played in my first tournament (long winded recap)

[soyale]

And got smoked!! Tuesday night big table 9 ball at Felt in denver. had a great time and glad i went, but my nerves were fried worrying about playing bad. Race to 4 on the front, 3 on the back, alternate break and ryo.

I got there early and spread the balls out to work on patterns. I was actually playing alright (for me) before the tournament started, but the closer it got to starting the more my back arm started twitching.

My first match was against allegedly the best guy there, oof. i won the toss, broke and made 2 and was hooked on the 1 hanging center table near the side. I didnt see a good push so i kicked and whiffed it, and my opponent ran the table. Next rack he broke and played safe, i kicked and missed and he ran out again. the next couple racks i got off easy, he left a thin cut at an 8 on the rail near the top corner with the 9 near the bottom corner and i snipped it in and got good on the 9. The next one he ran the rack but hung the 9. The rest of it is a blur but he got to 4 real fast after that!

On the loser side, i lost the first 2 games by a bad safety and by hanging a 9ball. Down 2-0 i managed to get back to hill hill and banked a 9 cross side to get over the line.

my next loser side match i was down 1-0 and played what i thought was safe but my opponent played a 4-9 combo super thin into the side. I got the next game and at 2-1 i hung yet another 9 to get eliminated.

i hung around and chatted with a few of the other participants for a couple more hours, watching the various matches and getting a better idea of how truly outclassed i really was. the entry fee was $20 so it was a cheap night out and well worth it for the experience of playing what felt like “real matches.”

I mostly just bang em around by myself so this was a huge leap out of my comfort zone, something ive been thinking about trying for years and always been too afraid to do so.

To anyone else that has been hesitant to try something similar i recommend you give it a shot. It was a lot more fun than i thought it would be and made me try harder than i do at practice (even if to my detriment). everybody was really friendly and nobody tried to make me feel like an inferior player even though i very obviously was.

not sure i’ll be doing it again any time soon but it will for sure be a lot easier to drag myself there next time, now that my first attempt is out of the way.

thanks for reading azb and may they roll well for you all!

 

[ChrisinNC]

And got smoked!! Tuesday night big table 9 ball at Felt in denver. had a great time and glad i went, but my nerves were fried worrying about playing bad. Race to 4 on the front, 3 on the back, alternate break and ryo.

I got there early and spread the balls out to work on patterns. I was actually playing alright (for me) before the tournament started, but the closer it got to starting the more my back arm started twitching.

My first match was against allegedly the best guy there, oof. i won the toss, broke and made 2 and was hooked on the 1 hanging center table near the side. I didnt see a good push so i kicked and whiffed it, and my opponent ran the table. Next rack he broke and played safe, i kicked and missed and he ran out again. the next couple racks i got off easy, he left a thin cut at an 8 on the rail near the top corner with the 9 near the bottom corner and i snipped it in and got good on the 9. The next one he ran the rack but hung the 9. The rest of it is a blur but he got to 4 real fast after that!

On the loser side, i lost the first 2 games by a bad safety and by hanging a 9ball. Down 2-0 i managed to get back to hill hill and banked a 9 cross side to get over the line.

my next loser side match i was down 1-0 and played what i thought was safe but my opponent played a 4-9 combo super thin into the side. I got the next game and at 2-1 i hung yet another 9 to get eliminated.

i hung around and chatted with a few of the other participants for a couple more hours, watching the various matches and getting a better idea of how truly outclassed i really was. the entry fee was $20 so it was a cheap night out and well worth it for the experience of playing what felt like “real matches.”

I mostly just bang em around by myself so this was a huge leap out of my comfort zone, something ive been thinking about trying for years and always been too afraid to do so.

To anyone else that has been hesitant to try something similar i recommend you give it a shot. It was a lot more fun than i thought it would be and made me try harder than i do at practice (even if to my detriment). everybody was really friendly and nobody tried to make me feel like an inferior player even though i very obviously was.

not sure i’ll be doing it again any time soon but it will for sure be a lot easier to drag myself there next time, now that my first attempt is out of the way.

thanks for reading azb and may they roll well for you all!

Everyone is too concerned about their own performance to give any thought to how another player is playing. I think you’ll generally find the higher skilled players are extremely nice to the newer lower skilled players, although they certainly won’t take it easy on you.

Also, they may actually feel more pressure than you do, as they are expected to win. They were there once themselves and realize that everyone has to pay their dues.

 

[L.S. Dennis]

And got smoked!! Tuesday night big table 9 ball at Felt in denver. had a great time and glad i went, but my nerves were fried worrying about playing bad. Race to 4 on the front, 3 on the back, alternate break and ryo.

I got there early and spread the balls out to work on patterns. I was actually playing alright (for me) before the tournament started, but the closer it got to starting the more my back arm started twitching.

My first match was against allegedly the best guy there, oof. i won the toss, broke and made 2 and was hooked on the 1 hanging center table near the side. I didnt see a good push so i kicked and whiffed it, and my opponent ran the table. Next rack he broke and played safe, i kicked and missed and he ran out again. the next couple racks i got off easy, he left a thin cut at an 8 on the rail near the top corner with the 9 near the bottom corner and i snipped it in and got good on the 9. The next one he ran the rack but hung the 9. The rest of it is a blur but he got to 4 real fast after that!

On the loser side, i lost the first 2 games by a bad safety and by hanging a 9ball. Down 2-0 i managed to get back to hill hill and banked a 9 cross side to get over the line.

my next loser side match i was down 1-0 and played what i thought was safe but my opponent played a 4-9 combo super thin into the side. I got the next game and at 2-1 i hung yet another 9 to get eliminated.

i hung around and chatted with a few of the other participants for a couple more hours, watching the various matches and getting a better idea of how truly outclassed i really was. the entry fee was $20 so it was a cheap night out and well worth it for the experience of playing what felt like “real matches.”

I mostly just bang em around by myself so this was a huge leap out of my comfort zone, something ive been thinking about trying for years and always been too afraid to do so.

To anyone else that has been hesitant to try something similar i recommend you give it a shot. It was a lot more fun than i thought it would be and made me try harder than i do at practice (even if to my detriment). everybody was really friendly and nobody tried to make me feel like an inferior player even though i very obviously was.

not sure i’ll be doing it again any time soon but it will for sure be a lot easier to drag myself there next time, now that my first attempt is out of the way.

thanks for reading azb and may they roll well for you all!

I applaud you for being so candid about your experience. If this was your first time out in a tournament I say congratulation for finally getting you feet wet, didn't sound like you did so bad all things considered.

 

[tim913]

Nerves are a horrible thing! Next tournament don’t worry about looking bad or who your opponent is. When it’s your shot just smile on the inside and accept the challenge!

 

[Island Drive]

Would of enjoyed the names of wins/losses. Was Laura Smith there?

 

[soyale]

Everyone is too concerned about their own performance to give any thought to how another player is playing. I think you’ll generally find the higher skilled players are extremely nice to the newer lower skilled players, although they certainly won’t take it easy on you.

Also, they may actually feel more pressure than you do, as they are expected to win. They were there once themselves and realize that everyone has to pay their dues.

that is a great point. i think my biggest concern is that i know i can play better but i just always seem to crumble when i’m up against another player. something i need to get over for sure.

I applaud you for being so candid about your experience. If this was your first time out in a tournament I say congratulation for finally getting you feet wet, didn't sound like you did so bad all things considered.

thank you. ive been trying to muster up the courage for a long time. now im thinking i should have just taken a whack at it a long time ago, but you live and learn i suppose.

Nerves are a horrible thing! Next tournament don’t worry about looking bad or who your opponent is. When it’s your shot just smile on the inside and accept the challenge!

this is great advice. i wasnt horribly worried about who i was playing, more so about just missing easy shots that i would make 6-7/10 times in practice and feeling shitty about it after the fact. something i need to work on, for sure.

Would of enjoyed the names of wins/losses. Was Laura Smith there?

i don’t think so, there was only one female there and she was very young. the first guy that beat me was named mark, the first guy i beat was named josh, and the second guy that beat me was named chase. didn’t get any last names.

 

[bbb]

i havent read the other replies but getting into competition teaches you skills you cant learn practicing alone
good for you for playing in the tourney

 

[measureman]

that is a great point. i think my biggest concern is that i know i can play better but i just always seem to crumble when i’m up against another player. something i need to get over for sure.



thank you. ive been trying to muster up the courage for a long time. now im thinking i should have just taken a whack at it a long time ago, but you live and learn i suppose.



this is great advice. i wasnt horribly worried about who i was playing, more so about just missing easy shots that i would make 6-7/10 times in practice and feeling shitty about it after the fact. something i need to work on, for sure.



i don’t think so, there was only one female there and she was very young. the first guy that beat me was named mark, the first guy i beat was named josh, and the second guy that beat me was named chase. didn’t get any last names.

Probably Mark Vidal a low level pro that plays pretty good.

 

[soyale]

Probably Mark Vidal a low level pro that plays pretty good.

it wasnt marc vidal, this was an older and larger gentleman who i overheard used to live in california. super silky smooth stroke, really long pause in the backswing, excellent safety play.

 

[Island Drive]

Haddad?

 

[WobblyStroke]

First one is tough on the nerves. Good on you for giving it a shot.
I remember in my first tourney I was frozen in my first match. I got pitted against a weak player and the entire time I thought this shark was just toying with me lol. I edged him hill hill and this is a guy I should beat near nil every time. He saw me on the practice table later and was like 'holy crap, you're like a totally different player'. I was. Damn near crapped my pants I was so nervous in that first match. And that was the weirdest part cuz I had played in 100 dollar sets before entering that tourney and felt nothing like what I went through in that crappy little $20 tourney.

 

[soyale]

Haddad?

google confirms that this is correct. looked him up and he is a 719 fargo, wow!

 

[soyale]

First one is tough on the nerves. Good on you for giving it a shot.
I remember in my first tourney I was frozen in my first match. I got pitted against a weak player and the entire time I thought this shark was just toying with me lol. I edged him hill hill and this is a guy I should beat near nil every time. He saw me on the practice table later and was like 'holy crap, you're like a totally different player'. I was. Damn near crapped my pants I was so nervous in that first match. And that was the weirdest part cuz I had played in 100 dollar sets before entering that tourney and felt nothing like what I went through in that crappy little $20 tourney.

interesting how pressure can play on the nerves. maybe it’s because you were playing against somebody new? that always throws me off, and i tend to relax a little more once we’ve played a few times. i’m assuming that you knew the fella you gambled 100 with.

As another poster mentioned maybe its because you were “supposed” to win. i dont know what thats like but i imagine its a whole other kind of nervous than when you expect to lose.

 

[Island Drive]

Every player has gone thru, what your experiencing.

 

[L.S. Dennis]

google confirms that this is correct. looked him up and he is a 719 fargo, wow!

If was in fact Mark Haddad don't feel bad about losing to him, he is a very good player. I played him years ago in SF.

 

[kling&allen]

And got smoked!! Tuesday night big table 9 ball at Felt in denver. had a great time and glad i went, but my nerves were fried worrying about playing bad. Race to 4 on the front, 3 on the back, alternate break and ryo.

I got there early and spread the balls out to work on patterns. I was actually playing alright (for me) before the tournament started, but the closer it got to starting the more my back arm started twitching.

My first match was against allegedly the best guy there, oof. i won the toss, broke and made 2 and was hooked on the 1 hanging center table near the side. I didnt see a good push so i kicked and whiffed it, and my opponent ran the table. Next rack he broke and played safe, i kicked and missed and he ran out again. the next couple racks i got off easy, he left a thin cut at an 8 on the rail near the top corner with the 9 near the bottom corner and i snipped it in and got good on the 9. The next one he ran the rack but hung the 9. The rest of it is a blur but he got to 4 real fast after that!

On the loser side, i lost the first 2 games by a bad safety and by hanging a 9ball. Down 2-0 i managed to get back to hill hill and banked a 9 cross side to get over the line.

my next loser side match i was down 1-0 and played what i thought was safe but my opponent played a 4-9 combo super thin into the side. I got the next game and at 2-1 i hung yet another 9 to get eliminated.

i hung around and chatted with a few of the other participants for a couple more hours, watching the various matches and getting a better idea of how truly outclassed i really was. the entry fee was $20 so it was a cheap night out and well worth it for the experience of playing what felt like “real matches.”

I mostly just bang em around by myself so this was a huge leap out of my comfort zone, something ive been thinking about trying for years and always been too afraid to do so.

To anyone else that has been hesitant to try something similar i recommend you give it a shot. It was a lot more fun than i thought it would be and made me try harder than i do at practice (even if to my detriment). everybody was really friendly and nobody tried to make me feel like an inferior player even though i very obviously was.

not sure i’ll be doing it again any time soon but it will for sure be a lot easier to drag myself there next time, now that my first attempt is out of the way.

thanks for reading azb and may they roll well for you all!

I second everything you said. I get destroyed at tournaments but always have fun and everyone is super friendly (if you are a good sport at least).

 

[SSP]

Good for you, remember, you have nothing to lose but your entry fee and you were resigned to that anyway, you could never have known what it was like unless you played, try it again, you will play better because you now know what it feels like to compete in a tournament, you will be more comfortable playing position and strategy, your next goal is to win in one of the brackets, doesn't matter which one, you are officially a Tournament player, Congratulations !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[soyale]

If was in fact Mark Haddad don't feel bad about losing to him, he is a very good player. I played him years ago in SF.

i don’t feel bad about losing. my main sparring partner is miles better than i am and i lose every time. What bothers me is getting rattled so hard that i can’t even play my game. I just want to perform at the level that i know i’m capable of. I certainly never had a chance against mark and that was obvious to me within him shooting two or three shots.

I suppose some would say that playing bad IS the level i’m capable of if thats how i play every time i match up. In which case, i suppose it shouldn’t bother me at all!

here’s to doing better in the future

 

[bbb]

You lost your virginity…..
BE PROUD

 

[measureman]

Haddad is there a lot robbing the tournament.
I played in it a few times and the best I did was 4th against a strong field.
But I crushed a few lower level players.
It should be handicapped as almost all the players are known.