🎱 Control The Roll

Cue ball control, knowing the score, and Billy the Banker

Madison Gazda
July 31, 2025

Welcome back for this edition of Stroke of Confidence!

First of all we’d like to send a big congrats to Carlo Biado for winning the 2025 World 9-Ball Championship. The pride of the Philippines is now a two time winner and it’s safe to say the entire country is celebrating. It’s yet another reminder to the world just how deep the Filipino talent pool runs.

As always, welcome to our new subscribers and thank you to everyone that has been with us already. If someone you shoot with would dig this too, send it their way.

This week’s topics:

Cue ball control
Playing with the lead vs playing from behind
Billy Thorpe’s banking skills

Let’s dive in:

Taking control

Cue ball control is easily one of the most requested topics from our readers — and for good reason. You can make every shot in the book, but if the cue ball ends up in the wrong spot, you're stuck — forced into a tough shot, a risky bank, or even a safety you didn’t plan. Cue ball control is what turns a string of good shots into a run. It keeps you at the table and in control of the game. When you know where the cue ball’s going, everything else gets easier.

Here are some key ideas to keep in mind when you're working on cue ball control:

Tip Position Matters: Where you hit the cue ball (high, low, center, side) affects its spin and path. Mastering tip placement is step one in controlling shape.
Learn the Tangent Line: A stun shot sends the sliding cue ball off the object ball at a 90-degree angle. Understanding this “tangent line” helps you predict the natural path on many shots.
Use Rails to Your Advantage: Sometimes it’s better to send the cue ball to a rail and out into space than try to stop it on a dime. Rails give you more room to work with and can actually make shape and speed control easier.
Come Into the Line of the Next Shot: Position is more forgiving when the cue ball is moving into the line of your next shot instead of crossing it. You’ll have a larger margin for error with your speed control.
Control Your Speed: Soft and smooth wins. Hitting hard makes it harder to control distance and spin. Precision beats power almost every time.
Play for Zones, Not Inches: You don’t need perfect shape — just a good area to land in. Think of your target as a zone that gives you options. As your ability progresses, you can fine tune your positional area to make it more precise.
Plan More Than One Shot Ahead: Position isn't just about your next ball. Think ahead about which ball will get you on the 8 ball (or 9 or 10 depending on the game). That is your key ball. Think about how each shot sets up the following one and work backward from your key ball.
Use Simpler Paths When You Can: The fewer rails and spin required, the more consistent your shape will be. Patterns that involve mostly stop shots and limit cue ball movement will make runouts easier.
Adjust for Different Table Speeds: Every table plays a little different. Spend a few minutes figuring out the speed and responsiveness before you play serious games.

If you're looking to improve your cue ball control, check out this video below from Dr. Dave. He breaks down the tangent line and shows how to build position in a way that’s clear, practical, and easy to apply to your own game. It’s a solid place to start — or revisit — no matter your skill level.

Knowing the score

The score on the board isn’t just a number — it changes how you think, feel, and play. Whether you’re comfortably ahead or fighting to catch up, your mindset and strategy will shift, sometimes without you even realizing it.

Playing with the Lead: Pros and Cons

Pros:

The obvious one: you're winning and have done some things right so far.
You can play with more confidence knowing you have a cushion.
You have the option to take safer shots and control the pace of the game.
Ability to dictate strategy and pressure your opponent psychologically.
Leading can help settle nerves since you’re “in control” of the match.

Cons:

The temptation to play not to lose instead of playing to win can lead to overly cautious play.
Pressure to not collapse and blow the lead can cause tension and tightness in your stroke and disrupt your natural rhythm.

The best players know how to balance these factors. They stay aggressive but smart, trusting their stroke and maintaining their routines. Instead of retreating into safety, they keep playing their game, which helps them close out matches.

Playing from Behind: Pros and Cons

Pros:

The pressure to protect a lead disappears, which can reduce tension.
You may play more relaxed and free, with a smoother stroke and easier decisions.
This loose mindset can reduce fear and open the door to comebacks.

Cons:

The obvious one: you’re losing and have probably made some mistakes.
You need to compose yourself quickly before your opponent finishes you off.
Higher chance of frustration creeping in and affecting decision-making.
Urgency to catch up might lead to abandoning your game plan and proper mechanics.
You may focus too much on the scoreboard rather than the shot at hand which can lead to missing easy shots.

The key is to harness the benefits of playing relaxed while staying composed and focused. Taking it one shot at a time, avoiding frustration, and trusting your process helps turn the tide without falling into panic.

Finding the Balance

The reality is that the score will always change, and so will your mindset. Recognizing when you’re tightening up or rushing because of your position on the scoreboard is crucial. The goal is to maintain steady confidence and stay present, whether you’re ahead or behind.

Our favorite books on the mental game for pool.

Billy The Banker

Bank pool is a different beast. No slop, no luck — just clean contact, angles, and control. It’s one of the purest tests of precision in the game. You call your pocket, and if it doesn’t go exactly how you planned, it doesn’t count. That’s what makes it one of the most honest, challenging games out there.

And if there's one guy who's built a reputation on thriving under that pressure, it’s Billy Thorpe — better known as Billy the Banker. His aggressive style and fearless stroke make him one of the most exciting players to watch when it comes to banks.

If you want a masterclass in confidence and commitment, watch Billy go off in this video where he rattles off 11 straight banks like it's nothing. Whether you’re new to bank pool or already a fan, watching someone perform at this level is a great reminder of what’s possible when you trust your stroke and stay locked in.

🟢 2025 Florida Open
Aug 5–10 | All Players | 9-Ball | Watch
Caribe Royale, Orlando, FL

🟢 2025 Battle of the Bull
Aug 11–16 | All Players | 9-Ball, One Pocket | Watch
Wolf’s Den Billiards, Roanoke, VA

🟢 2025 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
Aug 18–23 | All Players | 9-Ball | Watch
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ

✅ Our favorite books on the mental game
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That’s a wrap for this week.

Hope you found something worth bringing to the table. Try it out, have some fun, and I’ll catch you next Thursday with more. Until then, shoot straight.