Better investment for beginner: Predator shaft or $200 worth of training products?

[JamisonNeu]

If I had it all to do over I would start by buying 200 dollars worth of lessons from Jerry Briesath. If you can find three other guys to give him 200 dollars I'll bet he would come to you. poollessons.com

I have been playing for 26 years I have an award from the WPA that says #1 stroke in the world..well is says something close to that I gave it to someone. I dont remember what i t says exactly...I am not bragging just saying this will have an effect on the next paragraph.

I saw Jerry a few months ago at one of the shows...I asked him where I was wrong after I ran 30 balls in a row without hitting a ball, or the rail with the cue ball (after making a ball.) He said your stroke is pathetic...I about fainted. How could my stroke be wrong after what he just watched me do???

I listened to him, (I must of been speechless from the stroke comment) and on the third swing I knew he was right...I now use his advise on every shot. My game was better instantly...If I could go back to the day I started and change anything...I would meet Jerry the day I started.

 

[dr_dave]

A piece of equipment will not make you a better player. Useful knowledge from good instructional products can help you improve, as long as you practice application of the knowledge.

Also, low-squirt (AKA low cue-ball deflection) shafts have both advantages and disadvantages.

Nothing beats time spent with a good instructor that can work with you as an individual.

Regards,
Dave

LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THAT I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND THERE ARE NO CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS IN MY AREA, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY LESSONS.

I recently purchased a Pechauer cue. And it was only after I had purchased it that I received Tucker's "guaranteed improvement" book and in it he highly recommends Predator cues and he even says it will take years off the learning process for beginners. [This totally contradicts what I was told at pechauer BTW. I asked about Predator shafts for their cues and he said that at my level (beginner) those shafts were not recommended.] Anyways, I've done quite a bit of research since then and not having to compensate for 'squirt' sounds like it would simplify things A LOT for someone at my level.

So what do you think? Is it worth shelling out an extra $215 for the Predator shaft or would I be better off spending that on instructional materials. ( I currently own Capelle's PYBP and Martin's 99 critical... as well as Byrnes "power pool wrkout dvd and Tucker's GI Book.)

I'll admit that it is kinda tough for me to spend any more money right now but I'll do it if it will improve my game.

About my game: I am a beginner. I played quite a bit in the past and am now getting back into it after purchasing my own table. When I play equal offense I average 3/4 ball runs. My highest run has been 8 balls. I know the principles of position play because I read a lot but obviously have problems executing them. I practice 1-2 hrs. a day. I know ideally I should take some lessons but I live in a small town in S. Texas and there are no certified instructors in my area.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LC3]

I saw Jerry a few months ago at one of the shows...I asked him where I was wrong after I ran 30 balls in a row without hitting a ball, or the rail with the cue ball (after making a ball.) He said your stroke is pathetic...I about fainted. How could my stroke be wrong after what he just watched me do???

That's why I want to take a weekend lesson with one of the top instructors. I've had a few people tell me that my fundamentals were decent, but I'm sure I still have significant room for improvement. I want to get that under control as soon as possible. No special shaft will make up for that.

 

[TATE]

LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THAT I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND THERE ARE NO CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS IN MY AREA, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY LESSONS.

I recently purchased a Pechauer cue. And it was only after I had purchased it that I received Tucker's "guaranteed improvement" book and in it he highly recommends Predator cues and he even says it will take years off the learning process for beginners. [This totally contradicts what I was told at pechauer BTW. I asked about Predator shafts for their cues and he said that at my level (beginner) those shafts were not recommended.] Anyways, I've done quite a bit of research since then and not having to compensate for 'squirt' sounds like it would simplify things A LOT for someone at my level.

So what do you think? Is it worth shelling out an extra $215 for the Predator shaft or would I be better off spending that on instructional materials. ( I currently own Capelle's PYBP and Martin's 99 critical... as well as Byrnes "power pool wrkout dvd and Tucker's GI Book.)

I'll admit that it is kinda tough for me to spend any more money right now but I'll do it if it will improve my game.

About my game: I am a beginner. I played quite a bit in the past and am now getting back into it after purchasing my own table. When I play equal offense I average 3/4 ball runs. My highest run has been 8 balls. I know the principles of position play because I read a lot but obviously have problems executing them. I practice 1-2 hrs. a day. I know ideally I should take some lessons but I live in a small town in S. Texas and there are no certified instructors in my area.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The Predator shaft is not necessary at all and won't make you better faster. The Pechauer cue will suit you for many, many years to come. The Predator shaft might make you play a little better later on when you're ready to experiment.

Unless you develop the basic pool coordination to make shots and play basic position, you won't advance.

You already have enough material on hand to practice for many months. Straight pool is the ideal starter game. Start off with straight pool, crack the rack wide openm, and try to clear a rack and keep track of your longest runs. Within a month or two of practicing straight pool, I would expect you will clear a rack.

For free you can watch matches on youtube and practice some of the position patterns you see. Set up some copy tables of some of the nice run outs you see a pro make, and see if you can do it the same way. Watch how pros set up their angles and copy them. Practice the safeties you see them make. If you miss a shot or position or a safety, practice it again and again until you get a feel for it.

After a few months of this, I guarantee you will play a lot better! You will find the same shots and position plays come up again and again, and you will deal with them in a similar fashion again and again.

Chris

 

[MitchAlsup]

About my game: I am a beginner. I played quite a bit in the past and am now getting back into it after purchasing my own table. When I play equal offense I average 3/4 ball runs. My highest run has been 8 balls. I know the principles of position play because I read a lot but obviously have problems executing them. I practice 1-2 hrs. a day.

See if you can up your time to 3 hours per day, and then just interchange drills one day for random shots the next. Once you have logged 300,000 successful shots; where you applied your full mental capabilities to make each shot, you will have already arrived.

Don't worry about english (side, top, bottom) until you can successfuly pot 50 straight cut shots in a row from any intersections of diamonds on your table. That is, set the OB on the intersection of one side diamond and one end diamond, place the CB on another intersection and shoot that shot 50 times, potting the OB each time. There are at least 400 table setups using this, 1200 if you expand to include the rails as starting positions. If you can do these drills, no straight cuts will ever impeede your game.

Most shots (70%-ish) need only as much power as is needed to roll the OB into the pocket. Use as little power as you can muster and develop a delicate stroke. Afterwards, you can always add power to move the CB around, but develop the delicacy first.

Develop a shot routine: Observe the current table position and choose a shot; stand behind the shot line and determine where you want the CB to end, determine how hard to hit the shot, determine what english to apply to the shot, ... See the shot taking place in your mind, play the options off agains each other. Then chalk up the cue, walk to the table, get down on the shot, take a few practices swings, and stroke the shot. Durring this whole process you mind is so concentrating on the shot, a big distraction could take place in the room you are standing without you even noticing it. It is just you and the shot, nothing else exists, just you and the shot. Stay down on the shot until you see the CB contact the OB, then watch the OB roll off in the chosen direction before even beginning to think about getting up from the shot. Stand erect, take a breath or two, relax and observe the table position, again.