Warming up at Tournaments, how much ?

[Desmondp]

Here is how things work where i come from

From the time the venue opens (which is usually 2-3 hours before the tournament start time), players can come in and practice on any of the tables. If you get there early, you can practice on your own, do routines etc, then as more and more players arrive, you have to just have practice games against other players. Gets more and more crowded so the closer to the start time, the less table time you get.

Now i don't like to play too much for a warm up. Just a few games. I also don't like to break and run too much in warm up, it's a psychological thing i know, i don't want to "leave all my good stuff on the warm up table".

How do warm ups work at tournaments you enter ?

How do you approach the warm up process ?

 

[genomachino]

I like to go in there the night before and see exactly how the rails bank. I have a routine where I figure this out in about 5 minutes. Then I like to play for an hour or 2 that night to get used to the speed and how everything reacts.

The next day before the tourny all I'm focusing on is getting my focus. If i didn't get there the night before I have a real short version of my night before routine that takes about 10 minutes.

Main thing is getting your break down so you are hitting the balls square and you have your mind in a place where you can focus totally.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time...focusing only on each bite............

 

[nikschc]

Everything Gene says would be a great way to warm up.

If you have some time restrictions and can't make it the day prior to check out the equipment.

I would recommend getting there first thing and get a table to yourself until the bulk of the players arrive. Have a pre tourny routine, where you go in and hit the CB around the table a bit to see how it's rolling and how live the rails are. Then have 2 to 3 drills to use before every event, not very difficult remember the better your confidence the better you're going to play. Do this same routine for each event to get yourself focused and ready to play.