I'm new and looking for the best instruction

S

SFreedman

Registered
I just purchased a new 9 foot table for my billiard room in my new home and would like to know who I can contact for the best instruction. I have many books but can't seem to grasp exactly what to do with the words. I need the visual. Cost is not an option as long as what I am paying for is worth the price. If anyone can help with their opinions or references, it would be most appreciated.

Steve Freedman
 
SFreedman said:
I just purchased a new 9 foot table for my billiard room in my new home and would like to know who I can contact for the best instruction. I have many books but can't seem to grasp exactly what to do with the words. I need the visual. Cost is not an option as long as what I am paying for is worth the price. If anyone can help with their opinions or references, it would be most appreciated.

Steve Freedman
Click to expand...

Where do you live and how many hours do you want ?

If your close , I'll drive there and work with you for a reasonable price .

PM me or call me on my cell (330) 518-7550
 
SFreedman said:
I just purchased a new 9 foot table for my billiard room in my new home and would like to know who I can contact for the best instruction. I have many books but can't seem to grasp exactly what to do with the words. I need the visual. Cost is not an option as long as what I am paying for is worth the price. If anyone can help with their opinions or references, it would be most appreciated.

Steve Freedman
Click to expand...

I personally would purchase Robert Byrnes Instructional Tapes. Volumes I & II, if you can Master 90% of what he teaches, you will be 90% better than most players. BEST 40 Clams I ever Spent on Tapes...
 
Pool School

There are many choices out there and what I did was attend the Cue-Tech Pool school. I caught up with a class when they came locally to my home on one of their road classes. It was by far the best thing for my game and the best part is that I can retake the same class to brush up on my game for no additional charge.
During my session, there were 5 instructors available to the 10 students. Each taking turns watching and evaluating as you worked on a exercise session.
The best part is the daily evaluation of your stroke on video which you get to see. They take everything apart and show you what is correct or incorrect with stance, grip, bridge distance, stroke, etc.
So you get to see the progress or lack of progress.
Now there are many other schools out there and I am sure you can find one close enough to home to give it a try but look at the following links to Cue-Tech:
http://www.poolschool.com/
http://www.poolschool.info/

Enjoy the game!
 
alpine9430 said:
There are many choices out there and what I did was attend the Cue-Tech Pool school. I caught up with a class when they came locally to my home on one of their road classes. It was by far the best thing for my game and the best part is that I can retake the same class to brush up on my game for no additional charge.
During my session, there were 5 instructors available to the 10 students. Each taking turns watching and evaluating as you worked on a exercise session.
The best part is the daily evaluation of your stroke on video which you get to see. They take everything apart and show you what is correct or incorrect with stance, grip, bridge distance, stroke, etc.
So you get to see the progress or lack of progress.
Now there are many other schools out there and I am sure you can find one close enough to home to give it a try but look at the following links to Cue-Tech:
http://www.poolschool.com/
http://www.poolschool.info/

Enjoy the game!
Click to expand...

I think Shawn who offered above wouldn't be a bad option for one.
As far as "Pool School" goes ... I would think if cost is no problem Randy could be contacted and a one on one pool school arranged and one on one it probably wouldn't take 3 days. Randy, you listening?
The best instructor is pretty tough to identify, the best for me might not be the best for you. Depending upon where you live any number of pros may be available. Though a pro isn't always the best choice, Bob Cousy sucked as a basketball coach.
 
Where you are located would really help, but if your willing to travel then I guess it doesnt matter. RangyG is recommended by pretty much everyone that attends his school. Jerry Breiseth is considered by many as one of the best, along with Mark Wilson. Tony Robles is not only a great player but considered a top instructor as well. And there are countless others whos names simply arent as well known but can really get you off on the right foot.

As mentioned earlier, dont assume because someone plays pro level pool that they are the best teacher. There is a difference between teaching and playing, and both have to be studied and learned to be done well.
 
While I have taken lessons from 3 instructors in the 2 years I've been playing, by far THE BEST money I've spent so far on instruction came neither from books, of which I have several, nor from actual lessons, but from two tapes from Bert Kinister. While Bert has more than 50 tapes available, and trained Niels Feijen, I've been told by those who have his tapes that a good number of them aren't up to the standard he set with his famous "60 Minute Workout for 9-Ball". That tape has helped my game more than any other instruction or reading I've experienced. The second tape from Bert that is absolutely essential in my opinion is his "Advanced Fundamentals" tape, where he shows you how to find YOUR perfect skeletal alignment. That is absolutely fundamental, and no, it's not an exact 45 degree thing, or 33 degrees, or any degrees you want, but his tape will help you find your perfect alignment based on your body shape. Sounds unusual, but believe me, it works...

Those two tapes are fantastic...

Cheers,

Flex
 
SFreedman said:
I just purchased a new 9 foot table for my billiard room in my new home and would like to know who I can contact for the best instruction. I have many books but can't seem to grasp exactly what to do with the words. I need the visual. Cost is not an option as long as what I am paying for is worth the price. If anyone can help with their opinions or references, it would be most appreciated.

Steve Freedman
Click to expand...

Steve, maybe you could post the local area where you live. There are lots of good BCA Instructors, all across the country. You can find that list on the BCA website. Pool Schools are a great way to learn in a group, "One on One" is even better.

After you have gotten a grasp of your game, the books & videos will be more explanatory.

Glad to hear that you are looking forward to playing the game of Pocket Billiards, getting yourself a coach is better than 10 years of trial & error training via osmosis.
 
I would also highly reccommend talking to Tom Simpson, Master BCA Instructor. I attended his 3 day clinic, last month and it was fabulous. I have played for 20+ years and I still learned a lot!! He really breaks it down and is a great communicator. http://poolclinics.com/

Joe Koontz
 
three (3) things if you dont want to drive or pay for lessons. these have pretty much been mentioned before.

1) The Bob Byrne Tapes, Volume I and Volume II
2) Bert Kinister Tapes, 60 Minute Workout For 9/8 Ball and the Advanced Workout tape
3) Pocket Reducers

i think i will start a seperate thread on Pocket Reducers.

DCP
 
DVD's for Instruction to start?

Hal said:
I sent you a PM about some DVDs that I currently have.
Click to expand...
I have the Danny Basavich 4 DVD set:
1. The 12 shots you must have in 9ball
2. Patterns and positon play
3. Two way shots, safeties, and kicks
4. Gambling secrets

I also have the Billiard Sanctuary 10 DVD set

I also have 20 Bert Kinister instructional DVDs

I also have the Pro Skill Drills DVD.

Let me know if you're interested.

Received information about DVD's listed above. Does anyone have any information on which ones to purchase that would be the best for me to start with? Thanks
 
Well, if I had unlimited funds, I would search out Mike Sigel. Only because he seems so smooth in his tapes. Jerry Brieseth too. They both have the soothing voice to communicate with the student. And of course the famous one - Larry Guninger. The Monk or Bert Kinnester would also be good.

Ah hell, they all are good and no matter who you get you will learn and be ahead of the game.

Just be prepared to spend thousands upon thousands of hours at the practice table trying to perfect what they teach you. There is no magic bullet. It takes a lot of hard work on your part. Unless of course if you are a "natural".

Grady Matthews and also Fast Larry say that pool doesn't become easy until you sink a million balls and I have learned that to be true. It does become easy, simple and fun. And don't even think of playing pro until you sink two million balls. (Out of my reach) Oh, that's on the practice table and doesn't include league play or tournament play.

Jake
 
JoeyA said:
I don't know if Mark taught his son, "John Baracks" (sp?) but if he did, he taught him well. That guy can play. Watching him in the big ring game in Mobile, AL this weekend was worth the trip.
JoeyA
Click to expand...

It's James (or Jamie) Baraks.

mike page
fargo
 
Instruction

Usually every medium or large city has people qualified
to give instruction, you have to ask around and search
it out.

The other option is to attend a Pool school in your state,
or a neighboring state, unless you can afford to fly somewhere
specifically to attend a chosen Pool school.

Where do you live?
 
SFreedman said:
I just purchased a new 9 foot table for my billiard room in my new home and would like to know who I can contact for the best instruction. I have many books but can't seem to grasp exactly what to do with the words. I need the visual. Cost is not an option as long as what I am paying for is worth the price. If anyone can help with their opinions or references, it would be most appreciated.

Steve Freedman
Click to expand...

I'm not sure "the best" instruction is what you should be looking for. I'd focus on finding solid, quality instruction that is convenient to you.

You probably do not keep your body still enough.
You probably are not low enough.
You probably drop your elbow more than necessary.
You probably don't stay down well enough after the shot.
You probably don't follow through enough.
You probably don't have as solid a bridge as you should.
You probably don't chalk enough and don't check the tip after you chalk.
You probably don't have a solid, consistent pre-shot routine.
etc..

A bad instructor won't recognize these things but instead will focus on other nonsense.

A mediocre instructor will recognize these things but may try to fix too much at once or may not recognize which of the myriad of problems are the most fundamental.

A quality instructor will recognize the problems, convince you of their importance, know which ones should be fixed first and how they should best be fixed based upon who *you* are and what you best respond to.

There are many quality instructors. As others have said, if you say where you are, people may have suggestions.

mike page
fargo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top