- Stroke of Confidence
- Posts
- 🎱 We Covered A Lot. Here’s The Good Stuff.
🎱 We Covered A Lot. Here’s The Good Stuff.
The best of Stroke of Confidence in August.
Madison Gazda
August 31, 2025
Welcome to the first Stroke of Confidence monthly recap! This is your one-stop shop for everything we covered in this month.
In this recap we’ll be highlighting the most-clicked post of August along with a full list of issues from this month in case you missed one. And we’re spicing it up with new sections: your questions answered, plus a little humor to keep it light. Hope you enjoy this new version of our newsletter and be sure to let us know what you think in the poll at the bottom.
Let’s dive in:
You Ask, I Answer
Every month I pull a few of your best questions from emails, comments, and DMs — here are a few that were asked the most often:
❓️ Q: Is there a particular channel that carries billiard tournaments etc? - John, Townville, SC
đź’¬ A: Thanks for the question, John. I know other readers have been wondering this as well. There are many great places to catch some action if you know where to look. Here are a few of the top options:
WNT.TV – This is the official home of the Matchroom World Nineball Tour. If you want live pro events, big names, and solid commentary, this is the place. It is subscription-based ($10 a month or $100 for the whole year), but it’s worth it if you're serious about watching top-level play like the US Open and the Mosconi Cup.
YouTube – So much good stuff on here. Some of my favorite channels that will have live streams include:
WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiards Association)
This is far from a comprehensive list, but if you start watching these channels on Youtube it will start recommending you other similar ones as well.
Billiards TV – Free streaming on platforms like Roku, Amazon Fire, Vizio, and Samsung TV. They run a mix of classic matches, modern tournaments, and trick shot content. Great background noise if you want pool on 24/7.
❓️ Q: I would like to know what tip I should be using and why. - Scott E., South Carolina
💬 A: Great question, Scott. Other readers have asked something similar. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Everyone has a favorite feel, and what works for one player might not click for another. That said, here are a few things to think about:
Tip Hardness:
Soft tips: hold chalk well and grab the cue ball, which makes applying spin easier. A downside is they wear faster and need more maintenance. Personally, I use a soft tip. See the exact tip I use here.
Medium tips: the most popular choice. Good balance of spin, control, and durability. If you’re not sure what to start with, go medium.
Hard tips: last the longest and stay consistent. They don’t hold chalk quite as well, but they’re great for players who want a firm feel.
Layered vs. single-piece:
Layered/laminated tips (Kamui, Predator, Moori, etc) are made of stacked leather layers. They tend to keep their shape longer and play more consistently over time.
Single-piece tips (Le Pro, Triangle, etc) are old-school classics. Cheaper and still solid, but they can glaze over or change shape quicker.
Premium tips can cost $20–30 each, while basics are just a couple bucks. A good tip will last you months if shaped and chalked properly, so think of it as an investment in consistency. Most tips will eventually dry out and harden after a few months. See my tip maintenance tool of choice here.
The bottom line is that it is all a preference and the best way to know is to test different tips in person. Ask teammates or friends if you can hit a few balls with their cues or go to a billiards shop and try cues that have different tips. Pay attention to how much spin you can generate, how it feels on contact, and how confident you feel shooting with it. Your stroke and style should guide your choice.
Bonus: here is a video from Jasmin Ouschan where she discusses the difference between different types of tips:
🤔 Want your question featured next month?
Hit reply to this email or click here → Submit a question
No chalk for you!
Seinfeld might be my all time favorite show. There’s a classic scene where Kramer and George’s dad put a pool table in George’s childhood bedroom. Sounds like an awesome idea… except the room is way too small. They’re poking walls, climbing furniture, and trying to shoot with tiny cues. It’s chaos and always gives me a good laugh. Check it out:
Better to be lucky than good
This is a classic video that has made the rounds on the internet over the years and it’s a must watch. It’s the type of thing that makes me wish every table had a camera on it. This guy pulls off not one, not two, but three absolute flukes in a row with each one crazier than the last. By the end, he and his friends are losing their minds, and honestly, so was I. Check it out for yourself:
🏆 Top Tip of the Month
This video about improving your 8-ball break from FX Billiards was our most clicked tip of August!
It makes sense. The break is arguably the most important shot in pool and sets the tone of the rack. When you finally figure out how to control the cue ball and open the rack clean? That’s when you start winning more. Check it out below if you didn’t catch it the first time or just need a refresher.
Also worth saying—none of this matters if you’re not starting with a tight rack. Loose racks = bad spreads, clusters, and frustrating rolls. Want a rack you can trust every time? See my rack of choice here.
Here’s everything we covered in August so you can catch up or read your favorites again:
08/07 - Break Better, Win More
đź’Ą Improving your 8-ball break, SPM Billiards mental game issue, and highlights from the World Championship.
đź”— Read it here
08/14 - Finding Your Focus
💆🏻‍♂️ Strengthen your pattern play, how to stay focused, and reminding ourselves that even the pro’s miss shots.
đź”— Read it here
08/21 - Mastering the Draw Shot
✏️ Draw shot techniques, breathing strategies, and playing a perfect game of pool.
đź”— Read it here
08/28 - Your Follow Shot Needs Work
🇺🇸 Follow shot tips, how to handle a loss, and 2025 U.S. Open highlights
đź”— Read it here
🔎 Got a question about pool?
Submit it here
We’ll feature it in a future newsletter.
đź“– Our favorite books on the mental game
🧰 Gear I Trust: What’s in my case
👤 Follow us on Facebook
📸 Follow us on Instagram
đź“° Want to start a newsletter like this one?
That’s a wrap for Stroke of Confidence in August! Whether you’ve been here since the start or if you just joined, thank you for being here and taking the time to be a reader and subscriber. This community is growing fast, and it’s only the beginning.
Have a topic you want to see next month? Hit reply and let me know. I read every message. Let’s have a great September and we’ll see you next week with a fresh issue.
