If you are an A B or C player

Pro Players read this........

Twenty Bucks that's too much.

Play a Old Legend.

They are every where, they could use the money!
They may have lost their skills but not their knowledge.
They don't have the smart ass attitude they use to have.
They treat you good now.

They have great stories to tell too.

Wish it wasn't this way...... :frown::(
 
I'd gladly pay 20 bucks for the chance. I'd pay 50 bucks if the better player spent 20-30 minutes after the match to critique my play and offer a couple tips.
 
Kind of how I got started with lessons.

Would you pay not bet, pay $20 total to play an open or pro level player for 2-3hrs once per week, table time is covered.
I would do it but would expect to pay the time and would not expect more than 1 hour for $20.

When I was probably at C level, I would play a Road Player for $3 a game nine ball once per week. My goal was to see how long I could last for the $21 I had budgeted. Usually around an hour. I also knew he was stalling so could no longer use the time as a measure of improvemnt. So I just asked him "Say how about instead of me playing till I loose $20 how about if I just pay you $20 for a lesson?" I knew he was a one pocket player and wanted to learn some one pocket. I was expecting to learn shots and strategy. His answer to me clued me in that he really knew how to give lessons and I had gotten lucky. He said "Sure, but on one condition. That condition is we go back and start with the basics."
 
In a single word.........HELL YES.

I'd gladly pay $20 for a couple of hours to play ANY pro I've never played before, just to say I had.

Now, after I've been at the table with them once (satisfying my urge to regale my friends with the tale).......then I'd want to have some serious critique of my play, suggestions and questions answered for any encounters after that.

And if I get those critiques, etc., I'd do it as often as I could afford it.

As JoeyA pondered earlier........what do you have in mind, Joe?
 
The pro could earn more money making sandwiches at Subway.

I'd pay $40-50 for one hour playing one of my favorite pros, just to say I'd done it. "Yeah, I had this same shot in my match with Efren...":grin-square:

I wouldn't expect it to be a "lesson" (in anything except humility) because the pro might not be a good instructor.
 
yes

This is something I would definitely take advantage of as long as the pro didn't act like it was a chore to do so.
 
With most of the previously stated conditions, I would do this as often as possible. Conditions recap: friendly player, knowledge exchange / critique of play

I don't mind if its not a full-on lesson, but unless you're bringing an absolute top pro I don't feel the need to pay any amount for the bragging rights associated with getting beat.
 
Made it myself in the 80 s/90 s.
Also in 3c i played with a worldchampion for a few bucks. I got a small handicap....without every having a real chance. But i learnt so much from him- best investment ever made. Ton s of knowledge over 3-4 months. I was hungry for the day we played everytime again :-)
 
Sounds like a sort of compromise between full lessons (maybe a bit dull to the pro) and simply gambling with him for very cheap (maybe a bit dull to the player if he can't win).

I guess for 20 bucks, you get a little instruction, and the pro gets a little practice/fun.

I gotta say though, I think a lot of guys have this magical thinking about pros, as if being in the same room with them causes some pro pixie dust to rub off and improve your game. They almost act like they'd jump at the chance to pay even if they didn't get a single pointer.

But how does that help anything? There's no bet or tournament so you aren't learning how to play under pressure. You get to watch what he does, but you can watch what TWO pros do in a youtube match for free. And you get to play a little, but you can play a little with other people or alone or just the nearest better shooter. Honestly when you're at the table it should be irrelevant who the guy in the chair is.

So, my answer is... maybe, but only if I get that Q&A session after the rack.
Or preferably, I can stop and ask anytime in the middle of the game "what would you do here?"
That part alone is what I would pay for.
 
For $20, I would do it in a heartbeat. The biggest thing you'll learn is the true penalty of a mistake (miss, poor safe, scratch, etc).


Eric
 
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