Playing with pressure

Flakeandrun

Flakeandrun

Well-known member
I've competed a few times here in the short time I have been playing this game, I've been lucky to play against some great players and even pros in a more relaxed competition format, but on the weekend I had my first experience playing stickered up with referees and live-streams (haven't played with a white gloved ref since I was playing u15 snooker :ROFLMAO:).

Just curious to peoples feelings about playing under pressure... I usually get very agitated and have a pretty poor temperament in the competitions I've played so far... I assume this comes from my understanding of my own ability/paired with the situational comfort felt. There isn't really pressure, and I feel incredibly annoyed by luck, getting snookered by an opponents poor shot etc - although they are competitions, and they involve many people, they are pretty contained within the group of players/scene. One mistake, or unfavourable situation and I lose the plot usually... :ROFLMAO: (I guess my temperament suffers pretty hard at the hands of ego, and the feeling of playing below my ability normally affects me quite badly - There was a great post about this on here not too long ago). I was expecting to feel really nervous, uncomfortable and all up in my own head about playing In the situation with referees, a pool of talented players and cameras. But actually, I had an absolute blast. Felt really comfortable, and accepting of Lady Luck (who I normally consider to be something of a total b*tch :ROFLMAO:)

I lost both matches I took part in on the finals day (4/3 - 4/2 and 4/2 - 4/2 - stoked to get a couple of run-outs - they are using the MR break format) - but I felt this was the best my temperament held up, the most comfortable I have felt playing and my best performance on the table (as the games could have swung either way quite easily). I am thinking that because I had no expectation of winning, understood the standard as far above me, that I was able to play more freely and without the pressure I normally put on myself?

Does anyone else relate to this feeling of freedom when playing in conditions perceived to be far beyond their skill set?




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straightline said:
There's some demonic interference on your pic.
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I would ask permission before putting faces in a public forum :)

The guy was having the template moved, and it was quite a bit of fun, given that the balls were also touching. He is actually an absolute gun player. I felt so good to get him 3-3 in the first set, before he cleaned the table to take it 4-3. Then I was 3-0 down in the second set before I pegged two back. He was way above my level.
 
straightline said:
Is that the cute ref from the majors?
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China has a thing for using attractive female referees... this event had 3 women, and 2 men refereeing 20 tables, and a referee for the main TV table. All tables were streamed, one was like 'main stage' table.
Was a really good set-up!
This referee was actually someone who I knew from when I had just started playing, so was a coincidence to see her. She does many regional and domestic events apparently. She complained this photo gave her wrinkles when I posted it on my WeChat :ROFLMAO:
 
I don't think it's that uncommon to experience a sense of freedom when you feel out of your depth. It's akin to 'loser stroke' where a player is down so much that he doesn't expect to win so just plays free. As soon as his good play gets him back in the match, though, nerves and pressure return and that higher gear game leaves him again.

Real pressure comes from expectations. If you have no expectation to do well in the event, then you have no pressure and can play free.

Or maybe, you were just raised to behave properly in public and knowing that everything you do will live on in recordings, you put your best foot forward to make your momma proud instead of making an ass of yourself over some bad rolls :p
 
I like this bit of advice from CJ Wiley about dealing with pressure: Before the match imagine that you've already lost and come to accept it. Now during the match you don't have to worry about losing because you've already dealt with it.
 
PoolBum said:
I like this bit of advice from CJ Wiley about dealing with pressure: Before the match imagine that you've already lost and come to accept it. Now during the match you don't have to worry about losing because you've already dealt with it.
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Interesting. The conventional approach is to only visualize success like the good ole' Jack Nicklaus approach of "I never missed a shot in my mind". That said, CJ's approach could work as a mental trick to remove expectation, which is at the root of pressure.
 
WobblyStroke said:
Interesting. The conventional approach is to only visualize success like the good ole' Jack Nicklaus approach of "I never missed a shot in my mind". That said, CJ's approach could work as a mental trick to remove expectation, which is at the root of pressure.
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If we're talking about visualizing success in terms of execution at the table, I think those two techniques are compatible. If the first one works, I'm not as worried about losing anymore during the match, which might help me even more to focus on and visualize success in executing my shots during the match.
 
Flakeandrun said:
I would ask permission before putting faces in a public forum :)

The guy was having the template moved, and it was quite a bit of fun, given that the balls were also touching. He is actually an absolute gun player. I felt so good to get him 3-3 in the first set, before he cleaned the table to take it 4-3. Then I was 3-0 down in the second set before I pegged two back. He was way above my level.
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Shes in a public place. You have no privacy.
 
WobblyStroke said:
I don't think it's that uncommon to experience a sense of freedom when you feel out of your depth. It's akin to 'loser stroke' where a player is down so much that he doesn't expect to win so just plays free. As soon as his good play gets him back in the match, though, nerves and pressure return and that higher gear game leaves him again.

Real pressure comes from expectations. If you have no expectation to do well in the event, then you have no pressure and can play free.

Or maybe, you were just raised to behave properly in public and knowing that everything you do will live on in recordings, you put your best foot forward to make your momma proud instead of making an ass of yourself over some bad rolls :p
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That's true, I did feel quite self-conscious. I will admit that I suffer a little bit of the Mika hand wave syndrome and the face of thunder usually. But when you are around the conduct of better players, and you know some friends are probably watching the live stream... :ROFLMAO:

I relate to what you're talking about, the sense of freedom that comes when expectation is removed. I am just trying to identify the feeling so I can get more of it, or learn the behaviour more readily. As win or lose, it was positive and felt good. My game benefited from that.
 
PoolBum said:
I like this bit of advice from CJ Wiley about dealing with pressure: Before the match imagine that you've already lost and come to accept it. Now during the match you don't have to worry about losing because you've already dealt with it.
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I like the sentiment of this advice, but starting with the mindset of having 'lost' could potentially lead to no hope and miserable outlook, rather than one that strives to be better. I felt I was in with a shout, like I could still play or have opportunities in the game, while acknowledging the slim margin of winning (if that makes sense)... I have a generally negative disposition, so to imagine having already lost would probably not be great for me. To acknowledge the other as a better player, and actually to see and play against someone you can physically see as better, made me challenge myself, take on harder shots/try harder, but also accept when that didn't go to plan (if that makes sense?)
 
WobblyStroke said:
Interesting. The conventional approach is to only visualize success like the good ole' Jack Nicklaus approach of "I never missed a shot in my mind". That said, CJ's approach could work as a mental trick to remove expectation, which is at the root of pressure.
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I think Nicklaus' advice is also not great for me, and where a lot of my frustrations come from in the environment that had less pressure. We can all run out from anywhere in our heads... we have the skills and have watched and understand enough about the game. A game like this, or golf, allows for careful consideration of 'perfect' before making the shot. When we don't meet that expectation, our ego is telling us how to feel about it. Against the better player, we get that 'oh well, I tried' feeling... when the lesser player benefits, we get the 'I should have made that, why are they beating me' feeling. That's how I see it (sat at my desk at 6am before the coffee takes hold)
 
PoolBum said:
If we're talking about visualizing success in terms of execution at the table, I think those two techniques are compatible. If the first one works, I'm not as worried about losing anymore during the match, which might help me even more to focus on and visualize success in executing my shots during the match.
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Interesting to apply the two ideas in tandem. Lots of food for thought in this thread. Thanks to all who replied so far :)
 
trob said:
Shes in a public place. You have no privacy.
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No, but you have respect for people and common decency :)
Also, is a pool hall a public place or a private business? It's a paid entry event in a private business? Not sure how it works... especially not sure in a country that is not my own.
 
Flakeandrun said:
No, but you have respect for people and common decency :)
Also, is a pool hall a public place or a private business? It's a paid entry event in a private business? Not sure how it works... especially not sure in a country that is not my own.
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Naaaa you’re in a public place. Doesn’t matter if you’re in a park or a Walmart. You have no expectation of privacy. She’s playing pool not laying on a beach naked lol relax
 
trob said:
Naaaa you’re in a public place. Doesn’t matter if you’re in a park or a Walmart. You have no expectation of privacy. She’s playing pool not laying on a beach naked lol relax
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She's the referee... he's playing me... the guy sitting in the back is chilling and playing his game... No one asked to have their picture taken. I respect their right to privacy and wouldn't want to put it in an open forum. Again, not familiar with privacy laws in this country. Not sure what I define as public or private myself. I just treated it how I would expect to be treated :) It is a private business, in a pay to enter tournament (therefore not public?). It is live-streamed, and people assume therefore they are seen, but with regard to photo, and re-posting in a forum. Not sure where I stand on that. As an avid photographer, living in a foreign country, I am often caught up in the consideration of what I post and why. Ethically quite an interesting topic of discussion. But as I said. Treat others as I would wish to be treated. Wouldn't want a candid photo of my game (or work in context of the referee) face displayed in an open forum :)
 
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