Full name: Arfan Dad
Country: UK
DOB: 29/07/1983
Ultimate Pool rank: 23
At what age and how did you get into the game of pool?
16 years old. I met someone at my first part time job as a student who was part of the local pool scene and I joined the same local pool team with him and never looked back after that really.
What's been your most favourite achievement to date?
Winning one of the five events of the World Rules Pool Tour in 2021.
Who is your most feared Ultimate Pool player?
I don’t really have a feared player because I don’t fear any player at my age. The toughest player to beat in my opinion is Mick Hill.
Which current Ultimate pool player do you see as having the most potential?
Hard to say really, having potential insinuates an up and coming young player. From the young players, maybe Luke Gilbert could achieve some big things in the future.
How do you mentally prepare for an important match, and are there any specific routines or strategies you follow to stay focused under pressure?
I don’t really do anything different for a particular match or opponent. I try to focus on myself first and foremost, making sure my focus and concentration is there and that my game is in good shape. In terms of staying focused under pressure, I try to make sure my breathing is good and I’m always praying under my breath because I’m a practicing Muslim and a strong believer that whatever God wills, is what will happen. If I’m meant to win, I’ll win and if I’m not, I won’t.
Do you have any pre-game rituals or routines that you believe contribute to your success on the pool table? How important is the mental aspect before stepping into a match?
I don’t have any pre game rituals or routines as such, I try to practice like I play in a match as opposed to doing drills or other exercises.
The mental approach is hugely important in my opinion, you have to have a good mindset in pool to be able to be successful. The game of pool will throw a lot of obstacles in your direction and you have to be strong mentally to overcome that.
Therefore it’s important to not get carried away in your good moments and also not to get too downbeat in the bad moments. You just have to remain steadfast, humble and grounded to ensure you’re in the best place mentally to keep having continued success.
Pool is a game of precision, and setbacks are inevitable. How do you deal with losses or mistakes during a match, and what advice would you give to aspiring players on overcoming setbacks?
Again, I believe my religion helps me overcome setbacks a lot easier than maybe other players. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason so I don’t let defeats affect me like they may have done when I was younger and lacked understanding on certain things in life.
Pool is often seen as a mentally demanding sport, but physical fitness can play a role too. How do you incorporate physical fitness into your training routine, and do you believe it has a significant impact on your performance?
I’m a firm believer of a healthy body leads to a healthy mind so I always try to stay in good shape physically. I do a lot of walking, regular upper body exercises and also play some football to stay active as much as I can.
In critical moments of a match, how do you maintain mental composure and make strategic decisions? Are there specific techniques you use to stay mentally tough during tight situations?
I think the biggest thing under pressure is your technique so ensuring you have a clear head under pressure will mean you can stay focused on making sure your technique doesn’t let you down in the critical moments.
For aspiring pool players looking to improve their game, what advice or tips would you offer to help them progress and reach higher skill levels?
Work hard on your game, practice with players better than yourself, play as much competitive pool as you can to help you bring your game along. Mentally, you have to ensure you can take the hits that will come your way so don’t let whatever happens in a game of pool affect your mindset and keep moving forward.
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