Huge tournament with 1 rack matches

D

Derek7646

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a tournament coming up for an APA league where my team plays their team, 5v5 with a total handicap allowed of 23. Its winner take all - vacation to Hawaii.

I believe there is 16-32 teams involved, double elimination.

My question is, how do you prepare for this? I have won the best of the best tournament undefeated with the supposed best players from these teams that i will be playing against. I know that i can beat these players in a set, but one rack....anything can happen.

The two sides i am hearing so far are play my game and hope i don't open up the table on the break without making a ball and praying they don't run out, or soft break creating at least a few clusters to ensure that i at least get up to the table again. I am a favorite to break and run probably once or twice in a race to six, depending on how my break is working that day, but my team is essentially sacrificing a 2 that can't shoot pool on our team under the assumption that myself and another 7 on our team are going to win both of our matches.

Anyways, seeking advice from players who may have been in a similar high pressure situation where 1 rack can decide everything.
 
Derek7646 said:
I have a tournament coming up for an APA league where my team plays their team, 5v5 with a total handicap allowed of 23. Its winner take all - vacation to Hawaii.

I believe there is 16-32 teams involved, double elimination.

My question is, how do you prepare for this? I have won the best of the best tournament undefeated with the supposed best players from these teams that i will be playing against. I know that i can beat these players in a set, but one rack....anything can happen.

The two sides i am hearing so far are play my game and hope i don't open up the table on the break without making a ball and praying they don't run out, or soft break creating at least a few clusters to ensure that i at least get up to the table again. I am a favorite to break and run probably once or twice in a race to six, depending on how my break is working that day, but my team is essentially sacrificing a 2 that can't shoot pool on our team under the assumption that myself and another 7 on our team are going to win both of our matches.

Anyways, seeking advice from players who may have been in a similar high pressure situation where 1 rack can decide everything.
Click to expand...
No different than a hill-hill game in any tournament or league match and no need to put added pressure on yourself by feeling you must win your match simply because you're one of the stronger players on the team - you just have to play your game and play smart. Some strategic in-game decisions might be based upon how strong your opponent plays, but the bottom line is you have to have confidence in your game and in your routine. If you start overthinking the situation and stray from your normal routine / pace, it's not likely going to help you. Remember that your opponent is in the same situation and under the same pressure as you, and regardless of what happens, you and your teammates will be OK.

I don't know if you have any control over it, but I'd recommend your captain backload the matches so that the top 2 players (yourself and the other 7 rated player on your team) are playing the final 2 matches. If it comes down to the final match or two, and it likely will, there's a better chance one of you two can handle the pressure better than one of your weaker ranked teammates is likely to handle it. Some may differ from this opinion and feel it's just as important to put up at least one of your stronger players early to hopefully get a lead, which is nice, but at least for the very final match you want one of your two strongest players playing that last game that may decide the winner/loser for everyone.
 
Last edited:
Thanks, that is some good advice about who to put up first. Myself and the other 7 have won relatively big tourneys/went to Vegas and everything several times and i never thought about that even being a factory. Probably real smart to put a 3 or 4 up first to have a low-er pressure game.

I am leaning more and more towards what you recommended but the thought of me breaking dry and leaving a wide open run to a 4 that plays like a 6 scares me, you know? I take myself in a safety game over anyone else in that league but anybody can run 7 balls in 8 ball.
 
Five people from my team play five people from the opposing team. Each "match" is 1 rack. As far as breaks go, i am not 100% sure. Typically in APA we lag for the break, so i am assuming that will be the case here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top