Topic: Being a good partner

[Old Meister]

Everyone has their own skill sets, their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. A partner, like a spouse, can make you better or tear you down. I think it takes a special skill to bring out the best in your partner. For one, respect. Everyone has their own path to the "feel good" at a tournament and needs a considerate partner to build that confidence. I was lucky enough to draw a pro-master at a recent tournament which made me a little apprehensive about holding up my end and what he might say or think about me afterward. To my relief and to his credit he didn't tell me what to do during our timeouts but rather pointed out weaknesses in our opponents and giving me the respect of choosing how I would use this information to our benefit, nice! I probably played some of my best foosball to date. Of course having a pro-master as a partner sure didn't hurt either. But it did teach me something that I felt needed sharing and getting view points. I know that in my journey I have had a problem with demanding partners and have had real good results by "nurturing" skilled but unsure partners. I just think it is something worth discussion.

[zeek mullins]

a MAJOR key to success Old

[gitablok]

Oh hush John 

[Old Meister]

Preaching to the choir I guess, lol, but I thought it might help some guy who had game but who's partner was so self absorbed that he never thought things through thus was less than productive in his criticism. The last thing I want my partner to do is tell me what to do, I'm a better me than he is,,,

[foosdragon]

Good post Old. My first tournament back I was paired with Tommy Adkisson in the DYP (after not playing for over 20 years) and was having the same apprehensions you stated before we got started. The guy was nothing but professional and gracious and took most of the blame for balls getting through (which I knew was my fault , but it made the guilt a lot easier to handle). Conversely, I was paired with another pro, weeks later, that told me to just keep my men in one spot, give them the long, and if they scored they earned it (hard to do when they are shooting a rollover). I appreciate constructive critisism, but the groans and mumblings under their breath tend to break your concentration (which is already a battle). I was so disgusted when I got home that I posted my table on craigslist and sold it a couple of days later (extreme is my middle name, I know). Anyhow, I jones'd for about a month and managed to get an even better table, so now I'll just practice a lot more before I decide to jump back into tournament action.