakes, it doesnt turn out so well. anybody have any suggestions or techniques to fight them and keep cool???
Click to expand...

One technique is to tense your whole body, hold the tension for 5-10 seconds, then release (seriously), now go fire the fu**ing ball in the hole!

The extreme tension has an extreme tension release... It will reduce the shakes; although only temporarily - just do it again if needed before the next shot.
 
Eliminating shakes

Xanax and two beers.I focus on my breathing also.I have my medical pot license so that is what works best for me.I have a friend here in Denver Tommy Vines who shakes so bad that you think there is no f*cking way he can beat u but shoots the eyes off those balls.

Keith
 
I get super cold when im in the pool room and it makes me shake like crazy if i am in a tournament but i now wear a hoodie when i shoot and it doesnt happen no more. I may be just shaking cause im nervous and its all in my head but the hoodie has solved my problem for now.
 
Ratta said:
Hi there,

i am a bit surprised that some guys really recommending alcohol or things like lorazepan etc. --

Just train seriously on your techniques and furthermore also on mental aspects. Don t try to *clear* mental issues with alcohol or medicaments- for me things like that have no place in billiards or any other *sport*.

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

Not that this statement is wrong but saying Alcohol and pool don't go together is like saying Snow has no business being in the North Pole.
 
3 pages of replies and no one has mentioned good old fashioned WATER.. dehydrated muscles can't operate smoothly..


try this for a week..

drink a bottle of water wait half an hour then drink another one... then play pool.. report your results..

WATER.. trust me 99% of people will see a benifit

water will let your stroke ....FLOW... :grin-square:
 
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