How do you prepare?

[Wally in Cincy]

Melissa,

On the main forum you mentioned the upcoming Tunica WPBA event. As this year's season kicks off I would like to ask you how you prepare for these tournaments.

Do you practice a lot more? A little more? Do you change your practice routine to sharpen up?

The only tournament of any importance I play in is in May of each year. I usually start practicing diligently in March. I can usually get sharp enough to run 7 balls, but sadly this is an 8-ball tournament

Thanks,

Wally in Cincy

 

[Melissa Herndon]

Hi Wally,

In order to be prepared for a tournament, I usually start stepping up the effort and frequency of my practice sessions. About 2 months before the event, I start trying to get to the pool room more often and spend an extra hour there each time I go. I will also try to focus my efforts on playing deliberately, trying to simulate tournament conditions in my own head, instead of just banging balls around.

The week before the tournament, I play everyday for as long as my work schedule allows me. Muscle memory is an amazing thing (it is what allows a person to walk into his/her bedroom in the dark and flip the light switch without actually being able to see the light switch), and it starts to fade after 3 days, so it is important to never go 3 days without practicing before a big match or tourney.

One last suggestion....try to get someone to teach you something new about 1 week before a tournament. Once they teach it to you, start off your session by practicing the new thing for 20 minutes everyday. It doesn't have to be anything big, but the act of learning and practicing a new shot will do wonders for the rest of your practice routine. People sometimes have a hard time focusing while practicing the things they already know. But, focus comes easy when learning new things. So, you get focused while learning, and then it will be easy to stay focused when you move into your regular practice routine.

Melissa

PS. If anyone has any suggestions on a great practice or warm-up routine, I am always interested in hearing about different things!

 

[Wally in Cincy]

I will also try to focus my efforts on playing deliberately, trying to simulate tournament conditions in my own head, instead of just banging balls around.

IMO it's never good to just bang balls around. I don't have that much time to practice so when I do I try very hard to concentrate on proper aiming, pre-shot routine, and the mechanics taught to me by my local instructor John Scalf and internet favorite Scott Lee. Then when I am playing in competition this all has become second nature (sometimes )

Muscle memory....starts to fade after 3 days, so it is important to never go 3 days without practicing before a big match or tourney.

I had never heard that but it makes sense. For some reason that sounds like something Jimmy Reid would say.

....focus comes easy when learning new things.....

Good suggestion. I can see how that would liven up your practice session. I actually don't mind practicing and frequently enjoy it, but something like that would make it seem less like work.

If anyone has any suggestions on a great practice or warm-up routine, I am always interested in hearing about different things!

In regards to warming up, I've always started by making 15 easy shots. I think it puts your subconcious into a confident pattern. I read Jeanette Lee's book about a year ago and she suggests the same thing.


Thanks Melissa. I hope to make it to Peoria in June. Good luck in Tunica.

Wally in Cincy