Tips for a 1st timer!

jstcfleming

jstcfleming

Registered User
Next Saturday (24th) I am going to enter my very first Open Tournament @ local pool hall. (Mr Zeds) I have been playing pool seriously for 3 mths now. And by serious I mean not banging balls around a bar once a year. I don't use a high end cue or anything. Figure when I get better I will reward myself. But my wife got me a "nice" cue and case. Really just looking for any tips. Maybe some good solid advice for a first timer. Everyone has there first time. Looking forward to it. Even if I am going to be playing with players above my skill level. Figure I will enter and go with a blank slate and use the experience as a learning tool. I really do want to get better. And besides its an afternoon of fun and some personal time. So any tips or advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

Jim:)
 
You've already got it. Just go in with the idea of playing some pool, having some fun, and learning. Even if you go out early, stick around and watch. The atmosphere at a tournament is a little bit different. Get familiar with your surroundings. Every event you enter brings you that much closer to winning your first tournament.
Enjoy the journey!
Steve
 
Watch the other players, observe their strategies, play your best. Don't worry about winning a match. If it happens, great. If it doesn't, you weren't really expecting to anyway. Most of all, don't make a lot of excuses.
 
The previous posts are good advice...

Relax, enjoy the moment, be a gentleman, be courteous....if you win, be a gracious winner, even in the face of an idiot....if you lose, don't make excuses or get mad.....take it like a man....

And like they said, hang around, enjoy the atmosphere, meet some people....that way you'll be more prepared the next time around....

good luck...
 
Wow thanks for the fast replies.

I plan to be a sponge. Soak up everything I can. I figured I would hang out all day and learn everything I can.

My wife bought me a little book with Pool Terms in it. Says I should know some slang. Though it was funny.

I am new to the game and really figure the best way to learn is to watch. But I do want to go in event. I was going to last month but wanted to wait just a little longer and horn up my skills a little better. Have a long way to go but really am enjoying it.

Hopefully I will be able to enter on a monthly basis. I understand they host an Open event monthly. Going to go to Kingston tomorrow to watch some of Limestone Classic. (son's hockey team party or would go today too)

Thanks again all for the advice / tips / kind words. Now I can't wait till Saturday. Like a kid in the candy store.
 
When I first started getting more serious about playing pool, one person suggested a drill that helped me out so much I cant even imagine being where I am now if it wasnt for that.

What he told me to do was to just leave 3 balls on the table and run them out in succession. If your playing 9 ball, then run them out in numerical order. At first it seemed dumb to me, but as I started getting better at it, I learned that it was all about getting position on the next ball and thinking 3 balls ahead.

This is when I started to get it that pool wanst about pocketing balls. Its about getting the white ball where you want it for the next ball.

After that, there was no looking back. But as a beginer this was the drill that opened it all up for me.
Vicdotcom
 
My only tip is not to leave straight after you lose which is the natural tendency but to see the event through. And to get into stroke before the event begins by hitting balls around around for forty minutes somewhere else. :cool: And don't talk too much
 
Get out now while you still have a life. ;)

seriously, enjoy the above posts covered it well, my first sentence does carry some weight to it as well.
 
Jim,

There is lots of good advice here. One thing you may want to watch for when your match starts, is to watch for signs of an adrenalin rush and know what to do if this happens to you. It can cause you to be anxious, and rush your thought processes and your shots. It can cause you to NOT stay down on your shot as you will be almost running around the table eager to pot another ball. This will cause you to lose much needed energy.
Try to stay calm and focused. Try to avoid panic if you start to feel a game getting away from you. If you miss a shot you KNOW you should have made, put it behind you and move on. Be considerate of your opponents even if they are jerks. This will earn you the respect of the people you are going to be around when you return for the next tournament. Good luck and shoot well, my friend!!!

Maniac
 
Lots of good advice here. The most important thing to me is just enjoy it all. It's a chance to play against different people with varying strengths in their game. A great way to learn.

I said to a guy last night that I treat our weekly 9 ball tourney as practice, but one week I hope to turn up & play!:rolleyes:
 
evry1 has said it all and ill add the most important thing to me HAVE FUN. remember this P.M.A = O.P.M ( positive mental attitude = other people money) that will help with anything you do life.good luck
 
If you're newish to the game, there might be too much to soak up.

My suggestion is to learn how to play your best game during a tournament. Find out how it feels to step up to the plate, whether you play a banger or a world beater. You'll have fun playing well, and come out of it with a lot of self-respect.

For whatever reason, I always played well in tournaments--better than in practice, that's for sure. People actually took my game seriously! Having played well and earned the respect of players, I felt a great sense of pride. I hope you can do the same.
 
I will say this, I remember my first OPEN 9ball tournament lol, my first match, i lost 9-0 and got to the table 3 times lol, and was kicking at a ball 3times lol.

I was seriously amazed at how well these guys played, rarely getting out of position. I stayed for the whole tournament and watched every match I could and learned more in 1 day, than I could have in probably a month's worth of practicing. It also taught me that shooting softer was better lol.

But seriously, go in with a open mind, and take your time on each shot.

Also, everytime you get to the table, even if your hooked, look at it this way, BE HAPPY that your at the table and get a chance to shoot. I mean even if your at the table and having to kick or do a jump shot, atleast your not sitting in the chair watching the guy run out every rack lol.

Another thing, not all saftey's are the ones most notice-able. If your hooked, look at the table, and alot of the time, if you can lock up two balls on a rail or something thats just as good as trying to kick at the OB. Because if the guy doesnt break out the two balls, you get another chance at the table.
 
First off thanks to everyone for the great advice / tips. Read them all several times. Tried a few of the things mentioned as well yesterday.

My plan is to get up Saturday like its no different then any other day. Watch some cartons with kids while we have breakfast. Just like every Saturday. I will warm up a little at home with a few racks and head into town.

When I get there and sign up and hand my cash over I will pull my "sponge" out and be ready to learn all I can. Nerves are not to much of a worry for me. I figure I will be more overwlemed. But thats fine. I figure if I can spend a day out and learn one thing, thats one more thing I did'nt know before hand. I really am thinking along the lines of a learning experience. And then a few mths down the road with a few of these Saturdays under my belt I can use that knowledge and hopefully give a few guys / gals a run for there money.

I also plan to stick around all day. Regardless how I make out. I like to watch pool. And I will learn as posted. Study how other players play out things. Was wondering how funny I would look with a legal pad of paper trying to write all down. LOL

I did notice respect was a common thing mentioned in posts. I like that. Respecting the players. Its a lesson we have tried to instal in the kids on my sons hockey team. Now I have a chance to do what we have been telling them all year. :)

Thanks again folks. I will post next week and let you know how I made out.
 
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