Be prepared.............
Yesterday I started in a tournament at 1pm. I fought all the way back through the losers bracket to make it to the finals. The finals started around 3am because it was a big tournament and the bar owner wanted to get it done in one day. By this time I was so exhausted and tired I could not even concentrate.
I know a lot of you guys would say to just drink some caffine, but what do you do when caffine stops working? Trust me, I drank a s**t load of it all day.
I would love any suggestions as far as things that help you get through the fatigue so that you can bare down and win. Thanks.
Hi there,
I have 2 different games. One when I'm feeling good and one when I'm tired. Being prepared is huge.
Get a good nights sleep the night before the tournament. If you have to drive more than an hour to get there go the night before and make sure you still get the sleep.
Eat small meals the day before your tourny. But eat about 6 times. This will turn on your bodys natural ability to do what it does best. Keep your energy even and consistent. Eat the same way the day of the tournament. Don't forget to eat. Your body needs a steady flow of nutrition.
If there is smoke in the place you are playing get out of there when you aren't playing. Let everyone else become braindead from the lack of oxygen their lungs get.
Rest inbetween your matches. Go to the car or go to your room and lay down. Your body will respond great from this rest. When you play a match your body is on high burn. You burn up alot of energy in that 30 to 60 minute match. During the match you are at high energy. After it is over you need to come down from your high burn mode. This is difficult sometimes. If you don't come down and stay on high burn you will run out of energy.
Bring your own good food in a cooler. Most of the food you get at places where there are tournaments is junk and has very little nutrition. Good food is good energy, bad food robs you of your ability for your body to create energy.
No energy drinks or caffiene. This will do nothing except make you nervous and jittery. If it seems to help you are being fooled because your body will be on high burn and drain every ounce you have left real fast. Now if you eat some food it will still be on high burn and burn your energy up too fast on your tired again.
If you are tired and you have done everything above then you have to turn on the total concentration. Keep your focus on the table all the time. Don't talk to anyone between shots or after games. Your focus and concentration is what will get you through this tired time. Make sure you don't get hungry. Don't eat too much but don't let the stomach get empty.
Now it is more important than ever to take it one shot at a time and make sure where the cue ball is going and make sure your are aiming double hard. When you get tired it is real easy to give up on a shot or get lazy and not figure out the best patern to run out the rack.
This thread caught my eye because I am preparing right now for the US Open. I drove to Virginia beach to prepare but the pool halls there have smoking and that would be very unhealthy especially if your trying to build your body up. I drove to Maryland to play and prepare because it is a non-smoking state. Is that sweet. And it doesn't matter if your playing in the US Open or the local tournament. You need to prepare the same way or you can't expect to do your best.
There are other things you can do but I think you get the idea. Even if the tourny doesn't last until 3:00 AM you will be sure to have energy until it is done.
Try these things at your next tourny and you'll see how much it will help.
I heard players talking and they would say things like I don't see why he wins so many tournaments. HE DOESN'T SEEM TO PLAY THAT MUCH BETTER THAN ALOT OF THESE GUYS.
Now you know.........................
Good Luck in your next one......... Geno............
