Learning

[lfigueroa]

IMO, there is little that can replace attentive time on the table.

By that I mean being conscious of what you are doing, how you are doing it, and the results that manifest themselves on the table.

Yes, you need to know the physics, geometry, and theory -- books and videos are good in this regard. But then it's up to you to test things out there where the rubber meets the road and to practice, observe, and adjust.

Personally, I'm not so sure an instructor is the best route, especially if they are the kind of instructor that wants to bend you to their model. I see this a lot. Instructors who believe everyone wears a Size 10 shoe. So, IMO, if you seek out an instructor, look for one that will take into consideration your current setup and skills, the amount of time you have to apply to the game, and eschew the guy that tries to mold you into some idealized form of a player that you will never, ever achieve.

Play, observe, adjust, repeat.

Lou Figueroa

 

[DeeDeeCues]

Apparently pool is the only endeavor in the world where an instructor isn't the best path to success.

I'm so tired of this attitude. Einstein had instructors. Bobby Fisher had instructors. Jordan had instructors. Socrates, Aristotle, Gretzky, Ali, Tesla, ....

Sure, all of those people transcended their instructor, obviously, but they only saw their mountain by being led out of the canyon.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... I see this a lot. Instructors who believe everyone wears a Size 10 shoe. So, IMO, if you seek out an instructor, look for one that will take into consideration your current setup and skills, the amount of time you have to apply to the game, and eschew the guy that tries to mold you into some idealized form of a player that you will never, ever achieve.
...

Yeah, some instructors teach by rote and dogma. I think it's much better to teach by working towards a goal, such as making the stance stable and the stroke consistent and accurate. Exactly where the player's right big toe ends up is not a thing to worry about if the goal is achieved.

 

[JoeyInCali]

IMO, there is little that can replace attentive time on the table.

By that I mean being conscious of what you are doing, how you are doing it, and the results that manifest themselves on the table.

Yes, you need to know the physics, geometry, and theory -- books and videos are good in this regard. But then it's up to you to test things out there where the rubber meets the road and to practice, observe, and adjust.

Personally, I'm not so sure an instructor is the best route, especially if they are the kind of instructor that wants to bend you to their model. I see this a lot. Instructors who believe everyone wears a Size 10 shoe. So, IMO, if you seek out an instructor, look for one that will take into consideration your current setup and skills, the amount of time you have to apply to the game, and eschew the guy that tries to mold you into some idealized form of a player that you will never, ever achieve.

Play, observe, adjust, repeat.

Lou Figueroa

You need a 6 lbs aiming book. J/k
The Europeans and the Taiwanese have proven educated training works.
If you watch the way the ladies in Asia and Europe shoot, they're almost all carbon copies of each other.

 

[GoldCrown]

Instructors are not created equal. If you don’t find one that fits your needs try another one. If you are a play at home person .. do not have a regular game. Nobody to critique you… who ya gonna call.

 

[boogieman]

Yes, you need to know the physics, geometry, and theory -- books and videos are good in this regard. But then it's up to you to test things out there where the rubber meets the road and to practice, observe, and adjust.

You have to get a feel for it. Just knowing something isn't that useful on it's own. That feel is often developed after a decent amount of practice.

 

[staticfire98]

I wish I practiced my cue stroke as much as my baseball swing growing up. I had plenty of hitting (baseball) coaches and some were better than others but they are absolutely required to hit at even a basic competitive level.

 

[ShootingArts]

A quality instructor is a wonderful thing. We have also all seen bangers trying to be instructors and everything in between the two.

I am still trying to unlearn bad things I learned fifty years ago. A good instructor early on could have prevented a lot of that.

Hu

 

[SpiderWebComm]

You need a 6 lbs aiming book. J/k

Absolutely! not/k
Written by a PBIA Master Instructor, pro player, instructor to professionals and amateurs, who specializes in one on one live
instruction to many pro players and amateurs. Choose from here:

Master Instructors

Location: Prescott, AZ. These PBIA Master Instructors have dedicated their professional careers to developing, growing and promoting the cue sports. For more information on how requirements an…

playbetterbilliards.com

 

[Black-Balled]

I 'see'...

 

[Kentucky Rack Man]

IMO, there is little that can replace attentive time on the table.

By that I mean being conscious of what you are doing, how you are doing it, and the results that manifest themselves on the table.

Yes, you need to know the physics, geometry, and theory -- books and videos are good in this regard. But then it's up to you to test things out there where the rubber meets the road and to practice, observe, and adjust.

Personally, I'm not so sure an instructor is the best route, especially if they are the kind of instructor that wants to bend you to their model. I see this a lot. Instructors who believe everyone wears a Size 10 shoe. So, IMO, if you seek out an instructor, look for one that will take into consideration your current setup and skills, the amount of time you have to apply to the game, and eschew the guy that tries to mold you into some idealized form of a player that you will never, ever achieve.

Play, observe, adjust, repeat.

Lou Figueroa

Have to agree. I spent the money and did so. Not all was lost and i saw another persons viewpoint. Like you, I must continue to play, observe, adjust, repeat and enjoy. I like watching other strong players and how they do it Great Post !

 

[The_JV]

Once you reach "old dog" status, an instructor seems fruitless. However like literally everything else that needs to be learnt. Having someone guide you down the shortest path to the end goal early in development will accelerate your curve. The problem unfortunately to successful instruction is two fold. One, you have to be willing to put aside your preconceptions of how you should play and do as you're told. Two, stumble across an instructor that's good enough.

Believe it or not, but I believe the first problem is the biggest hurdle. Any advanced player with strong form can instruct a beginner into a competent player.

I never received professional instruction. I also never benefited from aiming systems. I'm fully confident that if I had either or both. I would have become somewhat stronger. ...and definitely in shorter order.

 

[straightline]

They need to fix stuff like this.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Once you reach "old dog" status, an instructor seems fruitless.

An instructor at this point could very well be fruitless. But there's always a higher level to shoot for and reach unless satisfaction and resignation has completely set in. At this stage of the game, I think an instructor has to be a good listener first and also a great diagnostician who can spot things going on from already working with players at a higher level than you.
More than likely it's not going to be something physical like a beginner, but more so with table layout preplanning and cueball control to get the optimum angles to make runouts possible.

However like literally everything else that needs to be learnt. Having someone guide you down the shortest path to the end goal early in development will accelerate your curve. The problem unfortunately to successful instruction is two fold. One, you have to be willing to put aside your preconceptions of how you should play and do as you're told. Two, stumble across an instructor that's good enough.

No stumbling. Ya gotta do the research as far as who he/she has taught and their status in the world of pool.

Believe it or not, but I believe the first problem is the biggest hurdle. Any advanced player with strong form can instruct a beginner into a competent player.

I never received professional instruction. I also never benefited from aiming systems. I'm fully confident that if I had either or both. I would have become somewhat stronger. ...and definitely in shorter order.

Good post.

 

[lfigueroa]

Apparently pool is the only endeavor in the world where an instructor isn't the best path to success.

I'm so tired of this attitude. Einstein had instructors. Bobby Fisher had instructors. Jordan had instructors. Socrates, Aristotle, Gretzky, Ali, Tesla, ....

Sure, all of those people transcended their instructor, obviously, but they only saw their mountain by being led out of the canyon.

I did not say instructors could not be helpful.

What I pointed out is that not all instructors are created equal and in fact good ones are few and far between. Frankly, I'm tired of the blanket endorsement of instructors ;-)

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

You need a 6 lbs aiming book. J/k
The Europeans and the Taiwanese have proven educated training works.
If you watch the way the ladies in Asia and Europe shoot, they're almost all carbon copies of each other.

These are pros.

We are not pros and will never get that level of training, nor do most players have that kind of time to devote to the game. What I am saying is that if you are the average guy who has a family, job, life outside the pool room, and someone who just wants to get in better shape for league night you might consider putting in more focused practice time.

If you plan on going on the tour... move to Asia, lol.

Lou Figueroa

 

[jalapus logan]

These are pros.

We are not pros and will never get that level of training, nor do most players have that kind of time to devote to the game. What I am saying is that if you are the average guy who has a family, job, life outside the pool room, and someone who just wants to get in better shape for league night you might consider putting in more focused practice time.

If you plan on going on the tour... move to Asia, lol.

Lou Figueroa

You certainly described me for sure. I did go to an instructor 15 years ago or so. That said, how can I improve at this point given my desire to remain employed and also pursue other interests outside of pool. I'm a Fargo 660 as of this writing and honestly, I'm unsure if it is possible to push the needle forward given my situation. I do know however, that fighting the good fight on the table still feels rewarding, fun, frustrating etc, so I'll continue on down that road one way or another. If I play on average 10 or less hours a week, then so be it.

 

[lfigueroa]

You certainly described me for sure. I did go to an instructor 15 years ago or so. That said, how can I improve at this point given my desire to remain employed and also pursue other interests outside of pool. I'm a Fargo 660 as of this writing and honestly, I'm unsure if it is possible to push the needle forward given my situation. I do know however, that fighting the good fight on the table still feels rewarding, fun, frustrating etc, so I'll continue on down that road one way or another. If I play on average 10 or less hours a week, then so be it.

I think focused self-help is the way to go.

When I practice and inevitably miss a shot or blow a position play I will set it up again and try to better understand it and why it went sideways. It can just be a lack of familiarity with the shot or perhaps something mechanical with a certain shot. And if you can add just one or two shots per session this way you can collect quite a few in a year's time.

As to mechanics, sometimes asking an experienced player to watch and asking for input can be valuable. Or even just doing some self diagnosis with video can be good. Lastly, I think experimentation with your PSR is good and when you're shooting particularly well paying attention to how you step into the shots can lead to long term improvement.

Lou Figueroa

 

[couldnthinkof01]

It would work better if a pool "instructor" was an actual pool coach. Someone who works with you a couple times a week, travels to tournaments with you, etc. Some blowhard giving group lessons or traveling salesman doing "clinics" is not effective.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

You have to get a feel for it.

Trigger warning.

pj
chgo