I think it does have some bearing, but I know some instructors that teach at an exceptionally high level but their playing ability is not at the professional level. Can they teach? It depends who it is - the ones I know of that post on this forum are some of the most respected instructors in the world.
I think that requiring the instructor to be pro level or above is a little outrageous - I've heard some say that their instructor needs to be a pro - I find that kind of silly - its the same as asking the mechanic at the muffler shop if he's ever raced in the Daytona 500. As long as he can fix my car, I could care less about his driving record. Some of the best playing advice I received was from Hal Mix. Go to your local pool hall and see how many people had ever heard of him.
My speed? I've been playing for over 35 years - professionally (sporadically) since I was 16 years old. My high run in straight pool is 212 balls. I have been teaching players since the late 1980's, and I have coached players from league players to professional players. I still play in tournaments and I've yet to hear anybody say that I was an easy match. I don't know how that relates over to "speed", but some days I can run 100's and some days I struggle just like everybody else. Most of what I teach is what I was taught by Cisero Murphy, Hal Mix, Gene Nagy, Jack Colavita, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, and Cowboy Jimmy Moore... not exactly your typical APA league night know-it-alls... all of them were good teachers and great players, however I learned a lot from people nobody had ever heard of either.
I do have a lot of knowledge to pass along - professional playing experience - and good insight into the psychology of competition - in fact the mental game is my area of expertise. If you need your stroke fixed - go see Scott or Randy - if you want your attitude fixed, or if you want to combat choking, I'm the guy.
Not every instructor is for every student. I don't care what level they play - they can have all the knowledge in the universe - if they cannot communicate that information effectively to where you can learn it and apply it - his services will be a waste of your time and money.
My advice - find someone that can teach the game well. Find someone that is just as excited to teach as you are to learn - I know guys that just go through the motions - I have students like that too... find someone you get along with and ask a lot of questions before giving them your game - they need to know how to identify weak spots in your game and apply remedies that will improve your skill.
Relax, and remember that a student needs to be hungry for knowledge - and they must respect the teacher and the knowledge that the teacher is passing along. If you do not have respect for that, maybe you're not ready to learn. I don't say that to ruffle your feathers, I say that because sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we get our ego and pride out of the way so that our minds will open up and be ready for learning. Deep down we are all like that on some level.
I think that requiring the instructor to be pro level or above is a little outrageous - I've heard some say that their instructor needs to be a pro - I find that kind of silly - its the same as asking the mechanic at the muffler shop if he's ever raced in the Daytona 500. As long as he can fix my car, I could care less about his driving record. Some of the best playing advice I received was from Hal Mix. Go to your local pool hall and see how many people had ever heard of him.
My speed? I've been playing for over 35 years - professionally (sporadically) since I was 16 years old. My high run in straight pool is 212 balls. I have been teaching players since the late 1980's, and I have coached players from league players to professional players. I still play in tournaments and I've yet to hear anybody say that I was an easy match. I don't know how that relates over to "speed", but some days I can run 100's and some days I struggle just like everybody else. Most of what I teach is what I was taught by Cisero Murphy, Hal Mix, Gene Nagy, Jack Colavita, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, and Cowboy Jimmy Moore... not exactly your typical APA league night know-it-alls... all of them were good teachers and great players, however I learned a lot from people nobody had ever heard of either.
I do have a lot of knowledge to pass along - professional playing experience - and good insight into the psychology of competition - in fact the mental game is my area of expertise. If you need your stroke fixed - go see Scott or Randy - if you want your attitude fixed, or if you want to combat choking, I'm the guy.
Not every instructor is for every student. I don't care what level they play - they can have all the knowledge in the universe - if they cannot communicate that information effectively to where you can learn it and apply it - his services will be a waste of your time and money.
My advice - find someone that can teach the game well. Find someone that is just as excited to teach as you are to learn - I know guys that just go through the motions - I have students like that too... find someone you get along with and ask a lot of questions before giving them your game - they need to know how to identify weak spots in your game and apply remedies that will improve your skill.
Relax, and remember that a student needs to be hungry for knowledge - and they must respect the teacher and the knowledge that the teacher is passing along. If you do not have respect for that, maybe you're not ready to learn. I don't say that to ruffle your feathers, I say that because sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we get our ego and pride out of the way so that our minds will open up and be ready for learning. Deep down we are all like that on some level.
