My lesson with Mark Wilson

[BasementDweller]

Maybe "debate" was a strong word. How about come on here and discuss his ideas?

I don't care if someone is the top instructor in the country or not -- this doesn't mean they couldn't have a few ideas that are slightly off, or even flat out wrong. The attitude that some instructors have on this forum is getting tiresome to me. As someone that loves this game, I am constantly learning. Many times I am wrong about something.

Bouncing ideas off other people is the only way to check my ideas. I see no reason instructors shouldn't have the same attitude.

 

[BeiberLvr]

In regards to bent vs. straight arm. Like most things that get discussed on these forums (elbow drop, eye pattern, CB or OB last, etc.) it's my opinion that it's all a matter of comfort and what gives you the most positive results.

Now that doesn't mean if you have success doing A that you shouldn't at least give B a try.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Maybe "debate" was a strong word. How about come on here and discuss his ideas?

I don't care if someone is the top instructor in the country or not -- this doesn't mean they couldn't have a few ideas that are slightly off, or even flat out wrong. The attitude that some instructors have on this forum is getting tiresome to me. As someone that loves this game, I am constantly learning. Many times I am wrong about something.

Bouncing ideas off other people is the only way to check my ideas. I see no reason instructors shouldn't have the same attitude.

Well said. The more pool in the US slides into the gutter, the more precious many are about keeping it on its path. You are digging in when you should be giving out.

What happens at the top is merely a reflection of what is happening at the bottom. There's only one instructor I would trust in the US and he's not American.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

In regards to bent vs. straight arm. Like most things that get discussed on these forums (elbow drop, eye pattern, CB or OB last, etc.) it's my opinion that it's all a matter of comfort and what gives you the most positive results.

Now that doesn't mean if you have success doing A that you shouldn't at least give B a try.

I agree but best practice needs to be ingrained QUICKLY, when players are still developing. It is very difficult to unlearn bad habits later on - counter-productive, even.

 

[SFC9ball]

I agree but best practice needs to be ingrained QUICKLY, when players are still developing. It is very difficult to unlearn bad habits later on - counter-productive, even.

I disagree with the last part of your statement. To fix bad habits is dificult yes but counter productive it is not. This is why; YOU don't know what you don't know.

I took a lesson from Scott Lee, at the time I was a solid B player I had some flaws in my fundamentals (20years worth:smile ) after we spent 8 hours evaluating 7 shots and changing my PSR and establishing my personalized template, he gave me the drills to conduct that re-enforce what he had taught with the quickest possible results. After about a couple of hours doing the drills the PSR started to become easier, after a week I didn't have to think about it so much, within a month averything was clicking and my pool game took a big jump.

If things become counter productive with a player after taking a lesson it is because the lesson was not taught well, the student didn't grasp the material or a serious lack of discipline or confidence. (most people want to have immediate results and if they don't get them they go back to there old habits)

This is my experience having been an instructor for the Army for the last 13 years on active duty / retiered and still going strong:grin-square:

 

[Cdryden]

I agree but best practice needs to be ingrained QUICKLY, when players are still developing. It is very difficult to unlearn bad habits later on - counter-productive, even.

I dropped 25 years of doing it wrong in 8 hours. It wasn't exactly easy, but when you are ready to accept the fact that you need to change and you obtain the discipline to make that change happen, it becomes do-able.

 

[SFC9ball]

Seeing Mark this week

I will be taking a lesson from Mark this week, I am sure that with what he teaches combined with what I learned from Scott I have nowhere to go but up:smile:. I have read Marks book and from what I can see is they have the end result, something that is REPEATABLE everytime you step to the table with your PSR and a confident stroke.

Other notables about the book are the MENTAL aspects to practicing and competing.

This will be a tune up and I hope to get some other gold nuggets that I might have missed:grin-square:

 

[Cdryden]

I will be taking a lesson from Mark this week, I am sure that with what he teaches combined with what I learned from Scott I have nowhere to go but up:smile:. I have read Marks book and from what I can see is they have the end result, something that is REPEATABLE everytime you step to the table with your PSR and a confident stroke.

Other notables about the book are the MENTAL aspects to practicing and competing.

This will be a tune up and I hope to get some other gold nuggets that I might have missed:grin-square:

Tell him I said Hi and I know where my tips is now!

 

[Cdryden]

Okay, so I was worried about my playoffs last night because I wasn't going to allow myself to go back to my old way of shooting and my new mechanics were still not fluid. I knew my performance would be off. I even had someone on here tell me I was being selfish to my teammates by not playing my best. Well, I won using the new mechanics. And I won big, 6-0 (in our league 6 is the highest handicap)

I made shots with confidence. I didn't get bogged down in the results but rather focused on the process. I had 2 people come up to me and ask me what happened, they said my stroke looked very smooth and I seemed more calm and in control at the table. I felt like I was shooting slower than molasses. But they didn't think it was that bad, but slower than before which is a good thing for me. I have some confidence back in my game and I am more determined than ever to continue with what Mark has taught me. The best part is that the game feels new again, I love it.

 

[SFC9ball]

Tell him I said Hi and I know where my tips is now!

I will tell him!

it's funny how the small things in this game make the BIG diferences.

I mess with some of the good players here in my area and tell the hit the center of the cue ball and it is funny that none of them can seem to find it until I show them.

 

[KRJ]

Well said. The more pool in the US slides into the gutter, the more precious many are about keeping it on its path. You are digging in when you should be giving out.

What happens at the top is merely a reflection of what is happening at the bottom. There's only one instructor I would trust in the US and he's not American.

Trolling early again I see. How is "not" debating ideas on the main forum with instructors keeping pool in the gutter ?? get a grip. There is an instructor forum for heavens sake, and you can ask whatever you want. But guess what, not a whole lot of folks go there, only the ones that want to learn, the ones that want to argue don't bother anymore because it won't be tolerated.

 

[CreeDo]

Well done. A lot of players are scared to stick with it after making major changes, especially in competitive situations.
Nobody could fault you for putting the new stroke on hold during league.
But clearly it's just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

I will tell him!

it's funny how the small things in this game make the BIG diferences.

I mess with some of the good players here in my area and tell the hit the center of the cue ball and it is funny that none of them can seem to find it until I show them.

How does he teach you to hit the centre of the CB?

 

[Philthepockets]

lorider...We each have our own personal template and mantra. It really has nothing to do with how old you are. The important thing is to do the same thing, the same way, every time, on every shot. :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Gotta disagree with this Scott, to me this reads like you are ignoring technically sound methods that will ultimately limit the players potential. Is this to make it easier on them to take lessons and see some improvement and in order to keep them coming back?

 

[Spimp13]

Gotta disagree with this Scott, to me this reads like you are ignoring technically sound methods that will ultimately limit the players potential. Is this to make it easier on them to take lessons and see some improvement and in order to keep them coming back?

I am pretty sure Scott is referring to the whole process from addressing the table to the finish of your shot (I.E. the Mantra)...not that each shot is hit the same way.

 

[SFC9ball]

finding the center

How does he teach you to hit the centre of the CB?

The first thing he did was ask me to show him where I thought the center of the cue ball was, I showed him what I thought was center (which was a little off, high and to the left) he told me I was close, then he described the measurments of the cue ball then set a piece of chalk in front of the cue ball so I could get a idea of the height (which is what most people get wrong) then he showed me to get the to look at the bottom of the cue ball and see where it rest on the table, the contact point on the table is the center for left and right. After that he showed me the 1/8 inch red circle on the cue ball was = to 1 tip of english (which most people think their cue tip is 1 tip of english), from there we moved over to the spot on my table and hit some center ball shots up and down the table so I could get some feed back. Funny things is just a milimeter left or right will throw the cue ball way off the center line as you probably already know and have an adverse effect on a shot.

I already knew most of the information scott was telling me, my problem was me being left eye dominent what I thought was center was not, after playing around on the cue ball for awhile and getting positive feed back I found the center and now I know what center looks like for me..

 

[Scott Lee]

Thanks Matt! Apparently some people don't "get" the learning process we teach. Everyone is different...we are built differently, think differently, learn differently and perceive differently. Consequently there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Of course, if they had taken a lesson, or gone to pool school, they would at least know what they were talking about. That said...back on topic...this thread is about Mark Wilson, who is a fantastic instructor...not to mention one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I am pretty sure Scott is referring to the whole process from addressing the table to the finish of your shot (I.E. the Mantra)...not that each shot is hit the same way.

 

[Philthepockets]

So if you are making wholesale changes to a pupils stroke anyway why not correct a stance that could ultimately be a limiting factor and will change the way the stroking arm works anyway?
Maybe your right I don't get the "learning process" but I don't understand either and you haven't tried to explain it. Oh and lose the some people attitude you may fall off your high horse.

 

[SFC9ball]

they are not all the same

:thumbup:

I am pretty sure Scott is referring to the whole process from addressing the table to the finish of your shot (I.E. the Mantra)...not that each shot is hit the same way.

After working with Scott I thought he was going change a lot of things with my PSR, I was quite surprised that he recommmended that I add an eye pattern and do a couple of things different. Well after we discussed everything I picked what was right for me, then we wrote down my 8 step proccess (which is still on my white board after 2 years) costomized to me with Scotts help. His concept is something that is repeatable and consistant. If you do it long enough you will have a default stroke that is preasure resistant.


I put it to the test last sunday in a tournament, I was on the hill knowing I had to be beat twice and my opponent had me hill hill in our match, he missed the 1 ball and left me a tough shot which I made but never could get in line to make the run out easy, I just played what the table had to offer relying on my stroke, as you would suspect I get on the 9 ball a 3/4 table off angle cut up into the corner, I looked at it and said to myself "just trust your stroke it got you here" to help boost my confidence, I got down followed my PSR and fired it in with confidence! The guy looked at me and said "that ball should have never went in like that" I said why not it hit the heart of the pocket. this is just the most recent experience, there have been many others where that default stroke saved my skin when I wasn't playing to standard.

Thanks Scott

 

[Cdryden]

So if you are making wholesale changes to a pupils stroke anyway why not correct a stance that could ultimately be a limiting factor and will change the way the stroking arm works anyway?
Maybe your right I don't get the "learning process" but I don't understand either and you haven't tried to explain it. Oh and lose the some people attitude you may fall off your high horse.

You are operating under the assumption that a snooker stance is the only way to do it so maybe this isn't for you. That's fine, move on. I don't understand why you seem to be trying to pick a fight with someone. If you have a better way stick to it and be happy. There is nothing wrong with that. I like the way I have been taught and I feel it is the best for me.