Pool teaching philosophy
- Thread starter Straightpool_99
- Start date
Youre on!
lmao.....youre on.....throw me a line when you come to town. Ill come to you.
I am a pool destructor. I work cheap. For the low price of $30 an hour I will destroy your pool game and make you want to take up bowling or knitting.....
lmao.....youre on.....throw me a line when you come to town. Ill come to you.
John -- you posted this tip of Jimmy's back in 2010, so I think it's OK for me to repeat it here for any readers who missed it and would like to give it a try:
Pidge -- You're a highly skilled player in both snooker and 14.1. Do you use identically the same fundamentals for both games? If not, what differences do you employ?
A lot of English pool players use this technique at standard league level. Not so much when frozen to a rail but as a general way of aiming. I've seen it a lot when in the pub, they sort of get in the ball park as far as lining up, cue over the ball and move around a bit until memory serves them right and a light bulb turns on in their head telling them this is the line of the shot.
Its a handy little trick when stuck to a rail, and something people struggling with such shots should at least try out.
Its a handy little trick when stuck to a rail, and something people struggling with such shots should at least try out.
Exactly the same. Apart from when using a closed bridge in 14.1. When I'm using a closed bridge I have to have my bridge arm straight so I can turn my wrist out for the cue to slide along the webbing between thumb and index finger, if that makes sense? Because of this my stance closes up slightly and my lead leg goes more in front. Not by much, its fairly subtle.
Do you use an open bridge for all shots in snooker?
In what situations do you use a closed bridge in 14.1?
I will use a closed bridge in snooker, always when I'm stuck close to a rail on my left and I can't quite plant my hand down for an open bridge. I tend to bridge really long though when I do this because its too awkward, and the cue is too narrow at my standard bridge length.
In 14.1 I use an open bridge slightly more, but generally use an open bridge mostly. Its hard to say when I use what type bridge. I don't put any thought into it. Often, in cramped situations ill use a closed bridge, but other than that I go with what ever feels right.
Ok, I apologize,I thought from the original post you were talking about an early fundamental lesson. Sounds like you have it dialed in.
Have a great day
You should take a lesson on how to mind your own business. I don't get in yours so please stay out of mine, I have seen where that road leads to.
Everything I read from Robin is always respectful. I am sure he is a grown man and can answer for himself, as he did, again, with respect and class.
I am finished but feel free to get the last word and dig in.
Have a great day
Your business? So instead of realizing that the person you offered a basic lesson to while at the same time condemning all instructors who charge more than $35 an hour is an advanced player you instead patronized him by offering free lessons as if he is too poor to pay for your cheap ones.
Sorry I didn't mean to cost you the opportunity to give a free lesson. Wouldn't want to prevent you from giving your time away to someone who does not need it.
Good thing about pool.....or maybe a bad thing.....is that ANYONE can hang out a sign and be an instructor.
Which is cool with me.....helping people play better pool is a good endeavor even if the "instructor" is not really qualified.
John (not qualified to instruct...tries anyway)
Thank you. [First "an open" in 2nd paragraph is supposed to be "a closed," I'm sure.]
Of course and grateful that you did. Man you must have the world's best search technique to be able the find this stuff so fast.
Your business? So instead of realizing that the person you offered a basic lesson to while at the same time condemning all instructors who charge more than $35 an hour is an advanced player you instead patronized him by offering free lessons as if he is too poor to pay for your cheap ones.
Sorry I didn't mean to cost you the opportunity to give a free lesson. Wouldn't want to prevent you from giving your time away to someone who does not need it.
Good thing about pool.....or maybe a bad thing.....is that ANYONE can hang out a sign and be an instructor.
Which is cool with me.....helping people play better pool is a good endeavor even if the "instructor" is not really qualified.
John (not qualified to instruct...tries anyway)
LOL...that's funny JB
A lot of players don't need lessons, don't you know all pool players know it all
On a serious note, if players took lessons, they would pay for themselves 10 fold. I know of a pro that tried to charge $800 for 2 hours.. I think i need to raise my prices lol....
Many years ago i used to play snooker with a guy in the pool room who is now a close friend, he trains some of the best boxers in the world... He told me a story one day about a guy who asked him why he charged more than another boxing trainer, his reply was "You can either be taught, or be taught properly, you pay for what you get"
He thought i was undervaluing myself and said i was a top class coach, from that day forward i listened to him and built my reputation to were i am now.
Moral of the story, bad instruction will cost you more than being taught properly..
On a serious note, if players took lessons, they would pay for themselves 10 fold. I know of a pro that tried to charge $800 for 2 hours.. I think i need to raise my prices lol....
Many years ago i used to play snooker with a guy in the pool room who is now a close friend, he trains some of the best boxers in the world... He told me a story one day about a guy who asked him why he charged more than another boxing trainer, his reply was "You can either be taught, or be taught properly, you pay for what you get"
He thought i was undervaluing myself and said i was a top class coach, from that day forward i listened to him and built my reputation to were i am now.
Moral of the story, bad instruction will cost you more than being taught properly..
Leap Of Faith
Oh yeah John for sure. Life is a leap of faith with no play book. My Grandfathers words to me when I was graduating high school were " If it feels good, do it" I think that pretty much sums it all up. Sometimes its hard to drown out the noise long enough to do what you know is truly right for you. I can think of a few times that distractions got in the way and I've made a few bad calls...but hey havent we all?
Oh yeah John for sure. Life is a leap of faith with no play book. My Grandfathers words to me when I was graduating high school were " If it feels good, do it" I think that pretty much sums it all up. Sometimes its hard to drown out the noise long enough to do what you know is truly right for you. I can think of a few times that distractions got in the way and I've made a few bad calls...but hey havent we all?
Still Play
Smooth Stroke,
I appreciate the offer a lot but if youre ever in North Carolina, hit me up I always enjoy playing someone Ive never played.
Smooth Stroke,
I appreciate the offer a lot but if youre ever in North Carolina, hit me up I always enjoy playing someone Ive never played.
One of the most important things I learned as a pool instructor is that everyone is different. Not everyone takes in information the same way. Instructors have to know different ways to communicate information to players.
Having been around and played with pros for many years, I know that most of them are feel players and learn by observation. But there are also some players who are more meticulous in their thinking and need structure in what they do.
Instructors need to recognize how the player they are trying to help assimilates information. For example: You can't force physics down the throat of a player who assimilates information by feel and observation. And many of them don't need it. They can feel what others need to calculate.
If you take a feel player and try to force them into a rigid elbow, you could very well ruin their game. I've seen cookie-cutter type teachers where they are so rigid with their style of teaching that they help some players but hurt others who don't, and never will, think that way.
On the other hand, there are players who require a more academic process to improve. They would respond well to discussions on the physics of the game, and aiming systems, etc. You can see it here in this forum, how different players assimilate information.
Having been around and played with pros for many years, I know that most of them are feel players and learn by observation. But there are also some players who are more meticulous in their thinking and need structure in what they do.
Instructors need to recognize how the player they are trying to help assimilates information. For example: You can't force physics down the throat of a player who assimilates information by feel and observation. And many of them don't need it. They can feel what others need to calculate.
If you take a feel player and try to force them into a rigid elbow, you could very well ruin their game. I've seen cookie-cutter type teachers where they are so rigid with their style of teaching that they help some players but hurt others who don't, and never will, think that way.
On the other hand, there are players who require a more academic process to improve. They would respond well to discussions on the physics of the game, and aiming systems, etc. You can see it here in this forum, how different players assimilate information.
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This is the most intelligent post of the year!
Many times I've tried to say the same thing, but not as eloquently. The only think I would add is that good instructors also recognize the physical limitations of their students...and they help the student figure out a work-around.
You can learn from just about anybody, regardless of how strong they play, or how bad they instruct. I mean, if you watch a video of yourself playing, you can see problems stick out like a sore thumb. It's a safe bet that you play at the same level as that guy in the video, yet you can tell him things to fix his game.