How many new pool players have you helped at your pool hall?

[JoeyA]

"Lemme hold a hundred." It's for expenses.

Sorry. Yes I have helped many, too many to count.

I've experienced the different ways people react to advice and it doesn't bother me if someone after asking for advice, decides that they already know what you are trying to teach them. I just ask them if they are ready to gamble. No, not really. I don't like barbecued spring lamb.

 

[bflgvs]

Fundamentals Over Rated...LOL

Zero.

But thats because i have only been playing for 2 years so for me to try to teach someone would be irresponsible

I need the help!

Kuddos! My step daughter is an APA SL3 and has bragged about giving advice/lessons...OMG. She looks like a ballerina playing; a long swoosh as she comes up with her stroke. She thinks that people make to much of fundamentals...LMAO. She has asked me for help; I showed her something and told her to practice a few drills, but she really dosen't pay attention and just goes on. NO MAS!!!!!

But back to the OP. I will NOT offer advice to anyone at the 'OPH'! If somebody comes up to me and asks for a little help then I'll try to help, this even includes Wifey. This also applies to the local tournaments and the local room. Like this week alone I have advised a few people(even to include Wifey).

I have never stopped to count the number of people that I have helped over the years. But it has been a bunch. Much of the advice is to master the fundamental/mechanics/basics!!!!!!!:thumbup:


Gerry S.

 

[ShootingArts]

one of those things

I play with any beginner or banger that asks. Something I feel I owe to the people that helped me and the game. Often the people I play are open to a suggestion or two.

I played out of Shoppers Pool Hall for years. It went through several managers and finally a new owner in the time I played there. The new owner often came out and helped an absolute banger a little, I think mostly in defense of his equipment. I didn't see him helping more advanced players.

After a few months he started coming from behind the counter and showing me one or two things most trips I made to the pool hall. Being young and dumb and full of pride I resented it, seemed like he was lumping me in with the absolute bangers he helped. He caught an angry look I shot at him one day and never gave me another bit of advice. However he came to my table pretty often "helping" the other player. Often it was advice that we both knew the other player was not nearly as advanced as he needed to be to use the advice. Later that day I would use the advice Jesse had given and shoot a glance over to the counter. Without fail Jesse was watching and grinning.

When I help someone else I'm doing it for the game and for a few other reasons but mostly I'm paying it forward for Jesse.

Hu

 

[michael4]

However he came to my table pretty often "helping" the other player. Often it was advice that we both knew the other player was not nearly as advanced as he needed to be to use the advice. Later that day I would use the advice Jesse had given and shoot a glance over to the counter. Without fail Jesse was watching and grinning.
Hu

Very smooth of Jesse to "talk" to the other player, as a way to help you.

 

[ShootingArts]

a good guy

Very smooth of Jesse to "talk" to the other player, as a way to help you.

Jesse rated as one of the really good guys in my book. Most people would have quit trying to help me, he found a way to do it while protecting my pride. Jesse also had a youth pool hall in a nearby town. Definitely not a money maker so Jesse did it either for pool, helping youngsters, or both.

Hu

 

[Banks]

I play with any beginner or banger that asks. Something I feel I owe to the people that helped me and the game. Often the people I play are open to a suggestion or two.

What he said. I play out of a bar, so most of the people in there are just playing around to have fun. Every once in a while, one of them will have a question about rules or how to make a certain shot. Other than that, most of the people I normally play with are APA players(ranging from about a 2 or 3 up to a 7). When I started, I was given some tips by other players that were probably 5s or 6s. Even though their execution wasn't all there, it was the knowledge that I was more interested in. I've had experiences before in different things where the teacher knew tons, but didn't have the ability to execute that well.

I'll help out or play with anybody that's got the time and interest. Mostly, I prefer to focus on the simple things that aren't as well known, like playing naturally for leave instead of forcing the CB. Also, I give plenty of banking help(a simple, but pretty effective, kicking method). For beginners, I try to concentrate on them playing softer shots so they can pay attention to what happens(shape, etc). If they hit the ball hard, who knows what's going to happen and where everything is going to end up.

I even ask those same people, no matter how poorly they play, to let me know if they see anything that they think I may be doing wrong. When you do something so much, it can be hard to see the problems yourself.

As for giving away any good tips or tricks.. if that makes the person better, it gives me a better opponent to practice against. Either way, I should be able to keep at least a step ahead. I practice giving a 9b 7 a 1 s/l spot, give or take another depending on how the matches are going. That forces me to concentrate. It gives him a stronger and serious opponent. Come league time, we're both ready.

 

[WoodyJ]

I'm old school in that I've never had a lesson and believe that people should learn by watching better players play and absorbing all they can (like I did as a kid). As such, I don't offer to help people because as others have said it tends to upset them and I'm no teacher.

That said, I often get people asking me to help them after tournament and league play. It often goes as follows:

Women: Usually they need help with fundamentals. Typically they stand with their feet and knees too close together and bend and twist their legs to get down low enough (and look like they would fall over if you poked them lightly with one finger). And, my usual first response is, "Don't take this the wrong way but you need to spread your legs."

Often, they say that's the way I shoot! And, I say O.K. have fun.

If they take my advice to heart and really want to learn, then we can work on real stuff (preshot routine, strategy, ...) once they learn a solid stance.

Men: They usually want advice on strategy and more often than not how to play safties. Typically, on one of their shots (often their last) they notice me with a grin on my face probably because I saw them taking a foolish shot.:grin-devilish: After the game they often ask if I would have played a safety instead of going for it like they did (and lost). I'll say yep, and if they ask nicely I show them what I would have done.

Beyond that I'll offer to lend them some of my books (Ray Martin 99 Critical Shots, Capelle, 8-ball Bible, ...) one at a time and get together to practice some strategy moves with them after they've read up. Usually they decline as they are not willing to put in the work and just want a quick fix (in which case they never understand why they keep making the same dumb mistakes year after year).

The time that I laughed the hardest inside to myself was when I overheard the same person who had asked me for help the week before get the following advice from someone else: "Watch what Woody does -- he chalks before every shot, has the same solid pre-shot routine for every shot (both hard and easy) and he thinks about both offense and defense". Same advice I gave them and it just went in one ear and out the other like the week before (i.e., not a quick fix and required them changing their routine or lack thereof).