Confidence and pressure

[craigslater]

I know im a very good player but the two things that always let me down are confidence and pressure.

Can anyone please give me advise on how i can improve my confidence around the table and also on how to be able to play as well as i can when im on a pressure shot???

I can beat most people in my club and around the balls and on most shots i can pot and get position everytime, but every time i have a pot under pressure maybe when people are watching etc i miss and the other player wins.

People in my club also know im a very good player, but i often get beat by a lot of poorer players becaue they are more confident than me?

Any help would be greatly appreciated??????

[Sam147]

Hey Craig

In my opinion, your confidence level is alright coz u obviously know u're a very good player and u have to believe that but the problem seems to be coping with pressure and maintaining your focus (a relatively difficult shot or when ppl are watching... etc,).

I think there is a few things u could do that should help u in such situations.

- try to 4get who u're playing (be it a stronger or weaker opponent) but rather focus on the table and your shot selection to get position on the next ball.
- take a few moments to regroup, a few deep breaths to calm yourself down.
- replay your shot routine in your head b4 getting down on the shot & imagine the object ball's path to the pocket as well as the path of the cueball after contacting the object ball.
- tell yourself: "i've potted this ball hundreds of times b4 & give it a smile".
-finally, walk into your shot believing that your break will continue (think positive).

Hope this will help u m8

[dannyd0g]

I cant add much to Sam's response as that covers it on the nail really.

But I would just emphasise play the balls and not the player or the occassion. I know that is much easier said than done, but as snooker is such a psychological game, and this does seem to be the issue here in particular, as you have all the abilty, so you just need to trick your brain into not feeling pressure.

Like Sam says i dont think its confidence realted either as you have good belief in your abilty. If you can somehow just focus on the shot on, and forget everything else that could help you deal with the pressure.

Another option that may or not help in coping with pressure in matches, is to use practice sessions to maybe deliberately turn some ordinary shots into pressure shots - "if i miss this i get no beer this weekend" or whatever.

[Blondie]

Hey Craig,

......and I agree with Sam and Dan too, great comments, and just to add I think it's an interesting question, and having just read the thread, to me, you actually seem to be three quarters of the way there already as you realise you are a very good player, and have belief in yourself, which is great. And also you have realised that you could do with a little help in playing better under pressure, which I think is something we all wish we were better at, and go through at some stage in our playing.

When I play in a match, or practice at the club, my own confidence comes from having I suppose what you'd call a postive mental attitude, you may have heard of this before, but it's something I believe plays a big part in how successful a snooker player any of us can be, and a couple of things that I do, which may help wth your confidence a little:

technically - I remind myself constantly that I've put the practice in, and I know how to deliver the various shots. I've got a good technique, so in my mind I'm feeling very positive because the prep work has been done.
mentally - I always try to picture any shot going in correctly into the pocket. So I always try and visually picture the object ball going in before I take the shot.
collectively - I try and see the 'audience' as a positive and good thing, and that the various people watching want me to be successful with the shot, as they are interested enough to stop by and watch. [This one really does help, and it then enables an even more positive vibe for you and everyone around you, which is good for the game.]

Playing under pressure is a harder one, and as you say, can be difficult, and whether it's in more general terms, say playing a match winning point, or as you say when you have an audience, I always think 'concentration' plays a really big part here. A couple of things that I do, which may help you a little:

negative thoughts - I always try to keep any negative thoughts about the shot out of my head. [And if they do by any chance creep in, I will just get up from the shot, and then prepare for it all again.] This way I'm able to give 100% concentration to the shot in hand, and able to keep my focus.
zone out distractions - I'm always aware of what's going on around me, other players, practice, matches, but the key thing is I don't let this distract me or effect how I play. This takes time though, and it's a mental thing to an extent, as if you're training your mind to be aware, but to block out that awareness during play, if that makes sense.
consistency of approach - I always try to treat the 'pressure pot/shot' like any other, and for me, this involves the same mental application, and the same prep process too. And by treating this shot the same as the others, and using the same prep procedure as well, it helps to encourage consistency in approach when potting, so nothing will really ever phase you.

I think sometimes it's hard to believe that you can actually develop your concentration skills too, but for me it all stems back to my practice sessions, and by learning to concentrate and focus there, will stand you in good stead when you need to use it in matches and competition.

My practice partner is great, and a lot older than me too, but one of the techniques he has told me to use when I feel pressurised is to:

- accept in your mind that your focus is not really there;
- take time out for about say 20 seconds, and a couple of deep breaths, slowly breathing in and out, and you gradually become more relaxed;
- in your mind think about what you want to do next, so, say, 'pot successfully';
- and then when you feel ready, strike the next shot, keeping your focus on play, and playing for next couple of positions.

This one really works for me Craig, and hopefully these comments help a little too....

And good luck with it all, you sound great anyway...........

Lol...........xx

[Qubit]

Easier said than done. Confidence is an illusion. It is not something you posess but actually completely the opposite - its losing a fear.

Once you stop worrying about what others think of you or fear of failing in any given circumstance (missing pot, etc etc) then you will be more able to play as you would when practicing and you will appear confident to the outside world (this does not just apply to snooker, but any aspect of life)

However like i said, its not easy to change this. Its easier to practice potting than it is to practice being 'confident'. I find that taking a step back from a situation to see the bigger picture can help. You often see the table with a fresh pair of eyes and realise that you've potted the blue from here a thousand times before and you will again.

[gloveman]

well craig,its like this-there will always be pressure when u play so its a case of giving yourself the best chance to cope with it. as an example take game ball, whether its a black ball game or that red that leaves your opponent needing snookers. now that shot is going to have more pressure on it than a normal shot so u need to prepare more thoroughly. stand behind the line of the shot but before you go through your normal pre-shot routine give yourself a few extra seconds to pysche yourself up. this will give you a better chance of coping with the pressure. when those pressure shots start to go in thats when u get more confident. confidence just doesn't appear out of thin air its gained when u know u can cope with the pressure. next time u play try taking more time on those pressure shots. hope this works, it has for me over the years.

[Watford]

I missed a really important black on Sunday, all because of pressure. There was about 30 watching and it was a deciding game against the opposing team captain. I had done all the hard work then fell at the last fence!
All you can do is learn from you mistakes!

One thing I would add is it can make a difference if you act confident around the table the; even if you are shaking inside.
Address the table looking self assured. If your not sure walk round and have a good look at the table with purpose; don't stand there scratching your head or looking like you don't fancy a shot.

[dantuck_7]

I have done the same a few times. Missed a straight red, with certain position on the black, when on a break of 32 a couple of weeks ago. The reds were spread nicely had been going well - and my thinking before I played the red was totally wrong.

It wasn't so much fear of missing it - but just that I was getting somewhere -maybe a chance to beat my high break. I think you need to have a set routine that you near enough stick to.

Frame balls need a bit more concentration as has been mentionned above but trying to develop the same routine for every shot has got to be the way to go.

P.S - I have also missed a frame-ball black recently - played two quality shots on blue and pink and then missed a fractionally off straight black.

[miscuehamburg]

Yes, everything said above is true and will help you. I only want to add one thing, that I think worth considering. Before attempting a "big point", try to recall other cruicial balls you have allready made in the past. Try to remember your feelings then, i.e. how you won with a great shot. Then line up for the actual shot with this positive memory in your head.
As a side effect: the more you improve on potting the "big points", you will have a larger storage of nice memories to feed on

[craigslater]

Hey Craig

In my opinion, your confidence level is alright coz u obviously know u're a very good player and u have to believe that but the problem seems to be coping with pressure and maintaining your focus (a relatively difficult shot or when ppl are watching... etc,).

I think there is a few things u could do that should help u in such situations.

- try to 4get who u're playing (be it a stronger or weaker opponent) but rather focus on the table and your shot selection to get position on the next ball.
- take a few moments to regroup, a few deep breaths to calm yourself down.
- replay your shot routine in your head b4 getting down on the shot & imagine the object ball's path to the pocket as well as the path of the cueball after contacting the object ball.
- tell yourself: "i've potted this ball hundreds of times b4 & give it a smile".
-finally, walk into your shot believing that your break will continue (think positive).

Hope this will help u m8

Thanks mate very helpful, my game has been a lot better recently, iv ebeen practising things people have said to me on here and its worked wonders.

Cheers

[MrRottweiler]

There is some exellent advice on this thread. I would add play the percentage game but don't be too defensive. If you're going for a pot consider the outcome if you miss. Is a sneaky safety more appropriate? Make your opponent create openings for you don't chase them yourself. Learn from your opponents style. If they are strong potters you will need to play tight and not give them the opportunity to pot long confidence-building reds. Play at a different pace to them to prevent them from building up a dangerous rhythm.

[TareeDawg]

Top snooker coaches say that confidence is 70% of the game plan, and I quite believe them. If you haven't got it (personal problems don't help either), then you begin to think negatively, play too cautiously, and you get frustrated if the run of the balls don't go your way.

Treat each shot on its merit (and think ONLY about that shot). Forget that "in off", or the fluke your opponent has just got. Just concentrate on each shot.

Fear of failure is something you should banish completely, because as one snooker coach has said, "winning is part of the journey, and not the destination". The game is to be enjoyed, else why play it?

Eliminate fear of failure. Banish the words from your vocabulary, and just play the shots on their individual merit.

FREE YOURSELF FROM THE FEAR OF LOSING, and you will start to come good, and be more confident.

[gallen-147]

was gonna help more lol but seems its sorted now

good luck with snooker,hope u do well