Tournament Fatigue

[poolboy17]

I was interested in your thoughts on tournament conditioning. It appears that most of the top players can compete at about the same level for almost an entire tournament.

Many times I will buzz along in a tournament at a pretty high level. Then, just as my game needs to be on I hit a wall of sorts. I'm not saying I fall flat on my behind but there is a definite loss in level of play.

It's not that I choke against better players (can compete and sometimes beat even the best amateur players) and it's not that I have a fear of winning because I have won/placed in many tournaments.

I have several theories on why this could be happeneing. Which do you think are the most valid?

1. Physical conditioning? Mine is not that bad but could always be better.
2. Mental Conditioning? Perhaps I make myself work harder than I should at times and get wore out mentally?
3. I also don't spend vast amounts of time playing/practicing all at once. My sessions tend to last about 2-3 hours a couple of times a week.
4. Sometimes if you're on the winner's side, you have to wait quite a while for your next match. Sometimes I practice during this time but knowing my propensity for "wearing down" I tend to not practice.

I guess what I'm asking is how much of tournament play is physical versus mental? Any thoughts and or suggestions are welcome.

 

[pete-biker]

First thing that comes to my mind is the normal rythm of sleeping and staying awake. Easily people who work in daily 9 to 5 rythm and then have their free time during evening are also the ones who are used to go to sleep around midnight. When you are normally on that type of sleeping-staying awake formula it's not that easy to be focused and really awake later and often those final rounds are after midnight.

So what to do with that then? Only reasonable answer is to start learning to take "power naps" and then be able to stay really awake longer. With power naps i mean those 10 to 15 minutes naps when you let yourself to quickly fall asleep put then also wake up because longer naps put you too much asleep and then it's even harder to be focused.