🎱 Giving Thanks for Pool

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Stroke of Confidence! Since we usually send the newsletter on Thursdays and tomorrow is Thanksgiving, we wanted to change it up this week and send a shorter version on Wednesday so everyone could enjoy the holiday tomorrow.

We’d like to take a minute to say we are super thankful for all of our readers for tuning in every week and motivating us to keep this going with all of your kind feedback. This newsletter would not exist with out all of you. Hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving themed edition!

This week’s topics:

• Thanksgiving break strategy

• Being grateful for what pool gives us

• Giving thanks for the Mosconi Cup

Let’s dive in:

The daily health habit you’ll actually stick with…

This time of year, it’s SO hard to stay healthy.

That’s why you need a daily habit that’s easy.

Meet AG1: With just one quick scoop, you’ll support your immune health, gut health, energy, and fill nutrient gaps.

Give AG1 a try today to unlock their best offer ever.

Give AG1 a try today

The holiday “break”

A good break can shape the entire rack. It gives you early control and makes position play much easier. A bad one can leave the cue ball hooked, balls clustered, or even scratch you right out of the game. Since this week’s a holiday for most of us, it’s a good time to slow down and revisit the fundamentals that make a break effective.

Breaking isn’t about hitting as hard as you can. It’s about delivering power the right way. That means timing, control, and a repeatable motion that gives you a strong spread and keeps the cue ball in play. Whether you’re breaking in 8-ball, 9-ball, or 10-ball, these things stay consistent.

Here are a few key tips to dial in your break:

• Plant your feet and stay grounded – A balanced stance gives you stability and keeps your follow-through from drifting off line.

• Focus on cue ball contact – Hitting the one ball squarely is more important than max speed. A clean hit leads to better spreads.

• Aim for a controlled pop – You want the cue ball to stop near the center of the table. That gives you more options for your next shot.

• Check your rack – Make sure the balls are tight and frozen. Even the best break won’t help if the rack is loose.

• Practice different break spots – Breaking from the side, center, or just off-center can all lead to different ball paths. Find what works best for your stroke and the game you’re playing.

• Adjust based on the game – Each format breaks differently. What works in 9-ball won’t always work in 8-ball. Know the layout and break with purpose.

If you’re looking to go deeper, this week’s video from Dr. Dave is a great one. It covers break strategy for 8-ball, 9-ball, and 10-ball, with clear explanations of what to aim for in each game. Whether your goal is better spreads, fewer scratches, or just more control, there’s something in here you can use right away.

Giving thanks for our sponsors

We’d like to take this week’s Gear Review as a chance to thank our sponsors and the brands that support Stroke of Confidence. These are products I trust and recommend. Not just because they back the newsletter, but because they genuinely help players level up.

Illuminated Cueing Arts is the developer of the ICA Training System, a projector-based program built to display drills, pattern layouts, safeties, and games directly onto your pool table. It’s especially helpful for players who want to take the guesswork out of improvement and build lasting habits at the table.

🎁 Use the code StrokeICA at checkout to save $50 off the ICA Training System without the projector.

DeadEye Products are the creators of two innovative training tools. The DeadEye Trainer helps you dial in your stroke and alignment with visual feedback that makes small flaws easy to spot and fix.

🎁 Use the code STROKE50 at checkout to save $50 off your order.

The Cue Caddie is one of the most advanced training tools out there. It mounts right to your cue and gives you real-time guidance on aim, spin, and speed. It helps you learn while using your own stroke, which makes the skills easier to transfer into match play.

🎁 Use code STROKE35 for $35 off Cue Caddie Basic. Use code STROKE50 for $50 off Cue Caddie Pro.

Grateful to be partnered with companies that care about helping players get better. If you’re looking to add structure, feedback, or consistency to your training, these are a great place to start.

🧰 See more gear I use and trust here.

*Buying through this link helps support the newsletter at no extra cost to you.

An attitude for gratitude

Pool can test your patience. You miscue. You get bad rolls. You miss shots that felt automatic. When that frustration builds, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re out there in the first place. But if you take a step back, you’ll realize the game has already given you a lot.

Being grateful in pool means appreciating the moments it gives you and how it shapes your focus. It gives you space to think, a challenge to improve on, and the chance to test yourself under pressure. When you can see that clearly, you stop letting missed balls or bad runs steal your love for the game.

Here’s what that can look like:

• You appreciate a tough match because it teaches you something you didn’t know.

• You’re thankful for solo practice time because it clears your head.

• You respect the mental discipline the game asks for, even when it’s challenging.

• You notice when your fundamentals feel solid and take a moment to enjoy it.

• You recognize the progress you’ve made in your skills and abilities.

• You acknowledge the people who’ve helped you improve, even if it’s just a few small tips.

Gratitude doesn’t mean you lower your standards. It means you raise your awareness. You start to value the time, the effort, the process, and not just the outcome. That shift can keep you grounded, focused, and in love with the game even on the days it doesn’t love you back.

📚️ Our favorite books on the mental game for pool.

Thankful for The Mosconi Cup

The Mosconi Cup kicks off next week, and if you’re a fan of high-stakes team pool, it doesn’t get much better. Team USA vs. Team Europe, packed crowds, pressure-packed matches. It’s one of the most electric events in the game.

With Thanksgiving this week, it’s a good time to pause and appreciate what events like this bring to the sport. Passion, energy, drama, and a reason to gather around the screen with people who love the game as much as you do. Whether you’re rooting hard for one side or just soaking it all in, be thankful we get to watch pool played at this level. Check out this video below of the best shots from last year’s tournament.

🟢 Predator Spain Events: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Mixed Doubles, Junior World Championships - IN PROGRESS
Nov 25– Dec 2 | 9-Ball | Watch
Gandia Palace Hotel, Spain

🟢 WNT Stocks Memorial
Nov 28–30 | 9-Ball | Watch
Front Royal, VA

🟢 Mosconi Cup
Dec 3–6 | 9-Ball | Watch
Alexandra Palace, London, UK

📖 Our favorite books on the mental game
🧰 Gear I Trust: What’s in my case
👤 Follow us on Facebook
📸 Follow us on Instagram
📰 Want to start a newsletter like this one?

Once again, thank you so much for being here and enjoy the holiday tomorrow! We will be back again next week!

P.S. Want to sponsor our newsletter and get your business in front of thousands of pool fanatics? Reach out to us at [email protected].