get 'in stroke' for a tournament?
- Thread starter Jimbojim
- Start date
you know. the main thing is to take your mind off the pressure. especially the threat of losing. i've had a string of patterns lately where when i use the practice time before a tourney, i tend to play horrible. i would practice great, but sell out every shot to my opponent. i would get sent home 0-2 and wonder why. after a while i stopped practicing right before a tourney. i would practice earlier that day or the day before, but when designated practice time rolls around, i would sit with a bottle of water, read a pool magazine and listen to my ipod. slow and soft jazz, classical, rock, whatever makes you calm and happy.
the best i've played were in these 3 situations.
1) rushing through after-school traffic to get to a tourney and making it just on time. playing without prior practice.
2) needing to get somewhere quickly after the tourney or having my mind set on something bigger afterwards. i played fast, loose, and shot the lights out.
3) the situation i described earlier. i stepped up to the table with a clear mind.
take my advice with a grain of salt. people prepare differently. some fighters amp out in the dressing room punching themselves, working with pads, and jumping rope while others sit and read the day's paper. but if one method of preparation isn't working for you, try the other.
the best i've played were in these 3 situations.
1) rushing through after-school traffic to get to a tourney and making it just on time. playing without prior practice.
2) needing to get somewhere quickly after the tourney or having my mind set on something bigger afterwards. i played fast, loose, and shot the lights out.
3) the situation i described earlier. i stepped up to the table with a clear mind.
take my advice with a grain of salt. people prepare differently. some fighters amp out in the dressing room punching themselves, working with pads, and jumping rope while others sit and read the day's paper. but if one method of preparation isn't working for you, try the other.
naturally, I tend not to practice much because when I start hitting those balls to get warmed up, I usually hit them pretty good but I don't like 'warming up' for too long because I don't want to start missing and lose confidence. I don't know if its a good thing or not. I practiced with Danny Hewitt today for the provincials and I showed up one hour earlier to be warmed up because I was thinking 'I'm probably only have 2 or 3 open shots during the match
I want them to count' I started playing against the ghost and I ran the first 2 tables and missed the 9 on the 3rd one but gradually I got bored a little bit of playing the ghost so I didn't play as good against Danny. It took 6 or 7 racks before I could win one, this guy is so good.
I fear that if I don't practice enough for a tournament, I will be cold and if I play too much I will start missing and lose confidence.
I haven't felt my stroke for a week or 2 now
I want them to count' I started playing against the ghost and I ran the first 2 tables and missed the 9 on the 3rd one but gradually I got bored a little bit of playing the ghost so I didn't play as good against Danny. It took 6 or 7 racks before I could win one, this guy is so good.I fear that if I don't practice enough for a tournament, I will be cold and if I play too much I will start missing and lose confidence.
I haven't felt my stroke for a week or 2 now
short notice
Pretty short notice but anything you want to work on, get to it now. At most you have a day or two for tuning, not major changes. I am another that feels it is best just to check table rolls and shoot some simple speed and draw shots immediately prior to the tournament. I'm not trying to learn anything new or make any improvements at the last moment, I just want to loosen up a bit and make sure everything is working pretty well. I am not going to fight with low percentage shots right before competition to instill doubt in myself and confidence in my opponents that might be watching.
Not quite what you asked but I focus on what I eat and drink and getting plenty of rest in the few days before a major competition. I like to arrive just shortly ahead of time after a leisurely drive listening to good music or with good company that isn't tense and tight about the competition themselves. I am more concerned with getting to the table in the frame of mind to give 95% of my best performance than I am with trying to physically gain a little more.
I see far more people lose because of turning in a poor personal performance than I see beaten by being outclassed by the other player. Of course once the mental game is on the ropes lack of confidence leads to poor decision making and poor execution.
Hu
Jimbojim said:
Pretty short notice but anything you want to work on, get to it now. At most you have a day or two for tuning, not major changes. I am another that feels it is best just to check table rolls and shoot some simple speed and draw shots immediately prior to the tournament. I'm not trying to learn anything new or make any improvements at the last moment, I just want to loosen up a bit and make sure everything is working pretty well. I am not going to fight with low percentage shots right before competition to instill doubt in myself and confidence in my opponents that might be watching.
Not quite what you asked but I focus on what I eat and drink and getting plenty of rest in the few days before a major competition. I like to arrive just shortly ahead of time after a leisurely drive listening to good music or with good company that isn't tense and tight about the competition themselves. I am more concerned with getting to the table in the frame of mind to give 95% of my best performance than I am with trying to physically gain a little more.
I see far more people lose because of turning in a poor personal performance than I see beaten by being outclassed by the other player. Of course once the mental game is on the ropes lack of confidence leads to poor decision making and poor execution.
Hu
i remember reading somewhere like "pleasure of small motions", where it talked about visualization and how it can help your performance. My problem used to be id walk into a poolroom cold and there would be money games going on and really no place or time to practice, and id always start cold. I tried some of the visualization techniques and it seemed to really help me get on fire right out of the box.
The one that did me the most good was just sitting with my eyes closed for about 2 or 3 minutes, and seeing myself playing jamup pool. Try to get as much detail as possible into your "vision", you see the tables, you see the people youre playing, you see the cueball spinning. You run thru a rack or two in your mind, getting perfect shapes, etc.....
The one that did me the most good was just sitting with my eyes closed for about 2 or 3 minutes, and seeing myself playing jamup pool. Try to get as much detail as possible into your "vision", you see the tables, you see the people youre playing, you see the cueball spinning. You run thru a rack or two in your mind, getting perfect shapes, etc.....
I dont know if anyone does this but it is how I get in stroke: I throw out all the balls on the table (usually all 15, even if I'm going to play 9b) and shoot them all in at random. I'll try whatever I want on a shot......some big stroke, a particular english, a particular position, whatever. What I find is that when the outcome of every shot is important, as during a tournament, it is hard to get loose. If I do this first, focusing exclusively on my stroke and not the outcome of the shot, my arm gets going within about 15 mins. I also find this an excellent way to practice. If I am having trouble or am not confident with a particular shot.....throw all the balls out and keep shooting that shot. But for a tourney or to get in stroke, I just fire them in.
Stretch. When shooting I have to stretch my left shoulder and arm out so i can line up properly and I also bend over to stretch my back out so a) I dont cramp up inbetween matches and b) I am loosened up before I start.
Wear dark sunglasses to the pool hall to avoid any brightness issues with your eyes. If you're adjusted to darkness before you get there then even on poorly lit tables you can still see fine.
Other than that just check the pocket size and shoot simple shots to build confidence and guage the speed of the table and rails the day of the tourney. Many people practice really hard shots but honestly in a tournament you would most likely play a safety rather than go for a hard shot anyway.
Wear dark sunglasses to the pool hall to avoid any brightness issues with your eyes. If you're adjusted to darkness before you get there then even on poorly lit tables you can still see fine.
Other than that just check the pocket size and shoot simple shots to build confidence and guage the speed of the table and rails the day of the tourney. Many people practice really hard shots but honestly in a tournament you would most likely play a safety rather than go for a hard shot anyway.
This is by far not the best suggestion, but it sometimes works.
Pull a "Tin Cup" and show up really hung over. It's hard to get distracted when all you can think about is your hurting head.
Pull a "Tin Cup" and show up really hung over. It's hard to get distracted when all you can think about is your hurting head.
I usually don't
warmup, except for larger tournaments.
1) Get good night's rest.
2) Eat at least 1 hour before tournament.
3) I just throw some balls out, and make sure I am stroking okay, pocketing them. Might try a harder shot or 2 that might be on my mind.
4) Then I go to banks. This is most of my practicing. I find that when my banks are finely tuned, so is the rest of my game.
5) I break the balls 2-4 times to decide which break I want to start with.
Usually only about 20 minutes worth of practice.
warmup, except for larger tournaments.
1) Get good night's rest.
2) Eat at least 1 hour before tournament.
3) I just throw some balls out, and make sure I am stroking okay, pocketing them. Might try a harder shot or 2 that might be on my mind.
4) Then I go to banks. This is most of my practicing. I find that when my banks are finely tuned, so is the rest of my game.
5) I break the balls 2-4 times to decide which break I want to start with.
Usually only about 20 minutes worth of practice.
ShootingArts said:
This is a big statement here. You cannot go into a tournament with negative thoughts about your ability to perform. You will not succeed.
During play, once the analytical side of your brain is constantly out guessing your play, your game will suffer.
Practice prior to the tournament like every one stated. Whatever your "game" is when you get there, play to do your best; shoot with confidence; enjoy yourself and have fun. If you don't do well, there is always another tournament around the corner. Any experience you get in this one is another step towards your goal.
I also like to watch some pro videos prior to a tournament. It kind of gets me "pumped up" and helps my play.
Good Luck
edited: Oh, one other thing. Sometimes they have Mini Tournaments the night before. Play some of these and get used to the tables.
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supergreenman said:
Damn straight, either that or pull a Jake Knudsen and show up at 10 am completely shithoused and not hurting at all
The week before the tourney, Practice hard every day, but limmit your sessions to one hour. you might need 3 or 4 sessions a day to obtain a tourney winning stroke but never spend any more time at the practice table than you need to.
SPINDOKTOR
SPINDOKTOR
To get "In Stroke"
Everyone has to be different so here is mine.
I have been practicing a shot that is both easy and hard. The OB is 1-2" off the long rail at the 3rd diamond. The CB is 2-4" off the long rail at the head string so I have a nice, long, straight in shot. Easy to sink and it allows you to let your stroke out.
Now comes the hard part. I use a med to med-hard stroke with about 1/4 tip of follow. I want the CB to role forward between 1 and 1/2 to 2 diamonds and stop at the first diamond. This takes precise speed control and cuetip location. Doing this gets my mind into doing precise shots so that my cueball control for my leaves gets into sync.
I have found that I get "in stroke" more quickly when I do this and the leaves I get start to coincide with the leaves I envision.
My .005 cents worth, Flettir
Everyone has to be different so here is mine.
I have been practicing a shot that is both easy and hard. The OB is 1-2" off the long rail at the 3rd diamond. The CB is 2-4" off the long rail at the head string so I have a nice, long, straight in shot. Easy to sink and it allows you to let your stroke out.
Now comes the hard part. I use a med to med-hard stroke with about 1/4 tip of follow. I want the CB to role forward between 1 and 1/2 to 2 diamonds and stop at the first diamond. This takes precise speed control and cuetip location. Doing this gets my mind into doing precise shots so that my cueball control for my leaves gets into sync.
I have found that I get "in stroke" more quickly when I do this and the leaves I get start to coincide with the leaves I envision.
My .005 cents worth, Flettir
I have had success with focusing on a few things leading up to a weekend tournament.
1) Gotta get some time in on the table of course. I know this is Capt Obvious but it still deserves the first mention.
2) Spend at least part of your time on fundamentals. Staying down is the one I tend to lose my way in when under pressure so its the one I examine the most in practice.
3) Work on your preshot routine. This is one of the best ways I know to get regularity to your game, and prevent yourself from rushing or not thinking as clearly because your under pressure.
4) Get your equipment ready. For me, playing with a nice clean shaft and a well managed tip makes it so thats one less thing to worry about and my mind can stay focused on the table.
5) During the days leading up to the tournament, practice with the intention of building confidence incrementally. For me I start with some of the easiest things like just pocketing balls and I work on bringing intensity to my game. Concentration and intensity are things I have to consciously work on and during the week you try to build those things by starting in small amts and slowly working your way up to longer period of intensity/concentration. Confidence is the natural by product of this for me, and in the end getting maximum intensity/concentration and confidence are what I strive for in the days leading up to a tournament.
1) Gotta get some time in on the table of course. I know this is Capt Obvious but it still deserves the first mention.
2) Spend at least part of your time on fundamentals. Staying down is the one I tend to lose my way in when under pressure so its the one I examine the most in practice.
3) Work on your preshot routine. This is one of the best ways I know to get regularity to your game, and prevent yourself from rushing or not thinking as clearly because your under pressure.
4) Get your equipment ready. For me, playing with a nice clean shaft and a well managed tip makes it so thats one less thing to worry about and my mind can stay focused on the table.
5) During the days leading up to the tournament, practice with the intention of building confidence incrementally. For me I start with some of the easiest things like just pocketing balls and I work on bringing intensity to my game. Concentration and intensity are things I have to consciously work on and during the week you try to build those things by starting in small amts and slowly working your way up to longer period of intensity/concentration. Confidence is the natural by product of this for me, and in the end getting maximum intensity/concentration and confidence are what I strive for in the days leading up to a tournament.
SPINDOKTOR said:
That's kind of odd.. .I've heard that before something along the lines of you wont stay focused after 1 hour so 1 hour at a time is best.
I dont believe it though. I play about 5 hours a night during the week after work straight and even longer on weekends and I find playing longer than 1 hour while focusing helps you maintain focus longer and easier.
my 2cp
Hey, you labor those long hours at the table all you want, I really dont feel its nessasary and will do more harm than good. But that ofcourse is my .02
SPINDOKTOR
SPINDOKTOR
Thanks for everything.
I am lucky I won't have to check how the tables play because the tournament will be held at the poolhall I play all the time. I tend to forget about the pre-shot routine after a while. I will practice also this week because I wanna be in stroke now so I won't be worried for the tourney...my game has been kinda off these days or I am very inconsistent. Nervous maybe since it will be my biggest tournament ever.
I am lucky I won't have to check how the tables play because the tournament will be held at the poolhall I play all the time. I tend to forget about the pre-shot routine after a while. I will practice also this week because I wanna be in stroke now so I won't be worried for the tourney...my game has been kinda off these days or I am very inconsistent. Nervous maybe since it will be my biggest tournament ever.