What is the purpose of having a Pool Instructor?
- Thread starter Myrtle_04
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Instuctor? ! Instructor? !! Instructor? !!!
I if I needed to learn how to play, which I don't, but if i did, after the interaction I just had here on this site, I would rather scour every pool hall & bar in my state & every state around my state to find the best player that I could find that would LET me pay him (or her) to teach me before I'd pay
an Instructor! ......An instructor? ! An instructor? !! An instructor? !!! (Jim Mora)
I if I needed to learn how to play, which I don't, but if i did, after the interaction I just had here on this site, I would rather scour every pool hall & bar in my state & every state around my state to find the best player that I could find that would LET me pay him (or her) to teach me before I'd pay
an Instructor! ......An instructor? ! An instructor? !! An instructor? !!! (Jim Mora)
Just because someone can play does not mean they can teach...two totally different things.
Some people like to brag about taking a Clinic, or Instruction from some big named instructor, or pro. Some of the braggers are still playing for crap.
With all due respect I think you and I see things a little differently and that’s ok; I have read some of your other posts and I think you have lots of great stuff to say, however:
I agree
Well I would say it’s the other way around; but I get the gist of what you’re trying to say. I don’t want to spend a lot of time around let alone work with people that don’t want to become significantly better players well at least I TRY not to, it does not always work of course.
I get what you are trying to say here to, but they do need all of the above they just don’t think they do, big difference.
For me (I can’t stress that enough) trying to teach those people is a waste of time for the most part. When I run into these guys I run away or keep my distance; it works out better (FOR ME!)
This may be his cup of tea, or may not be; it isn’t mine.
This is how most pool is learned, and it’s a shame.
Wow I would like to take lessons from someone that knows so much they don’t need to learn anything else.
That means you are not teachable.
ENGLISH does this make sense to you?
I agree
Well I would say it’s the other way around; but I get the gist of what you’re trying to say. I don’t want to spend a lot of time around let alone work with people that don’t want to become significantly better players well at least I TRY not to, it does not always work of course.
I get what you are trying to say here to, but they do need all of the above they just don’t think they do, big difference.
For me (I can’t stress that enough) trying to teach those people is a waste of time for the most part. When I run into these guys I run away or keep my distance; it works out better (FOR ME!)
This may be his cup of tea, or may not be; it isn’t mine.
This is how most pool is learned, and it’s a shame.
Wow I would like to take lessons from someone that knows so much they don’t need to learn anything else.
That means you are not teachable.
ENGLISH does this make sense to you?
just because
Just because someone says they can teach does not mean that they know what to teach or that they WILL ACTUALLY TEACH excapt for what they WANT to teach.
Just because someone says they can teach does not mean that they know what to teach or that they WILL ACTUALLY TEACH excapt for what they WANT to teach.
ENGLISH...I agree! That's why finding the "right" instructor for the student is so important. Going on recommendations, based on personal experience, is one way to at least steer you in the right direction. You should know in the first hour of a lesson whether you "click" with the instructor (in terms of teaching style, and/or what you wish to learn). There should be some sort of 'understanding' between the student and instructor, if the student feels like it isn't working, what to do (I offer a money back guarantee). I always ask every student, up front, what they wish to work on. Almost everyone gives a 'blanket' statement of "I want to play better/more consistent"...which almost always is directed back to creating a more accurate and consistent way of setting up and delivering the cuestick. A good instructor has the capacity to teach playing lessons too.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
True, almost every player thinks they know how to teach because they know how to play. The student has to make that determination. At any point in my program if the student decides they aren’t learning (or I do) I have a standing money back guarantee that I have never been asked to exercise or even had the student even hint at it.
In fact I tell them before their 1st session that I am not going to “teach” them anything, just video them and evaluate them. It takes 2.5 hours and almost EVERYONE afterward says “I thought you weren’t going to teach me anything; I am blown away with how much I learned today!”
You are describing a non teacher that just thinks they are a good enough player to teach and a very poor teacher.
Lessons with an instructor can save time and money, help one deepen one's knowledge about pool and oneself, improve one's ability to play the game, ideally widen one's horizon and renew and/or intensify one's love for the game. And there may be yet more to it…
To answer your question more specifically, a book can't read you. A book won't listen. A book won't video-tape you, nor analyze and discuss your technique, your thought process etc. A book won't point to your specific problem zones. Nor can it give you any feedback on your improvement. It may propose an exercise, for example, but it'll not tell you if you're doing it so you get maximum results, nor if it was the best exercise for you to begin with. Etc. & etc. Thus, a book may or may not save time. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with books, nor you if you feel you're not getting much out of it. But working on one's game without seeing any progress can be frustrating. It needn't be like that.
Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________
„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
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what is the purpose of an instructor
i have been playing pool over 55 years,i have played all over the country,and many of the best players ever
i never had any instructions,or knew whether anyone else had either
here about a week or 10 days ago,ROGER Griffin,rocket roger was in the pool room
i casually asked him if he could help me do a few things
for one
i have never been able to hit draw when over 6 feet seperates the object ball from the cue ball
Roger watched me try a few and made the obsevation that i was hitting centerball when i thought i was hitting low
i hit a few shots with a ton of draw so i looked at him and said 'Your services are no longer needed"
the next day i asked him for some more help on aiming or lining up my shots,so within 10 minutes he went over the basics,such as stand brhind the cue,point the stick through the cue to the desired part of object ball,keep my right foot planted,bend over and shoot at that spot
well after hitting a few balls,my confidence grew to a point i had never experienced,i only play one pocket but i think my ball pocketing speed went up about the 7 ball or better(in 9 ball talk) right away
now i make almost every reasonable shot i shoot
the improvement has been dramatic
next time i see him,i am going to ask about a few other things
when i told him what i was experiencing,he explained that my mind,body etc were all working correctly and not against each other
his language,explained the situation with such clarity and insight that i realized that he really knew and understood things i never knew existed
now roger was a champion player,i don't know any instructors but i can tell you for sure that with 15 minutes of his help i am playing much better than i ever had
now i make most of my shots with confidence
ben franklin said
experience is a dear teacher,but a fool will learn none other
i believe this applies to pool
to criticize all pool instructors with foolish statements like all you need to do is practice is nonsense,i didn't even know what i didn't know,or what i was doing
if knowledge can help a 68 year old man like me improve so much almost overnight,think what it could do for you
i have been playing pool over 55 years,i have played all over the country,and many of the best players ever
i never had any instructions,or knew whether anyone else had either
here about a week or 10 days ago,ROGER Griffin,rocket roger was in the pool room
i casually asked him if he could help me do a few things
for one
i have never been able to hit draw when over 6 feet seperates the object ball from the cue ball
Roger watched me try a few and made the obsevation that i was hitting centerball when i thought i was hitting low
i hit a few shots with a ton of draw so i looked at him and said 'Your services are no longer needed"
the next day i asked him for some more help on aiming or lining up my shots,so within 10 minutes he went over the basics,such as stand brhind the cue,point the stick through the cue to the desired part of object ball,keep my right foot planted,bend over and shoot at that spot
well after hitting a few balls,my confidence grew to a point i had never experienced,i only play one pocket but i think my ball pocketing speed went up about the 7 ball or better(in 9 ball talk) right away
now i make almost every reasonable shot i shoot
the improvement has been dramatic
next time i see him,i am going to ask about a few other things
when i told him what i was experiencing,he explained that my mind,body etc were all working correctly and not against each other
his language,explained the situation with such clarity and insight that i realized that he really knew and understood things i never knew existed
now roger was a champion player,i don't know any instructors but i can tell you for sure that with 15 minutes of his help i am playing much better than i ever had
now i make most of my shots with confidence
ben franklin said
experience is a dear teacher,but a fool will learn none other
i believe this applies to pool
to criticize all pool instructors with foolish statements like all you need to do is practice is nonsense,i didn't even know what i didn't know,or what i was doing
if knowledge can help a 68 year old man like me improve so much almost overnight,think what it could do for you
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Your initial thought....
I'd go ask the golfers what they say.
I'd go ask the golfers what they say.
Here are some resources you might find helpful:
- fundamentals checklist, especially useful during video analysis
- summaries and handouts useful for instructors and students
- templates and diagrams useful for instructors and students
- useful drill resources
- comprehensive syllabus of all pool topics
- top 100 "secrets" and "gems" to share with your students
- summaries and handouts useful for instructors and students
- templates and diagrams useful for instructors and students
- useful drill resources
- comprehensive syllabus of all pool topics
- top 100 "secrets" and "gems" to share with your students
I hope you and others find some of this stuff useful.
Regards,
Dave
Have you ever seen the Karate Kid?
You know the bit where Mr Miyagi expresses astonishment that Daniel would try to learn karate from a book?
That's why you need an instructor.
Not a guy that keeps taking $$$$ off you for nothing, an actual instructor with a proven record of improving people's games.
You know the bit where Mr Miyagi expresses astonishment that Daniel would try to learn karate from a book?
That's why you need an instructor.
Not a guy that keeps taking $$$$ off you for nothing, an actual instructor with a proven record of improving people's games.
Pangit
Banned
The number one reason to have a Pool Insturctor...is so the "Pool Instructor" can make money. NOTHING replaces experience. No instructor can sell that. How many paid "instuctor's" do you think Efren has had?
I'm sure he and his backers have paid, but it was for losing...no "formal instruction" was involved. That's the best way to learn.
I'm sure he and his backers have paid, but it was for losing...no "formal instruction" was involved. That's the best way to learn.
So if Efren approached you to give you lessons would pass on it because only your own experiences matter?
I guess we all have to grow up and live in a pool room including sleeping at night on the tables like Efren did to play like him.
I guess we all have to grow up and live in a pool room including sleeping at night on the tables like Efren did to play like him.
????
It takes a willing student with a proper attitude to recognize the value of an instructor.
I'ts true that nothing replaces experience. That doesn't mean that all it takes is experience. I've known hundreds of players (thousands?) since 1955 who have played countless games for many years and yet still play at a low level. Then again I could cite many players who became very highly skilled in a relatively short time, because they sought out good instructors.
I gave a woman a lesson in 1986 who had never run a rack in ten years of play. The day after the lesson, she played in her first singles tournament...and won!
Experience has lots to do with shot selection and learning to play under pressure. But it won't do you all that much good if you don't have a decent stance, stroke, etc. This is what instruction does. Efren may not have had much "formal" instruction, but he is a master at observation and imagination. Most world class players have gone to multiple instructors..
Pool, like all sports, is not just about competition. It also involves COOPERATION...with friends, teammates, instructors, - anyone that you can learn from. If instruction had no value, why are there coaches in football, soccer, basketball, etc.? Just give a kid a ball and tell him to practice until he or she's a pro. Good luck with that!
The problem with many folks is they feel that asking for help is somehow a weakness. Or they fear that the lesson won't work and they will be embarrassed. Or they think it's too expensive to go to an instructor, when actually it's probably the best way to spend money on your quest to become a better player.
Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
It takes a willing student with a proper attitude to recognize the value of an instructor.
I'ts true that nothing replaces experience. That doesn't mean that all it takes is experience. I've known hundreds of players (thousands?) since 1955 who have played countless games for many years and yet still play at a low level. Then again I could cite many players who became very highly skilled in a relatively short time, because they sought out good instructors.
I gave a woman a lesson in 1986 who had never run a rack in ten years of play. The day after the lesson, she played in her first singles tournament...and won!
Experience has lots to do with shot selection and learning to play under pressure. But it won't do you all that much good if you don't have a decent stance, stroke, etc. This is what instruction does. Efren may not have had much "formal" instruction, but he is a master at observation and imagination. Most world class players have gone to multiple instructors..
Pool, like all sports, is not just about competition. It also involves COOPERATION...with friends, teammates, instructors, - anyone that you can learn from. If instruction had no value, why are there coaches in football, soccer, basketball, etc.? Just give a kid a ball and tell him to practice until he or she's a pro. Good luck with that!
The problem with many folks is they feel that asking for help is somehow a weakness. Or they fear that the lesson won't work and they will be embarrassed. Or they think it's too expensive to go to an instructor, when actually it's probably the best way to spend money on your quest to become a better player.
Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
I have put up with your rambling posts for a long time. I feel that I should warn you, you are now on my "short list".
randyg
Congratulations. After many years of reading Internet sites on cue sports you have just moved to the head of the list of "most stupid and worthless post I have ever read".
You were up against some stiff competition but you did it. Hats off.
You might want to consider using StrokeAnalyzer for video analysis. It's a simple to use and effective tool to show the player exactly what they are doing well and what needs correction.
Glad you like some of my stuff.
I understand you don't want to waste time with some folks, but the OP does, so he fills a niche, no? And if the player is not willing to invest the time, they don't need all the extras. It's akin to helping someone out in the kitchen with a technique or recipe. They don't need to go to Le Cordon Bleu to learn how to make a better frittata -- and that's what the OP is talking about.
Formal instruction isn't the answer to everything. Dads can still teach kids to drive or ride a bike because most folks aren't planning on Daytona or Le Tour de France.
Lou Figueroa