please help what do i do when i get nervous??

seanjonsean

seanjonsean

Otanisan Cues
Silver Member
im sure alot of peop have gone through this . i get real nervous when im playing i play decent and im able to run 4 5 balls and sometimes run out wen i play friends .i kno thats not alot to some of u but for me it is ,anyways wen its time to compete i freeze up cant think and start shaking ,alot of peop say ill get over it and i hav to play strangers but im going on 2 years playing bnow and still cant get past this .is there anything u guys can offer besides chugguing a few beers wich thats not a good idea lol ...
 
what helped me alot was playing people for cash, it doesn't have to be much, even a couple dollars a game puts a whole new perspective on it

Jake
 
seanjonsean said:
im sure alot of peop have gone through this . i get real nervous when im playing i play decent and im able to run 4 5 balls and sometimes run out wen i play friends .i kno thats not alot to some of u but for me it is ,anyways wen its time to compete i freeze up cant think and start shaking ,alot of peop say ill get over it and i hav to play strangers but im going on 2 years playing bnow and still cant get past this .is there anything u guys can offer besides chugguing a few beers wich thats not a good idea lol ...
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step away from the table and take a few nice deep breaths - be confident in what you know you can do and execute.

BVal
 
seanjonsean said:
im sure alot of peop have gone through this . i get real nervous when im playing i play decent and im able to run 4 5 balls and sometimes run out wen i play friends .i kno thats not alot to some of u but for me it is ,anyways wen its time to compete i freeze up cant think and start shaking ,alot of peop say ill get over it and i hav to play strangers but im going on 2 years playing bnow and still cant get past this .is there anything u guys can offer besides chugguing a few beers wich thats not a good idea lol ...
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Focus on your breathing, deep slow breaths. When away from the table count down from 100 to take your mind off of being nervous.

When playing focus on the ball. Do not allow yourself to think about anything but the ball. If anything enters your mine, start over. Just focus on the task, at hand. Do not think about missing the ball or position, that is irrelevent at this point in time. Clear your head and focus on smooth practice strokes and the ball your are attempt to pocket. In other words live life completely in the moment.
 
Try to just have fun when playing. The result is not important. In fact you cannot think of the outcome of the game or the match, it is not important.
What’s important is to concentrate on the shot. Be interested in where the ball goes. Have a routine that you follow and can escape into it.

If you miss it is important to avoid knee jerk reactions such as:
-‘I cannot believe I missed that or ohh shit!’
Don’t get upset! In fact NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OF ANY KIND.

If you scratch think:
- ‘that is interesting I guess I should have put a little more spin’ or something along those lines, something constructive.

If your opponent is running you out. Instead of thinking -‘I hope he misses’, think and believe ‘that’s nice’.

Stress is a stroke killer, so avoid it. I have been told –‘that’s easier said then done’. However, if you believe that positive attitude and relaxed approach to the game will allow your stroke to remain relaxed and consistent. Then it is clear what you have to do.
 
bigskyjake said:
what helped me alot was playing people for cash, it doesn't have to be much, even a couple dollars a game puts a whole new perspective on it

Jake
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Jake

I know some of the guys you play - so I think "a couple dollars a game with good players who are friends to start then you take on the others". BTW - you play very good.:)
 
my 2 cents

I don’t know if this will make any sense to anyone because we are all wired differently upstairs but here goes. I’ve always had an issue with the “butterflies” and the two things that have really helped me are a solid pre shot routine and I try to turn the feeling around in my mind. The feeling is there; it can’t be ignored or dismissed so I use it. When I start to feel it that means I’m on the verge of winning. So, I focus on the feeling and quickly review how many times I’ve made similar shots in practice. You can’t think about it as winning and losing but as a shot during a pool game. Break it down to what is really is…a shot you’ve made a thousand times and now you have a feeling in your gut that you are going to win. Flip it into confidence. If you (or I) can turn a feeling that strong into a useful feeling it becomes a welcome friend. I’m not a pro and I do miss but I’ve found that flipping the feeling from fear of loss to confidence from experience has really helped. I hope this helps. Good luck with your game and always have fun first.
 
I remember reading about being in stressful situations and how to relax and concentrate.

The idea was to think about one of your daydreams. Everyone daydreams and when you daydream, you tend to block everything else out except the daydream.

So the idea is to think about your favorite daydream when you feel yourself getting nervous or stressed.

I have done it several times and it works for me.
 
great tips thanxz guys ill give all a try,wen im losing i think very positive i dont wish any bad on any of my opponents but what my friend once told me is that i over analyze and overthink evrything ,the daydreaming has worked but not as i would like lol
 
Focus on the table at all times. Never take your eyes off the table. Plan your shots as you watch what your opponet does. Think only about your shots. If you catch yourself thinking about winning or losing replace those thoughts with thoughts about your next opportunity at the table all the while planning your game.

As you make your plans see yourself in your minds-eye exhibiting perfect form all the way through your long perfect follow through. Be sure you have an ingrained preshot routine as that will save you from rushing because of nerves.

MOST IMPORTANT... TAKE DEEP BREATHS THROUGH YOUR NOSE AND AS YOU BREATH OUT BE CONSCIOUS OF THE TENSION BEING RELEASED FROM YOUR NECK, SHOULDERS, CHEST AND ARMS.

Focus completely on each shot. Never allow any thoughts about the outcome to stick in your head. Think about the next 3 balls and how to pocket them.
 
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Cure nervousness?

I hate to advocate the use of drugs and alcohol but ya know, they always worked for me.

No, no, no. Just kidding.
 
seanjonsean said:
great tips thanxz guys ill give all a try,wen im losing i think very positive i dont wish any bad on any of my opponents but what my friend once told me is that i over analyze and overthink evrything ,the daydreaming has worked but not as i would like lol
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You need to start Daydreaming about winning. ;) ;) :D You already know you got game just play it. :cool:
 
I used to have a serious problem getting pissed off at the table. I know it's not the same as nervousness but it's just as detrimental to your game. I've broken cues in half and thrown chalk around the room. You can't let your nerves or emotions get the best of you. You'll never win that way. Some things that I have found to work:

Take a break- Go smoke a cigarette or wash your face in the bathroom.

Watch the cue ball- When you're not at the table, keep your eyes fixed on the cue ball. This has helped me a lot. It keeps you focused.

Listen to music- I like listening to something upbeat. Like 311 or Reel Big Fish. This helps me keep my rhythm.

Don't talk to anyone- Between games and sets is fine.
Never in the middle of a game though. She can wait.

Don't over think the shot- A lot of times you just concentrate too hard on making the ball. If you ever find yourself doing this, get up and walk around the table. You know you can make it so don't doubt yourself.

Don't try to impress anyone, including your opponents- Who cares if you can draw the ball around 7 rails if you lose trying to show off? And seriously, that girl in the corner is not going to remember some crazy shot like that.

Anyway, those are just some of the things that I've had problems with in the past. Hope this helps.
 
Jack Madden said:
Jake

I know some of the guys you play - so I think "a couple dollars a game with good players who are friends to start then you take on the others". BTW - you play very good.:)
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Thanks Jack:). Had a ballbuster of a one pocket session today, played for six hours. It went back and forth, The other guy(Chad) got me in the end, but I didn't lose too much cash

P.S. Are you as pumped for the memorial tourney as I am, only a few short weeks away
 
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seanjonsean said:
im sure alot of peop have gone through this . i get real nervous when im playing i play decent and im able to run 4 5 balls and sometimes run out wen i play friends .i kno thats not alot to some of u but for me it is ,anyways wen its time to compete i freeze up cant think and start shaking ,alot of peop say ill get over it and i hav to play strangers but im going on 2 years playing bnow and still cant get past this .is there anything u guys can offer besides chugguing a few beers wich thats not a good idea lol ...
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Try to savor the moment when the butterflies come. Learn to relish those times. Turn them into major moments. Let your creative juices flow. Think about what you're doing, and execute. These are the moments that make pool interesting: when you put down the balls you need to, when the pressure is intense, when you're in an all or nothing situation. When there are consequences to your actions.

Don't flee from the pressure, seek it out. It'll bring on an incredible rush, especially when you perform to your potential. When that happens, you'll cherish the moments in the future, and hope to be in those situations again.

Nothing better!

Flex
 
seanjonsean said:
im sure alot of peop have gone through this . i get real nervous when im playing i play decent and im able to run 4 5 balls and sometimes run out wen i play friends .i kno thats not alot to some of u but for me it is ,anyways wen its time to compete i freeze up cant think and start shaking ,alot of peop say ill get over it and i hav to play strangers but im going on 2 years playing bnow and still cant get past this .is there anything u guys can offer besides chugguing a few beers wich thats not a good idea lol ...
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Losing excessive bodily fluids always worked wonders for me....I B STROKIN:)
 
seanjonsean said:
im sure alot of peop have gone through this . i get real nervous when im playing i play decent and im able to run 4 5 balls and sometimes run out wen i play friends .i kno thats not alot to some of u but for me it is ,anyways wen its time to compete i freeze up cant think and start shaking ,alot of peop say ill get over it and i hav to play strangers but im going on 2 years playing bnow and still cant get past this .is there anything u guys can offer besides chugguing a few beers wich thats not a good idea lol ...
Click to expand...

Just keep remembering that you are playing the table.
 
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