| Author |
Nerves (Long) |
|
9ball
Home away from home
Joined: 08-Apr-2006
Posts: 189
|
Posted: 2011-09-30 13:05
I went to the pool hall 3 days ago for some practice & as usual if I am going alone I take my Ipod with me as I like to listen to some tunes while I shoot, anyway after anout an hour & a half my mate turns up & we end up playing race to five alternate break, it gets to hill hill I don't know how because I had a chance on the 9 to make it 5-3 & blew the 9 ball I was shaking so much but, this is where it gets interesting let me explain:
I said to him "I'll show you how much my game improves if I listen to some Clapton or blues music", he shot back with "ok anything to help me beat you quicker penfold". (my nickname)
So I proceeded to do what I did before he turned up & put on some clapton & all of sudden maybe 2 shots into the rack all the nerves I had been experiencing throughout the game dissapeared & I won the game 5-4.
This annoyed my friend so much he has not texted for 3 days but, what I would like to know from the members of the pro9 community is how can I have the same level of calmness I had without having to resort to the old pod because the change in my game over that one rack was phenomenal even for me.
|
|
BigDave
Forum User
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 11008
From: England
|
Posted: 2011-09-30 14:11
Good question!
|
|
Cueboy88
Home away from home
Joined: 13-Nov-2007
Posts: 588
From: Doncaster.
|
Posted: 2011-09-30 14:33
This sounds very similar to an experience I had, and I've only just recovered from it fairly recently. I would play relaxed and produce good stuff in practise, but when it came to tournaments I would freeze and shake like mad and even not be able to deliver the cue.
As I say I had this problem for 2 1/2 to 3 years. The more I played in tournaments it became easier and I used some mental techniques.
-----------------
Matt Lester
www.matthew-lester.com
|
|
Cletus
Home away from home
Joined: 09-Feb-2007
Posts: 282
|
Posted: 2011-10-01 15:33
it is a similar experience to revision before an exam........you revise with tv on in the background and take the information in, but when the exam comes, your senses are hightened and the conditions are totally different, leading you to struggle with the nerves....
so, start practising with someone and play for a fiver to create the nerves - try and create a match atmosphere and the nerves will disappear over a few months
|
|
__alex__
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Dec-2009
Posts: 197
From: London
|
Posted: 2011-10-01 21:03
Actually I believe that the nerves during a pool match could result in a better performance if you know how to handle the pressure. Bare in mind that stress is your body trying to help you in a situation where you are under pressure. Your body will increase the adrenaline levels and your heart beats. In my opinion all you need to do is to learn how to use the help that your body gives you and that will lead to better performances during match. But again we all have different levels of stress that we perform optimally. And that's what you have to learn, that's why many players claim that the more you play under pressure the more you improve, simply because you learn how to use your nerves ... not eliminate them. I think the main problem is when you lose your concentration and confidence (this is my main problem). Though this is usually a result of thinking too much about your stress levels, so you just need to embrace the nerves and use them for your own good  . Of course all I say is purely theoretical as I am still trying to figure this out my self . Do some research on the internet, there is a lot of material to read about sports psychology. You can start from here if you want: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web1/asingh.html
|
