Billiards in 2012

Goal 1: Play tournaments. It should go without saying that this is paired with: play well, place high and win.

2012 is going to be my tournament year. I plan on playing one tournament a month and actively competing in the NWPA, ACS and BCA regional and national tournaments. That said, my focus will be on NWPA and BCA tournaments, largely 9-ball. I have a busy year penned in the calendar already with an 8-ball team in March and a 9-ball team in October. I am most excited for the 9-ball tournament (my favorite format) and I am also really excited to have been asked to play on a team with the newly crowned US Amateur Champion, Suzanne Smith. 

Goal 2:  Work with a coach on a regular basis.  Outcomes expected: Improve upon my knowledge, mechanical/fundamental skills and strengthen my mental game. On the latter, mental toughness is all about confidence. The more you play- both in practice and in competition- is key to the confidence you need to have the much desired quiet and confident mind. 

Excelling in higher level play is not possible without continued education and practice. I have been working with a coach who is somewhat of a local legend and known as one of the best bar table players in the world. I can vouch for his intensity and prowess, indeed. Glenn Atwell and I have worked on and off for the last six months and a few years before that.  Each time I discover something new about myself, the game, the theory, you name it.

I enjoy regular coaching once or twice a month and find my game improves (as one would expect) considerably. I find that feedback and instruction is so important in a game which is played in a physical sense such that you cannot see yourself in action and cannot see issues such as poor stance, poor follow-through, etc. Coaching and dedicated practice has greatly improved my game and for so long that I compete, will be a regular part of my work. Glenn is on the road a lot- last week he called from Kansas. He is playing a ton on the road and will continue for the next many months.  This gives me an opportunity to work with another local Grandmaster player, Steve Lingelbach starting in a few weeks. Everyone has a unique perspective and I have heard encouraging things about Steve's style and approach.