Learning

Martial arts use a belt system.

DrDaves shooting test is a standard ability test like pullups for athletes.

In combat sports its expected the instructor teach the traditional way by beating you with technique and experience.

Pool instructors if they don't compete its hard to tell. Like in training the instructors with the most respect have the most wins.

Unfortunately pool instructors are not active in competition. Colleges rely on standards.

NYC is the best place to work and play pool. Queens is a paradise of poolrooms. Learning by location, NYC is always number one.

If I saw my instructor choke on an easy shot, they are not my instructor anymore.

Watching world champions and hall of famers in person makes a world of difference. Its when the pro schooling begins and they only speak pool.
 
Unfortunately pool instructors are not active in competition.
Not true. Some have been in competition.
For a long time good playing amateur, I think their criteria should be who has the instructor taught that is/was a top-ranking amateur player as well as well as pro players. They teach differently to them. It should only take a couple of recognizable names to make the decision quick and easy.
 
Not true. Some have been in competition.
For a long time good playing amateur, I think their criteria should be who has the instructor taught that is/was a top-ranking amateur player as well as well as pro players. They teach differently to them. It should only take a couple of recognizable names to make the decision quick and easy.

That is an elitist approach.

Enjoying pool recreationally is instruction worth receiving and awarding. Mike Massey teaching pool he won awards and shared a message.

There are many populations where pool is a past time like dancing or knitting. The best instructors will have students that use pool for life lessons.

If it doesn't scale it's a one time event. Having gifted students is not a sign of a gifted instructor. Ask any college student.

If the instructor chokes during the lesson that is like the math professor teaching the formula wrong. They can get away with it because no one knows the material. Better is programming, they can only teach what is in the book.

In combat you end on the floor when you get predictable because you failed the response prompt.
 
It's a high percentage approach. The odds are a lot better of getting what you want and is needed.

The game is growing to a new audience. General instruction is better than forcing players to win tournaments.

Selling the culture ensures the talent develops. Selling the machine dream of beginner to pro from the start is a no no to most college coaches.
 
I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no way I can fix my stroke without some expert help. God knows I’ve tried to fix it myself and the good players watching me can’t fix it either. When I miss, I know why. The problem is how to fix it and who can help me fix it.
Have you tried to video a straight in shot from behind? A 1/2 cue tip horizontal movement may look like a 2 inch movement from behind. Do this at a variety of speeds. You may find horizontal movement in your elbow, wrist, forearm, etc., or various combinations for these.
 
Have you tried to video a straight in shot from behind? A 1/2 cue tip horizontal movement may look like a 2 inch movement from behind. Do this at a variety of speeds. You may find horizontal movement in your elbow, wrist, forearm, etc., or various combinations for these.
I’m sure I have all of those. I’ll accidentally put Rt english on most shots, then I’ll start getting LT english. I’ll raise my shoulder, lift my head. I’ll try to relax my hand but when I stroke the ball I’ll end up clenching my hand and jerk the stroke off line. I’m totally lost on trying to fix it myself. One of the problems is I have a small hand tremor but I feel that’s not my main problem.
 
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It should if somebody takes the lead up front. The lesson getters should tell the lesson giver "this is what I want and what I'm looking for" as well as "this is what I don't want", especially if they're long-time players in many pool room wars.

In your case, am I correct in saying that your main focus and interest is in one-pocket with 14.1 in second place?
Would you want the fundamentals to be 1/2 of the time which includes grip, stance, posture, alignment, aiming? How about
1/4 of the time? What would be your primary wants and focus outside of that? You don't need to say it because I already know.
Let's just say it AIN'T gonna be any part of the fundamentals which needs to be made clear right up front.

Well, that's kinda been my whole point: the individual getting the lesson needs to be an active participant in the process and not just an empty vessel.

As to my fundamentals, after decades of play I think I'm way past all that. I'm not saying I do everything perfect and in fact there's plenty to pick apart -- it's just that how I play is pretty much how I play now and the only guy that's going to mess with it is moi. Years ago, a much younger me got advice from all kinds of guys -- all much better players than me -- and I would soak it up or at least try to. Now my game is like an old vintage car that mostly sits in the garage and that I tinker with during the week and take out for the occasional spin on Sundays when the weather is nice. Sometimes it's all great, tooling down the road with the top down, the sun on my face, and the wind in my hair. Other times I don't get too far and have to call AAA.

Lou Figueroa
 
I’m sure I have all of those. I’ll accidentally put Rt english on most shots, then I’ll start getting LT english. I’ll raise my shoulder, lift my head. I’ll try to relax my have but when I stroke the ball I’ll end up clenching my hand and jerk the stroke off line. I’m totally lost on trying to fix it myself. One of the problems is I have a small hand tremor but I feel that’s not my main problem.
One thing I found supremely helpful is to have a kind of anchor point in my grip hand. @gregcantrall turned me on to using the ring finger as a trigger. The ring finger is stupid. It has no mind of it's own, but this is a good thing. If it feels the same, and you wait until it feels like it's "taking the lead" you can use that as a trigger to know you're holding the cue correctly and consistently. If the ring finger is in the lead, it's tougher to steer a shot. Also feather the cue a bit before you do your practice strokes. It will readily tattle on you if you're not lined up right. If there's wavering in the feather strokes you're not on line.

I don't think grip hand is talked about enough, but it really ties directly into your mechanics. If the grip hand is in the wrong places (which varies based on bridge length and shot differences) all other mechanics are not acting in conjunction. You may see the things you are experiencing. Shoulder raising, chicken wings, steering the cue, etc. I am not an instructor but I believe this to be true.
 
One thing I found supremely helpful is to have a kind of anchor point in my grip hand. @gregcantrall turned me on to using the ring finger as a trigger. The ring finger is stupid. It has no mind of it's own, but this is a good thing. If it feels the same, and you wait until it feels like it's "taking the lead" you can use that as a trigger to know you're holding the cue correctly and consistently. If the ring finger is in the lead, it's tougher to steer a shot. Also feather the cue a bit before you do your practice strokes. It will readily tattle on you if you're not lined up right. If there's wavering in the feather strokes you're not on line.

I don't think grip hand is talked about enough, but it really ties directly into your mechanics. If the grip hand is in the wrong places (which varies based on bridge length and shot differences) all other mechanics are not acting in conjunction. You may see the things you are experiencing. Shoulder raising, chicken wings, steering the cue, etc. I am not an instructor but I believe this to be true.
It was Barry Stark that led me to the ring finger trigger. He has put some great stuff on youtube and is definitely worth study.
I try to apply the finger dexterity of a goat milker. Slight variations in finger pressures can produce a variety of results. 🤷‍♂️
 
It was Barry Stark that led me to the ring finger trigger. He has put some great stuff on youtube and is definitely worth study.
I try to apply the finger dexterity of a goat milker. Slight variations in finger pressures can produce a variety of results. 🤷‍♂️
I loved the way he described the trigger too. Barry's full of good info
 
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