If you want to get good at this game, get Dr. Dave's material, or Jerry Briesaths videos. Do a lot of drills, and don't try and run before you can walk. Don't mimic anyone until you know what they are doing and why they are doing it, or you will probably be copying someones bad habits. Also, get Mark Wilson's book.
Best Videos?
- Thread starter SlashingAxe
- Start date
I have gotten way way more out of drill books than dvd's. It might be due to my learning style, I don't know. But with drill books, I actually set up the shots and do them over and over. I think there is something to be said for a book over a video, for that aspect of it. The book should have a space for you to write down your make percentage for that particular drill, and then keep trying to improve it. This is great motivation to improve.
My favorite drill book is Joe Tucker's Guaranteed Improvement book. It costs $11 at his site.
*Edit, what I mean for drill book vs video (even if they have the exact same info), is for me, when I watch a video, I might not actually set up the shot to try it myself. And if I do, maybe it will only be a few times. Whereas a drill book, I'll set up the shot, and shoot it however many time the drill book says, and then write the score down in the drill book (in its allotted space). So, the drill book gets me to the table for hours, while the video rarely gets me to the table at all. This is my particular case. Your milage may vary
My favorite drill book is Joe Tucker's Guaranteed Improvement book. It costs $11 at his site.
*Edit, what I mean for drill book vs video (even if they have the exact same info), is for me, when I watch a video, I might not actually set up the shot to try it myself. And if I do, maybe it will only be a few times. Whereas a drill book, I'll set up the shot, and shoot it however many time the drill book says, and then write the score down in the drill book (in its allotted space). So, the drill book gets me to the table for hours, while the video rarely gets me to the table at all. This is my particular case. Your milage may vary
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I can't agree more about Dr. Dave's and Jerry Briesath's DVD's. A Pool Lesson from Jerry Briesath is very good. Dr. Dave has a detailed, comprehensive selection. They are also very good. I just ordered another set by Dr. Dave. They are on sale at Seyberts for a great price. During last year's ski trip I fit in a lesson with Dr.Dave at his house in Colorado. Great guy and good instructor. Having an idea of the physics involved can be very helpful.
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I was SL 4/5 in APA 8-ball and 9-ball last December. I kept bouncing back and forth between SL 4 and 5 in 8-ball and SL4 (31 points) in 9-ball.
I recently took a 2 hour lesson from a player competing in the US Open.
For my skill level I thought I was a good shotmaker. I was surprised to hear that to make any meaningful breakthrough I needed to be more even more accurate.
So, I need to practice more, back to Joe Tucker's Guaranteed Improvements and refer to these videos from Scott Lee.
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Better-Pool-Mastering-Basics/dp/B00186ZSS4
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Better-Pool-Taking-Level/dp/B001AW3UMW
YMMV, and good luck.
I recently took a 2 hour lesson from a player competing in the US Open.
For my skill level I thought I was a good shotmaker. I was surprised to hear that to make any meaningful breakthrough I needed to be more even more accurate.
So, I need to practice more, back to Joe Tucker's Guaranteed Improvements and refer to these videos from Scott Lee.
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Better-Pool-Mastering-Basics/dp/B00186ZSS4
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Better-Pool-Taking-Level/dp/B001AW3UMW
YMMV, and good luck.
Not sure if anyone else has talked about Dr. Dave. But, you can find his videos and more on our platform as well as his own. Ours is mobile friendly and has other instructors involved as well!
http://howto.goplaypool.com/
http://howto.goplaypool.com/
Dave,
Just acquired 3 of your DVD sets from Seyberts. Pool shots, pool practice and 8 ball. Would you recommend they be watched in that order? In a different order?
Gideon
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I have some general advice about this topic on the last page on the Dr. Dave Product Info and Purchasing Advice Page, but this is a personal-preference sort of thing. VEPS is probably the best to start with for intermediate to advanced players; but if you're in an 8-ball league, I'd recommend starting with VEEB. And if you like doing drills and want to really hone your skills, I'd recommend starting with VEPP.
I hope you enjoy and benefit from my stuff,
Dave
Wow it's great hearing a response from you as you were actually one of the first few people I watched to learn. As a new player though I got too anxious to go out there and play after watching a few videos and now I'm realizing I shouldn't have strayed. I'll actually try the billiard university sometime to see how much I've at least improved over the last few months as I scored low on most the drills the first time.
As for the tor Lowry videos they were great as well watched quite a few hours of his stuff and it made me realize my position playwas all wrong and he was quite detailed where to leave yourself for the next ball with examples of low risk and high risk options so thanks everyone I'll be going to drills for a while as I tried Friday and realized pocketing any OB from the left of my CB was very inconsistent
If you do try the BU Exams again, please consider posting your scores on the AZB BU sticky thread. And if you want some feedback on your technique and game, also post videos with your scores.
Good luck,
Dave
Glad you got good stuff out of Tor's videos. If you are already well into understanding CB control and position play you owe it to yourself to purchase his DVD series on pattern play (Secrets III). It's really inexpensive and it takes you to the next level of knowledge necessary for competitive play.
Another real good one to watch is Robert Byrne's "Power Pool Workout". This one has great progressive drills that will definitely improve your game. There is some stuff here that you might not find anywhere else. In fact, anything by Byrne is golden as far as I'm concerned.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0DHg8JBAMqo
Enjoy, and shoot well.
Do yourself a tremendous favor and get Allan Sands' "Cue Ball Control Cheat Sheets." They are great to bring to the table, but practice can be done by just studying them. Nothing helped my game more.
Seems like in general most people replied to Tor free video then zero-x and BU wiith a few others being mentioned as well. If money was not a part of the equation would a beginner/novice level 3-4 player get the more benefit from the BU dvds as they would from the zero-x dvds? Also, does the BU system promote a lot of use of english as it seems the zero-x system promotes english only when absolutely needed? I only ask this because the zero-x system can be purchased for like $70 yet the BU seems far more comprehensive at about $568. I respect Dr. Dave and Tor I want to become the best player I possibly can and am working hard to improve on a daily basis. I plan on practicing for the rest of my life as I am already 50.
By "BU system," I assume you mean my entire collection of instructional products (the "Monster Mega Package Deal"). The entire collection (currently 23 DVDs, 1 book, 2 CD-ROMS) contains a staggering amount of information that is honestly probably too much for a player at your level. If you decide to get some of my stuff, you might want to start smaller, maybe with just one of the series (or even a single DVD). To decide what might be best for you, check out the info and advice on the last page here:
Dr. Dave Product Info and Purchasing Advice Page
Good luck with your game,
Dave
I'd suggest that you start small & economically so, as in FREE.
Check out everything that is on YouTube for FREE.
I don't know at what level you are, but there is a series on Youtube by Dr. Cue (Tom Rathman) that is sponsored by APA & CSI.
Also if you like visual distractions Ewa Lawrence has a brief series on fundamentals.
After you have exhausted the free stuff you may have a feel for what works best for you & you can then expand in that direction if you so choose.
Don't overload & become paralyzed by too much info too soon & over analysis. Take it relatively slow. Going down the wrong road can be a huge waste of time, effort, & even money.
If I knew more about your situation I perhaps could be more specific & as some here know, I am rather free with opinionated 'advice'. PM if you would like with more info about yourself.
Good Luck & Best Wishes
PS I helped a guy that retired at 65 & had not touched a cue before. I taught him almost everything. The one thing I could not get through to him was when playing any non rotation game it's often times beneficial to shoot the more difficult shot 1st. or 2nd., etc. even in rotation games sometimes. He would almost always take the easy one's first & then stall out. There is a time & place for everything & sometimes difficulty early on makes things very easy at the end.