"At the table mentality"

[RocketRoy1983]

I took a coaching session this evening and one thing I told this kid a few months back has really helped him in his game and I wanted to just share it here on TSF and hopefully this small mentality change will benefit someone.

This kid was a great little potter but would rush around at 100mph. So..

When you are at the table remember that you own the table. It is yours. No one can interfere whilst you are playing your shots. Take your time and assess what shot is the correct one to take on. Do not allow your opponent the opportunity to play on your table and if he has to ensure that things are as difficult for him as possible so you can quickly get back to playing the beautiful game again on YOUR table.

Hope this mental lesson helps someone somewhere.

Roy

[SebastianZ]

GREAT ADVISE, ROY!!! THANKS FOR SHARING.
I also have a question regarding mentality hope you can help.
I understand that in a competition mostly players underperform due to pressure, I m no different. but when I play against someone who I beat many many times before, I still feel a lot of pressure and my hands were shaking even when the frames are secure, I kept telling myself that no need to be panic, but my whole body's not listening!!! is there any psychological training I can do to overcome this problem. THANKS

[DandyA]

that's excellent advice RR ...

[bongo]

I took a coaching session this evening and one thing I told this kid a few months back has really helped him in his game and I wanted to just share it here on TSF and hopefully this small mentality change will benefit someone.

This kid was a great little potter but would rush around at 100mph. So..

When you are at the table remember that you own the table. It is yours. No one can interfere whilst you are playing your shots. Take your time and assess what shot is the correct one to take on. Do not allow your opponent the opportunity to play on your table and if he has to ensure that things are as difficult for him as possible so you can quickly get back to playing the beautiful game again on YOUR table.

Hope this mental lesson helps someone somewhere.

Roy

Very good advice, I should try that out. Well done.

[paulthorne147]

Thanks great tip

[RocketRoy1983]

GREAT ADVISE, ROY!!! THANKS FOR SHARING.
I also have a question regarding mentality hope you can help.
I understand that in a competition mostly players underperform due to pressure, I m no different. but when I play against someone who I beat many many times before, I still feel a lot of pressure and my hands were shaking even when the frames are secure, I kept telling myself that no need to be panic, but my whole body's not listening!!! is there any psychological training I can do to overcome this problem. THANKS

Im studying the mental side of the game more and more as I feel, thanks to Nic Barrow it must be said, im conquering the technical side at the moment. Ive had the shakes during matches in the past as im sure most have. Just take deep breaths through your nose and exhale from your mouth. After every shot step back and remember to take your 2 steps forward by walking into every shot and do not just lazily slide into position.

Also, try imagining that no one else is present and it is just you in a practice scenario but a very important one. This may help it may not but it certainly does for me. Good luck.

[glaken]

sounds like good advice to me as I also have a habit of playing to fast for my very average skill level. Takes a physical effort to slow myself down but I will try this. Thanks

[RocketRoy1983]

If you want to improve chances are you wont do it at 100mph around the table right? So take deep breaths and take a good look at ALL your options.

[spike]

Sound advice Roy! Will try this when i play Thursday and try to incorporate this into my game everytime so it becomes 2nd nature..

[The Boss]

Have you got advice for when sitting down?

[SebastianZ]

thanks for your advice once again,RR!
i ve looked up on the internet yesterday and found some good ideas of dealing with pressure from competition, i d like to share with everyone. hope this helps our games.

1. Establishing your ‘winning feeling’
Think carefully about the last time you were performing at the top of your game then list every detail you might associate with your ‘winning feeling’. Pick out the eight most important aspects of this positive feeling and write them down. You can use your winning feeling to help create an optimum competition mindset through consciously reproducing the desired elements.

2. Centering
The second technique is known as ‘centering’ because it involves focusing attention on the centre of your body, the area just behind your navel. This is a technique that is particularly effective during sports that have breaks in the action, such as in between sets in tennis, or prior to a penalty in soccer. Centering has a calming and controlling effect, providing a simple but effective way to counteract the negative effects of anxiety:
Stand with your feet flat on the ground, shoulder width apart, arms hanging loosely either side of your body;
Close your eyes and breathe evenly. Notice that when you breathe in, the tension in your upper body increases, but as you breathe out, there is a calmer, sinking feeling;
Inhale deeply from your abdomen and, as you do, be aware of the tension in your face, and your neck, and your shoulders, and your chest. As you exhale, let the tension fall away and focus on the feeling of heaviness in your stomach;
Continue to breathe evenly, focusing all your attention internally on the area immediately behind your navel;
Maintain your attention on that spot and breathe normally, feeling very controlled and heavy and calm;
On each out-breath use a word that encapsulates the physical feelings and mental focus that you want eg ‘loose’, ‘calm’, ‘focused’, ‘sharp’, ‘strong’ etc.

3. The five breath technique
This anxiety control exercise can be performed while you are standing up, lying down or sitting upright. It is ideally used just before competition, or whenever you feel particularly tense. You should inhale slowly, deeply and evenly through your nose, and exhale gently through your mouth as though flickering, but not extinguishing, the flame of a candle:
Take a deep breath. Allow your face and neck to relax as you breathe out;
Take a second deep breath. Allow your shoulders and arms to relax as you breathe out;
Take a third deep breath. Allow your chest, stomach and back to relax as you breathe out;
Take a fourth deep breath. Allow your legs and feet to relax as you breathe out;
Take a fifth deep breath. Allow your whole body to relax as you breathe out;
Continue to breathe deeply for as long as you need to, and each time you breathe out say the word ‘relax’ in your mind’s ear.

4. Thought-stopping
When you experience a negative or unwanted thought (cognitive anxiety) such as ‘I just don’t want to be here today’ or ‘She beat me by five metres last time out’, picture a large red stop sign in your mind’s eye. Hold this image for a few seconds then allow it to fade away along with the thought. If you wish, you can follow this with a positive self-statement such as ‘I am going to hit it hard right from the off!’ Thought-stopping can be used to block an unwanted thought before it escalates or disrupts performance. The technique can help to create a sharp refocus of attention keeping you engrossed in the task at hand.

5. Letting go
You will need to lie down somewhere comfortable where you are unlikely to be disturbed. If you wish, you can also use this exercise to aid a restful night’s sleep. Allow your eyes to close and let your attention wander slowly over each part of your body – starting from the tips of your toes and working up to the top of your head. As you focus on each part of the body, tense the associated muscles for a count of five and then ‘let go’. If this does not relieve the tension in a particular body part, repeat the process as many times as you need to. Once you have covered each body part, tense the entire body, hold for five and then ‘let go’. You will feel tranquil and deeply relaxed.

[RocketRoy1983]

Have you got advice for when sitting down?

Yes. Say to yourself "When you miss im going to punish you"

[RocketRoy1983]

Nice posts sebastian although dont try number 5 on the day!!

[SebastianZ]

Nice posts sebastian although dont try number 5 on the day!!

lol...I was actually thinking the same thing.. i 'd definitely falled asleep when I lie down....haha..

[rollingegg]

my hands sweat a lot when playing, even when I'm in good form and winning frames. im not sure its because im nervous or what, just couldn't help it. anyone with the same problem? any suggestions on how to improve?