Lesson Basics

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Bellhemen

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How often should I take lessons? I'm an intermediate player and my fudementals are pretty good. I might get in around 5 hours per week
to practice. Should I get lessons weekly, monthly, sporadically or if a certain drill is mastered?

Second part of the question is what should I expect from continuing lessons? I've got DVD's and Books with progressive drills that I practice. These are the same drills that an instuctor tells me to practice after a two hour lesson. I'm trying to justify spending money on lessons and I'm not sure a weekly lesson is worth it.

To me, parting words with an instructor should be 'call me when you've mastered this drill, or if you haven't mastered it in a month'.
All I'm hearing recently from instructors at the end of a lesson is 'good job, when would you like to schedual your next lesson? Does Friday work for you?'
 
Articles dealing with this subject will be published on this website in the next couple of months.

Roger
 
Most of the students I work with take my advanced level class. This is a 2-3 day class that is pretty comprehensive. We cover the fundamentals, personal eye patterns, speed control, measuring and applying spin on the cue ball, tangent lines, the mental game and more. When a student finishes that class, they actually have a pretty full plate of things to work on. I usually try to follow up with them in a month or so to see how they are doing. At that point, I may suggest a follow-up lesson, or, if they are making good progress, let them keep working. Some students spend a few months working on the material, and then call up ready to move on to the next level of study. Everybody is different, so there really isn't a set schedule that works for everyone.

Usually the student knows when they need follow-up, or when they are ready to take the next level course. I prefer to let the student dictate their schedule. Some soak it up like a sponge, while others work slowly and deliberately. So there really is no set schedule, it depends on the needs of the individual student. Your instructor should have given you some kind of plan to take back home with you, so you would know what you should be working on.

I do think a regular video analysis, just to make sure no bad habits are sneaking into your game, is a good idea. A couple of hours every few months is a good investment to make sure you are still doing what you think you are doing.

Steve
 
Yes, lessons can be less than thrilling to say the least. I stay away from teaching in that style format.

I like what Pooltchr does. A 3-day school and a 6 month review. Let the student absorb the info and continue to teach himself.

Our schools are designed to have the students teach themselves. If a student needs to stay attached to the Instructor, we have done that student a dis-service.

I take lessons when I need to know something new. Then I practice that until it shows up in my game.......SPF=randyg
 
pooltchr said:
I do think a regular video analysis, just to make sure no bad habits are sneaking into your game, is a good idea. A couple of hours every few months is a good investment to make sure you are still doing what you think you are doing.

Steve
Click to expand...
Are you advising to take a one hour lesson or have my wife follow me with a camera for a couple hours per month?
randyg said:
I take lessons when I need to know something new. Then I practice that until it shows up in my game.......SPF=randyg
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking. I'll take a lesson when I want to learn something new. I don't know about a 2 or 3 day course though. That
sounds like alot.
 
A 3-day course with 2 weeks of solid homework would be perfect....randyg
 
Bellhemen said:
Are you advising to take a one hour lesson or have my wife follow me with a camera for a couple hours per month?


This is what I was thinking. I'll take a lesson when I want to learn something new. I don't know about a 2 or 3 day course though. That
sounds like alot.
Click to expand...



As Randy suggested, our 2 and 3 day courses are the most popular with our students. One segment of the course covers Perfect Practice, so you will know exactly what you need to do when you get home.

The video analysis is the most important tool we use in class. The advantage of having a good instructor do this, is you have someone who is trained to evaluate everything they see. Sometimes it can be a very small thing like a change in your wrist position during your stroke that you might not even notice. There are about 8 or 10 major things we look for, and any number of other smaller things that might also show up.

Steve
 
Bellhemen...You don't mention where you're located, but the advice you're getting is dead on. For those that cannot attend our 3 day schools, I travel all over the country, working privately with people to try to help them accomplish the same goals. Even a day-long lesson cannot replace the value of the 3 day school, but it's a pretty good substitute. You'll get the basis of the information, in a format you can understand, and with a plan on how to practice, and when you need followup. I'm with you, that leaving a lesson, your instructor should be saying, "Call me if you're having trouble, or when you're ready for some new information". This assumes you've mastered the previous lesson info.

You say your fundamentals are sound, but how do you know? MOST students who come to pool school believe their fundamentals are sound (almost invariably, they are not). However, that said, we don't know what we don't know. Pool school (or private lessons) is where you find out what you don't know, how to learn it, and how to practice it, until it shows up in your competitive game. Make sure that whoever you're taking lessons from, is using video review. Otherwise, find another instructor.:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Bellhemen said:
How often should I take lessons? I'm an intermediate player and my fudementals are pretty good. I might get in around 5 hours per week
to practice. Should I get lessons weekly, monthly, sporadically or if a certain drill is mastered?

Second part of the question is what should I expect from continuing lessons? I've got DVD's and Books with progressive drills that I practice. These are the same drills that an instuctor tells me to practice after a two hour lesson. I'm trying to justify spending money on lessons and I'm not sure a weekly lesson is worth it.

To me, parting words with an instructor should be 'call me when you've mastered this drill, or if you haven't mastered it in a month'.
All I'm hearing recently from instructors at the end of a lesson is 'good job, when would you like to schedual your next lesson? Does Friday work for you?'
Click to expand...
 
Bellhemen,
Randy and I have a 3 day class scheduled in Charlotte at the end of September. I don't know where you are located, but if you aren't too far away, it might well be worth your consideration.

Steve
 
Steve...Bellhemen is from Lafayatte, LA. His instructor is fine, and after another lesson, Bellhemen realized that his fundamentals weren't as "sound" as he thought they were. He now has some new things to focus on!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Last edited:
We have a Pool School in Houma, La on Oct. 2-3-4. There's a chance of a lifetime to look at your mechanics and many other things.
....randyg
Bellhemen, if interested give me a call. 1 800 707-0158
 
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