Jitters or nerves

G

George the Greek

Well-known member
Do you guys get the jitters or nervous playing in tournaments? I can't seem to shake them and play like crap. Lately I've been playing good enough and when I get in a tournament I suck. How do you cope if you cope and how do you do it? I know it's not easy.
 
George the Greek said:
Do you guys get the jitters or nervous playing in tournaments? I can't seem to shake them and play like crap. Lately I've been playing good enough and when I get in a tournament I suck. How do you cope if you cope and how do you do it? I know it's not easy.
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This is how I deal with it. I feel pressure but I embrace it. I’ve practiced my whole life to be in that exact situation. No reason to crumble under the pressure if I have put the hours in on the practice table. I know I’m ready. If I haven't put the hours in it usually shows and will get exposed. Preparation is the key for me.
 
Sometimes. It just means you care. Straight pool practice where you try to beat your high run can help.
When you get close to your # and your heart starts going, you can use those moments to learn to control the reaction. Relax, remember your p.s.r.
I don't think it goes away.
 
The nerves can happen, even to the Greatest. Just not as often. 🤷‍♂️
I remember my nerves in my introduction to bar box 9 ball at The White Spot in Fife. It was Wednesday night $5 race to 3. The field was around 32 usually.
I recall thinking, "I will be fine as soon as my hands stop shaking. " Of course the alter ego replied, "they won't stop until you MAKE A BALL!"
Building a solid foundation helped me. As I had realized the impotance of eliminating the "high speed wobble " starts with slow down. Then rebuild it from the ground. A solid foundation can withstand a tremor.
 
Had it both ways over the years. That is, real pressure and none whatsoever. Had dry eyes, nervous jitters, gut wrenching fear, and also nothing whatsoever - clear headed focus. I conclude it's not the player. The "pressure" is added interference; a deliberate assault turning a sporting encounter into attempted robbery. Combat mind wrasslin is a thing folks. (hysterical laughter in the wings... )
 
bobbydee said:
Sometimes I get like this in league play. It's weird because it's not all the time just sometimes. I basically just take deep slow breathes while between shots or between me and my opponent playing.
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My fondest league memories and lessons came playing little league baseball at 8.
My world class coach taught, "If it's the bottom of the 9th. The bases are loaded. There are 2 outs. The count is 3 and 2......YOu have to Want to be the hitter!"
EmBrace the Challenge.
Slow down
Take a deep breath
Start the process that has been practiced....to perfect. Right?
 
straightline said:
Combat mind wrasslin is a thing
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My experience is, if you want to see my best game....Piss Me Off! Oh nothing like a self rightchous mad to get me Focused.
Shark moves have set Me Off, in the past...🤷‍♂️ A direct and verbal confrontation might start with. "When it's my turn at the table, you sit down, shut up and try to act like A Man!"
🤷‍♂️ Worked for me and thanks to Lake City Red the rush took me to winning my first 2 day event. 🤷‍♂️
 
MAN UP
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gregcantrall said:
My experience is, if you want to see my best game....Piss Me Off! Oh nothing like a self rightchous mad to get me Focused.
Shark moves have set Me Off, in the past...🤷‍♂️ A direct and verbal confrontation might start with. "When it's my turn at the table, you sit down, shut up and try to act like A Man!"
🤷‍♂️ Worked for me and thanks to Lake City Red the rush took me to winning my first 2 day event. 🤷‍♂️
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I used to be able to get motivated playing chirpers and knockers but that was many moons ago
 
I saw a video on that by CJ Wiley and his advice was to approach the match as if you already lost it, and you play like you have nothing to lose.
Works for me, especially when playing strong players.
I’m more nervous these days playing weak players as it’s embarrassing to lose to them and when playing short races, anything can go wrong… in this case I try to consider them stronger and go back to CJ’s advice
 
Can’t decide;

- Breathing exercises
- Alcohol
- Indica laced slow release suppository

Life is a struggle!
 
As has been mentioned, nerves in a situation only mean that you care about the outcome. If you feel nervous, don't view it as a 'bad' thing. Instead use the energy of the situation by viewing it as a good thing.

There is a simple trick that can help in stressful situations. Smile. Forced or not, there is a lot of evidence that smiles boost mood and releases endorphins. Smiling when coming up to the table will give a moment to realistically assess the situation with a better attitude. Smiling will also have the effect of making you look confident to your opponents which can put them on edge.

Take a look at how a little guy from an island nation always played the game. Efren always seemed to be smiling and laughing when he played.

A very dear friend of mine from my days playing competitive foosball told me a story about one of the biggest foosball matches of her career, one that put her in the top three ranked women in the world. She was playing a very tough match with the world #1 female and feeling every bit of the pressure. Her opponents took a timeout and her partner turned to her and said, 'Isn't this fun?!' Her outlook on those matches changed in an instant.

Damn, in a tournament we GET to play POOL against GOOD players! That should be the highlight of your day/week/month. Enjoy the experience and don't worry about the outcome.
 
Nerves are normal in all situations. You're driving 50 miles an hour on a two-lane road you're going to be a little nervous about head on traffic. And what it's going to do is just make you a little more cautious.

Doing something like playing pool nerves are going to make you play better in the long run hopefully to make you just a little bit sharper. The one thing you're probably talking about is when you start having a conversation inside your head about missing balls. Instead of seeing the ball going into the pocket you see every which way it could miss. That's usually overcome simply by experience.
Don't worry about it.
 
middleofnowhere said:
Nerves are normal in all situations. You're driving 50 miles an hour on a two-lane road you're going to be a little nervous about head on traffic. And what it's going to do is just make you a little more cautious.

Doing something like playing pool nerves are going to make you play better in the long run hopefully to make you just a little bit sharper. The one thing you're probably talking about is when you start having a conversation inside your head about missing balls. Instead of seeing the ball going into the pocket you see every which way it could miss. That's usually overcome simply by experience.
Don't worry about it.
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My biggest problem is assuming everything I'm shooting at is going in the hole. Im not used to getting back up and getting back down to make sure I'm 100% on the shot. Im hoping to turn it around
 
If you aren't feeling anything I'd be more concerned about that than if I was feeling nervous. Nerves don't really matter it's any remotely negative thoughts about a specific shot/pattern/breakout. If you have any doubts stand up and start all over to eliminate any negative thoughts or it could be a gut feeling telling you to reset.
 
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