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.

APPARENTLY I MISSED THE MEMO

In 2022, I set my coaching rate. And then… just never changed it.
Meanwhile, everything else decided to get together and raise their prices. Food (blueberries 😉), gas, utilities… apparently there was a meeting I wasn’t invited to.

Since then… I’ve transformed the games of hundreds of players, worked with high-level amateurs and completely refined how I teach both the physical and mental side of the game. The results my players are getting now are on a different level than even a couple years ago.

But the price stayed the same. At some point, that has to line up.

So a rate adjustment is coming soon.

If you’ve worked with me before, you already know what we’re building. If you’ve been thinking about it… now’s a good time to message me!

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.

HOW TO TURN A STUDENT INTO FAMILY

The longer I instruct, the more I realize that great coaching is about more than information. Fundamentals, drills, and systems are important, but players rarely remember every lesson. What they do remember is whether their instructor genuinely cared about them and their journey.

When a player reaches out for help, they are often sharing more than a pool problem. They are sharing goals, frustrations, self-doubt and aspirations. They are trusting you with something that matters to them. That responsibility goes beyond simply teaching shots or systems.

That is why I try to understand the player, not just their game. I want to know what they are working toward, what challenges they face and what success looks like to them. The better I understand the person, the better I can help guide them.

It is also why I check in with students even when we are not actively training together. Not because I am trying to sell another lesson, but because I genuinely care about how they are doing. I want to see them succeed, enjoy the game and continue growing.

Somewhere along the way, many students stop feeling like students. They become friends, people I root for, and people whose success I celebrate. That is one of the most rewarding parts of instruction.

Helping someone play better pool is great. Helping someone reach a goal they once thought was out of reach is even better.

HOW TO HANDLE SLOW STARTS

Some players seem to play their best pool late in the day. The tournament starts, they survive a few rounds and then suddenly… everything begins to click. The patterns become clearer, the stroke feels free and confidence gains momentum. The frustrating part is wondering why that version of themselves couldn't have arrived three rounds earlier.

The first thing to understand is that more warmup is not always the answer. Many players assume they simply need to hit more balls before the event starts, but if that were true… every player who practiced for two hours beforehand would play great immediately. Often the issue has less to do with physical preparation and more to do with mental adjustment.

For many players, it takes several matches before they fully settle into the environment. They need time to adapt to the tables, the pace of competition, the pressure, and the distractions surrounding the event. Eventually they stop thinking about all those things and start focusing on competing. That's when their best game begins to emerge.

The key is figuring out how to shorten that adjustment period. Instead of waiting for confidence to arrive naturally, focus on getting into your routine immediately. Treat the first rack the same way you would treat a hill-hill rack late in the evening. Stay disciplined with your process, your pace and your decision making from the start.

It also helps to evaluate what changes later in the day. Are you becoming more relaxed? More accepting of mistakes? Less worried about results? Many players unknowingly give themselves permission to play freely only after they've been in the tournament for several hours. If that's the case, the goal is not more practice. The goal is bringing that same mindset to your first match.

Sometimes the answer isn't finding your zone sooner. It's realizing that the zone you've been finding at the end of the night was available all along.

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.

HOW TO HANDLE PLAYING A PLAYER YOU LOOK UP TO

Most players have experienced it at some point. You look at the tournament bracket and realize you're about to play someone you've watched, learned from, rooted for or admired for years. Suddenly the match feels bigger than it did a few minutes ago.

The challenge is that many players stop competing against the table and start competing against the reputation. They become so focused on who the player is that they forget what actually determines the outcome of the match. Instead of staying present, they start thinking about the opportunity, the story or what it would mean if they won.

The first step is remembering that the player you look up to is still just another competitor once the match begins. They still have to make balls, control the cue ball, handle pressure and make decisions just like everyone else. The qualities that earned your respect do not automatically win them the match.

It also helps to separate admiration from intimidation. You can respect someone's accomplishments without placing them on a pedestal. In fact, one of the greatest compliments you can give a respected player is to compete against them fully. Don't shrink the moment. Don't play cautiously because of their reputation. Play your game.

Many players become disappointed after these matches because they spend so much time thinking about who they're playing that they never truly settle into the competition. The goal should not be to create a memorable story. The goal should be to stay committed to your routine, trust your decisions and give your best effort to the shot in front of you.

If you happen to win, great. If you happen to lose, there are still lessons to take away. Either way, the experience becomes valuable when you treat it as an opportunity to test yourself against someone whose game you respect.

At some point in your pool journey, you'll realize something interesting. The players you once looked up to are simply people who spent years working on the same things you're working on right now. The gap often feels much bigger from a distance than it does once the match begins.

Respect them. Learn from them. Then compete with them.

HOW TO PLAY AGAINST YOUR FRIEND IN THE FINALS

One of the more unique situations in pool is finding yourself across the table from a friend in the finals. Maybe you've traveled together, practiced together, rooted for each other's success and now only one of you can win. For some players, that creates an unexpected challenge because they struggle to balance friendship and competition.

The first thing to understand is that making the finals together is already something worth appreciating. Out of the entire field, both of you earned the right to be there. That should be viewed as a positive, not a problem.

The mistake some players make is changing the way they compete because of the friendship. They become overly cautious, avoid playing their normal game or feel guilty about trying to win. In reality, the most respectful thing you can do is compete honestly and give your friend your best game. Nobody wants a watered-down version of the match. If you've both worked hard to get there, then both players deserve a genuine competition.

It also helps to remember that friendship and competition can coexist. For a couple of hours, your friend is simply your opponent. That doesn't change the relationship. It just changes the role each of you is playing in that moment.

The best approach is to simplify your focus and treat the match like any other. Stay committed to your routine, make quality decisions and give your best effort to the shot in front of you. The more you focus on the friendship during the match, the harder it becomes to stay present with the competition.

When the last ball drops, the friendship should still be there. One player will take home the trophy, but both players will have shared a moment that most competitors would love the opportunity to experience.

Compete hard. Respect each other. Shake hands when it's over. Then go celebrate the fact that one of your friends won the tournament.

Jackie Gerkin started her own zoo of Charlie's! 👀