You are a cheap bastard! You can afford two stones!
Beeler's Virtual Billiard Academy - Pool Lessons
- Thread starter Anthony_Beeler
- Start date
Holy crap Lou! The man just reeled off a decade of playing at a high level and instructor experience.
I'm Lou:
But have you won a world championship, lately??
Holy crap Lou! The man just reeled off a decade of playing at a high level and instructor experience.
I'm Lou:
But have you won a world championship, lately??
Well, as I've already said in this thread, I want to see a perspective instructor's technique, preferably in competition, before I sign up -- the wins aren't the core of the issue for me.
Just as a ferinstance, I don't want to go to an instructor that teaches a windmill stroke, ala Bustamonte. Nor would I want to go to a guy that sets up with the cue to the side of his face, ala Feijen. Not going to a snooker style guy either. IOWs, they may have some great accomplishments under their belts but I want an instructor whose technique more closely aligns with mine.
And, as I've already said a couple of times: this is a *personal* preference. I'm not saying it should be the same for all.
Lou Figueroa
After so many years of playing as you've had and I've had (you more), we and others know our strengths, weaknesses, and areas in-between that could be and should be addressed to turn them into a strength or improvement out of a weakness. What would be your primary one or two picks for improvement? Or would you rather have a professionally trained eye make the call for you and go along with it from there? I think personal experience and success level has a lot to do with it. It's like going to an M.D. that's a GP, or a specialist. Both have their place for different patients.
So, after all of these pages does Beeler qualify for your seal of approval as an instructor for the majority of pool players or just not for you with the reasons of not seeing him play personally under pressure? Or is there more to it?
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At this stage of the game I'm more into getting instruction on shot selection than technique.
I've taken instruction three times, from: Steve (Cookie Monster) Cook, Dallas West, and Ray Martin. Steve was on 1pocket and the Dallas and Ray lessons were on 14.1. And one of the things that impressed me most about all three of those guys was that they all started off by asking the same question, "What do you want to work on?" IOWs, I wasn't getting the cookie-cutter same ol' same ol' lesson they gave everyone. And frankly, if the instructor I choose isn't asking that question at the outset, I'd strongly reconsider my visit.
In those three sessions only once did the lead guy say something technique related and that was Dallas. He said, "Lou, I know you didn't want to work on technique today but I see something in your game that I think you should work on to go to the next level. Do you want to know what it is?" ("Yes.") And basically he told me I needed to work on hitting my draw shots lower, which did prove to be a huge help to my game.
So I'm not looking for instruction right about now. I suppose if I were looking for some I'd consider Jeremy Jones. I feel he's a deep thinker on all aspects of the game. Udder than that, I think every man must find his own salvation.
Lou Figueroa
I guess the two of you should play. Then report back, who is the teacher and who is the understudy.
I'm a sponsor at $100.00.
I guess the two of you should play. Then report back, who is the teacher and who is the understudy.
I'm a sponsor at $100.00.
If he's ever in STL he can get played.
Lou Figueroa
And since you're pretty much involved in 1pocket or 14.1, it makes perfect sense.
These posts seemed to have a negative tint from the beginning but after good clarification...it has reached a positive ending. Thanks to all who have contributed. Some lessons are for beginners and other lessons are more specific. Both need experienced/knowledgeable teachers.
Twocylndr
Well-known member
The old saying: Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
Mr Beeler is obviously very good at tooting his own horn. That is gonna turn a lot of people off, including me to be honest. A quick scan down the list shows at least a half-dozen instructors I would go to first simply because I think they are all solid instructors and I think we would relate to each other better. Also, a scan down the list of instructors and their scores indicates the problem with most such polls, they are more of a popularity contest. A popularity contest only voted on by a small group in this case.
High up on his list of accomplishments is giving the national champion of Aruba some training. I don't really trust such claims, I have given training to many many people, as in showed them one shot. I suppose I could list I trained these people. Then I took a look at the population of Aruba. 120,000. That is more than a town, not much more than a medium sized city though.
Before judging Mr Beeler fairly I would have to wade through a lot of puffery generated by himself. On the other hand I just had a thought, suppose we have the exact same poll right here on AZB? Add a few names of our instructors and those known to us? Without being ugly I will bet yankee dollars that he can't break top five without cooking the books. Randy is a widely known top instructor. Some others that polled poorly are the instructors that instructors bow to. Jerry Briesath is legend among pool instructors.
Mr Beeler has found a niche in pool and is making it work for him. Hard to fault him for that. As for his claims, well, you should have seen my resume in the nineties after years of honing and fine tuning. It was all true but changing a word anywhere was likely to make it a lie!
Hu
High up on his list of accomplishments is giving the national champion of Aruba some training. I don't really trust such claims, I have given training to many many people, as in showed them one shot. I suppose I could list I trained these people. Then I took a look at the population of Aruba. 120,000. That is more than a town, not much more than a medium sized city though.
Before judging Mr Beeler fairly I would have to wade through a lot of puffery generated by himself. On the other hand I just had a thought, suppose we have the exact same poll right here on AZB? Add a few names of our instructors and those known to us? Without being ugly I will bet yankee dollars that he can't break top five without cooking the books. Randy is a widely known top instructor. Some others that polled poorly are the instructors that instructors bow to. Jerry Briesath is legend among pool instructors.
Mr Beeler has found a niche in pool and is making it work for him. Hard to fault him for that. As for his claims, well, you should have seen my resume in the nineties after years of honing and fine tuning. It was all true but changing a word anywhere was likely to make it a lie!
Hu
Yes, to tell you the truth it has been very helpful. Granted most of my sales come from YouTube and Facebook and definitely some from here, but this has been one of my best weeks so far this year sales wise. Appreciate all the bumps and comments. Sold 16 platinum online lessons and three platinum in person classes since Friday! Appreciate everyone's kind words and support!
Well it's no wonder. You are a great instructor period! I've been to at least 6 names on the list and learned more from you than just about anyone else. I have to say you are definitely one of the best if not, the best that I've been to. As for my personal opinion, Dr. Dave was pretty good too. I rank him a very close second. Then Jerry Brisaith. You give more of a players perspective and Dave gives more of an analytical perspective. Jerry is just Jerry. He is old school and tells you just like it is. Each has it's own merit. You are my favorite top 3 instructors.
Alabama8Ball
Member
I spent 3 days with Anthony getting my Level I & II PBIA instructor certs. I teach beginner students only. It is important to remember that the PBIA curriculum is taught by many of the people previously mentioned from the list. Mark Wilson is highly respected and i have seen his curriculum. The basics are identical to what Anthony teaches. Good pool fundamentals are good pool fundamentals regardless of the instructor.
In my previous life i was a pro level firearms competitior. I was ranked about 20th in the nation. The guy who was repeatedly #1 sent anyone wanting an instructor to me. He didnt teach. He didnt have the patience for it and he would tell you that. Just because your really good at something doesnt mean you have an ability to teach others.
Anthony Beeler and I are both professional educators first and foremost. We know how to teach and that matters. What you teach is irrelevant if u dont know how to efficiently transfer the information to your students.
Anthony is very well respected by folks like Shannon Dalton and Skylar Woodward and that is good enough for me. If his style or personality doesn't suit you then you should find an instructor you connect with and get some help.
I play people in local tournaments every week that would benefit so much from even 1 hour of instruction on stroke fundamentals. I hope those of you reading this thread who need help will find an instructor near you and see how much more fun this game is once you win consistently!
In my previous life i was a pro level firearms competitior. I was ranked about 20th in the nation. The guy who was repeatedly #1 sent anyone wanting an instructor to me. He didnt teach. He didnt have the patience for it and he would tell you that. Just because your really good at something doesnt mean you have an ability to teach others.
Anthony Beeler and I are both professional educators first and foremost. We know how to teach and that matters. What you teach is irrelevant if u dont know how to efficiently transfer the information to your students.
Anthony is very well respected by folks like Shannon Dalton and Skylar Woodward and that is good enough for me. If his style or personality doesn't suit you then you should find an instructor you connect with and get some help.
I play people in local tournaments every week that would benefit so much from even 1 hour of instruction on stroke fundamentals. I hope those of you reading this thread who need help will find an instructor near you and see how much more fun this game is once you win consistently!
Screw pool. I'm extremely impressed about your previous life. Did you ever compete against Jerry Miculek or watch him shoot?
He blows me away with what he's done and can do with almost any firearm. And ya gotta love Hickok45. Don't know if he competes but who cares. What a character who can shoot and is enjoyable to watch and listen to.
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Alabama8Ball
Member
I have met him and he is unbelievable to watch. I was a long range rifle guy. (1000-2500 yds) Pistol and carbine competitions i did as a consistent top 5 amateur. I have reloaded over 100k in rifle rounds. Dont miss that!
So, you're talking high powered sniper rifles and scopes...correct? Military background with it also? I'm impressed, and in saying that I mean I'm REALLY impressed!
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I didn't mind reloading rifle rounds. Being a born again bachelor I reloaded many rounds using inline dies while laying on my couch watching westerns on TV when I was too injured to do it sitting up. 1000-2000 rounds of pistol ammo a week came from one of my 550B's. The Dillon press I liked best. The 650 was faster but fragile. The 1050 was big and pricey. I found the pace slower than DIlon's claims but three or four hundred rounds an hour wasn't too hard
Mainly posted to ask a question: Were you ever a member of the F-List? A great group of guys. About twenty in the group when I was and most of them were across the course shooters or longer range guys. The only clunkers in the bunch were the list owner and myself. Everybody else on the list at that time was either a present or past champion and/or world record holder. I remember I was having a civil discussion with one of the members, a technical point. He told me he would have to drop out for ten days or so and then we could pick it up. He went down to South Africa to shoot in the Palma matches, won one event. I decided I would let the matter drop!
Aside from long range varmints, I shot steel plate and other pistol matches that focused on speed and accuracy and close range benchrest, 100-300 yards. A lot of fun and I met a lot of good people.
Hu
I'm in on Anthony for $1kI guess the two of you should play. Then report back, who is the teacher and who is the understudy.
I'm a sponsor at $100.00.