Well, I was very fortunate this week to attend a 2 day pool school here in Indy. It was sort of an abbreviated rehearsal for the instructors of the Black Widow Experience. It was 2 days of instruction with Jeanette Lee, George Breedlove, Helena Thornfeldt, Jerry Briesath, and Mark Wilson (Monica Webb was in and out). There were 13 students including our own Rackin' Zack and Woody_968. The school just confirmed all of the notions I have held about pool instruction. Here were the high points:
The instruction was top notch. I have always felt that the instruction of expert teachers (like Mark and Jerry) is ABSOLUTELY compatible with the teaching of top players. The top players know how to do it, the teachers know how to get YOU to do it.
Just the schmoozing with the pro's was worth the entire cost of the lessons (no, I'm not telling). The stories at lunch and dinner were fabulous; and there were plenty of really surprising stories about the WPBA behind the scenes.
I've said before: if you can't run 100, you should be running to Mark or Jerry.
George Breedlove is not human. After some of his famous one-handed, jacked up, behind the back (and between the legs) wing shots and jump shots he agreed to shoot 2 break shots for the double radar guns. His tournament break is about 26 miles per hour, but his fastest in the past was 34 mph (he believes Hillbilly and Bustamante have reached 35). His first try was 34 mph. His second try was 37 mph. Un-frickin-believeable!! He made no balls on either break (that's why he breaks at 26 during tournaments). I am not permitted to mention any demonstration of unethical racking secrets - you'll have to get Ceebee's book I guess.
I learned more about kicking at balls in 10 minutes with Jerry B. than I learned kicking in 15 balls a day for a year.
Rackin'Zack is a great guy, I'm voting for him as Sarah R.'s new flame. I believe he may have reached 31 mph on the radar gun; he'll have to confirm.
Woody_968 has a fabulous stroke - looks like Troy Frank's stroke. If he doesn't run a hundred soon he should be horsewhipped.
I was very much impressed with the great enthusiasm and love for the game exhibited by Helena, Jeanette, Mark, and Jerry. It was INFECTIOUS.
I cannot recommend the program highly enough. Anyone who has a chance (and enough extra cash) to attend the Black Widow Experience or a local lesson with these pro's will REALLY enjoy it. You might even learn a little something about pool, I know I did. End of unpaid, unsolicited, totally biased advertisement.
The instruction was top notch. I have always felt that the instruction of expert teachers (like Mark and Jerry) is ABSOLUTELY compatible with the teaching of top players. The top players know how to do it, the teachers know how to get YOU to do it.
Just the schmoozing with the pro's was worth the entire cost of the lessons (no, I'm not telling). The stories at lunch and dinner were fabulous; and there were plenty of really surprising stories about the WPBA behind the scenes.
I've said before: if you can't run 100, you should be running to Mark or Jerry.
George Breedlove is not human. After some of his famous one-handed, jacked up, behind the back (and between the legs) wing shots and jump shots he agreed to shoot 2 break shots for the double radar guns. His tournament break is about 26 miles per hour, but his fastest in the past was 34 mph (he believes Hillbilly and Bustamante have reached 35). His first try was 34 mph. His second try was 37 mph. Un-frickin-believeable!! He made no balls on either break (that's why he breaks at 26 during tournaments). I am not permitted to mention any demonstration of unethical racking secrets - you'll have to get Ceebee's book I guess.
I learned more about kicking at balls in 10 minutes with Jerry B. than I learned kicking in 15 balls a day for a year.
Rackin'Zack is a great guy, I'm voting for him as Sarah R.'s new flame. I believe he may have reached 31 mph on the radar gun; he'll have to confirm.
Woody_968 has a fabulous stroke - looks like Troy Frank's stroke. If he doesn't run a hundred soon he should be horsewhipped.
I was very much impressed with the great enthusiasm and love for the game exhibited by Helena, Jeanette, Mark, and Jerry. It was INFECTIOUS.
I cannot recommend the program highly enough. Anyone who has a chance (and enough extra cash) to attend the Black Widow Experience or a local lesson with these pro's will REALLY enjoy it. You might even learn a little something about pool, I know I did. End of unpaid, unsolicited, totally biased advertisement.
Last edited:
