Build it and they will come: FREE POOL LESSONS!

[JAM]

Well, here's a new twist. In Tampa, Florida, in order to drum up more business and keep the establishment alive and well, this billiards club is offering free pool lessons. That's right: FREE POOL LESSONS!

Since forming over 30 years ago, the Billiards Club has been open to players and members of all skill levels, from those who don't know a bank shot from a bank check, to those who can clear a table of the balls in one turn.

Anthony Agnello, 51, club vice-president, said the lessons have been a good way to get interest in the club, and that's been the goal. An avid player since he was five in Springfield, Va., he said like any sport or hobby, folks lose interest if they never learn the beginning skills and move up.

At a recent Thursday afternoon class, one patron met with Billiards Club President Art Erickson for a lesson. On a pool table, Erickson spent an hour helping him get a grip on some basic shots and fine-tune more difficult ones.

"There are two basic holds: a 'V' or a loop," Erickson told Greenstein, showing him how to hold the cue. "It's whatever is the most comfortable to you. The thing is you have to develop good habits."

"We want to see whether they really want to play pool or not. This gives them the chance to putz around on these tables and see if they like it," said Erickson, a retired electronics technician.

The beginners' lessons start with an overview of the club and the club room, which has six, eight-foot tables, a 10-foot pocket-less carom table for games such as straight rail and balkline, a 10-foot snooker table and one bumper pool table.

"Our goal is to get people interested in the game by giving them the basics," he said. "We want people to be interested in pool and then get them interested in joining the club."

The Billiard Club is open to all Community Association members and guests and currently has 161 members. An annual $10 fee is used for table and equipment maintenance. Members can use the club 24 hours a day.

During the lesson, Erickson showed Greenstein how to properly chalk and hold the cue; make bank and cushion shots; "sight" and put "spin" on the cue ball; rack the balls; how to make soft and strong strokes; and position the ball for future shots.

"When you practice, set up shots you want to practice, otherwise, you'll just wear yourself out," he said. "Again, watch the experienced players play."

This is an interesting offer, as well as a good business strategy, to get people interested in playing pool. I like this idea. Some pool rooms who have "house pros" could offer something like this once a week. It might increase business, but most importantly, it will get more people out there hitting balls. I enjoyed this article and hope you do, too! :smile:

Source: Billiards Club Offers Free Pool Tips [Retrieved 9 July 2011]

Sun City Center Billiards Club member Arnold Greenstein, left, practiced a pool shot as club President Art Erickson watched.

 

[GoldCrown]

It's good business. It's smart.

 

[stumpie71]

Great idea. One day a week have free lessons for a couple of hours.

 

[JAM]

I agree. In fact, pool is an excellent social mechanism. Too many people nowadays communicate on the social network sites, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, et cetera, to include those texting iPhones, Droids, BlackBerrys, and there is not much personal interaction anymore in our world with all this technology.

With pool, you speak to your opponent. You communicate. You socialize. It's a way to get out of the house, away from the computer, and meet people. That's what is so cool about pool when you shoot recreationally is the social aspect of it.

With free lessons, people are inclined to check it out. If the teacher is charismatic and can actually teach, the students, whether new to the game or brushing up on their skills, people will want to keep coming back. This also offers the potential to sell products down the road, e.g., gloves, case, apron, scraper, production cue, custom cue, jump cue, break cue, et cetera.

I love this idea to keep business booming. If pool rooms got their house pros to give lessons two hours a week, well, I can guarantee you that it will draw interest which may translate into new business.

 

[Quesports]

This is exactly the type of marketing that billiard establishments need to employ. I have been attempting to convince the owner of a place I play to do the same and to run one dedicated TV with training videos as well. There are a lot of ways business can be generated that the billiard industry needs to start using. Another per peeve of mine is the lack of desrie to get the younger players involved. Where do they think pool is going if so few new players come along??? The lack of marketing in pool is astonishing and if the owners of billard parlors don't start soon they will be gone. It will be very interesting to see what happens to pool in the next twenty years...
JMO.

 

[mantis99]

Fantastic. Part of the problem with pool is that it is very frustrating at first. Give people the tools to succeed and they may keep coming back. Great idea.

Now I just need someone to give free lessons in my area. Ha Ha.

 

[peteypooldude]

I think more room owners should follow this idea. It is a win win for both :thumbup:

 

[FranCrimi]

It's not a new concept but I'm glad to see it's being revived. I found it to be somewhat successful. Back in the early 90s I ran a free clinic at Chelsea Billiards lower level on Monday nights. I would have one or two volunteers on hand to assist me in exchange for free practice time for the week. The clinic's reputation started to grow and one day, 50 people showed up, so I ran upstairs and recruited 10 of the local hustlers, including Ginky. I remember some of them were Spanish Eddie, Gypsy, Anton, Smitty ---I brought them all downstairs and set them against the wall like a lineup.

I told the group that they were about to get pool lessons from genuine pool hustlers and told them to hang on to their wallets. The crowd loved it and it started a trend. After that, we were known as the pool room where you could come and get free help from a bona fide pool hustler. I wish I photographed it. Guys in suits and ties, women dressed straight from work, all learning from the local money players. It was the coolest thing.

 

[JAM]

It's not a new concept but I'm glad to see it's being revived. I found it to be somewhat successful. Back in the early 90s I ran a free clinic at Chelsea Billiards lower level on Monday nights. I would have one or two volunteers on hand to assist me in exchange for free practice time for the week. The clinic's reputation started to grow and one day, 50 people showed up, so I ran upstairs and recruited 10 of the local hustlers, including Ginky. I remember some of them were Spanish Eddie, Gypsy, Anton, Smitty ---I brought them all downstairs and set them against the wall like a lineup.

I told the group that they were about to get pool lessons from genuine pool hustlers and told them to hang on to their wallets. The crowd loved it and it started a trend. After that, we were known as the pool room where you could come and get free help from a bona fide pool hustler. I wish I photographed it. Guys in suits and ties, women dressed straight from work, all learning from the local money players. It was the coolest thing.

Wow! That is cool. I would have loved to have seen that motley crew. I'll bet the crowd loved it. Pool could use a little more of that give-and-take with the experienced players and the newbies.

I miss seeing Spanish Eddie. He's a good friend! :smile:

 

[JAM]

...so I ran upstairs and recruited 10 of the local hustlers, including Ginky. I remember some of them were Spanish Eddie, Gypsy, Anton, Smitty ---I brought them all downstairs and set them against the wall like a lineup...It was the coolest thing.

Gotta insert a pic of Gypsy and Frankie. It's always a pleasure running into these guys on the road. They're a lot of fun! That break of Gypsy's should be patented!