nerves when playing a match

[vmax4steve]

I suffer from horrendous nerves, so much that my backswing arm shakes A LOT. So, I too am very interested in all the others good advice on here. :snooker:

It's the adrenalin that does this to you as it floods into the muscles to make you stronger and faster because you are in a competitive state. The fact that you don't need to be stronger or faster in order to play snooker means that this extra energy isn't being used so the muscles will shiver in order to use this adrenalin up.
It's this that also cause that empty feeling in the stomach known as butterflies. Once this is understood then one realises that one isn't actually scared but is in fact physically ready to take on the challenge and this adrenalin/nervous energy can used positively.

"I am not scared, I am ready" should be the mantra in your head when you feel this way.

[ace man]

I suffer from horrendous nerves, so much that my backswing arm shakes A LOT. So, I too am very interested in all the others good advice on here. :snooker:

You're not alone in this. I suppose that's all you probably think about during the match. Thoughts like "Why am I shaking? What do others think of me when I'm like this? How can anyone play like this? I'm going to give up competing...this isn't for me..." etc...are terribly negative and distracting and extremely hard to get rid of.
Many times after good performance at tournament I thought to myself "this is it, no more problems with nerves, now I can play free"...and then at the next months tournament I fell flat on my arse. Again, I was well prepared physically, but mentally not much.

vmax wrote excellent advice, it is spot on. Follow it. I will too and many players should. However, don't expect this situation to improve over night. You really need to work on this, perhaps even more than on physical technique. Get into as many competitive situations as you can. I see you have Steve Davis technical articles in your descriptions. This tells me that you have probably done more solo practice than guys you compete against so naturally this might add a bit of pressure too.

[Giggity1984]

You're not alone in this. I suppose that's all you probably think about during the match. Thoughts like "Why am I shaking? What do others think of me when I'm like this? How can anyone play like this? I'm going to give up competing...this isn't for me..." etc...are terribly negative and distracting and extremely hard to get rid of.
Many times after good performance at tournament I thought to myself "this is it, no more problems with nerves, now I can play free"...and then at the next months tournament I fell flat on my arse. Again, I was well prepared physically, but mentally not much.

vmax wrote excellent advice, it is spot on. Follow it. I will too and many players should. However, don't expect this situation to improve over night. You really need to work on this, perhaps even more than on physical technique. Get into as many competitive situations as you can. I see you have Steve Davis technical articles in your descriptions. This tells me that you have probably done more solo practice than guys you compete against so naturally this might add a bit of pressure too.

Yeah I have practiced solo more then the people I end up playing. They always end up making the game look so effortless and potting em off the lampshades, and any sniff of a chance I get is ruined by my nerves. What you and vmax say is very true. I end up thinking more about why I am nervous and what others think of my nerves then actually playing the game. lol.

I think my technique is fairly sound (although unorthodox in certain areas) and I am very comfortable in practice, but come competition time, it all falls to pieces.

Thank you for the responses chaps I will try and implement some of it when I am next at the table.

[Giggity1984]

It's the adrenalin that does this to you as it floods into the muscles to make you stronger and faster because you are in a competitive state. The fact that you don't need to be stronger or faster in order to play snooker means that this extra energy isn't being used so the muscles will shiver in order to use this adrenalin up.
It's this that also cause that empty feeling in the stomach known as butterflies. Once this is understood then one realises that one isn't actually scared but is in fact physically ready to take on the challenge and this adrenalin/nervous energy can used positively.

"I am not scared, I am ready" should be the mantra in your head when you feel this way.

Your last sentance reminds me of a good bit of psychological advice I received recently...... Every time you feel nervous about something, replace the word nervous with the word excited. Psychologicaly the feelings associated with each word are very similar and this can help calm you down.

[throtts]

Your last sentance reminds me of a good bit of psychological advice I received recently...... Every time you feel nervous about something, replace the word nervous with the word excited. Psychologicaly the feelings associated with each word are very similar and this can help calm you down.

Absolutely,

The important part that can go tits up in a pressure situation is the final back swing before the cue is delivered. I feel or think that the stick can go off line on that final draw back.

Nerves do differ between each competitor. Use to play lot's of football and before the Saturday game I had massive amounts of butter flies just below my neck line. It was because of myself huge expectation and extra pressure to perform from the manager. Even with the added pressure I still managed to get the Managers Player Of The Season award which was very nice. So you can still play at your peak then when under the cosh.

Having said that, snooker is not an impulsive wham bam strike sport, like say football and specially the like of tennis etc etc. For snooker imo, you need much bigger balls to handle it than the like of those action sports. Even when under it you still have to be composed and clinical and this is what the top 5 players at the time of being there do well.

[Samcheung001]

Nerve comes from your brain. Miss potting is always due to negative thinking.

Try to focus on the technical side of the shot instead of thinking what if missing:
- Take a deep breath.
- Try to keep to your usual rhythm on a shot.
- Think carefully on your shot selection and how to execute it.
- Focus on your cue action especially the grip.
- Think positively and don't blame too much on yourself if missing since everyone would make errors.

The main point is to switch your focus and of course it's always easier said than done.

Besides, a major part of a snooker game is to transfer the pressure to your opponent instead of taking it.
http://snookerdelight.com/snooker-ar...ection-part-1/

[culraven]

There's a snooker hypnosis download on Amazon at the moment for 89p, well worth a try. Doesn't work on your technical game, just relaxes you a bit and reminds your brain to stay focussed, i played the best match I've had in ages after using it last night, kind of de stresses me after work too.