Sam Breaks Down His Tournament Week Preparation
WPH Instructional, Tucson, AZ
The WPH is thrilled to introduce WPH Tournament Preparation Series, taking you inside the tournament preparation of the game’s top players. In the WPH Tournament Preparation Series, you will learn what it takes for the sport’s best to condition themselves for the physical and mental rigors of pro level competition.
Sam Esser is one of the sport’s fastest rising stars, combining a cool disposition with two lethal hands. Esser had never advanced to a Race 4 Eight quarterfinal entering the 2021/22 R48 season and finished the season ranked #6, earning three consecutive fifth place finishes at one point in the season. Sam advanced to his first WPH pro final at the July 3-Wall Icebreaker, proving that he has the game to go to the top of the sport.
Sam Esser Tournament Preparation
“I like to rotate days of playing hard practice matches and then drilling. This allows me to see what I’m doing well at the moment and what I might need to touch up before the tournament. So, if I play a couple of hard practice matches Monday and realize my left hand shot to the ceiling is giving a set-up every time, Tuesday I will drill on it. The drill days are much less strenuous.
I like to focus on stretching more during a tournament week as well to make sure my body is feeling good going into the weekend. Eating better becomes more of a priority as well.”
Thank you to Sam for sharing his tournament week preparation secrets.
Stay tuned for upcoming WPH Tournament Preparation Series features.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer