Kristyn Swanger - Billiards

Kristyn Swanger - Billiards Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Kristyn Swanger - Billiards, 1601 Altamont Ave, Schenectady, NY.

2025
Empire State Ladies Stop #1 - 3rd Place šŸ„‰
Empire State Ladies tour stop #3 - 1st Place šŸ†šŸ„‡
Won APA USAM qualifier šŸ„‡

My goal is to play in the WPBA ā¤ļø

ā­ļøSponsorsā­ļø
Bradshaw Billiard Service
ICE Cues
BSN
SR Streaming

Letā€™s go Hit-N-Run! šŸ‘šŸŽ‰ have to win 2 matches to win the trip to Vegas! šŸŽ°
05/31/2026

Letā€™s go Hit-N-Run! šŸ‘šŸŽ‰ have to win 2 matches to win the trip to Vegas! šŸŽ°

Our team made it to tomorrow! We win 2 more matches and we head to Vegas! šŸ¤©šŸŽ‰ we start at 2:30!
05/31/2026

Our team made it to tomorrow! We win 2 more matches and we head to Vegas! šŸ¤©šŸŽ‰ we start at 2:30!

05/28/2026

Playing scared? Read thisā€¦

A lot of players donā€™t lose because they canā€™t make the shotsā€¦

They lose because fear changes the way they play.

You start steering the cue.
You decelerate.
You overthink.
You stop trusting yourself.
You play ā€œnot to loseā€ instead of playing to win.

Thatā€™s what playing scared really is.

And the frustrating part?

Most players donā€™t even realize theyā€™re doing it.

The biggest reason players play scared is this:

Theyā€™re emotionally attached to the outcome.

Theyā€™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 resultā€¦

Your mechanics tighten up.

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

Hereā€™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 shotā€¦
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

Thatā€™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 arenā€™t fearlessā€¦

Theyā€™re just less emotionally controlled by winning and losing.

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

Thatā€™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:
theyā€™ve learned how to perform anyway.

Confidence is not:
ā€œfeeling no fear.ā€

Confidence is:
trusting yourself while fear is present.

Thatā€™s a massive difference.

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

Scared players think:
ā€œWhat if I miss?ā€

Confident players think:
ā€œDeliver the cue correctly.ā€

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 nameā€¦

And immediately shrink mentally.

But hereā€™s the truth:

Everybody misses.
Everybody feels pressure.
Everybody gets uncomfortable.

The table doesnā€™t care whoā€™s supposed to win.

The irony is this:

The moment you stop fearing mistakesā€¦
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**

šŸŽ±Help Send Kinley to the VNEA Junior NationalsšŸŽ±Kinley, a talented junior billiards player from Ohio, has earned the chan...
05/25/2026

šŸŽ±Help Send Kinley to the VNEA Junior NationalsšŸŽ±

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

Iā€™ve always had a soft spot in my heart for junior players! They are the future of our sport. ā¤ļø

I am raising money to send to her mom to help with the cost of the hotel, which is over $600 šŸ«£ 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!

05/24/2026

Race 12 (me) - 4 (her)
APA rules - she gets 1 timeout per rack
Loser cleans the bathroom ļæ½ļæ½

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1601 Altamont Ave
Schenectady, NY
12303-2103

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