🎱 October is over: Here’s your Recap

Happy Halloween and welcome to Stroke of Confidence!

We’re back with your October recap — your one-stop spot for the month’s most-clicked post, a full list of issues in case any slipped by, and a few extras to wrap things up right. Whether you were locked in all month or just getting caught up now, this recap will get you back on track heading into November.

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You Ask, I Answer

Every month I pull a few of your best questions from emails, comments, and DMs — here’s this month’s lineup:

❓️ Q: What is the best technique to determine your dominant eye for lining your aim up? - Jim P., N. Dinwiddie, VA

💬 A: Great question Jim. This is something that can throw off your aim until you figure it out. Eye dominance plays a role in all types of aiming, especially in pool where precision matters. To find your dominant eye, try this quick test:

1. Extend your arms and make a small triangle opening with your thumbs and index fingers.

2. With both eyes open, center that triangle on a distant object (like a doorknob).

3. Now, close one eye at a time.

The eye that keeps the object centered is your dominant eye. The object will “jump” out of view when your non-dominant eye is open.

Knowing your dominant eye can help you adjust your head position over the cue for better alignment. Some players naturally align their cue under that eye, while others make small adjustments once they know which eye leads. Check out this video from Jasmin Ouschan for a more in-depth explanation:

❓️ Q: How do you control choking during match play? Thanks. - Jon K., Virginia Beach VA

💬 A: Thanks for the question, Jon. You are not alone in wondering about this. It’s something every pool player and athlete wrestles with no matter how long they’ve been playing.

There are many reasons why choking happens. If I had to narrow it down to one broad thing, it would be that choking usually occurs from focusing too much on the outcome. You start thinking about what this shot means. What happens if you miss. What someone else might think if you don’t pull it off. The more your mind drifts into those future scenarios, the less control you have over what’s actually in front of you.

The way out is to come back to your process. That’s your anchor. Your stance, your routine, your breathing, your tempo, your pre shot routine. Those are the things you can control. When your mind is focused on executing your routine instead of worrying about the results, your body follows. Trust the preparation and practice time that you’ve put in and focus on the shot in front of you. Let the outcome go.

I put a mindset tip like this in every newsletter. In fact, helping players have a better mindset was one of the main reasons I started this. This part of the game matters just as much as your mechanics. To check out previous issues and read the mental game tips in them, check out our archive here.

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Ridi-cue-lous

Pool is straight-up ridiculous sometimes. One second you're making impossible cut shots like a surgeon, the next you miss by a mile, watch the ball take a wild ride around five rails and somehow still drop. But that’s part of what makes us love it. The chaos. The luck. The characters. The “how did that go in?” moments. This video shows some of those iconic moments. Check it out and enjoy.

🏆 Top Post of the Month

This video about two rail kicks from Dr. Dave was our most clicked tip of October!

Two rail kicks can feel like guesswork until you learn the patterns behind them. Dr. Dave keeps it simple and shows how to calculate angles, use reference points, and make more of these shots on purpose. Whether you're trying to escape a safety or pull off a highlight reel kick shot, this is a skill worth having. Give it a watch and see if it levels up your kick game.

Issues from the past month:

Here’s everything we covered in October so you can catch up or replay your favorites:

10/02 - Kick Shot Secrets
🦶 Two rail kicks, emotional triggers, and pool from Fedor's POV
🔗 Read it here

10/09 - Stop Missing Straight In Shots
🧊 Why you miss straight shots, quieting your inner critic, and remembering Mika Immonen
🔗 Read it here

10/16 - Tip Position = Cue Ball Control
🇵🇭 Importance of tip position, setting goals, and the Reyes Cup
🔗 Read it here

10/23 - How Confident Players Think
🧠 Keeping a loose wrist, acting confident, and the best kick shots
🔗 Read it here

10/30 - Composure Starts in the Chair
🪑 Position off rail shots, importance of chair time, and jump shot highlights
🔗 Read it here

📖 Our favorite books on the mental game
🧰 Gear I Trust: What’s in my case
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That’s a wrap on October! Thanks for sticking with us through another month of tips, gear, and inspirational shots. Keep practicing, keep having fun, and we’ll see you back here next week with more ways to sharpen your game.

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