Snatchy/jerky cue action.

[vmax]

No joke, it was though my arm didn’t belong to the rest of my body last night! I couldn’t see the angles, couldn’t get through the cue ball nicely, my palms where all sweaty, my cue was sticky!!… Seriously I think I have mental issues with playing that comp on a Thursday night.

Im now seriously worried about the upcoming Pro-Am… I just think the nerves are going to get the better of me as usual

Nerves and butterflies are your friends Steve, proof positive that adrenaline is flooding your body, heightening your senses and preparing you for a fight or flight situation. If you still feel it when your hand touches the table then it's in control of you, if it dissappears then you are controlling it and using your heightened senses to your advantage, like eyesight. When in control your heightened eyesight makes you see the ball better, time slows down giving you more time to think even though you play at the same pace because you take everything in as you walk around the table and see the layout rather than having to stop and study it.

[Danger Steve]

Nerves and butterflies are your friends Steve, proof positive that adrenaline is flooding your body, heightening your senses and preparing you for a fight or flight situation. If you still feel it when your hand touches the table then it's in control of you, if it dissappears then you are controlling it and using your heightened senses to your advantage, like eyesight. When in control your heightened eyesight makes you see the ball better, time slows down giving you more time to think even though you play at the same pace because you take everything in as you walk around the table and see the layout rather than having to stop and study it.

thanks mate! They’ve definitely got me under controlled at the moment?! Need to work on harnessing the the power obviously.

[Cue crafty]

All I can add is that this is totally normal. It takes time to get used to playing matches and for your arm/elbow to stop feeling like wood. I look forward to my league nights now but few years back I used to worry about losing tbh, it's the wrong mindset. We play for fun and we practice right so when we go and play a match it needs to be fun. The butterflies are your friends and you will learn to channel them to help you. It's exciting right so be confident and look at it as "showtime" there are two sides to the fence, one side is fear (how will I play? I don't want to look daft! Etc) the other is fun! ( I love this game, I'm a decent player so let's enjoy it and play with smile even if the smile is inside my head) Mr serious angry match player needs to take a day off and let himself relax so he can actually put a performance in thats closer to his ability level.

As I say mate, all totally normal. Chill and enjoy!!

[Danger Steve]

And relax…..