My Inconsistency!

A

Ak Guy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just got home from the Alaska State Open 8 Ball tournament in Anchorage. I was knocked out after 3 matches. I let my lead slip away on the first match and won a hill/hill race to 5 and then lost the next 2 matches 5 to 3. I shook hands and gave a sincere congratulations to my opponents. In those 3 race to 5 matches I had 2 break and runs and 3 run outs after they broke and missed. None of my 3 opponents ran a table on me. I shot pretty bad in those matches and I missed many easy shots on those tight pocket Diamond tables. Now I have not played much since our pool hall closed down and that is a factor, but I have to admit I succumbed to being tired and nervous from the stress of travel, lack of sleep and playing in what is really a small tournament. When I went in early to practice I played 11 hours one day and 9 the next before the tournament. On crunch day I warmed up for 2 hours and started with a run out, break and run and then blew my 8 ball shot or I would of had 3 in a row. So I think I learned I am 64 and need to get in better shape and limit my play to 6 hours a day. Like some one said, "get lots of sleep, walk slow and drink lots of water". I will be surprised if I ever finish in the top 3 or win a state title, but I so love the game and playing against the younger guys. I will remain optimistic and hope to improve when my 9' Rebco is set up in a couple of weeks. Back to Anchorage next week end for the Open 9 Ball. What a hoot!
 
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I kinda had the same problem at our state tournament. We had 250-260 players and I got down to final 16 on winners side then lost 2 in a row. It was after 1:30 am, we had started around noon, I had never played that long before. I was more mentally tired than physically and made stupid mistakes like scratching on 8, missing another pretty easy 8 ball, and started getting real careless with position play. It is not an excuse because my opponents had been playing just as long as I had been that day. It just really burns to stay in that long and then basically beat yourself, had I won one of those 2 matches I would have been done for the day and finished up next day after a break.
 
Don't beat yourself up. Even the best don't win everything. I have gotten lots of advice from just about every place I have played. Pool players like offering advice. Unfortunately, not all of it means much. For me, it's been socks, food, and practice. First of all, socks. Good socks are as important as shoes, and having a fresh pair to change into for the latter part of the day not only feels good, but it psychs me into feeling like I just woke up for the day. Next is food. Don't eat crap that forces your gut to work overtime to digest. You don't want your belly & brain combating each other for energy, because by default your belly will win. Eat clean and just enough to sustain you. Last but not least, cut out the long practice & warm-up sessions. You already know how to play and you aren't going to get any better in the moments leading up to the tourney, so just hit some balls to keep your stroke warm, then put the cue away. Hard practice is for the time between tourneys and matches, not immediately before one. Of all the advice I have been given, those are the things that actually made a difference. Good luck with next week's match!
 
Good advice

That is good advice "qbilder", and I will follow it. I don't think I am beating my self up. I am new to tournament play and still learning a lot about the time spent before the tournament and how it relates to my tournament play. I will keep playing in small Alaskan tournaments for as long as it is fun. It is a good time for me and now that I am retired and getting my own table I will have more time for my hobby, Thanks for the advice!
 
Where do you live? Anchorage has tourneys almost daily. Even Kenai at least used to have a good tourney in spring. Never played much in the Valley because their better players always came to Anchorage, but they would talk of tourneys out there.
 
Kenai

I live in Kenai and the one pool hall we had closed and I don't think there is enough pool interest to support one. Every one wants to drink and shoot pool so a pool hall needs booze and food. The only tables are bar box in bars and they are in poor condition. There is an 8 ball bar league that has bar rules that are a joke for any serious player, and the tables suck so I don't play in it. I'm getting a 9' table soon so I can shoot till I'm sick of it.
 
to add a little

Excellent advice from Qbilder!

One thing I will add, keep a clean face towel in a ziplock. Washing the dirt, oils, and smoke off of your face and neck every couple of hours makes you feel like Fats did in The Hustler after he freshened up at daybreak. Use hot or cold water to wash with but always finish with a wipe down with the coldest water available. Down here I have often used ice water to wet my rag, probably not needed this time of the year in Alaska! This will freshen you up with no downside like chemicals or even sugar. Nice thing, you can do this any time you are feeling tired. or just not alert.

Hu
 
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