Because I run leagues, I am constantly involved with handicapped tournaments. And one thing I’ve noticed is that merely involving handicaps changes the way people prepare for matches, and it shouldn’t.
It’s funny, but at the first sign of trouble, what starts going through some players’ minds is, “Oh, this player definitely isn’t handicapped correctly,” or something along those lines. I see players that play a couple of levels below me and I know for a fact that they are the favorite when it comes to winning a match but they talk themselves out of a game or two because they are fixated on the handicaps. They fall into give-up mode because they have to give up, say, three games going to eight. Right off the bat they lose a game or two and instead of focusing on one game at a time, they are thinking, “I’m already behind 5-0.”
Meanwhile, the players I watch that take the match for what it is and don’t focus on the handicaps win with more consistency.
It all comes down to the mental approach. The mental approach for someone that is getting the games is that they go into the match feeling as though they have an advantage. Sometimes they put more pressure on themselves. What they should do is play as if the game is 0-0 and simply try to win the game. Players who are giving games give up as soon as they lose a game or two.
What you need is a good mental approach. You need to approach a match the same way, whether you are giving games or getting games. Your mindset should never change. You need to focus on the shot that is right in front of you. If you focus on how good a player is or how much weight you are having to give up, you’re wasting your mental energy on the wrong things.
There is also a physical aspect to playing handicap matches. I always tell players to prepare to the level of your opponent. Your strategy chances with the opponent. If you are playing someone who struggles to run three or four balls and you can do that easily, don’t risk shooting a difficult shot and leave it hanging. Play safe and wait for your opportunity, especially toward the end of a rack. Remember, there is a reason you are giving a player four games going to nine.
Conversely, if you are getting the handicap and you are playing a run-out player, it makes more sense to take a chance if there is any opportunity to run out. And always opt for a safe instead of a silly shot. Even a good player will occasionally leave you an open shot if he is forced to kick at ball.
I run a lot of handicap events and the number of wins by underdogs is about the same as the number of wins by the favorite. Personally, I love the challenge of having to give up a lot of weight to another player. That excites me.