Yesterday I played in a 64 man, single elimination 9 ball tourney. I managed to take 3rd/4th place but it was a tiring event. I had to play my final 4 matches (race to 7 each) all back to back, with only about a 5 minute break in between them. By the time I reached my semi-final match, I was worn out both physically and mentally. My play was well below average and I lost. Im sure many of you here have played in tourneys like this before. I had a good nights rest before and I ate a little meal before the tourney and kept myself hyrdrated through out the entire event. How do you handle this kind of fatigue?? This has happened to me many times before and it has prevented me from going into the finals and winning it all. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
How do you cope with fatigue?
- Thread starter dooziexx
- Start date
As far as I can see, your meal, rest and keeping hydrated are great ways to stay focused... The only other thing I would suggest is..practice...Practice endurance matches.. Then you will get better.
Its like a sprinter entering a marathon wondering why they are so tired...because their body has not been trained for the attribute of endurance..
Its like a sprinter entering a marathon wondering why they are so tired...because their body has not been trained for the attribute of endurance..
Have your waitress make those trips back and forth to the bar for you, Seriously IMO alot of players don't spend the time in between shots/matches effectively, sit down relax (play cards) watch everyone else get s**tfaced and stoned, save your energy for those later rounds that come quick and often.
The fact you realise you're tired can be valuable if you know your strengths/weakness when fatigued and can adapt in time.
The fact you realise you're tired can be valuable if you know your strengths/weakness when fatigued and can adapt in time.
Dooziex,
Try some physical conditioning. I heard that Mika runs just about every day. I played in a tournament one time a while back. It started at 4:30 and ended at 11:30. I won the tournament and thought I had boxed someone 15 rounds!! I was so physically drained I couldn't believe it!! I couldn't believe how physically exhausted I was. Until that time, I wouldn't have associated physical conditioning with pool. I do now!
Try some physical conditioning. I heard that Mika runs just about every day. I played in a tournament one time a while back. It started at 4:30 and ended at 11:30. I won the tournament and thought I had boxed someone 15 rounds!! I was so physically drained I couldn't believe it!! I couldn't believe how physically exhausted I was. Until that time, I wouldn't have associated physical conditioning with pool. I do now!
kyle said:
Yes! And take care of the waitress. They got to make a living, too. If you tip well, they will take care of you. At least, that has been my experience.
coping with fatigue
One thing I do if I know it's going to be a long day is get out of the room whenever I can even if it's only for a minute or two. I'll check with the TD to make sure it's OK and then take a walk around the parking lot. For me, this has as much to do with cigarette smoke as fatigue, but it makes me feel refreshed and ready again.
By the way, I agree completely that conditioning is important. Unfortunately I know this from being on the wrong side of it, for the most part.
Good luck!
One thing I do if I know it's going to be a long day is get out of the room whenever I can even if it's only for a minute or two. I'll check with the TD to make sure it's OK and then take a walk around the parking lot. For me, this has as much to do with cigarette smoke as fatigue, but it makes me feel refreshed and ready again.
By the way, I agree completely that conditioning is important. Unfortunately I know this from being on the wrong side of it, for the most part.
Good luck!
Keep yourself hydrated and also eat some snacks every couple of hours, this will help you keep your sugar levels up and avoid loss of energy. And snacks should contain slow carbon hydrates, which can be found in fruits and bread etc. Don't eat candybars or such because you will have a sudden raise in blood sugar levels and almost equally dramatic drop after a hour or so, you might feel much more tired than in the first place after the fast carbon hydrates wear off. Also, if you eat too much, you will feel tired and cannot concetrate well, because all the blood is concetrated in your stomach for digestive purposes. If you know that you have more than 2 hours to your next match, you can eat a plate of pasta or rice, which also have slow carbon hydrates. I always keep some fruit with me in tournaments. Also, I often go outside between matches to get some fresh air. Brain works much better with some fresh air before the match and at least I can really feel the difference, by taking some deep breaths outside you can drop your heart rate and make yourself more calm and focused.
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I'm in the opposite situation.
I wish I could get a few matches in a row, one after the other...it doesn't matter. The more I play, the warmer I get and my stroke starts to really work. Waiting a few hours before the match gets me into trouble. I'm totally out of stroke for the first few racks, always. If I could just once get lucky and play few hours straight, that would be cool.
Now back to your fatigue. Just copy what tennis players are doing. That means drink a lot of fluid(not alcohol of course) and eat bananas which are easy to digest. Don't eat some huge steaks or a jumbo pizza before the match, because you will faint out there. When I was a tennis player, we were tought not to eat anything at least 2h before the match. It might not be so severe for pool, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
So the next time you feel tired during the match, do this:
1. take a timeout
2. eat a banana
3. drink enough soda to not be thirsty
This should resolve your problem.
My only problem at tournaments is my head or what's inside of it, but that's another story...
I wish I could get a few matches in a row, one after the other...it doesn't matter. The more I play, the warmer I get and my stroke starts to really work. Waiting a few hours before the match gets me into trouble. I'm totally out of stroke for the first few racks, always. If I could just once get lucky and play few hours straight, that would be cool.
Now back to your fatigue. Just copy what tennis players are doing. That means drink a lot of fluid(not alcohol of course) and eat bananas which are easy to digest. Don't eat some huge steaks or a jumbo pizza before the match, because you will faint out there. When I was a tennis player, we were tought not to eat anything at least 2h before the match. It might not be so severe for pool, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
So the next time you feel tired during the match, do this:
1. take a timeout
2. eat a banana
3. drink enough soda to not be thirsty
This should resolve your problem.
My only problem at tournaments is my head or what's inside of it, but that's another story...
Doozie: I'm sure there's lots of good info already posted here. But I also think that fatigue, and how you deal with it, often determines who wins a tournament. It is an endurance race, and often with very little payoff! 
For what its worth: I find that if I have a large meal in the middle of a tournament, I'm finished. I need to be just a little hungry.
cheers,
jer9ball
For what its worth: I find that if I have a large meal in the middle of a tournament, I'm finished. I need to be just a little hungry.
cheers,
jer9ball
dooziexx said:
In order to play to your best ability during a tourney, you need to get into the playing tourney mode. About 6 days before the tourney, play about 10 racks as hard and as tough as you can (by YOURSELF WITH NO DISTRACTIONS FROM YOUR FRIENDS) ...then SIT DOWN....take a one hour break...then play another 10 racks as tough as you can...
Play 3 sets only for three days in a row
....On the fourth day play 20 tough racks... take a one hour break then play 20 more racks...
Then take a one full day break ...to relax...(NO HITTING BALLS)... then on the day before the tourney play only a few relaxing racks just to keep smooth...NOW you are ready for the challange!!!
One of the hardest things to do at all times is to maintain your toughness when you are in competition... be social around the tourney but do not get involved with the little petty things that always happen at the event...too much noise, smoke, music, LITTLE ARGUMENTS ABOUT HOW THE EVENT IS RUN...try not to think about these things and just relax before your matches...go outside ..breathe fresh air...go back and "JUST DO IT!!!!"
....also a little exercise and good nutrition can't hurt !!!
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As previously pointed out, exercise, proper diet and water, can do wonders for you. But, if you can get a/your Doctor to write a Rx for an Oxygen tank (a small portable tank) and you breathe it for a few moments during your 5 minutes between matches, you'll feel invigorated.. (No Joke) .... Doug
ajrack said:
Thats great advice too. To condition you body and mind mentally for the a marathon tourney... I wish I had the time to do that. With a wife and 2 kids and 1 coming soon, its tough to spend that amount of time on the table. I will try out all the advice given here. Thanks!!
Another thing you should never do is sit and watch other matches. This just keeps your brain working when it should be resting and getting away from it for a while. You need to rest your brain as well as your body. I agree 100% that it is important to get outside and get some air. Make sure you have someone watching the board for you. You won't believe how much better you will feel if you leave the room completely between matches.
Hey, that's bad advice; it would be totally impossible.ajrack said:
exercise and eat properly. sounds like a cliche
drink water, eat something with good, long lasting carbs, con'd fill up all at once(eat small meals)
i would try bananas with peanut butter and honey, in a whole wheat sandwich. good carbs, high potassiumn.
drink water, eat something with good, long lasting carbs, con'd fill up all at once(eat small meals)
i would try bananas with peanut butter and honey, in a whole wheat sandwich. good carbs, high potassiumn.