Stress: The Silent Pool Killer?

[CTYankee]

Work has been beyond hectic of late, and that stress seems to be following me to the pool table. Do you guys see a serious plummet in your ball control when other things in life are not going smoothly or does experience overcome this fault in my game? I assume, like most sports, you can get to a point in pool where everything comes so naturally that those outside influences have little affect, but would love to hear your feelings on the subject.

 

[150shot]

Pool has alot of thinking and mind strength involved, which is why other out lying problems can get involved, but also can be a stress reducer.

IMHO, if youre stressed, go for something more physical, a sport one on one or team, gym or something that gets your body physically working.

 

[SoundWaves]

Good question. I am self employed and have a wife and 2 kids, so pool night/life can frequently have stress. I find the results to be a strange mix. Sometimes you can run over you opponent in your furry, sometimes not. Sorta like alcohol, sometime you play lose and lights out, sometime like a fool. Playing is a great way to relieve stress as long as it doesn't stress you out when you play.

 

[Scottster]

A quiet mind is a necessity to play excellent pool.

 

[ez2h8]

Pool is/was actually my stress relief. I disciplined myself when I walked in a pool hall or bar (especially pool halls) to leave the outside world at the door. I didn't make many friends who wanted to chat about life, work, family, bills, etc while playing, but that was not my intent of going to the pool hall anyways. Sure I talked to people and would engage in chat, but nothing dramatic.

Discipline is the key but I can tell you this, when I walk in a hall, I take a deep breath, order a coffee and feel the stress leave my body. When I am done shooting, I am usually both mentally and physically wore out. It was one step in pursuing my goal of getting "into the zone" more and quicker. It actually worked too.

Love this game
ez

 

[CTYankee]

Sound Waves: I must be in the same boat... I have never had such a rough night due to stress, but considering the amount of focus our evil little game takes, it seems inevitable that eventually stress would impede my game.

EZ: That sounds like a great attitude to have! I tend to be an impassioned person, and have never been great at surpressing emotion to find that "happy place." It has actually taken quite a bit of mental training for me to bite my tongue, so that I do not turn into one of those idiots that is constantly yelling at themselves in the pool hall. Now that I have that under control, perhaps it is time for me to try and reach a more zen-like place everytime I play. It could only help my game.

P.S. EZ, I am constantly amazed at how much enjoyment this game brings me. I only wish I had discovered it earlier in life... so to summarize, I too 'love this game'

 

[ez2h8]

Yankee, trust me, I too at times was out of control or caught up in the moment or could not always leave the outside world at the door myself. I would be frustrated and head to the pool hall to escape, but it doesn't always happen. Leaving the world at the door happens more often as I get older but perhaps that is part of life in general. You come to appreciate what you enjoy and not let thing the little things or less important things take away your energy and time from what you truly enjoy. That your love of the game is greater then all other things at that moment. Perhaps that is the ultimate goal here. I am only 35 years old. Young by many people's standards, but have played the game since I was 15 and went thru this "leave the world at the door" idea during my mid to late 20's. I still fail at leaving the world at the door, but can tell you this, it's alot fewer times now then 10-15 years ago. Enjoy the game. Appreciate the good games and take away a lesson to practice from the bad games. We are all just average players looking for some enjoyment.

ez

 

[thrasher789]

Most certainly, pool is so mental that anything besides complete focus on the table has a large effect on you, if you are conciously thinking about stressors during a matchup you are going to be in a world of hurt and if you are under alot of stress I firmly believe it has a huge subconcious effect on your mind and in turn the way you play.

 

[8ballEinstein]

Of course!! Now I know why I can't sink a ball - I've been stressed out all this time!

This kinda reminds me of what Yogi Berra said about baseball, "90% of this game is half mental"

 

[Fatboy]

your right, however speaking for myself the more years i have played the less outside troubles affect my game, they still do to a extent, but the first few years I played yes if anything outside of pool was causing me stress then i played terrible considering my abilitys. Now days it matters very little, I leave the problems atthe door when I walk into play and it might take i dunno 10% off my game, its hard to say but not much. Now if my house was on fire or 5 of my friends just died in a plane crash, yeah then it would have a real bad effect on my game. Like I said in other posts my mind is quiet these days and allows me to play good no matter what is wrong 90% of the time. Experience is the best teacher.

 

[cuetechasaurus]

You are 100% correct, stress does have a huge role on how you play. When you are playing, even if you are not conciously thinking of it, the stress weighs heavy in your subconcious mind. Some people don't even realize that alot of stress, etc. is the cause of their slumps. When things start going better in life, that slump magically dissapears.

 

[Tokyo-dave]

This is a tale that I'm not exactly proud to tell, but it's the truth. Nights where I have put together 4 or more racks in concession are few and far between. But one night back in 2001, I came home and discovered a hand written love letter that my wife at the time had written and intended to give to her lover at the time. She made the stupid mistake of leaving the house in a hurry and forgetting the letter on the coffee table where I found it. I knew who the guy was, and knew exactly where they most likely would be at the moment, so I immediately jumped in the car on my way to confront the two of them. When I found the two of them, I literally dragged his 130 pound puny ass out into the parking lot and proceeded to beat him until I actually became afraid that I might have gone too far. I then told my wife to get her ass home where she could start packing her stuff, and that I'd be on my way to shoot some pool, and she had better be gone by the time I got home.
When I arrived at the pool club, I was in a daze, but a buddy of mine wanted to match up for some small money in a race to 9. I won the lag, pulled out my Gilbert break/jump and ran a 5 pack right from the go. Came up dry on the 6th break, but after a missed one ball by my friend, I started from the one and got out the back door. A FIVE AND A HALF PACK!! And all of it without taking my playing cue out of the case.
I was pissed, hurt, sad, pumped up, and playing good pool was the last thing on my mind. I once heard a commenter on a one pocket video say something to the effect of "someone has to take the key out of his back" when the player that won continued to pocket balls because he wasn't aware of the ball count. That's where I was that night. I wasn't even there, and didn't know I had run out until my friend said something like "wow, 3 in a row!" after the 3rd rack.
Sad to say, but the best pool I've ever played in my life came on the same night that I could consider to be one of the lowest points of my life.
dave

By the way, there is a very happy ending to this story (my avatar) so no warm fuzzies needed.

 

[vagabond]

your right, Now if my house was on fire or QUOTE]

If I have as much money as you have and even if my house is gutted it will NOt have any negative effect on my game.

 

[Koopa]

Stress and outside influences used to affect my game, but gradually that changed. Now I can be having a horrible day and have a ton of things in the future to think about, but if I stop by the poolhall and hit a few I'll forget it all as long as I'm at the table.

 

[ez2h8]

This is a tale that I'm not exactly proud to tell, but it's the truth. Nights where I have put together 4 or more racks in concession are few and far between. But one night back in 2001, I came home and discovered a hand written love letter that my wife at the time had written and intended to give to her lover at the time. She made the stupid mistake of leaving the house in a hurry and forgetting the letter on the coffee table where I found it. I knew who the guy was, and knew exactly where they most likely would be at the moment, so I immediately jumped in the car on my way to confront the two of them. When I found the two of them, I literally dragged his 130 pound puny ass out into the parking lot and proceeded to beat him until I actually became afraid that I might have gone too far. I then told my wife to get her ass home where she could start packing her stuff, and that I'd be on my way to shoot some pool, and she had better be gone by the time I got home.
When I arrived at the pool club, I was in a daze, but a buddy of mine wanted to match up for some small money in a race to 9. I won the lag, pulled out my Gilbert break/jump and ran a 5 pack right from the go. Came up dry on the 6th break, but after a missed one ball by my friend, I started from the one and got out the back door. A FIVE AND A HALF PACK!! And all of it without taking my playing cue out of the case.
I was pissed, hurt, sad, pumped up, and playing good pool was the last thing on my mind. I once heard a commenter on a one pocket video say something to the effect of "someone has to take the key out of his back" when the player that won continued to pocket balls because he wasn't aware of the ball count. That's where I was that night. I wasn't even there, and didn't know I had run out until my friend said something like "wow, 3 in a row!" after the 3rd rack.
Sad to say, but the best pool I've ever played in my life came on the same night that I could consider to be one of the lowest points of my life.
dave

By the way, there is a very happy ending to this story (my avatar) so no warm fuzzies needed.

That's a good read! Bummer you had to go thru what you did to gain the experience. I think your example is very true. I know when I played league, if I had a bad day at work, I would keep telling myself I get to have fun tonight on the table and someone is going to get beat on. Psych job for myself I guess. But it has happened where you release all this built up energy into your game and if you can focus the energy to the game at hand, the result could be amazing, intimidating, down right scary to those watching you play. Scary because we don't even know we are playing soo good, we are so caught up in the game, the zone, the moment we don't even know who we are playing. We don't even see the people around us watching. But when the game/match is over, you step back and pat yourself on the back for impressive play, release that focus and look around at all the people you just impressed.

ez

 

[Matt90]

Stress what a concept !!

Some people crack under pressure some people rise to the occasion.I have
been under a ton of pressure with life, work , and money. I think it has really
screwed up my mental game . I could quit playing until I have no debt and a
perfect life .....or I could just keep playing through it .At the very least it does provide a escape from the day to day stuff . I also figure I will do one of two things A: Learn to deal with the stress and play my best game in spite of it all or B: Pay off all my bills and get into a better space and play better
It does get to me when I beat myself and do not play a good game due to what I will call outside issues (things not related to pool ) I have the worst
time with this but have seen some hope in the last few months . I know how
to play and can play as good as you could expect anyone to play who has been back at it for 2 years now BUT the stress and outside issues deal does
kick my ass .With God's help I am sure I can overcome it but I am also sure
it will take time .
With all that said I think I need to just not think and enjoy this great game

 

[Cuephoric]

I think it also depends upon the individual. A clear mind is the best thing in the world on the table, but what about those of us who thrive on chaos?
I run my own business, have four kids, and always have alot going on upstairs. But when I NEED to make some extra cash, I take all of the aggravations out on the table. One shot at a time. I focus everything into the shot until I'm relaxed enough to not pay attention to anything else in the world but the balls on this table, right here, right now.
Otherwise, I might as well pitch handgrenades, I'll have the same chance of pocketing balls....lol
Anyone ever done the unthinkable- got drunk and spent the night running racks on everyone under the roof? And you were so drunk you didn't even remember being there?
Was it because your subconcious took over for your drunk butt, or was it because you weren't thinking about anything at all and just making balls?
What do you think......?