Getting ready for Peoria

JennBarretta

JennBarretta

Pro Player
Hi All,

Someone asked me to give my pre/post thoughts about a tournament so I'm going to give it a try!

I normally practice 6-8 hours a day, maybe 2-3 hours alone and 4-5 sparring with people, but the two weeks preceding a tournament I step things up a bit. I'll usually practice 8 hours a day with about 4-5 of those hours alone doing drills on the areas of my game that need work.

On Tuesday I drove down to Qball Billiards in Vineland, NJ to squeeze in one last practice session with Jose Garcia to sharpen up my stroke fundamentals and get help on the things that I've been struggling with.

I always try to make time for visualization, but in the last two weeks before the event I put aside 30 minutes to 1 hour a day to just meditate and picture myself in the tournament and playing well. I try to make it seem as real as possible. It's amazing how much this helps confidence.

The final weekend before the tournament I usually go away somewhere, to the beach or Vermont, where I don't play any pool, and I just try to have fun and completely relax. I continue with my visualization (usually just before bed so it's my last thought before I fall asleep).

On the Monday and Tuesday before I leave I only practice 4 hours a day, all of it alone, to build up the desire to play. I don't want to over-practice, I want to come to the tournament with a fresh, open mind. On Wednesday morning I leave for the tournament and, when I get there, I practice on the tournament tables for a couple of hours until I feel like I'm stroking the balls really well.

Last, and maybe most important part...I go to be early, get 8 hours sleep, wake up early, have a light breakfast and get into the tournament room when it opens which gives me one hour of quiet, uninterrupted practice. I do this every morning while I'm still in the tournament. Once I'm out of the event, I use that time to watch the top players, and try to learn from them.

Sorry this was so long, but I hope you can use some of these tactics in your own pre-tournament routines.

Best of luck!

Jenn
 
thats cool. i wish i could go on a week vacation before having to go to work everyday. =D
 
JennBarretta,

That was an interesting read. Thanks.

I will track you down in Peoria. I have been saving the cover of BD that you were on and I would be honored if you would sign it. It will be framed and hung on the wall of my billy-ard room alongside some other pros.

Good luck in Peoria. We will be in your corner unless you're playing Sarah Rousey and in that case I will have to remain neutral.

take care now
 
greenkill said:
thats cool. i wish i could go on a week vacation before having to go to work everyday. =D
Click to expand...

That's a week-END vacation...if you're not getting those you need to switch jobs!

Wally...see you in Peoria, and I appreciate your diplomacy!
 
oh... I misread. nevertheless, I still wish I could go on a week vacation before going to work everyday. =D
 
That's alot of practice but I guess that's how you got to the pro level.
Good luck in Peoria!
 
greenkill said:
thats cool. i wish i could go on a week vacation before having to go to work everyday. =D
Click to expand...

Greenkill,
Perhaps you are on the wrong forum. Most of the rest of us wish we could have the 6-8 hours of practice time per day - forget the vacations. :) :)

Good luck JB, I hope to see some of your matches. I will echo Wally's sentiment that no pool room is complete without a JB autograph (I missed you the last 3 years in Peoria, but eventually I'll get a signed cueball). I have probably 50 autographed balls, but still a woefully incomplete collection (I have a list of players I hope to catch at Peoria).
 
Heya,

I'm glad you shared that, I find it very interesting. It makes great sense, and obviously works well for you.

I will be at Peoria too, so I look forward to seeing you AZ'ers play. I didn't even think about autographs..hah. I think I'll take a Sharpie with me, and give mine to all the players (: I mean, you give yours out all day, why not get one in return?!

Dea
 
The Follow Up

Well, although I had a decent finish in Peoria (9-16), I'm extremely disappointed in the way that I played. Through the whole tournament I felt unfocused and nervous, and couldn't get comfortable. For some reason I couldn't get that feeling of being "lined up" with the shot so every time I shot a ball it was a guess. Normally I'm so immersed in the game that I see every shot very clearly, but I couldn't seem to get into that zone no matter what I tried.

I've been searching for a reason for why I felt this way, but can't seem to find one, so maybe I just have to chalk it up to "one of those days". I'm not going to beat myself up over it, and SJM and I actually had a good laugh about it after the fact. The sad thing is that if I had won my last match I would have gotten to ESPN again. <sigh> I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

Jenn
 
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