My First Tournament

8-ball?

On a bar box, safety play is very important. If you can't run out without a CIRCUS SHOT, you'd better be thinking about hiding whitey!:cool:

GOOD LUCK!
 
What's a circus shot?


What I think he's trying to say with Circus Shot is any shot that your odds of executing well (say pocketing a ball and drawing off two rails for a breakout to set up the next shot) aren't pretty high. I sometimes can be a bit too defensive in 8ball barbox tourneys. Even if I have an 80% shot at pulling off an out, I might hide the cueball in hopes of either ball in hand or my opponent moving something for me. So far though, that strategy hasn't hurt me....but I have lost games from not being aggressive enough - it's a fine line. I try to play players that are both VERY offensive minded and defensive ones, so that I know what to do when playing each in tourneys. Both types of games can work well, but being well-rounded in both is ideal.
 
What I think he's trying to say with Circus Shot is any shot that your odds of executing well (say pocketing a ball and drawing off two rails for a breakout to set up the next shot) aren't pretty high. I sometimes can be a bit too defensive in 8ball barbox tourneys. Even if I have an 80% shot at pulling off an out, I might hide the cueball in hopes of either ball in hand or my opponent moving something for me. So far though, that strategy hasn't hurt me....but I have lost games from not being aggressive enough - it's a fine line. I try to play players that are both VERY offensive minded and defensive ones, so that I know what to do when playing each in tourneys. Both types of games can work well, but being well-rounded in both is ideal.

Thanks for explaining that, nice cue by the way.
 
I haven't read the other posts, but I know this is what I did during my first tourney (which was only this past Friday). Just do it out of good fun, meaning have fun and cheer up. Take it serious but be loose and easy about it. I was shooting with a splint on, but I was being a good sportsman. I rarely cursed, if I did, I did it so low under my breath that no one noticed. Greet your opponent with a smile, shake his hand and wish them luck. If they happen to make a good shot, I'll tell them good shot or clap. If they missed and have to give you the table or ball-in-hand, tell them good try ot that was close. Just tell them something nice. No matter win or lose shake their hand and tell them good luck.

Last off, good luck on your tourney buddy. Knock'em dead!

Happy shooting! :)

Chin0
 
i played my first local tournament 3 months ago, i was kind of nervous but then i got on a practice table and hit some for an hour and started feeling better (got 4th place out of sixteen players)

just dont take it too serious play your game, play the table not the player.

good luck.:thumbup:
 
I haven't read the other posts, but I know this is what I did during my first tourney (which was only this past Friday). Just do it out of good fun, meaning have fun and cheer up. Take it serious but be loose and easy about it. I was shooting with a splint on, but I was being a good sportsman. I rarely cursed, if I did, I did it so low under my breath that no one noticed. Greet your opponent with a smile, shake his hand and wish them luck. If they happen to make a good shot, I'll tell them good shot or clap. If they missed and have to give you the table or ball-in-hand, tell them good try ot that was close. Just tell them something nice. No matter win or lose shake their hand and tell them good luck.

Last off, good luck on your tourney buddy. Knock'em dead!

Happy shooting! :)

Chin0

Thanks man, I honestly don't think I will have some huge competition but i could be wrong, I can beat just about any average or slightly above average pool player that walks in the bar that I play at, but then again bar players are all i have ever played but some of them were semi-serious about their play, coming in with cue cases mostly soft cases, and stuff like sand paper and players cues, which is cool if they shoot well with that stuff, but I run those types of players off a bar table, I went and played a few nights ago on a Saturday night, and I only paid for the first game and played probably 8-10 games. But I learned a long time ago not to judge my opponent to quickly, I had a old man come in and play with a one piece bar cue and clean up on me, but I didn't have my Predator then either :grin-devilish:
 
I hope you do well, but I doubt the competition will be as light as you think, unles this is a particularly small town. I would be surprisde if the tournament did not bring at least a couple of B players.
 
I hope you do well, but I doubt the competition will be as light as you think, unles this is a particularly small town. I would be surprisde if the tournament did not bring at least a couple of B players.

I would say medium size town, most they usually get is 12 players with a $10 buy-in, I wasn't trying to sound cocky, but I don't think that will bring out the big dogs.

I hope it does though.
 
Thanks man, I honestly don't think I will have some huge competition but i could be wrong, I can beat just about any average or slightly above average pool player that walks in the bar that I play at, but then again bar players are all i have ever played but some of them were semi-serious about their play, coming in with cue cases mostly soft cases, and stuff like sand paper and players cues, which is cool if they shoot well with that stuff, but I run those types of players off a bar table, I went and played a few nights ago on a Saturday night, and I only paid for the first game and played probably 8-10 games. But I learned a long time ago not to judge my opponent to quickly, I had a old man come in and play with a one piece bar cue and clean up on me, but I didn't have my Predator then either :grin-devilish:

Haha, play against the table or practice playing the ghost. Anyhow good luck and let the beast out of the predator.
 
Easiest way to keep your cool is to play well and win :p Get there early and practice on the equipment you'll be playing on. Don't worry about match-ups (my luck is I draw the favorite to win the tourney in the first round), just play YOUR game. If you are as competitive as I am you'll beat up on yourself for mistakes....try to let it go - otherwise it'll only lead to more mistakes. Have confidence in your ability. If you're faced with a really tough shot, think about a similar shot you've made - this has always helped me. Lastly, and most important...be LOOSE, have FUN!!!

This is the only post I read in this thread before replying....But this guy is RIGHT!!!!!

If you listen and apply this advice, you will be practically unbeatable....

Confidence is the key....if you don't think you can execute a given shot, you probably can't. Play within yourself, shoot the right shot for you...and over time the things you KNOW you can execute get more and more fearsome......(and realistic)

Every great player only tries to do what they KNOW they can do....forget what Efren can do, you're not Efren. If we all play the game to the best of our capabilities, we would all be great players.....imo.
 
This is the only post I read in this thread before replying....But this guy is RIGHT!!!!!

If you listen and apply this advice, you will be practically unbeatable....

Confidence is the key....if you don't think you can execute a given shot, you probably can't. Play within yourself, shoot the right shot for you...and over time the things you KNOW you can execute get more and more fearsome......(and realistic)

Every great player only tries to do what they KNOW they can do....forget what Efren can do, you're not Efren. If we all play the game to the best of our capabilities, we would all be great players.....imo.

I liked that post too, I plan on getting there pretty early about a hour or so to play on the table I will be shooting on because I have never played at this place, and don't know their tables, but it should definitely be a blast its my first tournament, its a open bar tourny but still I'm excited.
 
I liked that post too, I plan on getting there pretty early about a hour or so to play on the table I will be shooting on because I have never played at this place, and don't know their tables, but it should definitely be a blast its my first tournament, its a open bar tourny but still I'm excited.

Open tourneys are fun...you get the chance to play good players, without getting punished (badly) if you don't win, it's still good experience...

The open tourneys make you realize where you stand on the totem pole, A, B, C, etc...

I think tourneys are the best way to improve your game, without paying good players who only want to take your money....
 
Open tourneys are fun...you get the chance to play good players, without getting punished (badly) if you don't win, it's still good experience...

The open tourneys make you realize where you stand on the totem pole, A, B, C, etc...

I think tourneys are the best way to improve your game, without paying good players who only want to take your money....

Thats what I was hoping for, I'm a little nervous about being out of my comfort zone, but I am excited to play some new people and hopefully some good ones.
 
Thats what I was hoping for, I'm a little nervous about being out of my comfort zone, but I am excited to play some new people and hopefully some good ones.

You will be more comfortable and relax once you get there. I thought I was going to be nervous, but I was focused on the game rather than worrying about what others think. Don't worry about what others perception of you, just play you bes game and know you did your best and learn from every game that you win or lose. :thumbup:
 
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