Jimmy Reid
US Open 9 Ball Champion
Overcoming Pressure And Nerves;
The last time I felt extremely nervous at a tournament was in 1999.
Playing Jim Rempe the first round in the US OPEN. Pat Fleming of Accu-Stats had decided that if we both played good it would be a popular video to sell.
A match of this caliber could easily be the best match of the tournament, you never know.
When I found out that Rempe and I were going to be the feature match, I got nervous immediately, and couldn't shake them for the first time and last time that I can remember.
NORMALLY I THRIVE ON THE LIMELIGHT BUT REMPE WENT AHEAD AND BEAT ME 11/4.
Reason being maybe all in my mind but I couldn't talk positive to myself and play pool;
My father had just passed away in July and the doctors had put me on Prosac 2 times a day as needed.
I'd been on them for a couple of weeks without playing but I did notice in practice before the match my concentration was everywhere.
To make a long story short, Rempe missed the first game and left me an easy out but I was helpless.
My self speak was lost all I could think about was how bad this would look on video, after I missed, for the first time in my life I was hoping Rempe would run the set out so nobody could see me shaking so badly.
Rempe was always a threat to beat anyone so I'm not saying this to take anything away from him. He's always been a great player and good sport.
The match meant nothing money wise it was the first round. What I learned from this is I can't focus well or play relaxed and comfortable on any kind of stimulant or feel good drug.
30 years earlier, in 1968 I found that to be a fact, stimulants or uppers, cocaine or speed all made my mind jump around everywhere. So taking that crap would make me lose.
HERE'S A COUPLE OF STEPS THAT SHOULD MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR YOU TO RELAX;
1./ While still in the address position take a deep breath and blow it out before swinging down on where you've decided to hit the cueball to accomplish what's necessary.
2./ After swinging down, I find it much easiet to relax by adding (to my self speak "okay jim relax and get comfortable") at the same time I waggle my butt and shift my size 12s up and down a little to REALLY REALLY GET COMFORTABLE.
3./ Now let's suppose you're a non winner ever of a major tournament and this is the finals.
Let's also suppose that you've been playing for lots of years and you're so nervous you pray that you just don't make a fool of yourself. You're like a tea kettle ready to blow steam.
4./ No matter what game it is, whether it's the first round of a major tournament, you're gambling or just playing for pride it doesn't matter. If you feel real nervous about it then like that steam kettle does, LET IT OUT!
5./ Maybe it's a shot all pros make 9 out of 10 all day long but you're shaking and it doesn't feel or look real good to you after you've swung down on it and the cameras are rolling.
STOP!! THIS TAKES WILLPOWER WHICH DOESN'T COST ANYTHING EXCEPT TABLE TIME OR TV TIME. PEOPLE, PROS AND AMATEURS ALIKE WILL RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES IN YOU.
STOP AND GET UP FROM THE SHOT, THEN TALK TO THE CROWD, FRIEND IN THE CROWD OR THE TV AND SAY "MAN THAT EASY SHOT LOOKED TOUGH TO ME JUST THEN, LIKE I MIGHT BE MISSING IT. PHEW, THIS IS A LOT OF PRESSURE.
So while you're walking up to the object ball say "normally I would've already run out but my bio-rhythm's must be a little out of whack today.
I've got to point at this object ball and start my pre-shot routine all over again."
In my DVDs and CDs I explain how to put yourself somewhere and playing someone you always beat and play good against.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL DRAWING THAT SAME SOMEONE IN A TOURNAMENT THAT YOU KNOW YOU CAN BEAT?
YOU AREN'T NERVOUS AT ALL ANTICIPATING THE MATCH.
YOU'RE EAGER TO SHOW EVERYONE THE MOST INTELLIGENT-RELAXED-COORDINATED PLAYER WHO KEEPS HIS HEAD DOWN LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
SURE ENOUGH, JUST LIKE YOU KNEW AHEAD OF TIME, YOU PLAYED YOUR BEST AND WON 11/2.
6./ MEMORIZE EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT MATCH, HOW FREE AND RELAXED AND EAGER YOU WERE TO PLAY, MEMORIZE THE FEELING IN YOUR GRIP HAND IS MOST IMPORTANT.
7./ NOW IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE PLAYING THAT SAME PERSON WHENEVER YOU PLAY AND START OFF THE VERY FIRST GAME WITH ALL THOSE SAME "i KNOW I CAN'T LOSE FEELINGS IN YOUR MIND AND EXACTLY THE SAME FEELING IN YOUR GRIP."
8./ By memorizing my pre shot routine and self speak, by freeze framing the feeling in your grip hand and keeping your head down longer than anyone else, you can always be proud of the way you played.
9./ Drugs or anything that causes you to lose focus must be blocked out and eliminated from your mind and life, unless it was a pretty girl-don't eliminate all of them from your life only from your mind while you're playing pool.
10./ There's no better feeling in the world than playing pool to perfection which can be done once you start addressing the ball correctly every shot.
THERE'S ONE HUGE TIP ON MY DVDS THAT WILL PUT YOU IN YOUR FAVORITE POOL ROOM AND PLAYING SOMEONE YOU ALWAYS BEAT OR PLAY GOOD AGAINST.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE I'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE CHALLENGE OF YOU AGAINST THE TABLE.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM ALREADY, GO TO MY WEBSITE AND GET MY DVDs NOW.
SPEND 10 HOURS WITH ME AND I MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE YOUR GAME WILL IMPROVE.
HOPE THIS HELPED. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JIMMY REID
The last time I felt extremely nervous at a tournament was in 1999.
Playing Jim Rempe the first round in the US OPEN. Pat Fleming of Accu-Stats had decided that if we both played good it would be a popular video to sell.
A match of this caliber could easily be the best match of the tournament, you never know.
When I found out that Rempe and I were going to be the feature match, I got nervous immediately, and couldn't shake them for the first time and last time that I can remember.
NORMALLY I THRIVE ON THE LIMELIGHT BUT REMPE WENT AHEAD AND BEAT ME 11/4.
Reason being maybe all in my mind but I couldn't talk positive to myself and play pool;
My father had just passed away in July and the doctors had put me on Prosac 2 times a day as needed.
I'd been on them for a couple of weeks without playing but I did notice in practice before the match my concentration was everywhere.
To make a long story short, Rempe missed the first game and left me an easy out but I was helpless.
My self speak was lost all I could think about was how bad this would look on video, after I missed, for the first time in my life I was hoping Rempe would run the set out so nobody could see me shaking so badly.
Rempe was always a threat to beat anyone so I'm not saying this to take anything away from him. He's always been a great player and good sport.
The match meant nothing money wise it was the first round. What I learned from this is I can't focus well or play relaxed and comfortable on any kind of stimulant or feel good drug.
30 years earlier, in 1968 I found that to be a fact, stimulants or uppers, cocaine or speed all made my mind jump around everywhere. So taking that crap would make me lose.
HERE'S A COUPLE OF STEPS THAT SHOULD MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR YOU TO RELAX;
1./ While still in the address position take a deep breath and blow it out before swinging down on where you've decided to hit the cueball to accomplish what's necessary.
2./ After swinging down, I find it much easiet to relax by adding (to my self speak "okay jim relax and get comfortable") at the same time I waggle my butt and shift my size 12s up and down a little to REALLY REALLY GET COMFORTABLE.
3./ Now let's suppose you're a non winner ever of a major tournament and this is the finals.
Let's also suppose that you've been playing for lots of years and you're so nervous you pray that you just don't make a fool of yourself. You're like a tea kettle ready to blow steam.
4./ No matter what game it is, whether it's the first round of a major tournament, you're gambling or just playing for pride it doesn't matter. If you feel real nervous about it then like that steam kettle does, LET IT OUT!
5./ Maybe it's a shot all pros make 9 out of 10 all day long but you're shaking and it doesn't feel or look real good to you after you've swung down on it and the cameras are rolling.
STOP!! THIS TAKES WILLPOWER WHICH DOESN'T COST ANYTHING EXCEPT TABLE TIME OR TV TIME. PEOPLE, PROS AND AMATEURS ALIKE WILL RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES IN YOU.
STOP AND GET UP FROM THE SHOT, THEN TALK TO THE CROWD, FRIEND IN THE CROWD OR THE TV AND SAY "MAN THAT EASY SHOT LOOKED TOUGH TO ME JUST THEN, LIKE I MIGHT BE MISSING IT. PHEW, THIS IS A LOT OF PRESSURE.
So while you're walking up to the object ball say "normally I would've already run out but my bio-rhythm's must be a little out of whack today.
I've got to point at this object ball and start my pre-shot routine all over again."
In my DVDs and CDs I explain how to put yourself somewhere and playing someone you always beat and play good against.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL DRAWING THAT SAME SOMEONE IN A TOURNAMENT THAT YOU KNOW YOU CAN BEAT?
YOU AREN'T NERVOUS AT ALL ANTICIPATING THE MATCH.
YOU'RE EAGER TO SHOW EVERYONE THE MOST INTELLIGENT-RELAXED-COORDINATED PLAYER WHO KEEPS HIS HEAD DOWN LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
SURE ENOUGH, JUST LIKE YOU KNEW AHEAD OF TIME, YOU PLAYED YOUR BEST AND WON 11/2.
6./ MEMORIZE EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT MATCH, HOW FREE AND RELAXED AND EAGER YOU WERE TO PLAY, MEMORIZE THE FEELING IN YOUR GRIP HAND IS MOST IMPORTANT.
7./ NOW IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE PLAYING THAT SAME PERSON WHENEVER YOU PLAY AND START OFF THE VERY FIRST GAME WITH ALL THOSE SAME "i KNOW I CAN'T LOSE FEELINGS IN YOUR MIND AND EXACTLY THE SAME FEELING IN YOUR GRIP."
8./ By memorizing my pre shot routine and self speak, by freeze framing the feeling in your grip hand and keeping your head down longer than anyone else, you can always be proud of the way you played.
9./ Drugs or anything that causes you to lose focus must be blocked out and eliminated from your mind and life, unless it was a pretty girl-don't eliminate all of them from your life only from your mind while you're playing pool.
10./ There's no better feeling in the world than playing pool to perfection which can be done once you start addressing the ball correctly every shot.
THERE'S ONE HUGE TIP ON MY DVDS THAT WILL PUT YOU IN YOUR FAVORITE POOL ROOM AND PLAYING SOMEONE YOU ALWAYS BEAT OR PLAY GOOD AGAINST.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE I'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE CHALLENGE OF YOU AGAINST THE TABLE.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM ALREADY, GO TO MY WEBSITE AND GET MY DVDs NOW.
SPEND 10 HOURS WITH ME AND I MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE YOUR GAME WILL IMPROVE.
HOPE THIS HELPED. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JIMMY REID
