What was your Tourney "Choke Curve"?

[KoolKat9Lives]

I just competed in my second tournament (Viking Tour, 9 Ball). My 1st tourney I was 2 and out, and this time I won twice before elimination. Progress...

I am wondering what you experienced during your beginning stages.

How did you play in the beginning versus your "standard play" and how did your play progress?

I know that I fell well short of my standard play. Most damaging was a number of times when I had run to the point of "an APA 4 is surely out from here" and then I either got a hair out of line or simply hung an easy one.

(BTW, thanks to Eric & crew for your Shooters hospitality and Mike/Terrie for a job well done! :thumbup: )

 

[ironman]

I just competed in my second tournament (Viking Tour, 9 Ball). My 1st tourney I was 2 and out, and this time I won twice before elimination. Progress...

I am wondering what you experienced during your beginning stages.

How did you play in the beginning versus your "standard play" and how did your play progress?

I know that I fell well short of my standard play. Most damaging was a number of times when I had run to the point of "an APA 4 is surely out from here" and then I either got a hair out of line or simply hung an easy one.

(BTW, thanks to Eric & crew for your Shooters hospitality and Mike/Terrie for a job well done! :thumbup: )

I have played pool for many years and have viewed choking a little differently than most. In my day we called it "doggin it".

I have yet to run into a pool player who hasn't done it and on many occasions. Why? For some it is the pressure, some just get tired, some just lose focaus, and somedays, it"s just that way.

For many young players tough, it is just the lack of experience combned with being in foreign waters. Don't be too hard on yourself. Concentrate on playing the game the way it is supposed to be played and the shot at hand. On much of todays equipment, everyon gets out of line and you often just have to shoot your way back in line.

Focus on the game and how you play. Make that your primary thought and the choking will go away.

In all my years, I can't think of a shot I haven't missed. I've misse d balls that were harder to miss than to make.

 

[Andrew Manning]

For me, I barely ever played tournaments my first 4 or so years of playing pool seriously; I got my start just playing in leagues and friendly matches, with a very limited amount of matching up for money. When I did play tournaments, I played WELL below my ability level, I guess just because the difference in format took me mentally out of my comfort zone.

So I took a session off from my league, and started playing a Thursday night weekly 9-ball tournament instead, and the first week it went pretty badly (didn't play well, only won one match). But then I made the money 3 weeks in a row, by playing to a level that I felt was representative of my ability, and got the monkey off my back. Now the week before last I came in second (and beat the first place guy out of his winnings after the tournament!). And last week I won the tournament undefeated, and I felt like I really brought out my best game to do it, running out when I was supposed to, making the tough but critical shots, playing smart safes, and minimizing mistakes (I usually dog a lot of balls).

For me, it's just a very different kind of pressure in tournaments vs. matching up vs. leagues. Not necessarily more or less pressure, since I'm very competitive and took my league matches pretty seriously, but it really feels different, and each type of play takes getting used to, even if you're playing the same game.

So keep at it, and I think you'll continue to play closer to the best of your ability as you get used to tournaments.

-Andrew