I have a big tournament coming up this week, my big problem is that my mental game gets thrown off very easily and i get very nervious under pressure. when i get nervious my arm is as stiff as a board. my entire mindset gets thrown off. when i am under pressure it takes me all my might to pocket a ball and half the time i will mess easy shots which i will shoot in with ease while practicing. i am not a bad player by any means, i can break and run racks quite consistantly but i just need some advice as to what to think about or what to do when i get nervous because that is when my game goes in the gutter, any advice will help, thanks
mental game
- Thread starter salam4
- Start date
salam4 said:
I like to have a glass of water in more corner at all times. If I get distracted and lose my concentration, I go over to it take a sip, wipe down my cue and then approach the table again.
But it sounds as though you are shooting before you are ready. Don't do that.
I know this feeling. You walk in the room and already your knees are shaking. Your mouth goes dry. You try to engage in some friendly conversation but damn it's cold in here. You know exactly what it is. Your heartbeat tells you everything. You try to stop shaking. Why now? You've played a hundred different tournaments and a thousand different money games in your life. But you can't control your nerves now. "I'll be fine as soon as I start playing," you tell yourself. But you're not. You can't make a ball. You're 6 inches from the pocket yet you miss. What the hell is going on?
Am I close? This happens to me all the time. And it always has, my entire life. At the plate with 2 outs. During that important match. Holding the nuts with the last card coming. Why does it happen? You're making the situation bigger than it is. The game is too important to lose. When you think this way, you make it impossible to win. In your mind, you've already lost. And you will do anything to make sure that you do in fact lose. This includes missing that clutch shot. When you feel yourself losing it, go sit down. Close your eyes and imagine yourself winning, with everyone you know cheering for you. Imagine yourself holding the giant trophy. But don't see yourself holding it. Put yourself in the situation. BE THERE. You'll see the crowd, you'll see the giant check, you'll see the lights and the tables. But you won't see yourself. You won't see your face or the clothes you're wearing. Those are things you will feel. You must maintain the 1st person view. Your life is not a movie, don't watch it like a movie. Now open your eyes and fire that ball in with every ounce of confidence you have. You know you're gonna make the shot, so make it.
Am I close? This happens to me all the time. And it always has, my entire life. At the plate with 2 outs. During that important match. Holding the nuts with the last card coming. Why does it happen? You're making the situation bigger than it is. The game is too important to lose. When you think this way, you make it impossible to win. In your mind, you've already lost. And you will do anything to make sure that you do in fact lose. This includes missing that clutch shot. When you feel yourself losing it, go sit down. Close your eyes and imagine yourself winning, with everyone you know cheering for you. Imagine yourself holding the giant trophy. But don't see yourself holding it. Put yourself in the situation. BE THERE. You'll see the crowd, you'll see the giant check, you'll see the lights and the tables. But you won't see yourself. You won't see your face or the clothes you're wearing. Those are things you will feel. You must maintain the 1st person view. Your life is not a movie, don't watch it like a movie. Now open your eyes and fire that ball in with every ounce of confidence you have. You know you're gonna make the shot, so make it.
I think , for me, when I felt that way as a young player it was hard to overcome. I wanted everyone to know how good I played and it meant alot to me! I heard lots of advice. Everyone has a way to deal with this but you have to figure out what works for you. Experience was the best teacher for me. Going short drives away from my home town on the weekends was a big confidence builder. Thats all it is!! CONFIDENCE!!! When the pressure is on me, I concentrate on keeping my head still and hitting the cue ball exactly where I need to! This thought process distracts my mind from all the garabage that you don't need to be thinking about! Pool is a game that challenges you everytime you come to the table under all kinds of conditions!! Good Luck. Keep on keeping on!!salam4 said:
glad it's not just me
I do the same thing .However a friend told me to play
in more tournaments .It seems to be helping and I am not
nutting up quite as bad as I used to .I was a great practice
player but floped under pressure .So I am going to keep at
it even if I blow it with a case of nerves ......I will not ever
ever give up !!! I can outlast and outplay the jitters .Or at
least that is what I tell myself .Maybe it will help you .Thanks
I do the same thing .However a friend told me to play
in more tournaments .It seems to be helping and I am not
nutting up quite as bad as I used to .I was a great practice
player but floped under pressure .So I am going to keep at
it even if I blow it with a case of nerves ......I will not ever
ever give up !!! I can outlast and outplay the jitters .Or at
least that is what I tell myself .Maybe it will help you .Thanks
There are many threads here about this so take your pick. Like was said already, what helps me most is confidence in what I can do on the table. Stay in the moment and focus on your pre-shot routine....BREATH. The jitters are a natural fight/flight response from your body because you are putting yourself in a perceived stressful situation. The reason exposure to more gambling or tourneys works is because the more you do it the more your body/mind realizes it's not a life threatening situation and reduces the adrenaline flow.
We all get it to some degree, if not, the game doesn't mean all that much....right?!
Gerry
We all get it to some degree, if not, the game doesn't mean all that much....right?!
Gerry
salam4 said:
Rather than think of yourself as "nervous" when describing your bodily reactions to this situation, think of yourself as an aggressive beast with an over production of adrenaline. It seems to me that will give you a more positive self-image. As for what to do, that's pretty much the same: relax, practice diaphamatic breathing, close your eyes and picture yourself playing with your usual smooth stroke. For me, the relaxation process begins long before I ever reach the pool room and is reflected in the music I listen to as I drive to the tournament and the way I drive. If I let the traffic aggravate me, I'll tighten up before I even get there.
This is the major problem for players to overcome....nervousness.
It took me a couple of years of regular tournament play before I could play near to my ability under pressure.
These days, I feel like I have almost conquered nervousness, which makes the whole game a lot more enjoyable, and wins more frequent.
What I think now, is to:
1. Choose the best shot.
2. Execute the shot.
If nerves interfere, the I have failed...regardless of the result. The intention should not be on the result, or the consequences of the result, but on choosing the right shot and then executing it to the best of your abilities.
Do that well, and you will win the matches you deserve and moreso, because the opponent will usually faulter because they are focused on the result or consequences of the result, rather than on the choice of shot and the execution.
If you are distracted in any way from the 2 points above, then you are not playing at your potential. Same thing if you are feeling adrenaline rushes. You'd be amased at how many games you'll win because your opponent can sense that you are not scared in any way.
Be ready to accept the result, however it goes. Just be determined to choose the right shots and to execute them as best you can, with a relaxed attitude.
When you do miss, accept it without chagrin, and try to take note of why you missed. Never curse or get upset.
I believe, if you play smarter and better that your opponent you will win almost always. Karma/destiny almost always pays off in the short term. It always pays off in the long term.
Work hard and with focus, and you will get what you deserve. Sweat it, and you'll get much less than you are capable of.
Colin
It took me a couple of years of regular tournament play before I could play near to my ability under pressure.
These days, I feel like I have almost conquered nervousness, which makes the whole game a lot more enjoyable, and wins more frequent.
What I think now, is to:
1. Choose the best shot.
2. Execute the shot.
If nerves interfere, the I have failed...regardless of the result. The intention should not be on the result, or the consequences of the result, but on choosing the right shot and then executing it to the best of your abilities.
Do that well, and you will win the matches you deserve and moreso, because the opponent will usually faulter because they are focused on the result or consequences of the result, rather than on the choice of shot and the execution.
If you are distracted in any way from the 2 points above, then you are not playing at your potential. Same thing if you are feeling adrenaline rushes. You'd be amased at how many games you'll win because your opponent can sense that you are not scared in any way.
Be ready to accept the result, however it goes. Just be determined to choose the right shots and to execute them as best you can, with a relaxed attitude.
When you do miss, accept it without chagrin, and try to take note of why you missed. Never curse or get upset.
I believe, if you play smarter and better that your opponent you will win almost always. Karma/destiny almost always pays off in the short term. It always pays off in the long term.
Work hard and with focus, and you will get what you deserve. Sweat it, and you'll get much less than you are capable of.
Colin
I really like Colin's response. I focus on those two things myself. I also try to treat every shot with equal value. Each shot requires specific attention to pocketing and then positioning the cueball. Keep your routine and rhythm consistent.
For practice, I work on runouts playing the ghost in races. Since I hate to lose, I find that puts pressure on me to compete.
For practice, I work on runouts playing the ghost in races. Since I hate to lose, I find that puts pressure on me to compete.
The best book that I can recommend on the mental side that is geared towards pool is "Pleasures of Small Motions: Mastering the Mental Game of Pocket Billiards" by Robert T. Fancher. I read that book and was able to identify many mental mistakes that I make and begin the correct the problems. I have read the book many times now and each time I am still able to have a take away that I can apply to my current game.
Yeah will need to pick that up. Love reading things of this nature.Firecracker said:
thanks for all the great responses, one thing i had a question about which was brought up to me by a non pool player, i told her that ill do fine as long as i dont get nervous, shes like why dont you take valium. i looked everything up and maybe i just have too much anxiety, i really only find myself playing bad when i am afraid to play bad and have others think that i am bad, could this be a possible solution?
Absolutely, 100% not. Anxiety over playing badly is perfectly normal, and is something every good player in history had to overcome.
If you resort to drugs for something so trivial, you stand a great chance of getting addicted. After all, if it is only chemicals that is keeping your game together, you will find yourself taking more and more to get the same calming effect.
Please don't even consider taking drugs to shoot better pool. You'll regret it.
Russ
If you resort to drugs for something so trivial, you stand a great chance of getting addicted. After all, if it is only chemicals that is keeping your game together, you will find yourself taking more and more to get the same calming effect.
Please don't even consider taking drugs to shoot better pool. You'll regret it.
Russ