Instructors that won't tell you what speed they are

SPINDOKTOR said:
Im not a bca certified instructor, nor did I mention the bca, My speed is well above C, In this ranking method, I would be an A level player...I can break and run, my straight pool HR is 212, Thus far, since I have started playing with the X shaft, i expect that run to be toast, but i still need a few more weeks, because i have been sidetracked with a cuetec review...when Im done testing the cuetec, im trying again, the video will be posted uncut on my web site....

SPINDOKTOR


I meant no disrespect to you personally and apologize if my post led you to that conclusion. I read all your posts here and respect them.

My point in various responses is that great players sometimes can't teach. Deacon Crane was asked to give lessons and he said something like "I can't teach because I don't know what I'm doing."

I further meant to suggest that a TRUE "C" player simply can't demonstrate the correct way to do many things and doesn't have the knowledge of the game.

Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule but in general, I stick by my comments while again apologizing if you thought I was referring to you personally.

Regards,
Jim
 
Jen_Cen said:
Privately, I can give you the name of a BCA instructor. He plays at an APA 5 level, doesn't believe in playing safeties (he'd rather go down swinging), oh man, I could go on.

"Interview" him just for fun and maybe you'll feel differently.

Jen, I am VERY disappointed to hear that.

But given that you are in NJ...do yourself a HUGE favor and contact Tony Robles who teaches out of Amsterdam in Manhattan. As you may know he is one of the world's nicest guys and is a GREAT teacher.

He may be tougher to get with now that his Predator tour has started but he would be GREAT for you.

Regards,
Jim
 
A good instructor in NY goes by the name Jim Abel who is up there in age cant play as well as he did at all,he is just not physically capable of playing and letting out a stroke,but he can teach.He has beaten some greats like the Miz,Mosconi,Caras and Greenleaf,he even held the world record for most balls pocketed in 24 hours about 15 years ago.So IMO i would expect the teacher to be a player of sorts,past or present and i dont mean a pro but just a good solid player. :)
 
I agree with those of you who said that an instructor doesn't have to be a top player. Scott Lee's thoughts on this topic are right on point.

BUT, this thread started with a question about an instructor who wouldn't disclose his speed. That's different. I wouldn't give that any money at all. I think it's fine to say "I play at X level, but I have the knowledge to help you reach you highest potential" and explain why you don't have to be a great player to be a great teacher, but I don't think it's OK to duck the question. If it's a factor for the student in making a choice, (s)he deserves the information (s)he asked for.

Scott has no problem disclosing his speed and wouldn't even if he wasn't as strong as he actually is (which is very strong, BTW).

Scott, is there any chance you remember me? the fat kid at University of Illinois 1995? This is white fat Boyd, not Black really fat Boyd. You were giving away those fake $1000 bills as business cards. you helped me out for free a couple of times, and you did an impromptu show for some friends of mine in a bar. Your input was valuable and I have integrated the most important stuff now. I play a little better now than I did then.
 
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unless your talking about outrageous shots more than 3 rails... the instructor should be able to demonstrate any shot and get it right the first time the vast majority of the time. if you spend time trying to teach me a shot.. and I ask you to show me how. you lose a ton of respect if your method doesn't even work for you.

I doubt any instructor is a C or D player you MUST be competent enough at the game to demonstrate the concepts you are trying to teach. or you won't be an instructor for very long.

and BTW $900.00 is outrageous... you can get a world class instructor for a lot less money.
 
You can learn TONS from watching and studying all of the Accu-stats tapes you can get your hands on. Study their styles, patterns, etc.
 
Top Ten signs you have a poor instructor:

10. He wears two pool gloves
9. His case is covered in league patches
8. His license plate tag says "3-Ball"
7. He tells you that he is a strong two in his in-house league
6. He is a firm believer in the preying mantis bridge.
5. He doesn't believe in girly pool where they play safes.
4. He tells you the lesson on how to draw will come after he learns to do so himself.
3. He teaches you the "stroke shot" when 2 balls are close to each other by double-hitting them.
2. He racks a 9-ball rack in numerical order.
1. AZ'ers vouch for them saying they are the best in the BIZ!
 
cubc said:
Whats that?

It's where a person lay the cue on top of there hand in between the index & middle finger, similar to how a preying mantis holds their front legs when they are going to strike. Usually a good sign that you may need the orange crush from said individual! :D
 
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DeadPoked said:
Top Ten signs you have a poor instructor:

10. He wears two pool gloves
9. His case is covered in league patches
8. His license plate tag says "3-Ball"
7. He tells you that he is a strong two in his in-house league
6. He is a firm believer in the preying mantis bridge.
5. He doesn't believe in girly pool where they play safes.
4. He tells you the lesson on how to draw will come after he learns to do so himself.
3. He teaches you the "stroke shot" when 2 balls are close to each other by double-hitting them.
2. He racks a 9-ball rack in numerical order.
1. AZ'ers vouch for them saying they are the best in the BIZ!

LMAO....I tried to give you rep, but I have to spread some around first.:(

Southpaw
 
DeadPoked said:
It's where a person lay the cue on top of there hand in between the index & middle finger similar to how a preying mantis holds their front legs when they are going to strike. Usually a good sign that you may need the orange crush from said individual! :D

hahahaha. I've seen that before. Never new it had a "name" :D
 
Boyd...Of course I remember you. We went out to dinner after the afternoon clinic, and came back for the evening show! Then, iirc, we went out to some pool bar, for some "late night" fun! That was a great evening! Nice to hear from you!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

longhair said:
). Scott, is there any chance you remember me? the fat kid at University of Illinois 1995? This is white fat Boyd, not Black really fat Boyd. You were giving away those fake $1000 bills as business cards. you helped me out for free a couple of times, and you did an impromptu show for some friends of mine in a bar. Your input was valuable and I have integrated the most important stuff now. I play a little better now than I did then.
 
cubc said:
Whats that?

Here is an old friend of mine properly demonstrating how to do the preying mantis.

april.jpg
 
Jen_Cen said:
I was e-mailing back and forth with an instructor who advertises on here. He runs a pool school. All I wanted to know was what speed he is rated as a player.

And this instructor would not disclose this info. Instead he danced around and said it doesn't make a difference.

If he's ashamed to disclose his rating, it must be low. I'm not about to give $900 to an instructor who's only a C player.

I agree with whoever it was, it is not important beyond the point that they need to be good enough to demostrate what they are teaching.
What is much more important is what their teaching "speed" is. It doesn't matter a bit how good somebody plays if they can communicate what they are doing. The only way to know if they can teach is by reputation or by taking a chance.
For $900.00 bucks you need recommendations. If he is an A or beyond and really is, what does that mean, nothing. He has to be able to instruct.
 
One assumes that in Jen_Cen's comment re: the APA 5 instructor who doesn't teach safeties, is NOT in reference to the instructor she started the thread about.

As far as going from a C to a B in one day - good luck with that. Pool lessons aren't just injections of instant knowledge and skill. Lessons, by nature, introduce changes to your game - and it takes time to adjust to those changes, for you to stop fighting the changes (i.e. trying to do the same thing you always do), to fully absorb those changes until they are second nature.

I took a three-day course last year around this time, and there's still things I was taught that I don't do on a regular basis.
 
ghostball said:
Are you looking for an instructor,my rating is 3 times WORLD CHAMPION and i have been teaching for 30yrs if interested e-mail me GHOSTBALL.
RAY MARTIN
Ray, You happen to be have an excellent rep as an instructor and also happen to have been a very, very good pro. However, your having been a very, very good pro isn't what makes you a good instructor, they are independent facets of you. The OP is trying to draw a correlation between somebody being a good player and a good instructor, and there really is none.
That said, sure wish I lived near you. :)
 
Bigjohn said:
Check his/her references and then determine for yourself if he/she is worth your $900. You might want to move on to the next instructor though, it seems this relationship may have already soured.
Excellent point.
 
ScottW said:
As far as going from a C to a B in one day - good luck with that.

I said I my goal is to rise from C to B one day.

I didn't say I wanted to rise from C to B in 24 hours. That would be ridiculous.
 
Roger Federer is the best tennis player today. Can anyone name his coach? Tiger Woods, who is his coach? Eddie Murray is one of only 3 players to hit 500 home runs and 3000 hits. The Dodgers fired him as their hitting coach because he could not teach. All of this said, I don't understand why someone who is charging $900 wont' give you his credentials. Scott, I'm looking forward to my lesson with you Saturday.
 
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