My review of the DVD set...
I own a number of instructional DVDs. I can't find an instructor that lives within 50 miles of me so I have resorted to books and dvds. As such, I have wasted hundreds of hours reading books that didn't really live up to the expectations or hype, and videos that have also not lived up to the reviews.
This review is not to tear down the books and DVDs that I have not found useful. The only DVD set I found useful prior to Jerry's was "Mike Sigel's Perfect Pool." That set did a very good job of explaining the fundamentals. But since the master is not really an instructor, and the guy helping the video move along is better known as a pitch man...the dvd video is not perfect. However, I will say it's a worthwhile purchase.
I will preface this by saying the best book on fundamentals is by far Lee Brett's book. And I have read nearly 50 books. All the classics. Lee's is great. I am awaiting his video so I cannot pass any judgement on it. That being said...
if you really want to get the most you can out of one set...save all your money, leave the time tested books behind, forget about all the pros that have lent their names to instructional sets. This DVD set by far the best set I have ever encountered. I expected so much of this set do to the banter on this site that I kind of expected to be let down. ..I was surprised that it surpassed even my most optimistic expectations.
It seems that many, many people equate great talent at any given task with the talent to also pass this gift on to others. This is rarely the case. Eddie Van Halen might be great, but he might not be the best guitar instructor. Mike Sigel may be great...but having the gift to convey this wisdom to others is not his strongest attribute.
In most cases, the best teachers for any subject are generally teachers by profession, and exceptional at what they teach.
This is definitely the case with Jerry's DVD set. I have never seen him in a tournament against Appleton or Reyes. I don't have any of his books. He reminds me of my grandfather. However, he is to pool instruction what Reyes is to playing the game.
Jerry has found a way to deliver deceptively complicated principals and fundamentals in a manner that is so well done you're not even aware of the knowledge being imparted to you. Moreover, the delivery is exceedingly accessible and applicable. To watch him, he is a humble man with a near permanent smile and a visibly sincere joy and love for showing people how to play the game.
I learned more from 5 hours with this set than with probably over 1000 hours of a few professional lessons, books, and dvds combined. I actually plan to go back and watch it with a notebook.
Prior to watching and absorbing the wisdom contained in this set I was happy to have a 6 ball run in 8-ball. I'm just a banger by all means. I ran a rack in 8 ball once in my life. ...After seeing this video I ran a rack of 8 ball twice in the same night. Now...to all you players out there that can do this with ease....cut me some slack. I enjoy the game, but I could never get past the plateau I was on.
Jerry's video explained to me three things that immediately changed my game and how I play it. I finally got a total understanding of the "correct" stroke. I know those of you that can do this, or are in a circle with people that know how to do this, think nothing of it. But in my circle, it was great to learn. I also learned about "tangents" wich improved my cue ball control from "lucky leave" to "wow!" Lastly, I learned a lot about physics.
So there you have it. I would purchase this DVD set if it were 200.00 easy. I spent more than that on lessons and got nowhere near as much out of it as I did from this DVD set.
Jerry should be commended for this undertaking. When I read all the hullaballoo about this dvd being a classic and a bookmark in Jerry's legacy I thought to myself, "that pretty creative marketing." Now, having watched and learned, I couldnt agree more. This set belongs up there at the highest echelon of pool instruction. In fact, I would say this is the best. A set like this is many years overdue.
Congratulations. My most sincere thanks for this set. Where was it 20 years ago?
So there you have it. Abandon any reservations you may have had concerning this set. if you're on the fence about it, jump off. if you didn't even consider buying it...you better.
