Get and read the book "Pleasures of Small Motions". I have been approached a few times by both team mates and opponents about how cool and steady I play. They ask me how I do it and I tell them that it wasn't always that way. I used to get nervous but after that book was recommended to me my thinking and attitude changed. It won't happen immediately but it will help and you will notice an improvement.
Nervous during League Play
- Thread starter thyme3421
- Start date
thyme3421 said:
I had this problem a bit 20 years ago, then a mentor of mine in pool said "play pool, just pool and get everything else out of your mind" Easier said than done, i was 18, now I'm 40 and can play a champion and play great-when I was 18 I couldnt make a ball playing a A player let alone a champion, I have ran racks on world class top pros and sure I racked alot more than they did but when I was playing I didnt care who I was playing or who was watching, for me it took growing up to achieve that advice that was given to me 20 years ago, I could play Efren and play just like I do Jay or my friend I give the 5 to and rob. it dosent matter the balls dont know who your playing or what it means, get that noise out of your head and you'll be fine.
The Pool Mantra
I can so relate. I hate league pool soooo much that I always tell people that I'm barred from all leagues when asked to join a team. Or at least I used to and it was all due to my poor performance and my fragile ego. These are not things a pool player will often admit. After a 20 year absence I played on an 8-ball team in the last town I lived in, before moving to Paradise to lick my wounds.(Paradise is a much smaller town where I can beat the majority of players.
It was an all girl team and I was the only woman on the team known to gamble. There is sooo much team pressure. People get drunk and start to see bad hits and miss completely good play. Last week I caromed a 9 ball in perfectly (cross corner and my opponent accused me of hitting a third ball. I mentioned I called that. I let it go, evidently she didn't know what a carom shot was or pretended not to and soon I lost game. Wa Wa Wa.
Anyhoo I play very well in my small in house league. It is very much like gambling. I play on a five man team 3 men 2 women. These People know what a push shot is & double kisses don't count if ya didnn't call em. We each play five games and use two tables so the wait time is very short.
What I have learned is that its like gambling at season end I will cash at least a dollar a game won. The team standing doesn't really count because I will be paid on individual wins. This is so much better than when my teamates in APA or BCA etc were accusing me of laying down instead of carrying them.
Concentration, Focus, They are all important. Sometimes I just step outside and meditate. Crime rate is very low in this city. I am only playing myself. It is very hard to overcome getting cold, Like if you stay on the winners side in a tournament. It all comes with experience and there is only one way to get that. Play, Play, Play.. Good Luck. I didn't know this would turn into a pool story. So long for now it is very late.
Little Debbie
PS I still need help with my avatar??Where do I go and what do I do???Thanks guys I would hate to start a thread over this. You can PM with instructions.
There have been so many good suggestions on this thread that I'll try not to repeat suggestions.TheBook said:
I can so relate. I hate league pool soooo much that I always tell people that I'm barred from all leagues when asked to join a team. Or at least I used to and it was all due to my poor performance and my fragile ego. These are not things a pool player will often admit. After a 20 year absence I played on an 8-ball team in the last town I lived in, before moving to Paradise to lick my wounds.(Paradise is a much smaller town where I can beat the majority of players.
It was an all girl team and I was the only woman on the team known to gamble. There is sooo much team pressure. People get drunk and start to see bad hits and miss completely good play. Last week I caromed a 9 ball in perfectly (cross corner and my opponent accused me of hitting a third ball. I mentioned I called that. I let it go, evidently she didn't know what a carom shot was or pretended not to and soon I lost game. Wa Wa Wa.
Anyhoo I play very well in my small in house league. It is very much like gambling. I play on a five man team 3 men 2 women. These People know what a push shot is & double kisses don't count if ya didnn't call em. We each play five games and use two tables so the wait time is very short.
What I have learned is that its like gambling at season end I will cash at least a dollar a game won. The team standing doesn't really count because I will be paid on individual wins. This is so much better than when my teamates in APA or BCA etc were accusing me of laying down instead of carrying them.
Concentration, Focus, They are all important. Sometimes I just step outside and meditate. Crime rate is very low in this city. I am only playing myself. It is very hard to overcome getting cold, Like if you stay on the winners side in a tournament. It all comes with experience and there is only one way to get that. Play, Play, Play.. Good Luck. I didn't know this would turn into a pool story. So long for now it is very late.
Little Debbie
PS I still need help with my avatar??Where do I go and what do I do???Thanks guys I would hate to start a thread over this. You can PM with instructions.