I noticed that some pro players have tremors in their stroke when they are in a big match that alot of people are watching. I've seen Fong Pang Chao have the shakes, Jim Rempe, and quite a few others. When I am playing in a big tournament or for money, and there is alot of pressure, I have a tendency to get the shakes also. Usually the tremors are very minor, but yesterday I was playing in the finals of a local tournament, and there was about 30 people watching. My arm was shaking so bad I couldn't pull the trigger. I got up like 3 or 4 times on some shots, got back down, and the shaking would come back. For some reason I couldn't calm myself. I quit smoking a few weeks ago but I chew nicotine gum, I don't know if that could have contributed to it. I got extremely frustrated because I couldn't control my arm. After I lost the match like 5 different people approached me and asked me if I was alright, because my arm was shaking so much. They told me they have never seen me do that before. I have had concerns about the shakes in the past, but after seeing alot of people with the same thing, I figured it's just a normal part of playing and taking the heat. But this time it was really bad. Do any of you have a similar problem? I have been playing competitively for nearly a decade and have played in many tournaments and gambling sessions, so I don't think it's a case of me not being used to pressure.
Playing Under Pressure- the Shakes
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
I also get the shakes, but most of the time not when playing. It's when I'm racking the balls where it's the most noticable. It's a real bummer because racking the balls means that I just lost a rack so I'm already feeling a bit of heat, and at the same time, the pressure of doing my best to give the guy a good rack.
Some days it's worse than others, and other times never happens. I usually focus my eyes on one point someplace in the room and take long deliberate breaths to try to slow the heart down. This usually works for me, but then again, there have been times when nothing I could do would stop the pounding and the shakes. I've also just assumed that it's one of those facts of life that I have to learn to live with.
dave
Some days it's worse than others, and other times never happens. I usually focus my eyes on one point someplace in the room and take long deliberate breaths to try to slow the heart down. This usually works for me, but then again, there have been times when nothing I could do would stop the pounding and the shakes. I've also just assumed that it's one of those facts of life that I have to learn to live with.
dave
I usta get the same thing during tournaments. Well to help with this, in league play, i started playing everyone who was rated the same as me or better, and learning to deal with it.
I dont shake anymore, but every now n then i get cold hands lol. expecially before the match so alot of times i just go wash my hands under hot water to deal with it.
Plus now i just play my game and dont worry about the other person, cuz if he wins he wins.
Now as for the pro's i cant say i have seen anyone "shake" but i will be damned if they ( pros ) dont get nervous when playing for alot of money in a tournament, or in a match up, on the road or something.
If someone isnt kinda nervous when playing for 25-50,000$ then damn! i would like to know what they do to calm themselves down.
dave
I dont shake anymore, but every now n then i get cold hands lol. expecially before the match so alot of times i just go wash my hands under hot water to deal with it.
Plus now i just play my game and dont worry about the other person, cuz if he wins he wins.
Now as for the pro's i cant say i have seen anyone "shake" but i will be damned if they ( pros ) dont get nervous when playing for alot of money in a tournament, or in a match up, on the road or something.
If someone isnt kinda nervous when playing for 25-50,000$ then damn! i would like to know what they do to calm themselves down.
dave
Yea, I've seen a few pros shake up close. The most noticeable were Nick Varner and Jimmy Rempe, but they were shaking while running 100!
I've had it happen a few times, and I know once it was from too much caffeine, and from not eating all day, so maybe watch out for that. The worst for me is Coke!....I can drink coffee all day, but whatever nuclear caffeine they use, turns me into a ball of nnnnnerves
Gerry
I've had it happen a few times, and I know once it was from too much caffeine, and from not eating all day, so maybe watch out for that. The worst for me is Coke!....I can drink coffee all day, but whatever nuclear caffeine they use, turns me into a ball of nnnnnerves
Gerry
That happens to me now and then. I get them the worst when I know I have just pulled-off a fantastic shot in front of everybody. Takes me a while to settle down.
Youcould definately benefit from relaxation excercises. The Monk recommends "Square Breathing" which is that you inhale deeply at a slow rate, hold that breath for the same amount of time as it took you to inhale, then exhale slowly (taking the same amount of time that you took holding your breath), then you hold your lungs empty for that same period of time before starting over. That is designed to get your brain and muscles very relaxed and back into playing mode. Many people can snap into the zone quickly using this method.
Another thing you can do is just tense-up and hold the muscles that are shaking... do that a few times, shaking it out in between and making sure that you are breathing deeply. That will take care of your shakes... then visualize yourself being double-tough and getting out... visualize success (whatever it takes for you) and that will take care of your mental aspect... then snap your opponent off.
It is actually most effective to do these excercises while you are waiting to shoot instead of getting worked-up concentrating on what your opponent is doing.
Youcould definately benefit from relaxation excercises. The Monk recommends "Square Breathing" which is that you inhale deeply at a slow rate, hold that breath for the same amount of time as it took you to inhale, then exhale slowly (taking the same amount of time that you took holding your breath), then you hold your lungs empty for that same period of time before starting over. That is designed to get your brain and muscles very relaxed and back into playing mode. Many people can snap into the zone quickly using this method.
Another thing you can do is just tense-up and hold the muscles that are shaking... do that a few times, shaking it out in between and making sure that you are breathing deeply. That will take care of your shakes... then visualize yourself being double-tough and getting out... visualize success (whatever it takes for you) and that will take care of your mental aspect... then snap your opponent off.
It is actually most effective to do these excercises while you are waiting to shoot instead of getting worked-up concentrating on what your opponent is doing.
Gerry said:Yea, I've seen a few pros shake up close. The most noticeable were Nick Varner and Jimmy Rempe, but they were shaking while running 100!
I've had it happen a few times, and I know once it was from too much caffeine, and from not eating all day, so maybe watch out for that. The worst for me is Coke!....I can drink coffee all day, but whatever nuclear caffeine they use, turns me into a ball of nnnnnerves
Gerry
Nick Varner's back hand shakes no matter what, I believe it has all his life.
I think you're right about the caffeine. Caffeine magnifies your nerves about 10X, since you're already on edge anyway, the shakes begin. Also, drinking too much the day before will give me the shakes the next day.
Jim
T
Timberly
Guest
When I was younger I didn't have this problem. I don't ever recall shaking while gambling or playing in tournaments. Granted neither was for really high stakes but just the same.... Maybe it had something to do with being a teenager and that no fear mentality.BillYards said:
Fast forward to now after taking 8+ yrs away from the game... I play horribly now so making good shots or just playing well at all gets my adrenaline going. I'm aware of it but have no clue what to do about it because I've never experienced it before. Luckly it doesn't happen all the time but it annoys the heck out of me when it does happen.
I've never had the shakes while playing pool (knock on wood), but when I've played piano in front of a big crowd my left leg starts going big time. One time there was a wooden floor and the heel of my left foot was banging so loud I had to stop the song in the middle. Then I hung my left leg off the side of the bench where it didn't reach the floor. It doesn't happen to me in front of small crowds of freinds or family, but put me in from of 1000 people and I almost know it is coming.
the breathing exercises are a great idea........alot of times when a person is feeling pressure they will unconsciously hold their breath, which leads to all kinds of bad things, shaking, losing your concentration, etc. I had never experienced this playing pool until last year when some guys in the next town brought in a guy they staked to play anyone in our room and i was back on the back table practicing and they picked me. I was playing really well, got out ahead of their man 3 sets and then for some reason my nerves kicked in and i got the shakes. Their man pulled up back even with me and they quit..............best thing you can do for this is the breathing exercises mentioned above.......I just sit in my chair and take deep relaxing breaths if im feeling the heat. If you get down in your stance and feel shakey, stand back up like youre studying the layout and concentrate on a couple nice big breaths......mellows you right out.
Even the best ...
catch some tremors now and then. It depends:
1) On your emotional state.
2) How important you think the match is?
3) And sometimes on the amount of spectators are watching.
4) And the skill level of your opponent.
Of course, diet and whether you drank the night before can be factors too.
And there are times when you just feel 'unnerved'.
I always try to:
1) Do a few stretching exercises (loosen up shoulders, back, and legs)
2) Breath deep and slowly while trying to focus on the game.
3) Drink a few swallows of water. (proven to have a calming effect).
catch some tremors now and then. It depends:
1) On your emotional state.
2) How important you think the match is?
3) And sometimes on the amount of spectators are watching.
4) And the skill level of your opponent.
Of course, diet and whether you drank the night before can be factors too.
And there are times when you just feel 'unnerved'.
I always try to:
1) Do a few stretching exercises (loosen up shoulders, back, and legs)
2) Breath deep and slowly while trying to focus on the game.
3) Drink a few swallows of water. (proven to have a calming effect).
Gerry said:Yea, I've seen a few pros shake up close. The most noticeable were Nick Varner and Jimmy Rempe, but they were shaking while running 100!
Nick Varner was probably the worst I've ever seen for having the shakes, his back arm just trembles, but it certainly doesn't slow him down on the felt one bit. I wonder if there is a way for Cuetech to get in touch with him or another pro with the same problem, I'm sure they would have some great advice on how to deal with it.
Snapshot9 said:
Good advice, especially the water drinking and breathing. Muscles require oxygen and hydration to work effectively. I have a few more physical things to do that might help...
My family has an inherited trait called, essential tremor. It's the same shaking disease that the late actress, Katherine Hepburn, had. It shows up when the muscles are tired, stressed, or placed in a "cocked" position for too long. I had it going yesterday at the pool hall for the first 15 minutes or so of playing but I relaxed it away consciously.
I take food supplements to manage my tremors and they work real well for me (and my Mom). She used to take a drug called "Enderol," or something like that that helped her, but she hasn't had to use it for 25 years. She turns 85 next week and rarely does her head bob much. Her older, late sisters had the shakes badly for all the years I knew them.
I usually chew up a few calcium tablets prior to playing and these seem to help relax my muscles and let them flow better. I don't know if it would work for you, too, but what if it does?
Jeff Livingston
I think most people get the shakes in a pressure situation. Something nobody else has mentioned that helps is a good dose of vitamin B in all its forms helps. I had always wondered why Red Bull has a calming effect even though it has caffine in it, but a quick scan down the ingredients list shows at least 3 different kinds of vitamin B.
100 proof usually clears them right up for me..
I get a twitch in my eyes usually the left one sometimes the right one. I dont know if its my commute or the stress from school. But it sucks when I am trying to line up on a shot and the waitress thinks I am flirting with her.
I kind of get the shakes but more like I want to punch the oppponent in the face if he/she does not start missing .
I kind of get the shakes but more like I want to punch the oppponent in the face if he/she does not start missing .
cuetechasaurus said:
I ALSO GET THEM REALLY BAD AND I AM ONLY 24 YEARS OLD. I HEARD ABOUT A PILL THAT CHIN SHUN YANG AND A FEW OTHERS TAKE FOR THE SHAKES WHICH IS CALLED PROPANOLOL (I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE SPELLING) I MENTIONED IT TO MY DOCTOR AND SHE SAID THAT IT IS VERY SAFE AND DOES NOTHING TO YOUR HEAD, IT IS JUST FOR TREMORS. SHE SAID THAT IT IS JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED A STEADY HAND LIKE SURGEONS AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT. ANYWAY, I DID TRY IT AND IT WORKS WONDERS. ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT.