Tournament Advice

JoeyA said:
While I don't consider myself one of the big boys, I can assure you that getting LOTS of rest and LOTS of cardiovasuclar work outs will help your game in ways that nothing else will, especially in long tournaments & under heavy pressure. The rest and exercise (not body-building) can't be emphasized enough IMHO. You could throw in diet for good measure. Eat well, eat light, eat often.

Good shooting. Keep us posted on your results.
JoeyA
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Good advice here from Joey. I was never much of a tournament player, so I don't feel qualified to advise you. I will make a couple of observations though. Everyone tends to be somewhat nervous in tournaments. I think that the only way to get comfortable with this, is to play in as many tournaments as you can. The more you play, the more comfortable you will be.

Another thing I've noticed is about playing early matches. Most pool players are not used to playing at 11AM or some time like that. I noticed Tang always had problems in early matches. What I got him to do was wake up early, and get about 20-30 minutes of exercise, either walking or running. Then eat a good breakfast and hit balls about an hour before the match to get loosened up. When he felt loose, he could quit and just hit a rack or two when his match came up. He did much better on this routine.

Another helpful thing is to have someone with you that can give you some good support. Someone knowledgeable about pool is the best. Sometimes they will observe something that you have overlooked. They may make observations that are helpful to you. And you can discuss matches with them, both before and after.

Good luck in the tournament. I know it will be a strong field. Just remember to enjoy yourself. This is what you prepared for so let it all hang out. Don't hold anything back. Savor the moment, and show 'em what you got. You might surprise yourself. You can play a little pool too, can't you.
 
This forum is the NUTS!

Snorks said:
Watch the video that Blackjack referenced (Buddy Hall.. Heart is everything)..

http://propoolvideo.com/old-school/heart-is-everything.html

After you watch this, repeat 2-3 times per day till the event.
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This forum is the NUTS. Some of the advice given here comes as new information to some, old information to others. Some of it better than others and best of all, the advice is a consensus and is well rounded and the answers compiled together make up POWERFUL ADVICE.

Jay's advice about keeping your body's clock on the same time zone as your tournament play is critical if you are used to playing all night and have to play during the day. Having a "coach" that knows pool in your corner and one who knows how to and when to hit your hot buttons and knows when to shut up and just give you the nod is awesome.

Snork's suggestion to view Buddy's video is simply great.
Buddy's comments about HEART is a gift from a champion. You really have to WANT IT. It can't just be a game. (Well, it can be if you want to enjoy the camaraderie, only) To win, the level of your desire to overcome has to be higher than your opponents and if you know how some of these competitors come prepared, you had better get your heart fire, STOKED.

I suggest you compile a list of all of the suggestions and refer to it like it was your best friend. BTW, if you do compile one with all of the suggestions you receive here, post it for everyone to have a copy.
Looking forward to seeing your new best friend. :)

Good shooting,
JoeyA
 
Suggestions

Joey and Jay had very good advice, and I always hated 7 or 8 am matches at Nationals, I am not a morning person,and I like breakfast at 10 am, before that coffee and smokes.

But, here is what I do:
1) I practice by myself, how much depends on how big and important the tournament is. I don't forget how to make balls from day to day like some players do, or even week to week, so I just shoot whatever I throw out on the table.

2) If I think I will have a problem with a particular type of shot, I will set it up and shoot it until I feel comfortable with it, tuned up on it.

3) Then, I concentrate on what I call the accessory items: My breaks,
banking (a lot - tuned precisely), caroms, combos, and safeties.

Doing it this way, for me, gives me a brain readout (or computer readout)
on the overall solidness of my game, and promotes a general sense of well being with my game, that I am entirely comfortable with how I am playing.
 
I tend to overlook stuff when practicing but I'm working on it. Practice shots that are harder for you.

I have 2 kinds of mind frame when I play pool(excluding when I play like shit):

1st. I play loose, feel confident, play great but make lame mistakes

2nd. Focused like there was no tomorrow, checking ALL angles even on shots that I can feel I can make with one hand...wanting to be sure that I get the EXACT position that I need. When I can get into that mindframe, I can really play but its hard sometimes to recreate 'the zone'
 
The winner is the guy who wants it more.

Meet some of the road players hustlers with 15 yrs on the road. like Townsend,Cory or Gabe and Ask them. They know how to just have some fun and play the Game. Where's the fire in your belly Decide now that you will be the winner. If you can aim have rhythum . You can only control your trips to the table. Playing in the open is the only way to get experience playing in the open. I actually read something about gabe and cory get your pool hall to bring them in and ask they are very knowledgable and approachable! az has a doc. Jim S fake it til ya make it kid. Walk the walk and talk the talk just my thoughts
 
Nutrition was touched upon but not talked about in detail. Plenty of sleep and proper nutrition will keep you "at peak" as others have already "hit the wall."

You have already played in this event so you sorta know what the time schedule is going to be like. It' not like your going to have Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at normal times. I agree with the other poster on eating lite as the body has it's work cut out digesting a large meal. It also should be food that is easily digestible.

B-Vitamins help in the digestion of meals which is ideal for tournament conditions. Heres a link to that.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportsnutrition/a/B_Vitamins.htm

Now you might say that this might be more tuned to a tri-athlete or such. But I'm here to tell you don't knock it till you have tried it. It stretches out your fuel mileage without the knocks and pings. (Most people relate to analogies of cars. :D )

Also at the same sports nutrition site I stumbled across this and tried it. Eating before competing. The key words are eating something easily digestible. Red meats and food with a lot of fat are a no-no in that they just take up space and their nutrients are only realized in the colon up to 8 hours later. Just too much for the system to break down and convert. Heres the link:
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/nutrition/a/aa011201a.htm

Did you notice the suggested pre-competition foods? Notice how they are all foods we would consider lite?

Snacking immediately after a match knowing the next match starts in two hours, one hour, or a half hour jives right along with the pre-competition food suggestions doesn't it? I tried this and it works. The only problem is that my food supply ran out! (Nothing but junk food was offered close to the event.) So next time I think I will stock up on some of these power bars to bring along.
http://www.powerbar.com/

I find myself taking extra fruit with me from the hotel's complimentary breakfast. I just started doing this (competition nutrition) myself and it definitely has merit.

This was just food for thought...Good Luck!!!
 
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Screw the exercise... just don't forget to take your Can't Miss and Perfect Position pills before your first match.
 
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