Practice or Action Before A Tournament?

[Bigtruck]

What is your preference before a tournament?

Would you rather hit balls or get into some action, cheap or otherwise?

My preference is to get into some cheap competition before a tournament starts. For me,it's a good way to warm up. I know some prefer to practice by themselves.

What do you prefer?

Ray

 

[onepocketron]

I like to start off hitting some balls alone, and after just enough shots to loosen up, then maybe get into some light competition. I definitely don't just hit lots of shots solo. I get bored after a bit. I love to compete, but that is just me.....even if I get my butt whoopped.

 

[robleyf7]

i like too just practice for a hour or so then maybe find some cheap sets while waiting for my match

 

[Black-Balled]

I like funsies while at the tourney, gotta get loose.

The days leading up to the event, I like the $!

 

[m79a]

Usually play some cheap sets before hand. Most of the time I let whoever I'm playing cover my entry fee.:thumbup:

 

[randyg]

I like to Spar in a short race.....SPF=randyg

 

[Bigtruck]

I like to Spar in a short race.....SPF=randyg

I have a couple of drills that take maybe 5 minutes total. One for straightening out my stroke(chicken wing), and the other for table speed. After that I like cheap short sets.

Ray

 

[JoeyA]

On the day of the tournament, I like to loosen up and NOT COMPETE with anyone.

This past year, an hour before the tournament was going to start, I asked Earl Strickland if I could share his table at a tournament and he said. "Sure, you hit a rack and I hit a rack". At first I was like, WTH? and then I remembered something I had read about competing a while back and if I am warming up for the tournament I really like clearing the table, setting up shots that I miss and grooving my stroke and relaxing.

Thanks Earl!

 

[Gerry]

if you mean the day of the tourney?....I get on a table and practice safety play, and kicking to get the speed and feel of the table. If I'm at the event, it's no time to "think" too much about my stroke or what I was working on back home.


once I can go 2 or 3 rails and lay the CB up against blockers I know I'm ready.

G.

 

[tom mcgonagle]

I like to practice before I play. In the days leading up to a big event, I'm all for playing for money.

If I get knocked out of a tournament, I might match up with someone.

______________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com

 

[Snapshot9]

Warming up

If it's hours before you play, then warming up on a Challenge table is okay. If it is a small tournament I usually don't have to warm up, but for big tournaments and/or a hard next match, I will spend 15 or 20 minutes warming up with some open shots to test table speed, but mostly I will shoot various bank shots. I feel that bank shots 'tune' me up.

 

[Black-Balled]

On the day of the tournament, I like to loosen up and NOT COMPETE with anyone.

This past year, an hour before the tournament was going to start, I asked Earl Strickland if I could share his table at a tournament and he said. "Sure, you hit a rack and I hit a rack". At first I was like, WTH? and then I remembered something I had read about competing a while back and if I am warming up for the tournament I really like clearing the table, setting up shots that I miss and grooving my stroke and relaxing.

Thanks Earl!

Agreed...that is how it should be done (Tang showed me).

 

[Underclocked]

I like to come in cold... get beaten by my first opponent and put in the loser's bracket. Then I fight the long hard fight through the loser's bracket and hopefully get to beat that first opponent badly along the way. :grin:

Of course I don't really like to do that, but it seems to be my pattern lately. Having to drive an hour each way to get anywhere to play doesn't allow for much practice time.