From Nerves to Nailing Shots: Crokinole Composure
Crokinole tournaments can be exhilarating, intense, and, let’s be honest—nerve-racking. The pressure of competition, the eyes of spectators, and the desire to perform well can easily shake even the most seasoned players. Perhaps you’ve had the experience of playing in a tournament before, and have noticed the discrepancy between your play in a casual match in the comfort of your home versus a competitive one. It’s kind of like how your singing always sounds better in the shower; now there’s nothing we can do about your singing ability, but there are ways you can manage your nerves to keep you on top of your crokinole game!
One of the thing that separates the great players from the good ones is composure. The ability to stay calm under pressure is just as important as a well-placed flick, and mastering your mindset can be the key to unlocking your best performance.
Why Do Crokinole Tournaments Feel So Stressful?
Competitive crokinole is a whole different experience compared to casual play at home. The stakes feel higher, and the pressure to execute precise shots can lead to jitters, overthinking, and uncharacteristic mistakes.
Here’s why tournaments can make even experienced players nervous:
- The Clock is Ticking – Many tournaments are timed, meaning you can’t sit there endlessly debating your next shot. The ticking clock can make decision-making feel rushed, leading to errors.
- All Eyes on You – Unlike casual games where people might be chatting or distracted, tournament play means everyone is paying close attention, especially in later matches such as semis and finals. When the spotlights on you, the game can feel a lot more intimidating.
- High Expectations – Whether you’ve set personal goals or want to impress fellow players, expectations add pressure. Missing a shot you’d normally land with ease can feel devastating in the moment. I myself have fallen victim to this mentality, where I set a goal, panic when I feel I’m not hitting the expectations I set for myself, and spiral downward from there.
Depending on your experience level, one or all of the variables above may be applicable to you. But here’s the good news—just like your flicking skills, your ability to stay calm can be developed and strengthened with practice. Here’s some tips and tricks we’ve found can help overcome the pressure.
How to Stay Calm Under Pressure
If you want to play your best crokinole, learning how to manage nerves is a must. Here are some tried-and-true ways to stay composed when the pressure is on:
1. Breathe with Intention
Science is cool; let’s apply some to crokinole! Your body reacts to stress, and can cause a feedback loop that further builds on that stress, which can inhibit your ability to shoot well. This reaction can be countered with breathing techniques meant to relax your body, reducing stress and helping you get back into your groove.
If you are expecting nerves to be an issue going into a tournament, a proactive breathing exercise is the 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. This simple method helps reduce anxiety and keeps you in the moment.
If you find yourself spiralling already, a breathing technique proven to reduce anxiety in the moment is two sharp inhales through the nose, and one long breath out of your mouth. Find out what works for you, but keep in mind that intentional breathing can go a long way in reducing the stress that you feel in a match (or anywhere in life, really)!
2. Establish a Pre-Shot Routine
Great athletes in every sport have rituals before they perform—crokinole should be no different. Whether it’s lightly rubbing your fingers on the wax, taking a deep breath, or giving a slight nod to yourself, a consistent pre-shot routine helps ground you and shift focus away from nerves.
A notable example of this is Connor Reinman, two-time world champion. You’ll notice that he not only has a set, almost robotic routine to every open 20 he shoots (and he scores a LOT), but he’ll also fully reset if there’s something he doesn’t like with his shot. Your routine doesn’t need to be identical to his, but the key point is to build a habit that makes your shots a routine.
3. Visualize the Shot
Before flicking, take a moment to picture the ideal shot in your mind. Seeing success before it happens can boost confidence and make execution feel natural. Here’s a video explanation from Jeremy Tracey, outlining this concept at its foundational level!
4. Focus on One Shot at a Time
A common mental trap that people fall into is getting nervous about winning the tournament, or making it to a certain pool, rather than having the shot in front of them be their primary focus. And I understand the want to get into a certain pool: and, don’t let that take your focus away from the task at hand- your next shot! Take it one step at a time, and you’ll be more likely to hit the goals you want to.
5. Ignore the Lows AND the Highs
Almost everyone has heard the piece of wisdom of “don’t let a bad shot get to you”, enough so that I feel redundant even writing it. However, a nugget of wisdom I received from Andrew Hutchinson (currently ranked 2nd in the National Crokinole Association) is to not let ANY shot get to you. Here are some hypothetical examples:
- You see your opponent hit a really nice double follow through 20, and immediately think you’re in for a butt kicking.
- You see your opponent hit a really bad shot to start the match, and think you’re in for an easy ride and ease up because of it.
- You yourself hit a really nice angle in ricochet off two posts for a 20, and the pressure creeps in to keep shooting like that.
In all of these hypotheticals, overthinking a shot that just occurred can negatively affect how you play. So, through the highs and the lows, keep your focus on your next shot, not whatever has happened already.
6. Learn from Every Match
Every tournament, win or lose, teaches valuable lessons. If nerves got the best of you, reflect on when and why it happened. Did a specific situation cause you stress? Use it as fuel for your next competition and develop strategies to handle it better.
Test Your Composure: Join More Tournaments
Like any skill in crokinole, mental composure improves with experience. The more you compete in tournaments, the better you’ll get at handling pressure. You’ll learn how to manage nerves, adjust to different playstyles, and build the confidence needed to perform at your best.
So, here’s your challenge: Sign up for your next crokinole tournament. Whether it’s a local club event, an online competition, or a major championship, put yourself in high-pressure situations and practice staying cool under fire.
Because when you go from nerves to nailing shots, that’s when you truly become a great crokinole player.
See you at the boards—and happy flicking!