Has anyone ever taken lessons from PATRICK JHONSON? Would like your feedback.
Who says you "have to be certified" to be an instructor?
Certified by whom?
If I can beat the "instructor", shouldn't the instructor be taking lessons from me?
Is Efren "certified"?
How about Earl?
Who says you "have to be certified" to be an instructor?
Certified by whom?
If I can beat the "instructor", shouldn't the instructor be taking lessons from me?
Is Efren "certified"?
How about Earl?
Hello Jim! Great speaking with you in January, when I was in Hawaii! Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up and play some. Next time for sure! I very much appreciated your help in setting up a lesson at Hawaiian Brian's. I have to tell you that the absurd concept of "if you can't beat me, you can't teach me", is just that. To be able to learn, you must have an open mind. Those who think that way have closed minds,and are unable to learn anything new (because they already "know" everything)! LOL Many of us have worked with professional players and taught them things they didn't know, simply because they came to us with an open mind. Do all pro golfers belong to the PGA? No...but they all aspire to. Do all "instructors" need to be certified? No...but the best ones are. The PBIA is the only truly professional organization that holds instructors to certain standards. Is it perfect? No, but currently it is the best opportunity out there to belong to a professional association strictly for professional pool instructors. Lastly, do you really believe Johan Ruysink, coach of the winning US Mosconi Cup team, can beat any of those players? Nope...but he has great teaching and communication skills, and obviously has been able to improve MANY top professional players around the world, working almost exclusively on players' fundamentals FIRST! Read the article in the March BD...he teaches the same things, the same way we have been doing it for 3 decades or more!
You mentioned Efren and Earl...neither of which are qualified to give instruction...unless it's learning game strategy. Most pro players have no idea how to teach, analyze strokes using video analysis, and communicate in a manner the student can understand. Efren once, when questioned about giving lessons, responded: "If you want to learn how to shoot, go to a professional instructor!" I'd call that a solid recommendation! I have many times recommended going to Earl to learn how to play 9ball...but I would never send someone to him to learn a stroke (even though he has an incredible stroke himself)! Tony Robles, on the other hand, is not only a top pro player, but also an excellent professional instructor. There are many pro players who hang out a shingle and "give lessons", often charging an arm and a leg. Almost none are qualified.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Hi Scott, I think you are showing a bit of bias in making the blanket statement highlighted above. I can't speak for others but I must speak up for myself here. Though my pool career started out as a player I became a player/instructor over 35 years ago. My college years were devoted to becoming a teacher so I learned a great deal about developing strong communication skills.I hold no reservations in stating my students will attest to this. I hold my self and my instructions to a very high standard. Many years ago I did become "certified" by Jerry when it was called BCA. Since that time I never followed up with further upgrades. I did not and do not feel it necessary to become "recertified" by any institution regardless of its strong credentials. I have credentials of my own. People know me, and I rely on my reputation to generate a continuous following of intelligent students seeking not only strategic game concepts but also improvements in fundamental skills. I've no doubt there are many high quality instructors who hold similar thoughts.
Though the PBIA is a very reputable organization dedicated to providing high quality instructors for the pool playing public, acquiring certification from the PBIA is not for every instructor. The PBIA helps immensely in protecting the public from those who are unqualified to teach but I would hope you will agree that not everyone who lacks certification by the PBIA is unqualified to teach at a professional level.
I will close with this statement. The PBIA certifies only highly qualified instructors, so if you happen to be someone seeking a pool instructor you can't go wrong with a PBIA instructor but the PBIA is not the be all to end all. Just be careful and very selective should you consider choosing someone lacking PBIA certification.
Tom Wirth
You mentioned Efren and Earl...neither of which are qualified to give instruction...unless it's learning game strategy.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Hello Jim! Great speaking with you in January, when I was in Hawaii! Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up and play some. Next time for sure! I very much appreciated your help in setting up a lesson at Hawaiian Brian's. I have to tell you that the absurd concept of "if you can't beat me, you can't teach me", is just that. To be able to learn, you must have an open mind. Those who think that way have closed minds,and are unable to learn anything new (because they already "know" everything)! LOL Many of us have worked with professional players and taught them things they didn't know, simply because they came to us with an open mind. Do all pro golfers belong to the PGA? No...but they all aspire to. Do all "instructors" need to be certified? No...but the best ones are. The PBIA is the only truly professional organization that holds instructors to certain standards. Is it perfect? No, but currently it is the best opportunity out there to belong to a professional association strictly for professional pool instructors. Lastly, do you really believe Johan Ruysink, coach of the winning US Mosconi Cup team, can beat any of those players? Nope...but he has great teaching and communication skills, and obviously has been able to improve MANY top professional players around the world, working almost exclusively on players' fundamentals FIRST! Read the article in the March BD...he teaches the same things, the same way we have been doing it for 3 decades or more!
You mentioned Efren and Earl...neither of which are qualified to give instruction...unless it's learning game strategy. Most pro players have no idea how to teach, analyze strokes using video analysis, and communicate in a manner the student can understand. Efren once, when questioned about giving lessons, responded: "If you want to learn how to shoot, go to a professional instructor!" I'd call that a solid recommendation! I have many times recommended going to Earl to learn how to play 9ball...but I would never send someone to him to learn a stroke (even though he has an incredible stroke himself)! Tony Robles, on the other hand, is not only a top pro player, but also an excellent professional instructor. There are many pro players who hang out a shingle and "give lessons", often charging an arm and a leg. Almost none are qualified.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
It does make you wonder when you see certified instructors with Fargo ratings below 500.
JC