The “calm and win” is the method I am diligently teaching my students now to win pool more often. The tautology has been proven, if you are what I term actively relaxed over the shot, you will surely play your best.
Consider any athletic activity such as golf, tennis or lifting free weights in competition. Nerves jangle and you feel keyed up, even tense. The surge of adrenalin overtakes you as you step up to the plate (or tee or Nautilus machine) and you go!

You’ll want to have this adrenalin rush to get your heart pumping and clear your thoughts. You want to win.

In the same vein (pun intended) the expert pool shooter plays better in those tough matches where the pressure runs the highest. I call the active yet relaxed state of mind and body in pool, the productive use of nervous energy toward a heightened state of clarity and achievement, the “calm and win”.

I’ve taught hundreds of students winning pool and billiards, vocal music, public speaking, golf, Frisbee and other sports and physical endeavors. Place yourself in stressful situations often (stressful as you compete against those who are better than you regarding talent or knowledge) and you will learn over time to perform at your optimum level where the player is considered to be “above their own level”.

The “calm and win” is a winner each time. First, get excited, than calm and cool and win pool, fool! :)