what frame of mind do you adopt for tourneys?
- Thread starter Jimbojim
- Start date
My mindset is "I'm going to be very careful, shoot every shot as perfectly as I can, never settle, always line up the shot first, and basically make sure every single shot is given serious treatment. If I miss or screw up, I have zero reasons to be mad because I gave the shot 100% effort."
The hard part is remembering to stay that way the entire tournament. You get lazy and start to skip steps on some of the routine shots. It's exhausting a little, mentally, to give maximum try to every ball. But that's what you have to do. Then you have no excuses and no recriminations afterwards.
If for some reason you get mad anyway (it'd be completely irrational) never let the opponent see it. It pumps them up and hurts your game to fall into any sort of negative thinking. A big part of winning is to get in your opponent's head a bit. Don't ever directly shark them, be classy. But allow yourself to be intimidating. If you have a 'local hero' reputation, play it up. If not, just remember to never let 'em see you sweat. Treat every bad roll as if it's a minor inconvenience on the way to your inevitable win, and just grin and do your level best to deal with it. Also grin if you get one of the good rolls.
If you really want to mess with them, act very casual after every amazing shot, like it's routine. Don't laugh and squeal like a little girl. Also don't joke around with the opponent. If they come to you looking for a little fellow-pool-player sympathy about a tough roll, give them nothing. "haha, I was trying to bump the seven and the 9, what are the odds I'd go right between them and scratch?"... you can just kind of smirk and shrug like "uh huh." Come off a little cold, it makes them uncomfortable. If you are the one looking for sympathy... stop, it's a sign of weakness
...also this is maybe less than classy but if they have an angry outburst, you might allow a little smile to show.
You may already be done with this tournament, hope you did well if so.
The hard part is remembering to stay that way the entire tournament. You get lazy and start to skip steps on some of the routine shots. It's exhausting a little, mentally, to give maximum try to every ball. But that's what you have to do. Then you have no excuses and no recriminations afterwards.
If for some reason you get mad anyway (it'd be completely irrational) never let the opponent see it. It pumps them up and hurts your game to fall into any sort of negative thinking. A big part of winning is to get in your opponent's head a bit. Don't ever directly shark them, be classy. But allow yourself to be intimidating. If you have a 'local hero' reputation, play it up. If not, just remember to never let 'em see you sweat. Treat every bad roll as if it's a minor inconvenience on the way to your inevitable win, and just grin and do your level best to deal with it. Also grin if you get one of the good rolls.
If you really want to mess with them, act very casual after every amazing shot, like it's routine. Don't laugh and squeal like a little girl. Also don't joke around with the opponent. If they come to you looking for a little fellow-pool-player sympathy about a tough roll, give them nothing. "haha, I was trying to bump the seven and the 9, what are the odds I'd go right between them and scratch?"... you can just kind of smirk and shrug like "uh huh." Come off a little cold, it makes them uncomfortable. If you are the one looking for sympathy... stop, it's a sign of weakness
...also this is maybe less than classy but if they have an angry outburst, you might allow a little smile to show.You may already be done with this tournament, hope you did well if so.
My mindset is "I'm going to be very careful, shoot every shot as perfectly as I can, never settle, always line up the shot first, and basically make sure every single shot is given serious treatment. If I miss or screw up, I have zero reasons to be mad because I gave the shot 100% effort."
The hard part is remembering to stay that way the entire tournament. You get lazy and start to skip steps on some of the routine shots. It's exhausting a little, mentally, to give maximum try to every ball. But that's what you have to do. Then you have no excuses and no recriminations afterwards.
If for some reason you get mad anyway (it'd be completely irrational) never let the opponent see it. It pumps them up and hurts your game to fall into any sort of negative thinking. A big part of winning is to get in your opponent's head a bit. Don't ever directly shark them, be classy. But allow yourself to be intimidating. If you have a 'local hero' reputation, play it up. If not, just remember to never let 'em see you sweat. Treat every bad roll as if it's a minor inconvenience on the way to your inevitable win, and just grin and do your level best to deal with it. Also grin if you get one of the good rolls.
If you really want to mess with them, act very casual after every amazing shot, like it's routine. Don't laugh and squeal like a little girl. Also don't joke around with the opponent. If they come to you looking for a little fellow-pool-player sympathy about a tough roll, give them nothing. "haha, I was trying to bump the seven and the 9, what are the odds I'd go right between them and scratch?"... you can just kind of smirk and shrug like "uh huh." Come off a little cold, it makes them uncomfortable. If you are the one looking for sympathy... stop, it's a sign of weakness
You may already be done with this tournament, hope you did well if so.
Very good outlook mister. I had a talk over dinner with a friend I regard as the smartest amongst us about instinct. His argument is humans develop them at a slower rate than animals. The outcome of the debate does not matter. I just want to add to what you just said....some people try to take that from us--It's almost a sharking move.
Well, I just got back. I think we were about 40 players I'm not too sure but I finished 9-12th. This isn't perfect but its not bad considering it was a tournament of a class above mine.
I was casual between matches but as soon as they called my name, only pool was in my mind.
I played some good matches there.
I was casual between matches but as soon as they called my name, only pool was in my mind.
I played some good matches there.
I am pretty casual
I just try to get there 15 minutes before, relax, and get my mind in the right frame before playing. I usually don't warm up unless it is a big tournament or if I have a real tough match coming up, then 15 minutes warming up and I am ready to go.
And when I practice, I shoot a few shots, and then concentrate on banks. When my banks are going, I am ready to play.
I just try to get there 15 minutes before, relax, and get my mind in the right frame before playing. I usually don't warm up unless it is a big tournament or if I have a real tough match coming up, then 15 minutes warming up and I am ready to go.
And when I practice, I shoot a few shots, and then concentrate on banks. When my banks are going, I am ready to play.
not bad at all
Shows you weren't outclassed and can run with them. Good experiecne and grist for the mill of the mental game for next time. Nothing helps more than been there done that. If you finished 9-12th there is no reason you can't finish higher too.
Hu
Shows you weren't outclassed and can run with them. Good experiecne and grist for the mill of the mental game for next time. Nothing helps more than been there done that. If you finished 9-12th there is no reason you can't finish higher too.
Hu
I finished 5-6th once in that class.
Play how you practice. If you don't take your time and shoot every shot with the same routine in practice, then you will feel out of place when you try to do it in the tourny.
I tell myself before each match the reason I'm here is to play my best regardless of the outcome. To play my best, I have to deliver the best, smoothess, stoke possible evertime I shoot a shot. I settle down my emotions and limit the adrenaline rush by centering my focus on the stroke.
I tell myself before each match the reason I'm here is to play my best regardless of the outcome. To play my best, I have to deliver the best, smoothess, stoke possible evertime I shoot a shot. I settle down my emotions and limit the adrenaline rush by centering my focus on the stroke.