Competing Without A Warm up

[Csmith]

I've searched for this topic but haven't found much on it. I've played a few tournaments so far where warm ups are not allowed. This has been particular difficult for me as I'm someone who needs about 20 minutes to get my arm in gear, otherwise my play is really hit or miss. This is compounded by playing on tough tables that play differently than what I have available to practice on.

To cope with this I've been working on tightening up my fundamentals so there isn't nearly as much that needs to be warmed up. But I'm wondering what people do to substitute a proper warm up. Is there anything that you do in the first frame that helps get you going? I'm thinking of at least while waiting for my match, doing some warm up strokes while focusing on the timing of delivery (without the cue ball) and hopefully I can take that timing to the match table.

Any ideas are welcome.

[MrRottweiler]

A tournament where warm ups are not allowed sounds a bit dictatorial to me but I would adapt to it and use the opening frame as the warm up. Try to get a few pots in or at least do some cueing before the frame starts. If you're not allowed to do that then I would be inclined to tell them where to go.

[Csmith]

A tournament where warm ups are not allowed sounds a bit dictatorial to me but I would adapt to it and use the opening frame as the warm up. Try to get a few pots in or at least do some cueing before the frame starts. If you're not allowed to do that then I would be inclined to tell them where to go.

I should be able to do some cueing, possibly along the baulk line. I've been thinking that such a thing is probably a good warm up anyways. I tried it last night at the practice table and focusing on the timing helped keep me from hitting at the ball.

[tetricky]

Warm up somewhere else....even if it's on a pool table down the road. You can get on a table cold, and play to a level,...pretty much everyone will be better after they've got the pace of the table, and a few pots in. Depends what you can do. You need a minumum two or three shots to get the pace of the table, whoever you are. You can feel the nap, and the warmth of the room, and get a rough idea before you hit a shot though.

1 safety, preferably coming back across the table between reds and blues. Aim for the baulk line on the way back to the top of the table...but overhit it....you've got a bit of margin of error. Watch the white as it runs across the table, and see how much run you get (stop at the baulk line or top cushion and back out). Concentrate on how the white is running. It will give you a feel for the speed of the table.

If you can hit on the table, hit up and down the line of the spots (full length of the table - to one side is fine if the balls are laid out). I do that to get the pace of a table. Remember your opponent is not at an advantage - he's in the same boat. Once you know what table pace and nap you're dealing with, you'll quickly get in your stride...and it only takes a little concentration to weight that up.

[Terry Davidson]

What and where are these tournaments? Are they snooker or pool?

[tomwalker147]

I've never been able to practice before the events at SWSA but never looked at that as a bad thing as none of the other players have got on a table before either.

I myself am a quick starter who doesn't need to 'warm up', my action is just there. I go the other way and tend to become worse after 6/7 frames as my concentration wanes. If I were a pro i'd need that mid session interval!

[Csmith]

What and where are these tournaments? Are they snooker or pool?

It's snooker and they are in Montreal.

[Nic Barrow]

I've searched for this topic but haven't found much on it. I've played a few tournaments so far where warm ups are not allowed. This has been particular difficult for me as I'm someone who needs about 20 minutes to get my arm in gear, otherwise my play is really hit or miss. This is compounded by playing on tough tables that play differently than what I have available to practice on.

To cope with this I've been working on tightening up my fundamentals so there isn't nearly as much that needs to be warmed up. But I'm wondering what people do to substitute a proper warm up. Is there anything that you do in the first frame that helps get you going? I'm thinking of at least while waiting for my match, doing some warm up strokes while focusing on the timing of delivery (without the cue ball) and hopefully I can take that timing to the match table.

Any ideas are welcome.

Do it on the table in the hotel room for ten minutes with imaginary balls.
That's what we used to do in Prestatyn.
Or do some physical stretching in venue (or in toilet to avoid embarrasment!)
Have a shower a minimum of two hours before the match - otherwise the body feels awful.
If all else fails, visualize your 20 minute routine in your room or in a corner / toilet somewhere

[ace man]

The only thing that worked for me was to stop thinking I was not warmed up. And of course to focus more on the safety.
At times I have been to places where you'd need to bring your own toilet paper, so a strange table and lack of warmup may not be all that bad.

[Csmith]

Do it on the table in the hotel room for ten minutes with imaginary balls.
That's what we used to do in Prestatyn.
Or do some physical stretching in venue (or in toilet to avoid embarrasment!)
Have a shower a minimum of two hours before the match - otherwise the body feels awful.
If all else fails, visualize your 20 minute routine in your room or in a corner / toilet somewhere

I like this. I think stretching is probably a good idea anyways, but it just looks weird since it isn't what people are used to seeing. I should be able to get some home practice in (shadow snookering?) before going to the venue and also I can probably cue along the balkline a bit to get the timing of my stroke and see if it's straight(ish).

I also like ace man's concept of not focusing on being not warmed up. I think I may exacerbate the issue by worrying too much about it and then becoming unnecessarily tense.

I also agree with tomwalker147 in that everyone is more or less in the same boat and I do think everyone struggles in their first match to find their game, so it does even out a bit. It's not like I can't win matches, the issue is simply not playing to my standard. I find myself playing very conservative snooker which isn't really my style normally.

[j6uk]

Do it on the table in the hotel room for ten minutes with imaginary balls.
That's what we used to do in Prestatyn.
Or do some physical stretching in venue (or in toilet to avoid embarrasment!)
Have a shower a minimum of two hours before the match - otherwise the body feels awful.
If all else fails, visualize your 20 minute routine in your room or in a corner / toilet somewhere

yep walking along the balcony all booted an ready to go, see the players in there chaletes cueing up by the tele. then in the waiting room with all the banter, fond memorries.. down to the beach win loose or draw. no better place to play

[Csmith]

yep walking along the balcony all booted an ready to go, see the players in there chaletes cueing up by the tele. then in the waiting room with all the banter, fond memorries.. down to the beach win loose or draw. no better place to play

Why didn't they allow warm ups at Prestatyn? Just no practice tables available? Too many players at the venue?

[guernseygooner]

yep walking along the balcony all booted an ready to go, see the players in there chaletes cueing up by the tele. then in the waiting room with all the banter, fond memorries.. down to the beach win loose or draw. no better place to play

Into the Vic later or risk your life down Rhyl!

[jamesg19851]

I think the trick is to not get too worried about being warmed up. If you think you need half hour beforehand to be at your best then that can be self defeating. I think you need to be confident in yourself.

[Nic Barrow]

I think the trick is to not get too worried about being warmed up. If you think you need half hour beforehand to be at your best then that can be self defeating. I think you need to be confident in yourself.

That's what I did in my first pro match.
I played terrible.
My manager at the time told me to warm up like the other guys.
That was news to me so I tried it and it made the world of difference.
That is why no pro will play a match without practice if they are able to.
It is a must to get quickly into a game - and pro's will be likely to lose confidence if they don't have practice and their opponent does.

Failing that, you can just sit down somewhere and imagine going through your pre match routine which may be more valuable as you don't (or shouldn't!) miss in your head!
Failing THAT, get to the table quickly and while your opponent is getting his cue out just get down to the table to stretch the stance and do a couple of dummy deliveries with power (NOT hitting the cue ball). That may just put you ahead mentally of your opponent as you are a little more prepared and leading proceedings.

The other thing is that DURING the match, and when you opponent is making a break, you need to keep moving around / changing position in your chair (but only in a way that your opponent doesn't notice/ get distracted by). This prevents your body getting stiff in the seat or when stood away from the table for long periods - giving you more chance of potting that first ball of your 50 break, instead of allowing your opponent the 50 points.