Novice Questions

JasonMTL said:
Thanks for the replies guys. I'll keep saving up for the lessons, Not going to just book an hour, might as well book a whole day. Until then though, I'll look into getting some footage of myself.
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I'm not an instructor, but have taken lessons from some here as well as one pro. The only suggestion I would have is maybe instead of taking a full day of lessons, break it down to shorter sessions. After an hour or two of instruction, you will have plenty to work on, and probably some drills to perform. I say this because sometimes too much information too fast can really get some folks confused and frustrated.

Work perfecting what you have learned for a while, then when you feel you are ready to progress, take another hour or two lesson. I can assure you from experience it's baby steps. Lessons are great, but it's up to you to practice, do the drills and so forth if you really want to improve. Instruction is extremely helpful and will improve your game, but it is no magic bullet, no miracle cure.......in other words it takes lots of time, practice and dedication to get to a decent level at this game. Instruction from a good instructor will get you there faster, but it will still take time, it won't happen overnight after an hour lesson, or a one day lesson. Be prepared to put in some quality practice (as you will find out from instruction practice is not throwing balls down on a table and hitting them around:smile:) time if you really want to drastically improve your game. I don't post here much as I'm NOT an instructor, but just figured I could maybe help you so that's my 2 cents. Good luck and I wish you nothing but the best.
 
I think post 22 Nob is deliberately not getting what I was writing.---My post 5 reads Jason,(not nobody) Paying for lessons is not a good idea. That and what follows is the context. I recommend getting a book on fundamentals and making friends with some better players in the room he goes to. That and lots of practice. Say, I`m starting to see why you guys did not want me in on the Ask forum.
 
jims111343 said:
I think post 22 Nob is deliberately not getting what I was writing.---My post 5 reads Jason,(not nobody) Paying for lessons is not a good idea. That and what follows is the context. I recommend getting a book on fundamentals and making friends with some better players in the room he goes to. That and lots of practice. Say, I`m starting to see why you guys did not want me in on the Ask forum.
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I take the written word rather literally, if that is your view of deliberately not getting what you were writing, I plead guilty.

You seem to think everyone is out to get you. Pretty high opinion of yourself, I seriously doubt anybody has given you that much thought dude. Just imagine though how hostile everybody would be if you came to this forum with a chip on your shoulder and started being negative towards instructors? :slap:
 
Hi Jim,

I reread your recent post. I wouldn't say "quick to pounce" but I would say that teachers are always encouraging players in general to take lessons. Lessons help people who otherwise are stuck at one plateau for years on end.
 
There is a tendency here to advocate getting lessons. I don't believe for a minute that everyone making those statements are ALL being self-serving.

Many of those suggesting it are actually folks who have had the lessons, not the instructors themselves. And virtually every instructor who posts here has been very, very helpful to me, making suggestions and/or critiques, without my ever having seen them in person. I'm quite sure that is the case for most folks who use this forum, and treat one another with respect.

All that having been said, why on earth should someone NOT get lessons if they can afford them, and has the time for the lessons and the requisite practice? Anyone in ANY endeavor can only get better with proper instruction. Sports, music, anything involving performance....those who excel usually get help along the way. Why should pool be any different?

Yes, one should do their due diligence in selecting who to go see for instruction.

I am one who hasn't seen an instructor yet, and I ask for all sorts of help here. I will eventually see someone, when I get all my ducks in a row to make it happen. I can't understand telling someone NOT to, if that person can afford it and the instructor is appropriate. Wow.
 
jims111343 said:
Jason,
Paying for lessons is not a good idea. Never mind the conflict which is set up just by the fact that they are taking your money. Many of them are not very good. I recommend buying a pool book on fundamentals( Ebay and Amazon.com have plenty. Phil Capelle has a very good line up of Pool books on the basics and different pool games), and make friends with one of the better players in the pool room you like. That and lots of practise is all you need for now. Play games with your friends, for your own enjoyment, but do not consider it good practise. It is not. Get by your self, or with your friend as available, and work out your problems one at a time. If you are having trouble with a particular shot or fundamental ask the better players in your room. Someone will be glad to help you out for free.
Any pro-player, or anyone who has achieved excellence at anything, knows you must have terrific fundamentals and basics understanding to reach the higher levels of execution. That applies to whatever level you are at.
Hope this helps. Jim S.
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I went down this road for about 25 years. Purchased my first set of 5 lessons for $100. Each one was about 2 hours then we played for another 2 or 3 hours. Not a bad price and learned way more than I ever got from books I read or suggestions from the "good players". And believe me I've been around some of the best in the past 40 years. The following lessons were more expensive but worth every penny and will do it again. I realize I don't know everything, probably never will, and personal attention from a qualified instructor is always the best and quickest way to gain knowledge and improve.

Thank you Harry Sims, Mark Wilson, Scott Lee, Dick Jaspers, Ramond Ceulemans, Little Joe. With honorable mention to Randy G for allowing me to listen to a FREE aiming lesson you gave in Vegas. You're still in my Lessons Budget.
 
When I was playing 8 to 10 hours a day in the sixties you could not get a better player to give any helpful instruction.Other than, "play me for $10 a game and pay attention", sort of thing. In todays world there are many places and ways to access informed resources.----Post 26, Of course if a person can afford lessons they should get them. In all sports I can think of, as well as a lot of businesses and pastimes, people benefit greatly from coaching ( read that, instruction).I was and continue to offer options.--- Other than that, my posting 5 was not edited by me as well as I would do now. I was, sort of,responding to the two preceding posts, while trying not to. That was a mistake. This forum is new to me and I am catching on as fast as I can. Maybe I should hire an Instructor!?
 
3kushn said:
I went down this road for about 25 years. Purchased my first set of 5 lessons for $100. Each one was about 2 hours then we played for another 2 or 3 hours. Not a bad price and learned way more than I ever got from books I read or suggestions from the "good players". And believe me I've been around some of the best in the past 40 years. The following lessons were more expensive but worth every penny and will do it again. I realize I don't know everything, probably never will, and personal attention from a qualified instructor is always the best and quickest way to gain knowledge and improve.

Thank you Harry Sims, Mark Wilson, Scott Lee, Dick Jaspers, Ramond Ceulemans, Little Joe. With honorable mention to Randy G for allowing me to listen to a FREE aiming lesson you gave in Vegas. You're still in my Lessons Budget.
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When the time is right, we will work together.
randyg
 
Lessons which come for nothing are worth nothing, and they are usually treated with the same lack of respect. We all must pay a price for the lessons we learn in life. The more dearly we pay for that lesson the more likely we are never to forget.
Winston Churchill said: "Play the game for more than you can afford to lose, only then can you really learn the game."
I"m not advocating gambling here, just making a point.

Tom
 
Tom...Another good post. One thing to take into consideration, when taking any kind of instruction, is what the teacher leaves the student with. They must have a way to 'remember' (we "forget" 50% of what we learn today, by TOMORROW, if we don't have a way to review it...95% within a month), so they can 'review' the information. The best instructors use video analysis, leave the student with a clear way to set and achieve their goals, and give the student a way to measure their progress. I record the entire lesson on dvds, and leave them with my students, along with printed material. That way they have two ways to review the lesson information. Most students consider it invaluable! :grin-square:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

TRWpool said:
Lessons which come for nothing are worth nothing, and they are usually treated with the same lack of respect. We all must pay a price for the lessons we learn in life. The more dearly we pay for that lesson the more likely we are never to forget.
Winston Churchill said: "Play the game for more than you can afford to lose, only then can you really learn the game."
I"m not advocating gambling here, just making a point.

Tom
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Scott, you are obviously an excellent instructor. You go to great lengths to assure that your students absorb the material you provide. And you know your stuff. Buyer beware! There are a great many "instructors" out there who haven't a clue what they are talking about and pass out bad information. There are also a great many wonderful pool players who try to teach but haven't the skills to communicate accurately the information their students need to become better players.
I am in the process of setting up video from four angles over my table here at home so as to record each lesson onto DVD. In the meantime I use a technique I picked up while taking dance lessons many years ago. I use the first part of the second lesson to review all of the previous lesson. The first part of the third lesson is a review of the previous two, and so on. In this way I know where my student stands with regard to his or her progress. I always leave them with homework and performance tests.

Tom
 
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