Jerry Briesath

jason

jason

Unprofessional everything
Silver Member
A short story about the instructor, Jerry Briesath.

NOTE: Jerry does not know me today and would not remember me from the past.

Here is my story...

I was playing in the VNEA in Vegas in the late 90's, or early 2000's. We finished our match (I don't remember if we won or lost) and were heading back to our room. As we passed an area with two tables and free lessons, I decided to stop. I was an APA level 7 or better at the time. My teammates decided to go back to the room or gamble or party or whatever. I decided to see what was going on.

Jerry was giving free lessons. So, I sat in to see what was going on. Expecting to meet up with my teammates no less then an hour later.

Well, what I thought was going to be a 10 to 15 minute session turned into 8 hours! I will say that I knew about 95% of what Jerry said, but how he expressed the fundamentals was extrodinary.

My father stressed fundamentals.... fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. My father was my instructor, teacher, coach all of my life and he was a good one at that, a very good one (IMO). My father never played pool that I know of. Jerry got my attention right away because of his teaching ability.

That year in Vegas, I played extremely well after listening to Jerry, but happened to lose several matches. My teammates commented on how my game was different.

I eventually became a state masters champion (beating Brian Gregg's team by the way) with 2 runner ups (ack!!).

The bottom line is Jerry is a great teacher and no matter what level you are at or think you are at, having a good coach, teacher is extremely valuable.

Thank you Jerry for all you have contributed to AZ and the pool world.

Sincerely,


The bottom line is Jerry is a great teacher.
 
P.S. One thing I didn't know that Jerry taught me was a jump bank shot.

The shot is to jump the cue ball into the object ball, so that it inturn jumps also into the rail then jumps from the rail over an interfering ball into the pocket.

I watched Jerry shoot the shot and I asked him if I could try to shoot it. He said Okay. I made it my second time after his instruction and the audience went wild! Thanks Jerry.

P.S.S. I will give a cue table if I can figure it out. :)
 
Jason...Jerry was the reason both randyg and I got into teaching! He started the BCA Certified Instructor program more than 20 years ago, and it has grown leaps and bounds since then. Jerry has received the President's Award from the BCA for a lifetime of service to our sport, but I think he deserves to be in the HOF. I know I an indebted to him for instilling a basic understanding of how to teach pool well, and he will always be my lifelong friend. I was fortunate enough to be invited to teach with him and Mark Wilson, at the BCA Summer Youth Cue Camps, in the early 90's, which made a huge impact on me. Jerry will be teaching with randyg, myself, and several other top instructors, at another major teaching event next year. More on that to come soon.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
When I first started playing at the pool room I saw he had a in a magazine in 85 to 86, I wanted to go so bad. But I couldnt afford it. I might have been able to talk my parents into it, but they were on short $$ and I had to much pride to ask them, thats why I have awalys done my own thing in life.


To this day I regret not going, I would have got to where I am a whole lot faster. I'm not so sure where I am :confused::confused: If anyone knows please let me know. ;)


Like Dave Knottingham said "If they aint paying you, dont show them nothing" and "dont give up anything to the rail birds either".
 
Last edited:
To state that Jerry is a great teacher would be an injustice to our sport.

Jerry's contributions over the years puts him way above the rest of us. If it were not for Jerry I would be bowling today. Pool is better because of Jerry.

Jerry is simply the role model every pool player should want to strive to be.

When all is said and done, maybe the word "unequivocal" would be appropriate.

Life time student of Jerry
Randy Goettlicher
 
randyg said:
To state that Jerry is a great teacher would be an injustice to our sport.

Jerry's contributions over the years puts him way above the rest of us. If it were not for Jerry I would be bowling today. Pool is better because of Jerry.

Jerry is simply the role model every pool player should want to strive to be.

When all is said and done, maybe the word "unequivocal" would be appropriate.

Life time student of Jerry
Randy Goettlicher
Click to expand...



Randy,


thats one hell of a post, I tip my hat to you. Thats the strongest testononial possible, especially comming from you!!!


Man I blew it not going there back in the day. I know that going there wouldnt have made me a champion, but the memory and being able to reminiss about that all these years later would be nice and I would be a better player for sure. I just didnt go and I thought about it many many times. I was on short $$$ it would have cost me about $2,000or $2500 backthen-flights were alot more $$$ and you had to have a saturday night stay over or the plane ticket doubled in price-remember that scam the air lines did to business travelers. Being locked out of things like that gave me the drive as a biz man to do better so the world would open up for me.

Great post Randy,

best regards,

eric
 
Scott Lee said:
Eric...Wyoming Dave used to hang around CO a lot back in the day. He was quite the character.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...


I learned alot from Dave, about life as much as pool. He taught me through pool and I took his ideas into the biz world, He knew I did that-but sadly he passed away shortly there after. He was proud of me-in a father/son way. My dad was alive back then so its not like Dave was my dad, but I was kinda a son to him. I do miss him alot.
 
What Randy and Scott have submitted could be supported by the thousands of people fortunate enough to have received time from Jerry over the past 40 plus years. We have learned about "the beautiful throwing motion",as a pool student. What Jerry has,that I admire as much as his Teaching Skills,is his Character as a Human Being. We in the pool playing community would be fortunate to emulate such qualities. His contributions to pool can certainly qualify him to be in the Hall of Fame,and it is a travesty that he isn't already there. This is another reason why the BCA Hall of Fame Committee sometimes can't see the forest for the tree's. IMHO.

Jerry will probably end up in the Varmint Hunter's Hall of Fame one day also!!
 
cajunfats said:
(Jerry Brieseth's) contributions to pool can certainly qualify him to be in the Hall of Fame,and it is a travesty that he isn't already there. This is another reason why the BCA Hall of Fame Committee sometimes can't see the forest for the tree's. IMHO.

Jerry will probably end up in the Varmint Hunter's Hall of Fame one day also!!
Click to expand...
What's the deal with the pot shot at the BCA Hall of Fame committee???

Out of the 30 or so members that make up the voting members, a quarter them or more are members of AZBilliards. It's not exactly the way to get in their favor.

Fred
 
We took our youngest son to Mankato, MN, for the 13th (I believe) VNEA Juniors Competition. It was the first year our son go to go and the last year he was eligible to compete as a junior.

While we were there, our son saw Jerry and we sat and watched for a bit. He was curious and before long, Jerry was helping him with some shots. Our son was so impressed! He learned so much in just the little bit of time he had with Jerry.

After we came back home, our son finally told us he wished he could study under Jerry. When we realized he was serious, we looked online for anything that could put us in touch with him, so we could find out how much it would cost to surprise him with a trip up there. We searched and searched, but found nothing. Our son wasn't going to ask, because he didn't think we had the money, but we did and we were doing our best to find out how to make it happen, but no luck.

Fast forward to 2007. Our son joined the Navy and shortly after he left, I found ads for Jerry's lessons. So, now he's obligated to the U.S. Navy and can't go. Even if he could, we don't have the money, now. Too many medical bills in recent years. Of course, he's married, now. But, I know he'd go, if he could and the money spent would be well spent.

One of these days, that boy will be free from the Navy (I hope) and maybe we'll get the chance to save up some money and send him on a trip he'll always treasure....
 
Pot Shot at HOF Voters

Okay,maybe I was being a bit hard on the BCA Hall of Fame Voters. They have a tough job to do sorting through all the favorites each year. To all those AZ'ers that are voting members,I apologize. It was only my opinion about why Jerry wasn't in the HOF. Please recognize his contributions and vote accordingly sometime in the future. No offense intended to anyone.
 
Fred...Just as a note, cajunfats remembers the days when the HOF voting members were not poolplayers (by-in-large), so that's probably where his venting comes from. Things have changed considerably since 20 yrs ago, and Jerry might well get voted in one of these days! :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Cornerman said:
What's the deal with the pot shot at the BCA Hall of Fame committee???

Out of the 30 or so members that make up the voting members, a quarter them or more are members of AZBilliards. It's not exactly the way to get in their favor.

Fred
Click to expand...
 
Is Jerry at the VNEA, Vegas every year?
I wanted to take a class but time wasn't on our side last year.
Definitely next year if hes there.
 
Blue Hog ridr...Yes, Jerry is at the VNEA every year, for most or all of the entire event. It isn't so much formal classes, but rather groups of people watching, and people asking questions. Jerry usually says, "Come on up and let me help you!" He's an invaluable asset to our sport!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Blue Hog ridr said:
Is Jerry at the VNEA, Vegas every year?
I wanted to take a class but time wasn't on our side last year.
Definitely next year if hes there.
Click to expand...
 
JERRY WAS/is(?) also a VERY good str8 pool player. i scuffled around MILWAUKEE some in the early 60's and thought i'd try him some.

Didn't work out to well (for me)
 
ribdoner said:
JERRY WAS/is(?) also a VERY good str8 pool player. i scuffled around MILWAUKEE some in the early 60's and thought i'd try him some.

Didn't work out to well (for me)
Click to expand...



Jerry was a standout 14.1 artist. I'm sure he can play any game. Like the rest of us, Jerry spends most of his time teaching (thank God) not playing.

When you watch Jerry walk, he always walks a little tilted. That's because he's got all of my golf money in his pocket. Yes, Jerry is also an outstanding golfer....go figure.............SPF=randyg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top