Kristyn Swanger - Billiards

Heyyy, not bad for a days work 💁🏼‍♀️🎱❤️

Taking on a local tournament today! 🎱💪🏼
wish me luck! 🍀

Doing a stream on my table that got installed today. It’s not 100% lol but that’s okay! We still need to get a light installed, so shadows are wild 🙃

Thank you to Bradshaw Billiard Service for the installation and letting me borrow this table until I get my other one! 🤩

Doing a race 12-4 again with Rebecca Rizzo ❤️

**TEST** Streaming Streaming from my new table :)

Let’s go Hit-N-Run! 👏🎉 have to win 2 matches to win the trip to Vegas! 🎰

Our team made it to tomorrow! We win 2 more matches and we head to Vegas! 🤩🎉 we start at 2:30!

Playing scared? Read this…

A lot of players don’t lose because they can’t make the shots…

They lose because fear changes the way they play.

You start steering the cue.
You decelerate.
You overthink.
You stop trusting yourself.
You play “not to lose” instead of playing to win.

That’s what playing scared really is.

And the frustrating part?

Most players don’t even realize they’re doing it.

The biggest reason players play scared is this:

They’re emotionally attached to the outcome.

They’re worried about:

* missing
* embarrassing themselves
* letting teammates down
* looking weak
* losing rating points
* losing money
* proving they belong

The moment your brain becomes obsessed with the result…

Your mechanics tighten up.

That smooth stroke disappears.
Your timing changes.
Your confidence drops instantly.

Here’s how to stop playing scared:

1. Stop trying to be perfect

Perfection creates tension.

The best players in the world miss balls too.

When you expect perfection, every shot feels life-or-death.

Instead:
Focus on committing fully to the shot.

Not the outcome.

A committed miss is better than a fearful make.

2. Trust your first decision more

Fear creates indecision.

You get down on the shot…
Then second guess yourself.

That hesitation destroys confidence and timing.

Most of the time, your first read was correct.

Train yourself to:

* decide
* commit
* deliver

No halfway strokes.

3. Slow your mind down

Scared players rush.

Everything speeds up:

* thoughts
* breathing
* routine
* stroke tempo

That’s why having a pre-shot routine matters so much.

The routine becomes an anchor under pressure.

Same approach.
Same timing.
Same process.

No matter the score.

4. Detach from the result

This is huge.

The players who improve the fastest usually aren’t fearless…

They’re just less emotionally controlled by winning and losing.

They understand:
You can do everything right and still lose.

That’s competition.

Your job is not to control the outcome.

Your job is to deliver your best stroke and best decision possible.

5. Get comfortable being uncomfortable

Pressure never fully disappears.

Even professionals feel nerves.

The difference is:
they’ve learned how to perform anyway.

Confidence is not:
“feeling no fear.”

Confidence is:
trusting yourself while fear is present.

That’s a massive difference.

6. Focus on ex*****on, not consequences

Scared players think:
“What if I miss?”

Confident players think:
“Deliver the cue correctly.”

One focuses on fear.
The other focuses on action.

Your brain performs better when it has a task instead of a threat.

7. Stop putting stronger players on a pedestal

A lot of players lose the match mentally before it even starts.

They see a higher Fargo, a better player, or a big name…

And immediately shrink mentally.

But here’s the truth:

Everybody misses.
Everybody feels pressure.
Everybody gets uncomfortable.

The table doesn’t care who’s supposed to win.

The irony is this:

The moment you stop fearing mistakes…
You usually start playing better immediately.

Because now:

* your stroke loosens up
* your timing improves
* your creativity returns
* your confidence comes back
* your instincts work again

Fear makes players small.

Freedom makes players dangerous.

**Comment below if I missed anything or if you would like to add anything that would help someone else**

🎱Help Send Kinley to the VNEA Junior Nationals🎱

Kinley, a talented junior billiards player from Ohio, has earned the chance to compete on the national stage, and she’s raising money to help cover her travel expenses.

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for junior players! They are the future of our sport. ❤️

I am raising money to send to her mom to help with the cost of the hotel, which is over $600 🫣 even a $5 donation would help! I will put my payment options in the comments!

Any donation or share would mean so much and help Kinley chase this amazing opportunity. Thank you for supporting young athletes and the future of billiards!