9ballrun said:
Hey Louis, you have given good advise before and hoped that you would again. The issue that I'm having is not being able to finish strong. I will be in a race to nine and be up like 7-2 and the next thing I know I can't run but two or three balls and then it 7-6. Normally then I can find it again and pull it out, but its agravating to hit that dead area.
Hi 9ballrun,
If your abilities fade after you get ahead in a match then it is probably a mental issue that you will have to deal with. I know exactly what you are talking about. You are not alone with this. I've had matches where I jump out to a big lead and then find myself falling apart for a few games and let my opponent catch up, or even pass me.
One thing that you need to remember is that the set is not over just because you jump out to a big lead. You have to keep playing the same way that you got the lead until the set is over. Sometimes players will become over aggressive, or too passive once they have a lead. While this may work sometimes, you really should keep to your regular shooting style, rhythm, and strategy.
Another thing that might be a factor is your energy level. You might start off strong, but then get tired half way through the match. If this is the case, you may want to try keeping your energy regulated throughout the tournament by snacking on health type bars between matches. I prefer small meals during tournaments and power bars every couple of hours. This way I am never hungry nor full.
Next time you find yourself in the situation of letting a big lead get away, ask yourself what happened. Did your opponent just play good? Did you become afraid of losing your lead and adjust your play because of it? Did you get physically weak? Did you become overconfident and let up on your game?
Once you find out what it is that you are doing, you can learn to overcome this. It may even be a combination of some of the factors.
I hope this helps. If you figure out anything about your game because of this I'd be interested to hear what it was and what you have done to help fix it.
Take care,
Louis
