🎱 The Search for Consistency

Welcome back to Stroke of Confidence — glad to have you here.

Hope everyone had a good week and are enjoying the World Pool Championships. We hare covering a few of our most requested topics this week. If you’re part of a league or team and think this newsletter could help someone else in your crew, feel free to forward it to them as well.

This week’s topics:

• One rail banks and kicks

• Ways to improve consistency

• The South Dakota Kid

Let’s dive in:

Get a kick out of this…

One rail kicks and banks are some of the most mentioned topics from our readers — and for good reason. These shots come up all the time, whether you're trying to escape a safety or go on the offensive with a bank. But they’re also shots that many players struggle with because they demand precision, feel, and a bit of system knowledge.

The good news? Once you start working on them with intention, they become a whole lot less intimidating. A solid system, combined with focused practice, can turn these shots from something you hope for into something you expect to make.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when working on one rail kicks and banks:

• Speed control matters: The same line at different speeds can give very different results. Softer hits widen the angle off the rail, while firmer strokes tend to shorten it. You’ll need to adjust depending on the shot and the table.

• Account for cue ball spin: Sidespin, topspin, or draw can dramatically change the outcome of a kick or bank.

• Be aware of table conditions: Different cloth speeds, cushion responsiveness, and even humidity can affect the way balls come off the rail. Always take a few shots before a session to get a feel for the table.

• Work both sides of the table: Practice left and right side one-railers equally. You don’t want to be stuck uncomfortable when the shot falls on your weak side.

• Practice purposefully: Don’t just fire off banks and kicks randomly. Set up specific scenarios and track what works. You'll improve faster and build confidence.

• Use a system, not guesswork: Systems take the mystery out of these shots. Once you understand the baseline numbers and reference points, they become repeatable.

Mastering these one rail kicks and banks takes time, but with the right approach and consistent practice, you’ll see real improvement. The video from Lil’ Chris below breaks down the system he uses for one rail kicks and one rail banks. His approach simplifies the geometry and takes out the guesswork, so you can practice smarter and start landing these shots more consistently.

Searching for consistency

Whether you're a daily player or someone who hits the table once a week, you've probably felt it—that frustrating feeling of playing great one day and totally off the next.

The good news is you're not alone. Consistency is the #1 struggle our readers mentioned in the survey. So, how do you actually build consistency?

Here’s the truth: consistency isn’t about playing perfect pool every time. It’s about reducing variation in your fundamentals, decision-making, and mental approach. That starts with a few key habits:

• Have a routine—and stick to it: If every shot starts a little differently, your results will be different too. A simple, repeatable pre-shot routine keeps things grounded and takes the guesswork out of your setup.

• Slow down: So many mistakes happen just from rushing. When you take a beat to breathe, plan, and lock in, everything else improves.

• Pick smart shots: You don’t need to go for a highlight reel every time. Trying low-percentage shots or forcing position is a recipe for streaky, inconsistent play. Play smart and keep things simple.

• Don’t spiral after a miss: Everyone misses. The best players shrug it off and move on. The more you can keep your emotions steady, the more your game will follow.

• Drill the easy stuff: It might feel boring, but running stop shots, straight-ins, and basic position drills over and over is what builds muscle memory. You can’t be consistent if the fundamentals aren’t automatic.

Consistent play on the table doesn’t just happen—it’s the result of being consistent in everything that leads up to it. From your practice routines to how you approach each shot, every little habit builds on the last. When you focus on staying consistent in your preparation, your mindset, and your drills, that consistency naturally shows up in your game. So keep grinding on the basics, trust the process, and watch how your play steadies and improves over time.

See our favorite books on mental strength for pool here.

The greatness of SVB

If you’ve spent any time around the pool world, you know the name Shane Van Boening. He’s one of the most dominant American players of the last two decades and has a reputation as one of the best break players in the game. His precision, mental toughness, and relentless work ethic make him a force to be reckoned with on any table.

Some of his career highlights include:

• 5x U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion

• 2022 WPA 9-Ball World Champion

• 2023 WPA 8-Ball World Champion

• 6x Billiards Digest Player of the Year and 2010s Player of the Decade

• A record 18 Mosconi Cup Appearances

• …And over 100 other professional titles

What really makes Shane stand out is how simple he makes the game look. His patterns are clean, his cue ball control surgical, and he rarely forces anything. Watching him is like getting a masterclass in smart, disciplined pool. Dr. Dave put together a great video below showing some of Shane’s best shots and moments. If you want to see high-level pool done right, this is a great place to start.

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Whether you’re heading to league night, hitting balls in the garage, or just thinking through your next move at the table — I hope this gave you something to chew on. Improvement doesn’t always come in big leaps. Sometimes it’s just one new idea that clicks.

Catch you next Thursday. Until then, stay sharp and shoot with confidence.

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