How to find a good Pool instructor?

Hey Bob?

By any chance do you know if Tom Rossman still gives lessons? I thought he quit doing individualized instruction years ago. He's only about 90 minutes from me and his wife's family is about 30 miles away.

r/DCP
 
The PBIA is an organization of pool instructors. The instructors are certified at four different levels, with increasing instructional ability at each level. There is a search function on the PBIA website.

This…. Pick an instructor and research them
 
Flashback time for me; I thought I had found the person to pay for lessons. I thought I was ready for one pocket lessons and had approached Backward Jan regarding lessons. I had been donating about 20 a visit and trying to learn through osmosis or observation. 🤷‍♂️ His response to my enquiring about one pocket lessons, surprised me. His reply was, "I will give you lessons under one condition. We will go back to the basics." Accepting that condition was one of the best decisions I have made. And uh oh yeah after 6 weeks at one hour lessons once a week, we got to one pocket shots, strategies and moves. 🤷‍♂️
Taking the time to rebuild from the ground up was worth the investment. I went from B player (where I was stalled in improving) to Master player rating in BCAPL. 🤷‍♂️ It didn't happen overnight. I took each one hour weekly lesson and focused on it during my daily one hour practice.
As a recreational player I play to have fun. It's easier to have fun when winning. 🤷‍♂️
 
Hey Bob?

By any chance do you know if Tom Rossman still gives lessons? I thought he quit doing individualized instruction years ago. He's only about 90 minutes from me and his wife's family is about 30 miles away.

r/DCP
I have the impression he is busy with tournaments and artistic pool and not teaching much, but the website should have his contact info.
 
Well the one instructor who has great FREE Medicine IMHO is Dr. Dave, he share so much info on his U-Tube platform, and all one need do to master is something most people hate. Practice. Practice Practice.


It amazes me so many people play Pool really bad in 2025 with all the great info available in 2025 like Videos, DVD's, UTube, and Books, like 99 Critical Shots, that I have read cover to cover many times.


JMHO
 
under one condition
Oh yeah there was another condition added at my willing to proceed with lessons. The second condition was No Gambling while in lessons. I had been balancing my gambling between weaker and stronger players for a zero balance so that was no problem. At the completion of 6 weeks at 20 per, I started averaging +250 a week playing tournaments and ring games with occasional heads up. 🤷‍♂️
 
... It amazes me so many people play Pool really bad in 2025 with all the great info available ...
There are lots of players who prefer to figure out everything on their own. It can be fun to reinvent the wheel. It just takes a lot longer.
 
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There are lots of players who prefer to figure out everything on their own. It can be fun to reinvent the wheel. It just takes a lot longer.
I built my first pool table using plans in Popular Mechanics magazine. I started building my pool game using a pamphlet authored by Willie Mosconi. The table build was much quicker than the game build. 🤷‍♂️
The input from a qualified instructor is Huge. My first hint at the instructor qualifications would be, does he or she want to Go Back to the Basics?
 
I have the impression he is busy with tournaments and artistic pool and not teaching much, but the website should have his contact info.
Since he's booked at many major yearly events, a student could maybe get a lesson when he's there, call em.
 
There are lots of players who prefer to figure out everything on their own. It can be fun to reinvent the wheel. It just takes a lot longer.

Well being honest when. I first started playing no one told you or gave you any how too. Want to be better you watched, learned, and today info is all over place low cost or free. I would rather buy some good Cigars, then spend the same amount on a Pool Lession. we do what we like with money, its about choices.
 
I don’t think I have ever been in a pool room anywhere in the country where there haven’t been at least a couple of high speed players who would be worth asking for instruction — who play well and aren’t complete Neanderthals.

Depending on your level you can get basic advice to much more esoteric insights for the price of table time, lunch, a couple of drinks, or some cheap games.

You can ask some basic questions like: can you give me any tips to improve my mechanics; how do you shoot this shot; what is the right shot in this situation; and so on. Be nice, respectful, and show a modicum of gratitude.

Lou Figueroa
 
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You have to pay to play.

There is a reason why some hate the measle ball. They don't want you to learn by watching. You can learn a lot watching the cue ball today when you couldn't in the past.

The Filipino stroke is an unorthodox method to not tip their shot. They are disguising or being deceptive on what they are doing.

We've come a long way in pool. These guys don't need to be deceptive with their stroke with the measle ball. We can all see.

I always play with the blank balls during money games. Especially if you're giving weight to a real low level player. Even I've been relying on the measle ball. It's an indicator of how to control my speed and spin rate. It's a visual aid.
 
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I don’t think I have ever been in a pool room anywhere in the country where there haven’t been at least a couple of high speed players who would be worth asking for instruction — who play well and aren’t complete Neanderthals.

Depending on your level you can get basic advice to much more esoteric insights for the price of table time, lunch, a couple of drinks, or some cheap games.

You can ask some basic questions like: can you give me any tips to improve my mechanics; how do you shoot this shot; what is the right shot in this situation; and so on. Be nice, respectful, and show a modicum of gratitude.

Lou Figueroa

Well Lou that might be true today, not so in 1950's everything was a secret, you only way to learn was close watching. Believe it or not in 1950's every Boy in my elementary school had a pocket knife in pocket. Try that in 2025, and SWAT will show up to take cared of situation.
 
anywhere in the country where there haven’t been at least a couple of high speed players who would be worth asking for instruction —
That gets a Tea He from Me. 😉
It definitely requires a Dis Claim Here er uh disclaimer.
I cruised the Northwet, (well as far south as Sacramento ;) and well uh .headscratch, teaching is a Skill. Playing well does not equal teaching well. I have had close encounters with "high speed " players. Some were very educational
My first uh paid lessons, well a one dollar 8 ball game with Gunther in Tacoma. We had established a comrades relationship. Gunther says, "you know we don't have to play for a dollar." My reply was, "Oh I insist. I pay for my lessons." 🤷‍♂️ That was long ago and far away. 😉
So with high speed players.....consider the source. Taking responsibility for My education involves "the source". .....Has anyone noticed Jason Shaw is spreading knowledge.
Of course I can't resist. He looks at whitey when he strikes it. 🤷‍♂️ 😉
 
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The Miz signed it to my wife. 🤔 I had just beat him with a break and run in our weekly 8 ball. Pretty sure she bought it while he gave us a lesson at the dart board. 3 in a bed was his first inning. 🤷‍♂️
 
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