Thoughts on the best way to remove tension when shooting in league/tournaments?
- Thread starter newcuer
- Start date
This runs parallel with Milo my new canine side kick and his response to the bolded 4 is to spin like a top. The chase the tail has various levels of speed and duration. From a half speed single turn to top speed with rapid yelping.
Not sure of the analogy but.....uh......"Don't Dog it" comes to mind. But But the subconscious doesn't pick up the negating Don't. So finding a positive swing thought is the challenge.WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Embrace the excitement and adrenaline. I think I played better early on when I was nervous and excited.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Many great performers share this sentiment.
"It's not about getting rid of the butterflies in your stomach, it's about getting them to fly in formation."
I think that was Trevino, but I have a history of misattributing quotes lol.
So I googled it and apparently that line is originally attributed to Rob Gilbert (whoever that is). Trevino def said it too, even if he 'borrowed' it.
Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
I forgot to mention on the remember to breathe part , since I now sleep with the help of a CPAP machine I feel my blood oxygen levels are over all much better .
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Pretty much everyone I've spoken to that uses a CPAP says the energy level during the day is not even comparable to before. That's been my experience as well.
Sleep quality has many positive effects, performance in pool being one of them. How many times have you heard of a player destroy everyone in a tournament but be so excited before the final day that they don't sleep at all and come out and play like a guy that couldn't beat someone there for the experience? Lack of sleep is a killer. Plus the lower energy level makes you more irritable and susceptible to the effects of stress/nerves, sharking, you name it. All coping ability takes a dive.
hard to believe that was ever a real piece of advice, if i seen an audience fully nude that would have the exact opposite affect on me
Twocylndr
Well-known member
I
I thought the same thing!
Gotta be in the environment more often, in my experience.
Not really any (legal) substitute, imo.
I have the exact opposite problem. I have trouble playing at a high level if it doesn't mean anything, i.e. practice.
Put me in a tournament or even league play and I can usually focus 100% on what I'm doing and the tension just isn't there. I try to get into a state where I only focus on the current shot and not the overall situation. Hard to do sometimes when things aren't working.
Practice is for developing muscle memory so that when you're under pressure you can execute with confidence.
In my experience, it is the weaker players that you can tell are the most nervous (if they care about doing well). They can't rely on their muscle memory confidence or they are unsure if they are making the correct shot choice because of inexperience.
Put me in a tournament or even league play and I can usually focus 100% on what I'm doing and the tension just isn't there. I try to get into a state where I only focus on the current shot and not the overall situation. Hard to do sometimes when things aren't working.
Practice is for developing muscle memory so that when you're under pressure you can execute with confidence.
In my experience, it is the weaker players that you can tell are the most nervous (if they care about doing well). They can't rely on their muscle memory confidence or they are unsure if they are making the correct shot choice because of inexperience.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
You're not tense, just in fight or flight mode. Adrenaline is a funny thing but it can be used to benefit you. Also practice breathing and if you're feeling antsy, especially after a really good shot, walk around the table for a bit. It doesn't take long with practice, maybe 10-20 seconds to get back to baseline.
I really don't know though. It happens and really it's kind of a nice thing about pool. I get more adrenaline in a tournament or money match than I do all the rest of the week.
I really don't know though. It happens and really it's kind of a nice thing about pool. I get more adrenaline in a tournament or money match than I do all the rest of the week.
you learn to ignore pressure if you play under it often. and the best way is to gamble. then you get desensitized to it and its second nature.
start small and work your way up. make games so you actually win and dont be someones sucker just to play.
almost all or maybe even all the best players, got to be best because they gambled and played under some pressure every day.
start small and work your way up. make games so you actually win and dont be someones sucker just to play.
almost all or maybe even all the best players, got to be best because they gambled and played under some pressure every day.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Fight or flight mode comes with an intense norepinephrine dump into the bloodstream. It takes no less than 20min to clear that. We just talkin bout run of the mill nervous tension here.
DistinguishedBilliards
Member
I fought this for awhile. As some one who streams commentates and plays. I found hearing the truth that everyone is nervous helped some but further that, With taking this slogan to heart. " Get comfortable being uncomfortable" . It is a skill just like the rest of your game, I use to dread it and thought I could out work it. Nope, Turns out it shows up less and now when it does I go hello Friend looks like pressure is upon us again, you just sit back make my hands shake a little while I rack and watch the show.
Lee Trevino had a similar concept for learning how to deal with pressure. He said bet $100 when all you have is $10
Breathing just before you stroke keeps you from going brain dead. Use a mantra. Stay down and follow through. Repeat it over and over under your breath. Soon that thought dominates your brain. Nothing distracts you. Good luck!
Experience
Like most things in life if you do it enough it becomes routine and tension fades with time.
I was always a $ player in pool by choice, as that’s what interested me and where I felt comfortable. I never liked the feeling of playing in tourneys. Playing $100 or $200 sets was more comfortable than playing in a $20 tourney at first.
After a period of time it was all the same.
However I rarely played tourneys because I like to play on my own terms and times. Same reason I never played league, if I did it would just be another pool game because of experience.
I don’t play much pool now, however I have zero tension when I do play no matter the format. I’ve played over 40 years. It’s just pool.
When I started playing backgammon seriously about 10 years ago, I went through this process of tension. Except instead of a year or 2 like it took me in pool I was comfortable in a couple months. It’s a matter of experience no matter want you are playing.
Once you learn how to cope with tension, it just fades away quicker with new things in life.
Experience
Best
Fatboy <——-old and experienced
Or cocaine
, that was a popular solution in the 80’s. I never did it, if I did, I’d admit it, was always scared of it, but I seen it work miracles on peoples game.
Last edited: