Why You Choke Easy Shots Under Pressure

I won't play without a stake and 50/50 split - strictly amateur stuff. Given that, it's not a life or death thing. The hiccup I'm still on is my game dropping to "real" mode. Makes for a risky slow start to say the least.
 
only way to learn to not choke is to play under pressure regularly so you get desensitized to it. no other way. all the other stuff is total bull crap.

and the best way is to gamble at pool. then every time you are under some pressure and soon it becomes second nature and its gone.
 
Watch any great pro player- very simple- on each individual shot---- total commitment to the shot as they pull the cue back and total focus as they stroke the cue forward- no matter the venue, the opponent, or the score.

Either your mind has the ability to not get in the way of this or your mind cannot dismiss some outside thoughts-- so it is either natural ( uncommon but a blessing if you have it) or the mind is trained by constant exposure to higher pressure situations.

For some people, all the pressure exposure in the world won't solve it- everyone's mind is wired differently - that is why some people just can't stomach competitive environments or conflict situations.
 
maha said:
and the best way is to gamble at pool.
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Add to that, for money you don't have. Add in the Cowboy Capital of the World. And oh yeah the team opponents wear the Real belt buckles for Bulldoging.
Okay I had just met my wife and wanted to impress. I had never won for money. 🤷‍♂️ So I went ahead and broke 'em. After she told me, "this is for a 6 pack of Michelobe." Last call was imminent.
My quick analysis of My Options was perhaps uh Carefree or most likely blood at lack of pay so Careless perhaps. I was broke. 🤷‍♂️ So I Ran, the rack. 🤷‍♂️ Fear can bring increased focus for sure.
 
There have been occasions since where I felt The Nerves. Cole needed the vodka to calm the nerves. One did it but he couldn't stop at 1.
My personal challenge was playing the Big Boys at the weekly 9 ball tournament. I decided I should learn to shoot with my hands trembling as they weren't going to stop until I MAKE A BALL. Whew. small success is a start and can lead to calm. A lot of success stories start with a leap of faith shot. You know like Butch Cassidy and Sundance. "The fall will probably kill ya anyway." 🤷‍♂️
Reminder of surviving all previous failures helps calm my nerves. "I'm still here and still kicking ". Nothing sweeter than a kick it in for the win. Especially when I hooked myself. 🤷‍♂️
Practice is crucial and a balanced regimen of competition at various levels helped me improve.
A $5 tournament I could win available every night led me to enter events where I was dead money but the lessons achieved were priceless.
I got to sweat a Reno Sands 9 ball match between Dan Louie and Earl Strickland . I sat near Dan and at the conclusion of the epic battle Dan confessed to me, "I just got nervous. "
 
I guess the obvious solution is to have a good corner man. You know to bitch slap you. (No offense intended) 😉
Oh Piss Me OFF! Is a universal response. I proof it in the Scotch Doubles match when I asked my wife, "Did you hear what Lavern said?" She won 4 games well we but they didn't get to shoot. After the final 9 I had to intercept her and confess my transgressions as Lavern had said nothing. 🤷‍♂️ it was the deer in the headlights look I detected that led me to the uh "bitch slap" moment. EDIT: OOOPS no offense intended. Don't tell my wife what I said. Eek 😉
 
I finally got do viewing and the Deep breath is so right on for me.
Paralysis through analysis has been experienced as well.
Positive imaging was called The Big Eye. First imagine the shot to complete. A tip from a top Portland player back in the day. 🤷‍♂️

A
 
Well, finally got around to the video and it's all A+. Perhaps it will elevate the level of competition nation wide. Good competition makes for good clean fun.
 
A thought, well after making an incredible shot to start a run, I think, "if I don't get out, that shot didn't happen. " A good shot without a game won is of no value. Shrug 🤷‍♂️ It helps to center me on the task at hand.
 
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