UNDERSTANDING How Confidence & Anxiety Impact Pool

Confident pool players “play to win,” versus playing conservatively to avoid losing. Additionally, confidence help with improved focus, motivation, and resiliency – all qualities commonly found in the world’s best athletes (including pool players).

Anxiety is the enemy of confidence and is defined as “an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to succeed.”

Confidence and anxiety work in an inverse relationship, meaning that as we increase confidence, we decrease our anxiety. The opposite also holds true – when we experience anxiety, our confidence decreases. This is an important relationship to understand if your goal is to improve mental toughness and ultimately play your best.

Improve your confidence

There are ways to improve your confidence every day, including the following:

 Set realistic daily goals that you can successfully complete.

 Keep a journal where you can jot down your daily victories and other important accomplishments.

 Regularly surround yourself with positive people who support you.

 Review your matches but do so as a student looking to learn from mistakes so that you can improve for the future

Decrease your anxiety

Just as there are ways to improve confidence, there are also things you can do to decrease anxiety:

 Learn stress-reduction techniques, including deep breathing, imagery, and self-talk.

 Develop a pre-game routine that allows you to feel good before you compete.

 Develop a pre-shot routine that helps you play consistently from shot to shot.

 If you feel your anxiety is abnormally high, consider speaking with a professional.

Yes, confidence is king when it comes to pool success, and confident players play to their maximum abilities. Similarly, anxiety, if left unaddressed, can take away from an otherwise talented pool player’s game resulting in a lot of frustration, missed balls, and lost games.

Dr. Christopher Stankovich is a nationally acclaimed expert in Sport & Performance Psychology and the Founder of Advanced Human Performance Systems. For more information on performance-enhancement products, including the popular “Mind of Steel for Pool Success” DVD please visit www.drstankovich.com