My Mental game killed my team AGAIN

8up · 2010-12-21T19:14:56+00:00

I have a problem playing under pressure. So last night we had APA 8 ball playoffs. We had to put up first, I put my best player a SL7 up and they followed by putting a SL2 up that can run 5 balls. My guy shoots sub par and loses. 2nd match we win. 3rd match we lose. 4th match we win. Its 2-2 in a race to 3 for the match. I now Have to play. I am a weak SL5 and have to play a SL2 that can run 5 balls. I win the break and come up dry he runs 3 balls and scratches. I run it down to the 8 and blow an easy 8 but hook him and win. 2ns game I break dry again he makes a couple ball and misses and leaves me hooked and I kick out and make the ball but locked myself up tight. I manage to make a good hit and give up the table. He makes a ball and gives it back and I run out to the 8 and miss a long shot. I missed it 3 more times before he will that game. I win the next game after an ugly performance where he ran 5 balls from the break. Now I still need 3 wins to his 1 and the sharking begins. He has non stop chatter is stepping in and out of my view as I shoot and even picks up the chalk and puts in back down in my line of site. I am trying to brush it off. I am on the short rail shooting the length of the table to make the 8. its about a 60 degree cut and my nerves are a mess. I stand back up take a deep breath and bend back down and he says YOU GOT THIS as I bring my cue back. I stopped and ask him to just keep quiet and then I rattle the ball in the pocket and he wins. They win the match and I about puked. He was not being sportsman like, but I feel I should be able to play past that. The bigger problem is my own nerves and the second guessing a missed shot or 2 causes me. I can't really afford to play a lot of small tournaments or gamble so how do I get use to the pressure? How do I beat my nerves? Thanks