Weak mental game

DionBakasushi

DionBakasushi

Eternal Challenger
Silver Member
Recently I gotten out of my slump and it was thanks to the input of the many friendly members on here . But now I'm faced with another issue which is my mentality during a match as usually if I'm just playing alone it doesn't pose much of an issue however if i were in a match where i HAD to win i can feel the stress and tension in my stance/grip . This leads down to a chain cycle where i start showing nerves , one miss leads to the other and soon a negative mindset comes which haunts me for the day , afraid of going for the pot then missing and selling out the table .

I have already been changing my attitude and disposition by not speaking during a game ( i used to speak to everyone around me like earl strickland ) , if i were to miss i'd have to laugh it off instead of getting pissed , etc .

This is kind of important cause i'm leaving town for my first overseas tournament (isn't cheap for an engineering student) and i'm sure it's going to be hard to play at my top .
 
I think pretty much every player goes through the same thing. I struggled for a long time with playing under pressure (and still do), but staying positive and HAVING FUN, stopping negative thoughts in my mind as soon as they pop up, and trusting my pre-shot routine and stroke have helped me. Constantly putting yourself in situations to get used to playing under pressure is also important, even when practicing (for example when doing drills, if you miss, force yourself to start over from the beginning). Good luck!

By the way, where are you going to play overseas?
 
victorl said:
I think pretty much every player goes through the same thing. I struggled for a long time with playing under pressure (and still do), but staying positive and HAVING FUN, stopping negative thoughts in my mind as soon as they pop up, and trusting my pre-shot routine and stroke have helped me. Constantly putting yourself in situations to get used to playing under pressure is also important, even when practicing (for example when doing drills, if you miss, force yourself to start over from the beginning). Good luck!

By the way, where are you going to play overseas?
Click to expand...

Thanks man gonna try this out .
Im playing at Kuala lumpar , malaysia for the golden break 9 ball open .
 
I posted about the same issue, and I think I've improved greatly.

Victorl already mentioned having fun, and that's one of the biggest keys. Don't forget you're playing a game, and games are meant to be fun. Unless you're playing for more than you can afford to lose (which is dumb imo), then there are far worse things in life than losing a game or missing a shot.

Another thing I started doing which might not work for everyone is to simply imagine myself in a place where I would feel most relaxed. This can be a place you've been to, or like mine, a place you've never been but know it would be relaxing. For me, I like to picture myself in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. Sitting by a fire in the world's most comfortable chair and watching the snow fall through the window.

It helps me relax, and not stress about the current events of a match.
 
I read some sports psychology books, and listened to podcasts, but nothing has helped me for when I start a tournament. My heart starts racing, my hands shake, I guess I am not really an adrenaline junkie, because when that starts happening, I don't like it. Others do. One thing I read is that the nervousness means your body is helping you get ready to deal with something, so you should be glad it is happening. Smile and say "now I am ready to win"

Playing for money doesn't help either. It doesn't feel the same. No rush. I know it doesn't seem like I am having fun in these instances, I will have to give that a try.
 
I have been trying to have fun but it's really hard especially when I know i can beat the opponent im facing , and my mind is just like "No slip ups , it's in the bag and over the shoulder" but when i miss a shot i feel so shit that i kinda lost all fun i have had .

Somehow playing with money is fine with me . I usually just try to blank out my minds (i usually see intersecting lines for aiming , where i need to be for the next shot and adjustment all automatically ) and trust myself into adjusting for it but it doesn't work when my mind is in the "zone"

Which the "zone" has became inaccessible to me . I miss the feeling of the smooth crisp stroke striking the cue ball and the object ball perfectly splitting the pockets .

For example
Today i was at my local pool room . And i was having a break and run out , made a couple of tough shots and run was coming to a end at the 6 as i saw the line i had to be in to get the 7 > 8 for the easy 9 is pretty narrow so i start focusing on the cueing , i did hit it good but i hesitated in the stroke (which severely ****s my rythm) and i overshot it and nicks the 7 putting it in a near impossible shot and i had to safe it .

Just these small thoughts affect my game in a way that it subconsciencely causing me to make mistakes by imagining im making a non-existent mistake .
 
I specialize in assisting players that have issues with the mental game. You can get with me Sunday-Thursday 7AM-7PM (I'm on Mountain Time).

Your initial consultation will cost you nothing but the amount of time it takes you to pick up the phone.

You will find a link to my website in my sig line.
 
Mental Game and Nerves

If you feel tension and anxious there is a lot you can do.

First - take slow, long, deep breathes

Second - clench you fist really tight and focus on that tension, then stay focused on that tension as you release your fists and feel the tension leave you

If I find myself off a little I will take the easiest shots on the table and that tends to help build confidence (even though they might not be the right shots).

Do not take the real difficult shots, rather play some extra defense. This serves two purposes: throws your opponent off and gives you time to get it together


Another very important thing is Positive Self Talk. It is very easy to start to let the negative thoughts tear away at your confidence, but don't let it. Dismiss any negative thoughts while giving yourself positive reinforcement.

Mentally you need be at a relaxed and confident place when you are on your final stroke. Something that helps with this is something I practice - on the final stroke I am not thinking about position play or making the object ball. You do not have control over these 2 things and if you are thinking/focused on them, you can mess up the shot. Making the object ball comes from how you sight the shot, setup, step into the shot. Position play is deciding where the path of the ball needs to go and what speed the hit needs to be. With both of these determined before you get down on the shot, the only thing you do is a quick double check of aim, then practice your stroke at a specific speed and tip position on the cue ball. When all seems good and ready, focus on what you have control over - smooth stroke with a good follow through and Stay Down throughout the shot. The results will happen if you trust it.
 
I'd take this offer seriously.....it's very generous

David knows his stuff, I'd take this offer seriously.....it's very generous


Blackjack said:
I specialize in assisting players that have issues with the mental game. You can get with me Sunday-Thursday 7AM-7PM (I'm on Mountain Time).

Your initial consultation will cost you nothing but the amount of time it takes you to pick up the phone.

You will find a link to my website in my sig line.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top