I'm giving these guys lessons for the first time this week. I've given tons of tips and helped out players before but never really gave a full out lesson. I was wondering what things I should concentrate on for a beginner player and include in the lesson. I was definately going to focus on stance, bridge and aiming point. Anything else you guys think I should include?
Giving pool lessons for the first time
- Thread starter salam4
- Start date
salam4 said:
Teach them golf. Then you can charge them 10x more!
Seriously, you have to remember the purpose you serve here (especially if you're charging people). Pool can't be taught but you can guide them a little. You need to give them material to work on. Watch them play. See what shots they have trouble with and give them shots to do that will improve this weakness.
Once again, pool can't be taught. You can't teach someone hand-eye coordination. Some people are going to pick the game up faster than others and some may never get it. Much of it has to do with motivation and even the greatest motivational speaker in the world isn't going to get someone to the poolroom if they don't want to go. All you can do is take someone who is already motivated, already practicing and give them material to work on.
Here's an outline of a four or five hour course in basics. Pick out what they look like they don't know and you feel you can show them. Let them ask questions. http://www.sfbilliards.com/basics.pdfsalam4 said:
salam4 said:
salam4:
I can recommend preparing yourself for PATIENCE. I'm not sure how well you know your new student, but we as instructors many times run into folks from all walks of life, with personalities from extreme ends of the scale. What I'm trying to say is that you should prepare yourself for how your student may possibly receive your "corrections" in his/her stance, bridge, head position, grip, et al. If the student is an absolute, rank beginner, you'll have an easier time than someone who plays pool occasionally. Why? The rank beginner is a blank slate -- very easy to start the correct fundamentals early, and these folks are very eager to learn the correct way. The occasional player, on the other hand, depending on how well you "package" or "couch" your corrections to his/her stance, bridge, grip, head position, aiming, et al. may either take offense (e.g. if you say to him/her, "no, that's a very bad stance"), or else may trigger immediate defense or long explanations why he/she stands/bridges/grips/aims that way, which, unless it's for a medical reason, you'd rather not hear it. Nobody likes to "have their baby called ugly," so I'd recommend concentrating on how you package or couch your delivery. As advanced players, we can all spot bad fundamentals; the trick is pointing it out to the student in a way that doesn't insult/offend/put-on-the-defensive.
I'm sure folks like Scott Lee, Mike Page, Randy G., et al. can offer additional/more-detailed recommendations in this and other regards.
But I hope this is helpful nonetheless!
-Sean
It seems like you've already got a lot of good input.
While I don't know squat about giving lessons and have never taken any myself (something I plan to do), I do get a lot of noobies asking me to help them.
IMHO. First, give them very very minimal basics on stance, bridge and grip (or none at all if they have shot before). Then have them use a stable open bridge.
I start out using the following trick since I'm very good at telling from across the room (if the person is shooting directly at me) where someone is going to put the object ball before they strike the cue ball:
(1) I'll line up the numbered spot on the object ball (use solids to start) so they know where they are supposed to hit it (i.e., line up the spot on the back side of the ball pointing directly at the pocket they want to object ball to go in). And, this is something they can quickly learn to do for themself.
(2) Then I'll stand directly in front of them at the edge of the table while they are shooting and point my hand in the direction I feel that they need to adjust their cue and direct them in lining up their cue so that they will make the (usually simple cut) shot. It's amazing how far off people are at aiming even when you give them a spot on the ball to hit (because they always want to undercut the object ball).
(3) Then, once they have their cue aimed correctly on the cue ball, my hand (with fingers extended like you are going to shake someone's hand) will be in back of the object ball and will be pointed straight at their cue stick and in line with it when I think they are good to go. So, if they see that my hand is not pointed directly at the tip of their cue they know that they need to adjust their aim and cue. Works quite well, gets them to start making balls quickly and they don't get too frustrated missing easy shots all the time.
(4) Next I'll back up a bit, not use my hands and let them line up the shots themselves. And, I'll only give a very slight head nod yes/no when they ask if they have their cue aimed properly and are good to go.
(5) Then, once they have gotten a good feel for how to aim the cue, I would consider using the checklists in the link given above (http://www.sfbilliards.com/basics.pdf) to give additional feedback on overall form and cue motion.
Bottom Line: I like to start out getting noobies to first learn how to aim properly and start knocking lots of balls in the pockets. And, during that process they feel good, trust that you are helping them learn how to aim properly and you get a good idea of what else they need to work on without trying to drum basics into them too quickly (and turning them off because it seems too hard to them to grasp too many things at once).
Nothing like getting them to drop lots of balls into the pockets to get and keep them interested in learning better fundamentals.
While I don't know squat about giving lessons and have never taken any myself (something I plan to do), I do get a lot of noobies asking me to help them.
IMHO. First, give them very very minimal basics on stance, bridge and grip (or none at all if they have shot before). Then have them use a stable open bridge.
I start out using the following trick since I'm very good at telling from across the room (if the person is shooting directly at me) where someone is going to put the object ball before they strike the cue ball:
(1) I'll line up the numbered spot on the object ball (use solids to start) so they know where they are supposed to hit it (i.e., line up the spot on the back side of the ball pointing directly at the pocket they want to object ball to go in). And, this is something they can quickly learn to do for themself.
(2) Then I'll stand directly in front of them at the edge of the table while they are shooting and point my hand in the direction I feel that they need to adjust their cue and direct them in lining up their cue so that they will make the (usually simple cut) shot. It's amazing how far off people are at aiming even when you give them a spot on the ball to hit (because they always want to undercut the object ball).
(3) Then, once they have their cue aimed correctly on the cue ball, my hand (with fingers extended like you are going to shake someone's hand) will be in back of the object ball and will be pointed straight at their cue stick and in line with it when I think they are good to go. So, if they see that my hand is not pointed directly at the tip of their cue they know that they need to adjust their aim and cue. Works quite well, gets them to start making balls quickly and they don't get too frustrated missing easy shots all the time.
(4) Next I'll back up a bit, not use my hands and let them line up the shots themselves. And, I'll only give a very slight head nod yes/no when they ask if they have their cue aimed properly and are good to go.
(5) Then, once they have gotten a good feel for how to aim the cue, I would consider using the checklists in the link given above (http://www.sfbilliards.com/basics.pdf) to give additional feedback on overall form and cue motion.
Bottom Line: I like to start out getting noobies to first learn how to aim properly and start knocking lots of balls in the pockets. And, during that process they feel good, trust that you are helping them learn how to aim properly and you get a good idea of what else they need to work on without trying to drum basics into them too quickly (and turning them off because it seems too hard to them to grasp too many things at once).
Nothing like getting them to drop lots of balls into the pockets to get and keep them interested in learning better fundamentals.
salam4...Too bad you never got that lesson from me. You'd already have your lesson material down pat (plus a video and paperwork to work off of)! 
Grip, bridge and stance are the three main things to initially focus on. The most important thing to remember is that none of those three things are set in stone, and there are many ways to achieve each one. Of the three, grip is probably most important to point out. They MUST let the cue REST in their hand, and resist "grabbing" the cue, as they make the transition from the backswing to the forward stroke. It's not a matter of how they hold on to the cue...it's all about not squeezing the cue, as they strike the CB. Start out having them just shoot object balls into the pocket, with no CB. Use stripes, placed with the stripe vertical, to show whether they are able to strike the ball anywhere near the vertical middle. Teach them to shoot these shots at different speeds...but all with the same light grip. Let them start out with an open hand bridge, and progress to a closed loop bridge, and a rail bridge. Don't make the lesson too long...let them have a little fun too!
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Grip, bridge and stance are the three main things to initially focus on. The most important thing to remember is that none of those three things are set in stone, and there are many ways to achieve each one. Of the three, grip is probably most important to point out. They MUST let the cue REST in their hand, and resist "grabbing" the cue, as they make the transition from the backswing to the forward stroke. It's not a matter of how they hold on to the cue...it's all about not squeezing the cue, as they strike the CB. Start out having them just shoot object balls into the pocket, with no CB. Use stripes, placed with the stripe vertical, to show whether they are able to strike the ball anywhere near the vertical middle. Teach them to shoot these shots at different speeds...but all with the same light grip. Let them start out with an open hand bridge, and progress to a closed loop bridge, and a rail bridge. Don't make the lesson too long...let them have a little fun too!Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
salam4 said:
I've done some teaching on a smaller scale, and what I have found most effective, is to focus on one thing per lesson. (this is generally if I work with someone consistently)
I've tried going over all of the basics in one lesson and what happens is the student starts thinking about too many things and can (and often do) forget some things.
I've tried going over all of the basics in one lesson and what happens is the student starts thinking about too many things and can (and often do) forget some things.
salam4 said:
To add to what you already plan to do I would make certain that each person knows which eye is their dominate eye. The importance of this can not be stressed enough, many people who are not proficient firing a weapon do not know which eye to aim with. It is almost impossible to teach someone the proper way any aiming point if they do not have the proper sight picture. Along with this it is very important to teach them how to find the center of the cue ball accurately.
If you add this to your training technique they will have more than enough to practice for their first lesson.
Good luck, if I can help further please PM me, I will explain exactly how to do this.
Take care