Are pool schools worth the money?

C

cwilmeth

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm 37 years old, been playing pool seriously since about 91. Don't really gamble much anymore but play a lot of tournaments. I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money. Or is it to late? Can't teach an old dog new tricks ?
 
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I hear that the Legends and Champions clinics are pretty good with alot of useful info from top players.
 
cwilmeth said:
I'm 37 years old, been playing pool seriously since about 91. Don't really gamble much anymore but play a lot of tournaments. I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money. Or is it to late? Can't teach an old signee tricks ?
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You have to look at the big picture. If you learn "ONE" thing that helps your game it will be worth it. You spend thousands of dollars practicing trying to learn by trial and error, it is almost not possible to put a value on information. It will also be a fun experience. Is it worth it, you will have to be the judge on what the value is to you but I have takes dozens of classes in all kinds of subjects and some were a waste of time and others were worth a 100 times what it cost me. I once met a guy and had a five minute conversation. Based on that conversation I made over a quarter million dollars. You never know what you don't know, or where information will come from.
 
cwilmeth said:
I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money.
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Yes. Do a search in a couple forums (main, instruction) and get into one in your area that has cudos from AZBers.
:p
 
Yes and no.... Well, depends...

Are you prepared to hear that you're doing it all wrong? Are you willing to change your game if you are doing it wrong? Are you willing to get "worse" for a period of time while you learn how to do things correctly? Will you put in the time afterwards. Training only tells you how to do it, you need to put in the time to learn it afterwards.

That is the biggest issue I have seen with lessons. Many people take them, but never follow up on what they learned, because it's too much work and they asked them to change too many things.

That said, they have helped me a lot when I got some lessons from a BCA Certified SPF instructer as well as the lessons my wife got from the same SPF instructer.

Brian
 
Oh, and for those who have done SPF lessons, my wife has been known to yell at me during league matches "where was your pause?!?!?!?!" or "where was your finish?!?!?!"
 
cwilmeth said:
I'm 37 years old, been playing pool seriously since about 91. Don't really gamble much anymore but play a lot of tournaments. I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money. Or is it to late? Can't teach an old signee tricks ?
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You can be taught new tricks if you're willing to learn and apply. I believe that when you stop learning, you stop living.

I can give you a review of Randy G's Pool School which is based in DFW but also travels the country. I went to it about 3 years ago and it was the best gift I've ever given myself; 3 days of working on pool. What a great time!

Randy and his fellow instructors are extremely knowledgeable and will only use proven methods (I'm a trainer for a living so I know where of I speak) that will drive improvement in your game. Caveat - if you apply them. If you don't plan on applying what you learn, then just spend the money on a new cue.

If you want more details, feel free to PM me to discuss.

Brian in VA
 
Like many have said on here, they are absolutely worth it, if you're willing to put in the work. Just like everything in life, you will only get out of it what you can put into it.

There are no "magic bullets" that going to an instructor will give you. They will give you prudent information and techniques that, with a great deal of hard work, will improve your game tremendously.

Just like Fatboy said in a thread he started, pool is rough right now because it is too damn hard, everyone wants instant gratification. I have been to the same instructor many times (yesterday in fact), and I believe it has drastically reduced my learning curve. But I still play 2-5 hours a day trying to incorporate what I have learned.

In summation, if you think they can tell you something that will immediately make you a shortstop, don't go. If you are willing to listen, change, and work your ass off to acheive what they tell you, absolutely it is the best thing you can do for your game.

-Brandon
 
In a word, Yes, but a conditional yes. They are not a magical cure.
You have to have an open mind and be willing to change some things on your set up and stroke. It takes practice and work on your part if you want to apply what you learn in the school to improve your game. You don't go to pool school, and then become a ball running machine after 3 days. As a matter of fact, I had big issues for about 2 months because I had some major changes to work on, and am still working on them when practicing, not playing.
I went, and would spend the money again in a heat beat.
 
I would go in a heart beat if I lived closer to a cert. instructor. I do what I can with DVD'S an books an hours at my table. It sure would be a lot better with someone breathing down my neck. Hey, Merry Christmas everybody. :thumbup:
 
cwilmeth said:
I'm 37 years old, been playing pool seriously since about 91. Don't really gamble much anymore but play a lot of tournaments. I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money. Or is it to late? Can't teach an old signee tricks ?
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I went to RandyG's school when I was 39 and did wonders for me. Trick is keep an open mind and apply what he teaches you.
 
cwilmeth said:
I'm 37 years old, been playing pool seriously since about 91. Don't really gamble much anymore but play a lot of tournaments. I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money. Or is it to late? Can't teach an old signee tricks ?
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ask thyself one question: do they have pool schools in the philippines. nope, and they dont have leagues either.
 
skip said:
I would go in a heart beat if I lived closer to a cert. instructor. I do what I can with DVD'S an books an hours at my table. It sure would be a lot better with someone breathing down my neck. Hey, Merry Christmas everybody. :thumbup:
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They do them in Charlotte, NC like once a year, you can try to make it to one of those :)

Brian
 
I agree

I agree with all the posts


Also, try to really define what you want out of the school.

The more communitcation you have in shopping for a school the better the outcome will be

Thanks

Carl :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
cwilmeth said:
I'm 37 years old, been playing pool seriously since about 91. Don't really gamble much anymore but play a lot of tournaments. I've been wanting to improve my game a little and was just wondering if these schools I hear about are worth the money. Or is it to late? Can't teach an old signee tricks ?
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You're in OK, it would be well worth it to take a long weekend in Dallas and go through Randy's school. I did it several years ago, but was in my 40's at the time, and it was the best thing I ever did for my pool game. I learned more in 3 days than I did in 30 years...and continue to learn to this day.

Steve
 
skip said:
I would go in a heart beat if I lived closer to a cert. instructor. I do what I can with DVD'S an books an hours at my table. It sure would be a lot better with someone breathing down my neck. Hey, Merry Christmas everybody. :thumbup:
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Skip...check you PMs.

Steve
 
enzo said:
ask thyself one question: do they have pool schools in the philippines. nope, and they dont have leagues either.
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I find a lot to agree with there.

It's always best to have actual FACTS on which to base decisions. One "fact" worth considering (in ALL performance sports) is that "instructors" are just people who decided to call themselves instructors, and "certifications" mean that the "instructors" have just agreed to get together to call EACH OTHER instructors, too.

Some more facts are:

1) There's no question that at least SOME fundamental things can be said about form and process in pool--that could be passed on through "instruction."
2) Often bad form is easier seen by others than by ourselves.
3) There are almost certainly people who know useful things that you don't.
4) Only YOU can actually generate better playing. There's no limit to the value of THINKING and better self-perception in improving one's performance.
5) My opinion (that I would bet is a fact): The very BEST players became good on their own--but also by at least watching other good players, and maybe getting a bit of advice here and there. It's VERY UNLIKELY that the most direct path to becoming an excellent player comes from finding someone to tell you what to do, and then doing it.
 
GetMeThere said:
5) My opinion (that I would bet is a fact): The very BEST players became good on their own--but also by at least watching other good players, and maybe getting a bit of advice here and there. It's VERY UNLIKELY that the most direct path to becoming an excellent player comes from finding someone to tell you what to do, and then doing it.
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See, that is the issue. No one has said that doing lessons will make you an excellent player. But they can make you a BETTER player! I think most people just want to become better, not the BEST. You can't teach the qualities that make someone into the BEST, but you can help average people get better with practice and teaching.

Brian
 
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