I just spent an hour or so talking on the phone to Mr. Martin. Ray "cool cat" Martin of 99 shots fame and multi-time world champion. Also "ghostball" on this forum. It was a very pleasant and constructive phone call. Some people have a lot of knowledge but are a little shy on common sense. Some folks have a lot of common sense but they are lacking in knowledge and their ideas are out in left field somewhere. Some people are blessed with common sense and knowledge. These people can walk the walk and tell you how they do it. Mr. Martin is one of these people. No real surprise after reading his book many times but nice to confirm.
We were planning to discuss other things but the conversation got around to his teaching approach. It was exactly what I want to hear from an instructor. A few minutes to verify you have the basic cue ball control to move on and then you can move into the areas that interest you. One reason I shy away from group classes is I am always afraid they will be a little too cookie cutter to justify the cost. The same is true if someone has too regimented of a lesson plan. They need some structure or you can waste your time yourself, too much structure and they are the one wasting your time if they are teaching things you don't need. With one on one lessons and an adaptable instructor this doesn't happen.
It sounds like Mr. Martin tailors the lesson to the student and doesn't take much time to do it. Also seems like he is a very easy gentleman to talk to and work with. Some instructors I get the feeling that they might be good but we might not communicate well. Like with Joe Villalpando I found the exchange of thoughts very easy with Ray Martin. No idea if I'll find myself in the same neck of the woods as him and I do a bare minimum of traveling these days. However, if I get a chance I will spend some time and money taking lessons from him. Make that invest some time and money because that is what it is, a solid investment. When he only charges fifty dollars an hour for one on one instruction it won't take long to see some return on that investment!
Hu
We were planning to discuss other things but the conversation got around to his teaching approach. It was exactly what I want to hear from an instructor. A few minutes to verify you have the basic cue ball control to move on and then you can move into the areas that interest you. One reason I shy away from group classes is I am always afraid they will be a little too cookie cutter to justify the cost. The same is true if someone has too regimented of a lesson plan. They need some structure or you can waste your time yourself, too much structure and they are the one wasting your time if they are teaching things you don't need. With one on one lessons and an adaptable instructor this doesn't happen.
It sounds like Mr. Martin tailors the lesson to the student and doesn't take much time to do it. Also seems like he is a very easy gentleman to talk to and work with. Some instructors I get the feeling that they might be good but we might not communicate well. Like with Joe Villalpando I found the exchange of thoughts very easy with Ray Martin. No idea if I'll find myself in the same neck of the woods as him and I do a bare minimum of traveling these days. However, if I get a chance I will spend some time and money taking lessons from him. Make that invest some time and money because that is what it is, a solid investment. When he only charges fifty dollars an hour for one on one instruction it won't take long to see some return on that investment!
Hu
