Top/High Level Player Nerves

[ScAtt77]

Have you ever gotten that jittery feeling from playing against top/high level players in and out of your region? That feeling that you absolutely need to play your best in this one match so that you can possibly, maybe potentially beat rank #1 on your region's pr? Even in friendlies against that person, your heart feels like it wants to jump out of your chest?

For as long as I have been in the Smash scene (6 years), I still have that problem. Anytime I hear the name of a highly skilled player that I have to play against, I just seem to shut down for some reason. My fingers get too sweaty to properly maneuver my control stick, I lose all of sense of the game, and I start to focus on "winning against x top player" instead of "how to win against x top player". I really, really feel like I hit a brick wall right here. Even in matches where nothing is on the line, that anxiety leads to me getting 2-3 stocked constantly by that top player, despite my knowledge of that particular match-up. I've tried breathing, pacing myself between stocks, and sometimes earphones to focus on the game; they all work fine and dandy for a little while, but then that same anxiety just comes racing back to my chest.

I try to tell myself "hey, play against the character, not the player", but that only works for so long.


TL;DR: So, fellow smash players, how do you keep your High/Top level player jitters in check?

 

[Firehyphen]

Remind myself I dont suck and have fun and play

 

[Terrazi Terrajin]

Drugs. Lots and lots..

of drugs.

 

[Kikaioh]

I have no experience with this particular situation regarding top players, but I do have experience with the feeling of anxiety. The only way I know how to overcome a feeling like that is to expose myself to it so many times that it doesn't bother me anymore. That isn't much of an option though I guess, but if you can figure a way to get in as many friendlies as possible with top players, that might be a step in the right direction.

 

[Darklink401]

I once played a few online matches against another Villager main who's won two local tournaments quite handily.

And to be honest, I was a bit nervous...but all you gotta do in these situations, is just play as you normally do. Remember that these top players are humans too. They make mistakes as well. They aren't perfect computerized machines, and every player has his or her weakness, whether it be strategy, style, or even character matchup.

 

[many37]

I often feel nervous at tourneys not so much when I face an opponent better than me.Yeah nerves can be annoying during a match specially my hands get sweaty when I'm nervous. Gross....

Taking deep breaths and reminding to yourself that this is just a game may help with managing nerves.

 

[Aguki90]

I once played a few online matches against another Villager main who's won two local tournaments quite handily.

And to be honest, I was a bit nervous...but all you gotta do in these situations, is just play as you normally do. Remember that these top players are humans too. They make mistakes as well. They aren't perfect computerized machines, and every player has his or her weakness, whether it be strategy, style, or even character matchup.

There not 9Lv. CPU or 50Lv. Amiibo, those suckers can predict your move very well and predict almost every move.

A human don't know your move and you need to show them and show your secret to beat them. Just do your best move and tactics!

 

[Darklink401]

There not 9Lv. CPU or 50Lv. Amiibo, those suckers can predict your move very well and predict almost every move.

A human don't know your move and you need to show them and show your secret to beat them. Just do your best move and tactics!

Oddly enough, the level 50 amiibos and level 9 CPUs can also be idiotic...but those mothetruckers have perfect freaking reflexes.

 

[Radirgy]

I only get nerves in the early stages of a tournaments for some reason, the further I go the more calm I get because I know that the further I go the better the players become. I don;t mind getting beat by a better player, losing to someone who isn't very good though gives me enough nerves to almost choke at times.

 

[TimeSmash]

Well I haven't played against many high level players, except Mango, which was at my first tournament ever so I fully expected to lose haha. This sounds really pessimistic, but you shouldn't expect to win against them unless you've been practicing for a long time, and try to enjoy yourself or find mistakes or patterns like you would any other player.

 

[MOI-ARI]

I can't say i've played against TOP players, but in my fair share of local tournaments I will say i've felt the same way before. Wether it was the first round in the bracket or in the last round in the Semi. Its fine to feel nervous, or excited! I mean can't blame ya there!
But if you were REALLY confident in your ability, you should know what kinda fight your bringing

 

[ScAtt77]

Maybe it is just my personality, but I try not to think too highly of myself. I don't ever really want to say that I'm a great player and that I can beat almost anybody, but I guess that mentality doesn't exactly help when playing against people that I believe to be great players. I'll definitely try a few things that were mentioned in this thread though; thanks guys!