Pool Confidence

HOW TO HANDLE ADVICE FROM EVERYONE

One of the challenges pool players face today is that advice is everywhere. League teammates have opinions. pages have opinions. YouTube creators have opinions. Before long, you're hearing multiple solutions to the same problem… many of which completely contradict each other.

The mistake many players make is trying to apply all of it. One person suggests changing your stance, another recommends a new aiming system and someone else tells you to adjust your grip. Eventually, you're carrying so much information that your game becomes less stable… not more.

The reality is that most advice isn't necessarily wrong. It just may not be right for you. Good instruction depends on the individual player, their goals, their current skill level, and what they're actually trying to improve.

That's why it's important to look beyond the tip itself and evaluate the source. Has this person successfully competed? Have they helped other players improve? Can they explain not only what to do, but why it matters?

The best players I know are not constantly changing direction. They have a trusted process, reliable feedback and enough discipline to stick with something long enough to determine whether it's helping.

There is nothing wrong with learning from different sources. Just be careful not to let every voice become your coach. Sometimes the fastest path to improvement isn't finding more information. It's having someone help you filter the noise, identify what actually applies to your game and create a clear plan moving forward.

If you're tired of sorting through conflicting advice and want a clear path forward from someone who has walked both the competitor and instructor path, feel free to reach out. I'd be honored to help guide your journey.

HOW TO HANDLE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Every competitor has one.

A tournament that felt like it was yours to win. A favorable draw. A hill-hill match. A chance to break through, win a title or achieve a goal you had been chasing for years. Then something happened and… the opportunity slipped away.

For many players, those moments don't just hurt for a few days. They carry them for months or even years. They replay the missed shot, the bad decision or the turning point of the match over and over. They start viewing that event as the opportunity they missed instead of one step in a much longer journey.

The problem with that mindset is that it assumes opportunities are rare.

What made that event feel special was not the draw or the circumstances. It was the fact that you had developed enough as a player to put yourself in position. That is the part you should focus on.

When players become obsessed with a missed opportunity, they often miss the bigger lesson. Instead of asking, "How did I lose?" ask, "What do I need to improve so that I'm even more prepared the next time I'm in that position?"

Instead of carrying regret, you start carrying information. Maybe your routine broke down under pressure. Maybe your decision making wasn't where it needed to be. Whatever the lesson is… it becomes fuel for future growth instead of an anchor holding you in the past.

The best competitors learn that no single tournament, match or opportunity defines them. If you continue improving and continue putting yourself out there, more opportunities will come.

Your job is not to live in the moment that got away. Your job is to prepare for the next one.

WHY I INSTRUCT

I've been where many of you are.

I've felt the frustration of putting countless hours into my game and not seeing the results I wanted. I've sat in my vehicle after tournaments replaying every mistake. I've questioned myself after losses, wondered if I was improving fast enough and felt the pressure that comes from caring deeply about something.

That's why I instruct.

Yes, I enjoy teaching fundamentals, cue ball control and strategy. I enjoy watching players become more complete players. But what I enjoy most is helping people navigate the journey that comes with chasing improvement.

Because pool can be a lonely game sometimes.

Most people only see the tournament results. They don't see the hours of practice. They don't see the missed opportunities, the self-doubt, the frustration or the work that happens when nobody is watching.

When a student works with me, I want them to know they're not walking that path alone.

That's why I check in with students even when we're not actively training together. Not because I have to. Because I genuinely care about how they're doing. I care about their progress. I care about their confidence. I care about helping them get through the rough patches that every player eventually faces.

I've been fortunate enough to achieve goals in this game that once felt impossible. I've won tournaments, competed on big stages and reached levels I once dreamed about. Those experiences have been rewarding, but what surprises me is that helping someone else reach their goals is even more rewarding.

There is something special about watching a player gain confidence, break through a barrier or finally achieve something they've been working toward for years.

At this point in my journey, I don't just want to help players shoot better. I want to help them enjoy the game more, compete with greater confidence and become the player they know they're capable of becoming.

If you're on that journey and need someone in your corner, I'd be honored to help. Not just as an instructor, but as someone who understands exactly what you're going through because I've walked that road myself.