🎱 Finding Your Focus

Hello again and welcome back to Stroke of Confidence! Our readers have spoken and we have added a gear review section to the newsletter. Check out our review for Taom V10 Chalk along with strategies for improved pattern play and tips on staying focused. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. Some readers have been asking for a way to submit questions. You can do that here or at the link in the Quick Links section. Submitted questions may be answered in upcoming newsletters.

This week’s topics:

• Simplifying patterns

• How to stay focused

• Pro’s missing easy shots

Let’s dive in:

A pattern emerges…

One of the most common hurdles players face is improving their pattern play. Strong pattern play means thinking several shots ahead, controlling the cue ball, and making decisions that keep your options open. As your patterns improve, you learn to anticipate trouble spots and avoid getting stuck with difficult shots. Developing this skill takes practice, but it can drastically improve your consistency and success on the table.

Here are some important points to consider as you work on refining your pattern play:

• Visualize the runout: Take a moment to picture the entire run you want to make. This helps plan the best path and identify which balls to prioritize and which may cause you trouble.

• Recognize clusters early: When balls are grouped tightly, figure out the best time and way to separate them. Look for other balls that may give you angle to break the cluster.

• Break the pattern into smaller segments: Focus on planning a few shots at a time rather than the whole table to avoid overwhelm. Planning your first three shots, while also recognizing the key ball that you will use to get position on the money ball is often a good strategy. Then find how those two segments connect.

• Avoid unnecessary cue ball movement: The less the cue ball has to travel, the easier it is to maintain control. Try to keep your position shots simple and direct.

• Use natural angles and rails: Use the rails and natural rebound angles to guide the cue ball where you want it without forcing difficult shots.

• Be flexible with your pattern: Sometimes balls don’t behave as expected. Stay open-minded and modify your plan if need be.

• Know when to play safe: Not every rack will have a runout opportunity. If a shot is risky and could leave you stuck, don’t hesitate to play a safety instead.

For a deeper look at how to make pattern play more manageable, check out this video from Zero-X Billiards below. It covers techniques and drills that can help you run the table more consistently.

Taom V10 Chalk

In one of our previous polls, the majority of our readers said they use Master Chalk. This is not surprising as it’s been the standard for decades. But if you’ve never tried Taom V10 Chalk, it might be time to experiment. I switched over last year, and it’s earned a permanent spot in my case.

Why I like it:

• Clean hands & tables – Leaves almost no residue on the cue ball or cloth. Also no more blue hands or stains on my cue shaft.

• Smooth application – No gritty feel and coats evenly. I’ve also found that I have to chalk much less than normal.

• Long-lasting – A single piece lasts much longer than standard chalk. My last piece lasted 7 months and my current one is at 5 months and counting.

• Confidence boost – I’ve noticed fewer miscues, especially on power draws and other strokes requiring english.

Downside:

• Higher price than most chalks — Some might balk at the price tag for one cube but in my case, it’s been worth every penny. The longevity of each piece plus the improvement in my game makes it an easy decision.

So, if you’re interested in trying it out and making the switch, or just getting yourself a new piece, check it out at the links below. I’m confident you will quickly see the benefits it adds to your game.

🟢 Taom V10 Green
🔵 Taom V10 Blue 

*Buying through these links helps support the newsletter at no extra cost to you.

Focused on the prize

Let’s be honest, focusing can be tough. Sometimes your mind just wants to wander, and before you know it, you’re distracted by everything around you. But in pool, learning to lock in your focus is a game changer. Bob Henning’s The Pro Book breaks down three simple secrets that can help you sharpen your concentration and play smarter:

• Focus Happens One Place at a Time: When you step up to the table, your complete attention should be on the current shot. This includes reading the angles, judging speed, and visualizing the cue ball path. Worrying about the match score, the audience, or your technique will dilute your focus. Multitasking in pool is a recipe for missed shots.

• Focus Needs Repetition: Focus is like a muscle that strengthens with practice and repetition. In pool, this mean drilling the same shots repeatedly. The more you practice a particular shot or technique, the better your mind learns to do those actions automatically. Over time, your brain develops a reliable routine for focusing under pressure. This repetition breeds confidence, so when a similar shot arises during a game, you are trained to handle it.

• Focus Follows Fun: Enjoyment and relaxation are key to deep focus. When you’re tense or worried about winning or losing, you become distracted. But when you genuinely enjoy the game and are having fun, your focus locks in naturally. Top players often get “in the zone” when they’re having fun and their concentration sharpens effortlessly.

Improving your focus is one of the most effective ways to raise your pool game. The better you get at controlling your focus, the more consistent your shots will be and the more confident you’ll feel at the table. Make focus part of your game plan and watch your results improve.

Our favorite books on the mental game for pool.

Missing in action

Even the best in the world miss shots they have made a thousand times before. Sometimes it is the pressure of the moment. Other times it is fatigue setting in or tricky table conditions causing just enough doubt to throw things off. It is a reminder that no one is immune to mistakes, no matter how polished their game may be.

Watching pros miss the so-called “easy” ones is a good way to remember that pool is a game of percentages, not perfection. The goal is not to avoid every single error but to handle them well and keep moving forward. When you see the top players shake off a miss and get right back into their rhythm, it is a lesson in resilience as much as skill.

This video below from Predator Pro Billiard TV rounds up some surprising misses from the best in the game, and it is both humbling and oddly comforting to watch.

🟢 2025 Battle of the Bull - IN PROGRESS
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

🟢 2025 WPBA Felt Colorado Classic
Aug 21–24 | Women | 9-Ball | Watch
Felt Billiards, Englewood, CO

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As always, thanks so much for reading this week’s edition of Stroke of Confidence.

Try out the gear tip this week and see if it changes your game. If you know a fellow player who’d benefit, forward them this email so they can improve as well. Have a great weekend and see you next week!

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