TV Table nightmare Almost!

[The Renfro]

Music City Open. They call my 10:30 match last night with Rob Saez and sure enough it's on the Accustats table.

I had already hit critical mass in my 1pm match with Max Eberle. This was my first big tourney in 16 years and I had went into pure panic mode. I had won my first match 11-4 and had put a 5 pack together and ran out 7 off my break but that wasn't against a sponsored pro.

Max thumped me 11-6 without the added pressure of the TV table and I dogged a ton of balls. As I was screwing my cue together for my match with Rob under the bright lights my new found anxiety disorder found a new gear. I didn't think it was possible after my earlier fiasco but I was sooooo wrong.

I was literally trying to jump out of my own skin. I know some people pay good money for that but it was noooo fun for free. I was shaking so bad I couldn't have shot myself in the foot with a full clip. At one point Rob broke dry and I ran out to the 9 only to a 3 footer straight in the corner.

When the dust settled Rob had thumped me 11-6. He was very gracious and even took the time after the match to give me some advise on how to handle the anxiety next time.

I went to the scorer's table after the match and several of my friends got a great laugh at my expense. The Accustats crew was exhausted and had shut down for the night so my match wasn't even streamed.

I would like to think knowing that might have made things different. At least it may have been 11-7 instead of 11-6. Remeber that 9 I told you about earlier. LOL

Anyway I have a week before DCC to either find Zen or see a shrink. TV tables against professional players at 42 apparently is a super trigger for an anxiety disorder I just discovered.

 

[brandoncook26]

That's still some pretty good play. Just remember, the races are a lot shorter at the derby. You put a five together there and you've almost won the match

 

[jay helfert]

The more you play the easier it will become. It takes a while to get over it. And you will always have some anxiety. But you will learn how to channel that energy and make it work for you.

 

[PoolBum]

The more you play the easier it will become. It takes a while to get over it. And you will always have some anxiety. But you will learn how to channel that energy and make it work for you.

Well put. It's when you don't have that nervous energy going into a match that you need to worry.

 

[Rob_jerrylee]

The more you play the easier it will become. It takes a while to get over it. And you will always have some anxiety. But you will learn how to channel that energy and make it work for you.

Great advise Jay .

Here's a quick story about Tournaments on how my nerves used to be . The first time I entered into a tourney I was shaking so bad my cue was all over the place even tho I have a Filipino style stroke anyways it was much much worse but the point is that after I played 20 or so tourneys my nerves have calmed down and I'm more relaxed always remember your not playing your opponent your playing the table .