advice on tournament play hour after hour
- Thread starter oldplayer
- Start date
When we have an established pre-shot routine that we follow religiously, it solves a lot of the late-tournament issues. When we've been doing something for 7 hours straight, our brains can do most of the previously-strenuous concentration stuff MUCH easier. The more we try to concentrate at the same level as when we were fresh, the more we will suck. Stop concentrating as much on everything... bring the level down a little bit so we can fall into a routine. Continue thinking about the more basic things like where we want the CB to end up, the line and speed of the shot, stroke fluidity, etc.
Think less about the complicated stuff like throw, exact contact points, planning 6-7 shots ahead, etc. Our subconscious is MUCH better at calculating the difficult stuff than our normal brain, so let it do it's job now that it has 7 hours of recent information to use.
It's a tight-rope walk of slightly letting go of some things and holding onto others. If/when we get it right, we can play FOREVER at very near our peak skill level. That's what I've found anyway... but I haven't had much recent experience, so this information is being recalled from when I played tournaments regularly (2 per month, with 1-2 hours' practice 5 days a week).
Think less about the complicated stuff like throw, exact contact points, planning 6-7 shots ahead, etc. Our subconscious is MUCH better at calculating the difficult stuff than our normal brain, so let it do it's job now that it has 7 hours of recent information to use.
It's a tight-rope walk of slightly letting go of some things and holding onto others. If/when we get it right, we can play FOREVER at very near our peak skill level. That's what I've found anyway... but I haven't had much recent experience, so this information is being recalled from when I played tournaments regularly (2 per month, with 1-2 hours' practice 5 days a week).
First, you have to train to be able to play long periods of time like that. If your body is not used to it, then you will certainly feel fatigue.
Second, nutrient timing is vitally important. If you are serious about giving your body it's optimum chances of peak performance when you compete, then you should get this book (or one like it) and make it your Bible:
Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance by Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM and Andrea Chernus, MS, RD, CDE
You probably did not play on tight pockets table where two balls won't fit, or snooker when you are exhausted. I agree with you on the mechanics part, planning but on focus part everyone is different, some need longer time than others when you are not fresh at the table.
L. Salazar
Registered
There's a little bit correct in what you're both saying... ALL top players have the same exact (there's a couple exceptions to every rule) routine once they are down on the shot regardless of pocket size, it's the pre-shot routine that may take extra time, or even less. But, if you watch anybody you'll see that once they plant their back foot and step into the shot, you may as well have been watching the last 50 shots because it's almost always the same amount of strokes/eye movement, etc... That is one part of a person's game that should never change IMO.
Contact your local Advocare distributor & get some SPARK or V16 Energy drink. This is great stuff for sustainable energy level without the crash. The SPARK does have some caffeine, The V16 does not. You can drink one before the Tournament & another about 3/4 of the way...
Or exercise and eat right, and you'll have all the energy you need, naturally.
If you know how to play you don't need to practice 4 hours before a tournament. Hit some balls for 30 minutes max to get the feel of aiming and stroking through your shots and you're good to go without leaving your game on the practice table. Save some energy for the tournament!
James
Oh god, please tell me how you do this thing.
"Also if youre taking a munchie break which u should, dont overload on food and stay away from heavy foods and pop or caffeine, not good for the senses or blood pressure."
I was worried you were going to say alcohol. lol
thanks to all for the suggestions. i did see one guy that night downing an energy drink but personally thought this would be too much of a sudden burst of "high" and decided against that. i think less practice as suggested, i probably did leave my game on the practice table....maybe 30 minutes to one hour, and then get in the match. for the in between match time, maybe like in the movie "hustler", i need to do a "fats" and go to the restroom and wash face and get refreshed. maybe a light snack after a couple of hours shooting. i like the water idea too........ it's free where i play. but certainly not all night, i mean, gotta have a beer sometime, we're playing pool afterall. the preshot routine is a good suggestion as i was tiring out and not sticking to the PSR as much. i think we all need to find our present limit and then pracice longer and build on that "ceiling" or "limit" of good play. i feel mine is about 4 hours and i need to start extending that to 6 hours or so. thanks again for all the input! :bow-down:
Or a guy can do what I've done more than not lately: stay home.
Long tourneys not only have the problems the OP stated, those can also get very boring, waiting......waiting......waiting......waiting....oh, look, the good players finally showed up.....waiting......waiting.....waiting....oh look, the good players are kicking the azzes of the those who showed on time and are now tired....waiting .....lose match waiting.......waiting....oh look, the young, good playing unemployed guys are just waking up and really kicking azz.....waiting.....waiting....lose on the L side.....waiting for friend to win or lose....waiting.....I'm sorry dear, but the tourney went on forever......don't beat me!
If there was a way for everyone in the tourney to all play and be done in 3 hours, I'd attend more tourneys. But that might just be an age thing...I dunno.
Jeff Livingston