Wait Time, Newbies, and Big Tourneys

Last weekend the Omega Billiards Tour made history hosting a record number of players: 123!

The previous record was 105 players, just last year; save venue, same month.

Wizards in Richardson, Texas has sixteen 8-foot tables - the largest number of same-sized tables in the metroplex - so we took advantage of that and opened the field from the normal 80-95 players to over 100.  We were trying for 128 to get a full bracket!  But a few people had to cancel due to last minute situations, but 123 was still AWESOME.

However, there were several very new players to the tour.  And not just to the tour, but to a large tournament such as this.

And while that may seem exciting, it really wasn't with so many players, lol.

You see, even with 16 tables, it took many hours just to get through the first 2-3 rounds.  So what may have seemed like a great opportunity, made me wonder if this was not the right stop for someone new to big tournaments to attend because the wait time between some matches was 5 hours.  :(

I think the players all still loved the experience, atmosphere, and to be able to mingle, have fun, watch a lot of matches, and get their feet wet.  It just made for an extremely long day.

While I am super excited we had so many players and so many new players, I hope the long wait between matches wasn't a deterrent for future tourneys for the newbies.  I'm sure after a few weeks, they will "forget" (lol) how long that Saturday really was and get the itch to play in another big tournament.  They will get to see for themselves if they attend another Omega stop at a different location or a different tournament with less players that it goes by much faster and you get to play more in less time.

Then again, someone pointed out to me that they liked staying there all day.  Sometimes, the said, they attend an event with 30-40 players, and lose both their matches before noon and feel like a real loser for going home so early, lol.

Mental State When Exhausted: Tips to Try

A friend posted on FB after the Omega stop last weekend that she noticed she was mentally drained during one of her matches because there was a long wait-time between playing her matches (we had 123 players and it was a very long weekend!).

I asked a fellow player her thoughts (National and State Champion, Amanda Lampert) and she thought it sounded more like endurance than mental exhaustion.  Here are some tips she shared to help her own endurance during long waits:

• Walk outside for a change in the atmosphere.  Every time you walk back in, it's like a new start!
• Cool off in the bathroom a bit every few hours (that's where it's usually cooler). 
• Drink more water than usual (keep hydrated!)
• Eat almonds or cashews for protein/energy, or a protein bar.
• Don't try new energy drinks during an event - you never know how your body and mind might react to them.

My friend looking for advice shared:

"The wait exhausted me...my first match after that long wait was against a very tough player....I went hill hill in that match....I just could not capitalize on his missed shots."

Although endurance can be a cause of not capitalizing, it's still a great time to take advantage and notice what is going on right away and resolve it.  If you feel you are missing because you are tired, go to your tips to overcome that.

Here are some things to try to get your more energized:

• I sometimes go to the bathroom and do jumping jacks (yes, seriously),
• drink COLD water,
• eat a small snack,
• take a shot if you need it, lol,
• do jumping jacks in the bathroom to get energy,
• put your hair up (changing your hair in this way is like a new person),
• suck on some mints, or
• even use paper as a small fan to get air circulating and "wake" you up,
• wash your face.

Again, the key is to figure out right away (which I just recently wrote about) what is going on so you can resolve it.  Even it's it endurance or being exhausted that may be causing our misses, there are tips that can help put us in a better position to play our best.

Addition to Out of Box Tips

I wrote back in May about some out-of-the-box tips that can help your game overall.

But I failed to include a really tough one in that list!

When I state this, you are going to think this is really easy.  Well, I dare you to try it!  It's kinda like the thoughts we have about straight pool - I can make any ball in any pocket?  That game must be easy.  Trust me, it's NOT.  Only sounds easy (try for yourself lol).

So, here is the out-of-box tip I forgot:

Run a rack in your head!

Seriously!

Imagine yourself breaking, then staying down for each shot and try to run out.  Use english and get good shape, all in your mind, all as you try to run the entire rack in your head.

Again, sounds easy.

Try it.

You'll find out it's not.  lol.

Again, don't just run the rack fast in your head, but run it with dedication to each shot.  Give each shot the attention it deserves (just like on a pool table).  This is a great technique to use your pre-shot routine on every shot, stay down, and helps train your brain to focus.

Seriously, you'll be surprised how tough it is to focus and remember where all the balls are (hope you make a ball on the break, too, lol) all the while trying to have a solid stroke on tough shots or using your pre shot routine in your head.

This is a great technique to use before tournaments to get you ready.

Enjoy!