Using Tactics in Real Games...

My problem is this: I have trouble using tactics in real chess games. I know what some of the different tactics are, but I have trouble using these tactics in a real game. Any tips? 

Thanks

have them memorized really well

try playing against yourself and using them

see the benefit in the tactic that will make you want to use it

play somebody who knows them too 

Your tactics rating shows that you need a lot more tactical training than you seem to think. That and play slower but think more.

Each opening has its own characteristic weak squares and typical tactical moves, so you could get more familiar with the traps and tactics specific to the openings you play. That would narrow down the possibilities. Here's one example...

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(p. 35)
      Philidor's Defence:
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6

This is the strong point defence
reduced to its essentials. It has the
outstanding merit of that type of
game--solidity--and it has its
outstanding demerit--lack of
mobility.
   Black must be on his guard
against a number of traps, all
based on the weakness of f7 and
his cramped king position. On the
normal course 3 d4 Bg4? e.g.,
leads to the loss of a pawn after 4
dxe5 Bxf3 5 Qxf3 dxe5 6 Bc4
Nf6 7 Qb3 etc. Likewise on 3 d4
Nd7 4 Bc4 Be7 5 dxe5 dxe5 6
Qd5 is immediately disastrous.

Fine, Reuben. 1989. The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings, Algebraic Edition. New York: Random House, Inc.

You can't possibly do too many tactical exercises. Since you don't have a premium membership, you can't do unlimited tactics here, but sign up for free on chesstempo.com and do a dozen or more a day. It will adjust the difficulty of the problems to your rating, and as you get better the problems will get harder.

The nice thing about that website is that you are not penalized for thinking a long time. Really study the position and get all you can out of it before making a move. Maybe it's a mate in 1, maybe your queen is under attack and you have to move her, maybe you can fork two pieces with a pawn or knight. You never know.

But the only way to burn the tactics into your brain is to do thousands of these exercises over and over and over.

One thing I did that helped was purchase John Bain's "Chess Tactics for Students" and cut out ALL the problems and turn them into flashcards. I carry about 40 or 50 of them with me and solve them over and over until I've got them cold, and then I grab a different 50 and do it all over again.