how do you shake nerves on league night?

This page, and this site, has a lot of great info. on this subject;

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http://www.mindtools.com/stressrt.html

As you can see, I have done my homework on this subject!
 
Play for money off of league night.

This way when league night rolls around the match wont mean as much to you since nothing is coming out of your pocket when you lose. Therefore you shouldnt be as nervous.
 
The Piper said:
Not to be the one with the dirty mind here, but i think that applies to all aspects of life. :D HAHA

OH COME ON SOMEONE ELSE WAS THINKING IT
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See, your wrong about this. I am pool, full time, no breaks, no rest, every single waking moment.

They used to pay by the day, now by the hour, and soon it will get to the point that we are payed by the minute, so make minute count.

Sex is just something that gets in the way of my billiard career. How can sex make me a better pool player? It can't. Unless I am reading "99 Critical Shots" or watching a Kinsiter tape while performing.
 
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I was very nervous my first league night. I thought all the big names would be there like Johnny, Efren, etc.

But then I realized the people who showed up were just the regular people I play pool with in my local bar! And they were pretty much joking around and carrying on the same as when they play for fun. The only difference was they were keeping score of who won.

I was less nervous after realizing this, but still nervous. What helped me the most was to play in as many tournaments as possible. I checked around and found a couple of pool tournaments that anyone could enter. Then just entered the tournaments and tried my best. I have played in hundreds of these tournaments.

Now when I play in a tournament, I am pretty much relaxed. Last night I was playing a tournament in a bar and an intoxicated rail bird was commenting on every shot I made. And I was commenting back to him every once and a while (after shooting).

If he said something to me while I was about to shoot or shooting, I could not hear him. I guess I really concentrate and block out the chatter when I'm down on a shot. But if he said something to me after I made a shot, then I would hear that.

He would make a comment after I made a shot, then I would briefly think about if I wanted to reply to his comment or not, however I would then begin thinking about my next shot and would forget all about commenting back to him.

Anyway I had a table run and his comments did not affect my shooting in the least.

So I guess when I am about to shoot or shooting, I "have a lot of work to do" and am thinking about my shot. And this has priority over joking around with rail birds. I do like to joke around, but when I concentrate on something, I just totally focus on the task at hand.

Come to think about it, when I first played in tournaments, I was thinking about that person over there watching me, what would that person think if I missed my shot, etc. I was NOT thinking about my shot. Now I think about my shot and could care less about that person over there (Until I am done shooting and "wake up" from my period of intense concentration).
 
Overcoming nerves is a very tough thing to achieve in league play.

Having played about 10 years of league, almost all players get nervous, and it is to the detriment of their games.

The 3 exception I can think of are:
1. The guy who just doesn't care...a weird breed who probably doesn't play much.
2. The great player who usually only turns up occassionally as a fill in, but is way beyond other player's skill level and doesn't care about the league, yet will win 80+% of games anyway.
3. The drunk or high player.

The rest, unless they are rare rocks get toey...some deal with it better than others.

I think those who say you need nerves to be primed are just trying to do some positive thinking baloney. If they are nervous, they will miss pots or freeze up on positional shots or choose wrong shots. Most guys hate to admit their nerves detract from their game, but it's blatantly clear it does to anyone who has played tons of guys of various nervousness.

I'd rather my odds against a nervous good player than a confident mediocre player.
 
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My stress level is usually high at the beginning of any pool tourney/match, this past Sunday I played in a 8-Ball and 9-ball tourney back to back. The first 2 games of the day I had the butterflies but I shot well, after those 2 games I was relaxed and played well enough to win both tourneys. I didn't play my best but I won and that is going into the confidence bank for next time. Sometimes I have a hard time getting comfortable in a situation or tourney I have been in many times, usually after an hour or so I am fine. When I don't play well in tourneys I can always point to the first couple of games as to why I lost.

BK
 
BillyKoda said:
...When I don't play well in tourneys I can always point to the first couple of games as to why I lost.
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Good point!

That's the way it is with me. If I can get through those 1st couple of games and stay in the winners bracket, then I'm well on my way and will usually get into the money.
 
Last night I had to play the first game. I was pretty nervous but played very well. We had a couple of safety exchanges when I was down to 2 balls and he had all of his left. I finally said screw it and busted my balls out while leaving him a fairly tough cut to the side off of the rail. He made it but couldn't quite finish the runout. I ended up with ball in hand. When I got down on the 8, I could really feel myself starting to shake. I acknowledged to myself that I was nervous, then kind of mentally just told myself to forget about it and concentrate on making the ball. Down it went. By the second game I was no longer nervous, just hungry for another win. I knew I was up against a tough player and couldn't make any mistakes. It turned into another safety battle with the balls so tied up that we both had ball in hand and couldn't clean up the mess. Again I ended up with BIH with 2 balls and the 8. This time the table roll got me. Tried a soft shot to the corner on the ball prior to the 8 and the cue ball rolled a good 1/2" off the line of aim before it got to the ball. I'm thoroughly convinced that after a few weeks of putting yourself in this situation you will find a way to overcome the nerves.
 
Thoughts From a First Time League Player...

I guess the first question is when you say nervous are you talking like scared you'll screw up and everyone is watching you? or excited nerves like the adrenaline is pumping in anticipation of the match.......Figure that out and you're half way there.......

My first night in league, I was nervous more on the scared side rather than the excited side....Everyone was going to be watching me ..... I didn't know Any of my teammates....I just got recruited and really wanted to play. I went in hoping not to embarass myself and did just that...After I lost my match a teammate told me I looked like I had a stick in my ass, and it was just like playing in the bar on Friday night. ..... I kept that in mind the next week and pulled down a win....

Then I started getting all nervy and excited in anticipation of the match so the adrenaline is pumping your heart is racing ..... neither of which are good.....This adrenaline rush would hit me in the middle of a run when I was tasting victory and I'd end up missing an easy shot.

A good player on my team suggested that when I feel the rush come up that I should stand up if I'm already down to shoot and walk a slow lap around the table. Just look it over and take a second to look at the shot you're going to do get it set in your mind and above all breathe......Go back line the shot up draw the cue back and let it fly....just shoot the shot and don't worry about what happens. You looked at it you lined it up it will drop.....

This advice has helped me alot my League record is 5 and 2......

As for beer...... Alcohol turns off the neocortex (your rational thinking brain) and allows the lymbic system to take over(your motor function "reptile" brain). If you're the type of person who is over thinking and second guessing yourself.....maybe a beer or 3 would help settle your mind down and allow your body to let your stroke out.

Hope This Helps,

McCue Banger McCue
 
I guess the first question is when you say nervous are you talking like scared you'll screw up and everyone is watching you? or excited nerves like the adrenaline is



Delawho really hit on a good point..to continue on my earlier post the nerves I am talking about are the excited nerves , not scared...i have faith in my game not to be scared...i do however no my limitations as a player...i have at times player beyond my normal range..but that only get my motor running to reach that level again and maintain it..but i love that felling of excitment when my name is called....
 
Gregg said:
See, your wrong about this. I am pool, full time, no breaks, no rest, every single waking moment.

They used to pay by the day, now by the hour, and soon it will get to the point that we are payed by the minute, so make minute count.

Sex is just something that gets in the way of my billiard career. How can sex make me a better pool player? It can't. Unless I am reading "99 Critical Shots" or watching a Kinsiter tape while performing.
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just remember this. Hit it like bank shot.
 
Chuck Knoblach disease?

Knoblach was a Gold Glove 2nd baseman who lost the ability to make even the easiest throws from second to first. This has happened to others as well (e.g. Macky Sasser, a Mets catcher) even at the Major League level. These guys had played plenty, so just playing more doesn't seem the total mental prophylactic you're looking for.
I'm subject to this sort of adrenaline fueled problem like everyone else (look at how popular this thread is!). What I find works to calm down and work the shot is to come to the realization that, like the guy said in Risky Business "Joel, sometimes you just gotta say 'what the $^&*()'"
What is the worst that could happen? You miss the shot, your team loses, your teammates all look at you and say "Wow what a choker you are!"
When you accept that your life will go on after this horrible projected future, you should be able to calm down. Then work the table, not the crowd.
Stay with it.
 
A lot of the posters here are knocking the use of alcohol. Saying that it is a crutch or whatever. I don't see anything wrong with drinking as long as it is in moderation. I think I could play well whether I drink or not. I choose to drink because I enjoy it. I get out once a week (wife, kids, obligations) and I want to relax and have fun so I have a few beers. I've been playing the best pool of my life at the age of 41, not because I've been drinking or not drinking, but because I've been practicing a lot. I also only smoke when I drink and that doesn't seem to hurt anything either (as far as my performance goes) I know of all the health risks.

I play better when I'm in a tournament or on league night then I do when I'm not drinking or smoking at home and practicing on my own table. So, I cant see how not drinking or smoking is going to make me better. I guess everyone has thier own motivatiions and reasons why they play pool. I know I'm not going to make the IPT any time soon, so my motivation for playing pool is to have as much fun as possible. And when I'm having fun, I'm playing my best and winning.
 
mworkman said:
A lot of the posters here are knocking the use of alcohol. Saying that it is a crutch or whatever. I don't see anything wrong with drinking as long as it is in moderation. I think I could play well whether I drink or not. I choose to drink because I enjoy it. I get out once a week (wife, kids, obligations) and I want to relax and have fun so I have a few beers. I've been playing the best pool of my life at the age of 41, not because I've been drinking or not drinking, but because I've been practicing a lot. I also only smoke when I drink and that doesn't seem to hurt anything either (as far as my performance goes) I know of all the health risks.

I play better when I'm in a tournament or on league night then I do when I'm not drinking or smoking at home and practicing on my own table. So, I cant see how not drinking or smoking is going to make me better. I guess everyone has thier own motivatiions and reasons why they play pool. I know I'm not going to make the IPT any time soon, so my motivation for playing pool is to have as much fun as possible. And when I'm having fun, I'm playing my best and winning.
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My first break and run during league night I was well into four or five beers...Not that it helped, but it didn't seem to hurt. I would not advocate this, but it's just the truth.
 
Drinking effects everyone differently, personally I can not drink at all, an play. I really do not think it is good for anyone's game, unless you are just so paralyzed by fear you have convinced yourself you need it to play. I just see a lot of players (often league players) who are use to playing at night, get into trouble when they have a higher level tournament that starts at 10am!
I have seen people drink this early and by the time they get to the evening rounds become useless puddles. Alcohol is just not an option for everyone, some people have issues with it and to reccomend it as a solution for this issue is a little shortsighted.
I know plenty of people who can keep it in check and play great during league play. But most of these guys do not drink at all during serious tournament play. As a matter of fact, I can not think of any good players I know, who drink during serious tournaments.
I just think it is a bit odd, cause if this was a baseball or basketball forum I would be very surprised to see anyone recommended it as a solution to nerves?
 
cuechick said:
Drinking effects everyone differently, personally I can not drink at all, an play. I really do not think it is good for anyone's game, unless you are just so paralyzed by fear you have convinced yourself you need it to play. I just see a lot of players (often league players) who are use to playing at night, get into trouble when they have a higher level tournament that starts at 10am!
I have seen people drink this early and by the time they get to the evening rounds become useless puddles. Alcohol is just not an option for everyone, some people have issues with it and to reccomend it as a solution for this issue is a little shortsighted.
I know plenty of people who can keep it in check and play great during league play. But most of these guys do not drink at all during serious tournament play. As a matter of fact, I can not think of any good players I know, who drink during serious tournaments.
I just think it is a bit odd, cause if this was a baseball or basketball forum I would be very surprised to see anyone recommended it as a solution to nerves?
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No, it is probably not the best solution. My last big state tourney I took 5th which will bump me up to AA next year. I didn't start drinking untill after my second match (I won both) about 12:30. I drank all day long untill midnight and played the best pool of my life and made it to the next day. I think as long as you don't overdue it like being over .10% you should be fine. It just seems more like work then it does fun when I'm not drinking.
 
Cuechick (and anyone else sharing this opinion), I'm sure you are an intelligent person, but recommending alchohol for helping to calm one's nerves for league play is not shortsighted. It works for some people and it doesn't work for others. Deep breathing or meditating works for some and doesn't for others. The original poster asked for input and he got a variety of inputs. Comparing playing pool to basketball or baseball is just ridiculous. I've never seen anyone run, jump, or throw on a pool table. Sports that require a great deal of physical exertion do not combine well with alcohol, although I would be willing to bet that there are some people who would swear by their ability to perform under the influence while engaged in a more strenuous sport. Personally, I feel like my muscles are made of jelly once I get drunk. Until someone does a study and publishes the results, any correlation between various amounts of alcohol consumption and one's ability to play pool will merely be an opinion using one's personal experience (and, perhaps, anecdotal evidence from friends and coplayers). Certainly most will agree that at some point alcohol consumption will probably have a detrimental affect on a person's play (time vs. amount consumed). I know that after 5 12oz. ales, my play starts to deteriorate. Certainly I can still make good shots but consistency suffers. I can state unequivocally that I no longer have any butterflies or nervousness, though. After all, he asked how to get rid of the jitters, not how to get rid of the jitters and play at his best, too.
 
Alcohol turns off the neocortex (your rational thinking brain) and allows the lymbic system to take over(your motor function "reptile" brain). If you're the type of person who is over thinking and second guessing yourself.....maybe a beer or 3 would help settle your mind down and allow your body to let your stroke out.

Billiards, Darts, Bowling, and other "games of skill" or Pub games are conducive to drinking.....You're in a pub after all. The key is to consume only enough to quiet the Neocortex....any more and your motor skills rapidly deteriorate......This is why I don't recommend drinking. Many don't have the control to stop at the right time....not that they can't....it's more a function of absorbtion into the system and how fast you process a drink...

McCue Banger McCue
 
Colin Colenso said:
I think those who say you need nerves to be primed are just trying to do some positive thinking baloney. If they are nervous, they will miss pots or freeze up on positional shots or choose wrong shots. Most guys hate to admit their nerves detract from their game, but it's blatantly clear it does to anyone who has played tons of guys of various nervousness.

I'd rather my odds against a nervous good player than a confident mediocre player.
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I disagree Colin. I understand your point here but I don't think you fully understand my point (and others) let me expound upon them.

When I feel this anticipation/adrenaline surge/emotion/nerves coming on before a match I know I'm ready. When I play, the first time I set my bridge down on the table it disappears because I have too much work to do. Those nerves do not linger over the entire match.

Yes, they may come back at the very end. (I shoot anchor and my game has the fate of the entire team on my shoulders in so instances.) But I do not veiw it as such. If you do or allow that kind of thinking to enter your mind you must, and I repeat must stop right there. Then ask yourself honestly and answer yourself honestly why the nerves?

Does thinking about this increase my chances at playing this layout in front of me any better? ETC.
Get back to business going thru your options and the highest percentage shots.

BillyBob cites an excellent example of this.

Another example, Tom Ross has an article about pressure in which he quotes Cory Deuel. Cory welcomes the pressure, nerves, and/or emotions. Whatever you want to call it.

http://www.tomrosspool.com/pdf/Self Management/Pressure.pdf


Sure I have seen many players just fall apart because they don't confront thier own negative selftalk that goes on. I would probably want to play that player.

People drink beer and smoke weed to turn that analytical blabermouth part of the brain off. It interferes with the fine motor controls we must use in our game. To a point. Then those fine motor contols we enjoy start to go as well. Some may think it's fine, but your stealing from Peter to pay Paul.

Speaking of Paul, a man by the same name plays a excellent game of pool close to the .2 range on a breathalizer.
Also I have teamates who drink. I don't say a word to them about it. One guy shoots great from two to four.
Beers that is... I just don't advocate it because not everyone can do it, and if you are confronting the problem with nerves don't take that shortcut.

I just believe that it is a short term answer to a problem that is best faced time and time again. Experience brings long term results that are more reliable.
You can honestly say to yourself and others been there done that before time and time again.
 
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