Lessons

DawgAndy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was wondering how good you have to be to benefit from lessons. I usually break and run 2-3 racks in a race to 5 in nineball but in 1 hole I make only 2 or 3 balls before I screw up where I should've made 4 or 5. Am I a good canidate for 1 pocket lessons or do I need to get a little better first. I've been playing 1 hole for maybe 2 years or so.

Andy
 
Beginners benefit more from lessons than more advanced players. If you run 2-3 racks in a race to 5 in 9 ball you should be playing in the qualifiers for the IPT.
 
mnShooter said:
Beginners benefit more from lessons than more advanced players. If you run 2-3 racks in a race to 5 in 9 ball you should be playing in the qualifiers for the IPT.


I don't know if that neccasarly applies to 1 pocket. Some prior skills and knowledge are hlpfull. As for as the IPT I didn't metion what happens in the other racks:p I think I'm a good B player in nine ball.

Andy
 
DawgAndy said:
I don't know if that neccasarly applies to 1 pocket. Some prior skills and knowledge are hlpfull. As for as the IPT I didn't metion what happens in the other racks:p I think I'm a good B player in nine ball.

Andy

IMO I dont think 100 "B" players would average more than 1 break and run in a race to five. I think it would be more like .8 or so.

As for lessons I would ask why would pool be any different than any other sport or game out there. Tiger gets lessons and he is the best golfer
in the world.
Lessons can only help as long as you go into them with a good state of mind.
 
DawgAndy wrote:
> I was wondering how good you have to be to benefit
> from lessons. I usually break and run 2-3 racks in
> a race to 5 in nineball


You usually run 3 racks in nineball but still want to take lessons?!
Hum, I won't mind taking lessons from you...

-- peer
 
I'm a medium speed B player and while I don't think I'd call it my "average" it's not uncommon for me to put a couple racks on someone in a race to 5.. Place I play has pretty big pockets though if that makes any difference. ;)

Played the ghost the other night in a race to 5 (ball in hand after the break) and got up 2:1 I was feeling pretty good about myself then I rattled a somewhat easy shot leading to an easy out.. Ended up 3:3 and then the nerves got to me, missed two more easy balls (should've been 5:3 if I didn't choke) and ended up losing 3:5..

On a side note though a friend was gambling with me and spot me 3 games on the wire in a race to 5 on the ghost.. I lost both sets, no excuses I just choked.. (been doing that alot lately :( )

DJ
 
As someone who has been teaching this game for quite some time let me give you a few observations. Beginners require major changes and will progress rather rapidly with with practice but will need constant mentoring to really improve as the will backslide much quicker.

A-B players, more so A and above require muchless in the lines of pocketing skills but usally will have a minor or sometimes major stroke flaw or mental process that stops them from getting to the next level. Also, most of your better players have a good practice regimine and can improve quite quickly and become much more consistant when open to proper instruction.

Another thing to understand is that playing ability while fun to watch, and can be of benefit, IS NOT the quality that makes for a good instructor. The instructor need to have the ability to convey to the student information in a manner that the student can both understand and execute what is being asked of him. I personally teach many players with a skill level above mine, as well as below, including a current State Champion.

A good instructor should be able to explain and teach you the basics of the game as well as the mental and physical side.
 
mnShooter said:
Beginners benefit more from lessons than more advanced players. If you run 2-3 racks in a race to 5 in 9 ball you should be playing in the qualifiers for the IPT.

Yea, that's s 50% run out rate. I don't know if the cream of the crop pros are boasting that kind of run out percentage.
 
Gregg said:
Yea, that's s 50% run out rate. I don't know if the cream of the crop pros are boasting that kind of run out percentage.
Someone could be spotting him the breaks, and a race to 5 is up to 9 games, so that could be a 22-33% run out rate, a bit below pro-speed.
 
DawgAndy said:
I was wondering how good you have to be to benefit from lessons. I usually break and run 2-3 racks in a race to 5 in nineball but in 1 hole I make only 2 or 3 balls before I screw up where I should've made 4 or 5. Am I a good canidate for 1 pocket lessons or do I need to get a little better first. I've been playing 1 hole for maybe 2 years or so.

Andy


Andy, Kinda funny that your question was re. your readiness, or not, for 1 pocket lessons, yet all of the posts talked about 9 ball to you instead...anyway.....

....I've given quite a lot of 1 pocket lessons, including to one of the top 10 one pocket players in the world...that said, since you said that you're a solid B level 9 ball player, you are definitely a good enough player for some serious 1 pocket lessons. Generally speaking, any players from a C level to an A level are at a good level to learn 1 pocket....however, due to their higher level of skills and experience, the A or B player will more readily learn/progress at 1 pocket than a C player will. If you lived in my area I would offer you lessons. Ghost
 
Ghost, thanks for answering my question. There's a wprld of difference (at least for me) between my 9 ball and my one pocket. Especially getting out moved when I only need one and my oppenent needs 3 or so. I seem to sell out taking a flyer, Mostly losing focus I guess.

I'm surprised at all the response to calling myself a B player, Next time I'm up north I'll have the house pro rate me and let you know what he says.
In 2 races to 5, say 18 games you guys don't break and run out 4 times?


Andy
 
frankncali said:
IMO
As for lessons I would ask why would pool be any different than any other sport or game out there. Tiger gets lessons and he is the best golfer
in the world.
Lessons can only help as long as you go into them with a good state of mind.

tap, tap, tap...excellent post, Frank! I completely disagree with what the poster above said about beginners vs. advanced players. ALL ability players can benefit from lessons...provided the lesson is geared to the player's needs and wants.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
tap, tap, tap...excellent post, Frank! I completely disagree with what the poster above said about beginners vs. advanced players. ALL ability players can benefit from lessons...provided the lesson is geared to the player's needs and wants.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com


Are you referring to my post as the one that you disagree with ? Ghost
 
1 Pocket Ghost said:
Are you referring to my post as the one that you disagree with ? Ghost

I think he was talking about Shooters post the beginners benifit more that advanced players. I dont agree with that either. On the surface a lesser skilled player may show quick improvement, or they may not. I think an advanced player will always learn and apply what they get out of a lesson (as long as its geared toward their level of play as Scott said). In most cases if a player is advanced they have already shown a desire to learn and a willingness to put the work in.

An instructor can show 10 people the same thing, and some will improve more than others. A little of that can be due to some natural ability at the game, but MOST of it is based on who is willing to put in the practice time and who isnt.

I tell students that I can show them how to improve, if they do or not is up to them.

Woody
 
Thought it was me you were disagreeing with before you posted again. Darn and I just had deleted a long post too...LOL
 
How many times have you heard or said it? We can't teach anyone to play pool, but we sure can teach them how to learn to play pool.
Steve
 
Raodwarior said:
Another thing to understand is that playing ability while fun to watch, and can be of benefit, IS NOT the quality that makes for a good instructor. The instructor need to have the ability to convey to the student information in a manner that the student can both understand and execute what is being asked of him. I personally teach many players with a skill level above mine, as well as below, including a current State Champion.

A good instructor should be able to explain and teach you the basics of the game as well as the mental and physical side.

Raodwarior...Nope, I thought your post was succinct and to the point! Nice job, and I agree with all of your points. I just thought that Frank's comment about 'having a open mind' was the best statement of all!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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