Question about Bert K Tapes
- Thread starter Stewscue
- Start date
Stewscue said:
as Jim states, some are better than others. i'll go one step further and say that some are a complete waste. others are excellent!
he has a ton of tapes, so the best advice i can give is to ask about a specific tape before you buy it.
DCP
If you only buy one tape you will be disappointed because each tape is basically a one hour lesson dealing with one issue. He shows or sets up a drill and has a player or himself shoot it over and over. He will point out the mistakes made and how to correct them.
His first tape "60 minute workout" can stand alone but I think that Bob Henning's Pro series is better (http://www.bebobpublishing.com/mainindex.htm) as he does the same shots and condenses them. There are a few others such as the hustle tape or safeties that can also stand alone.
I have tapes 1 thru 55 because of the better deal by buying in volume. There are a few stinkers in there. Having that series I can see the benefit of having them because he addresses stuff from previous tapes.
There is a lot of good info but do not expect to learn everything about pool from one of his tapes. Most of his tapes expect you to know the basics. To learn that I would recommend taking lessons from one of the BCA instructors.
Are they worth the money? Only if you are willing to spend the time practicing what he wants you to do. 55 tapes will take 55 hours of viewing. Then in each tape he claims that you will improve if you practice it for anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks. Even if you practiced each tape for one week it will take more than a year to go thru them. I think he now has close to 70 tapes.
His first tape "60 minute workout" can stand alone but I think that Bob Henning's Pro series is better (http://www.bebobpublishing.com/mainindex.htm) as he does the same shots and condenses them. There are a few others such as the hustle tape or safeties that can also stand alone.
I have tapes 1 thru 55 because of the better deal by buying in volume. There are a few stinkers in there. Having that series I can see the benefit of having them because he addresses stuff from previous tapes.
There is a lot of good info but do not expect to learn everything about pool from one of his tapes. Most of his tapes expect you to know the basics. To learn that I would recommend taking lessons from one of the BCA instructors.
Are they worth the money? Only if you are willing to spend the time practicing what he wants you to do. 55 tapes will take 55 hours of viewing. Then in each tape he claims that you will improve if you practice it for anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks. Even if you practiced each tape for one week it will take more than a year to go thru them. I think he now has close to 70 tapes.
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Ok...I have about 50 of his tapes and have taken lessons with him back in 1999. As for taking lessons, he is more of a drill sargeant than anything, repetition is his big thing. So I shot spot shots, stop shots and several others, several hundred times a day. It's good to have someone there stressing the importance of routine shots (as we all know, those are the most missed ones).
As for his tapes, I have honestly watched about 10 of the 50 I have and have taken a few things from them so for me, it was well worth the money. I split the cost of the tapes with someone, so for me, to learn 3-4 things, for $200 is well worth it. I am decent B player, have spurts of A caliber in me.
The kicking tape puts things into perspective very well and the shot makers workout is great. I think he goes through the whole tape on one take, not stopping and he makes about 10 shots 10 times in a row...that is very very difficult to do.
Christian
As for his tapes, I have honestly watched about 10 of the 50 I have and have taken a few things from them so for me, it was well worth the money. I split the cost of the tapes with someone, so for me, to learn 3-4 things, for $200 is well worth it. I am decent B player, have spurts of A caliber in me.
The kicking tape puts things into perspective very well and the shot makers workout is great. I think he goes through the whole tape on one take, not stopping and he makes about 10 shots 10 times in a row...that is very very difficult to do.
Christian
TheBook said:
I agree...word for word...and especially about buying his tapes in a large block to get the discount AND especially the part about getting a PRO lesson or lessons. No tape can see how YOU play and what FEW basic improvements that YOU should make.
Personally, the best I can advise is to take the lesson first and then view the tapes because poor mechanics will cause ANY taped advice to prove less than useful.
Regards,
Jim
I have a pretty optimistic approach about taking lessons and advice. True story...My mom was watching me play in a tournament one day. She couldn't tell you if I was playing pool or golf. She says "you know you spend a lot of time watching the waitresses"...after that day..my eyes don't leave the table when I am in the chair.
If you can take ONE thing from 50 tapes it may carry you over the course of your whole playing career. I bet if you listened to all his tapes, you would pick up several things that might help you get the cash somewhere down the line.
I took lessons with a local guy in NJ. He was the complete opposite from Bert. He would actually tell me specific shots for kicking and banking and the dynamics behind everything, as opposed to running drills for hours. I also read Phil Capelle's book on nine ball and use one safety in his book routinely.
All in all, those three means of learning has made me 10 times as much I had paid for lessons...so the way I look at it, everyone could offer some kind of insight and I wouldn't discount Bert 's teaching methods.
Christian
If you can take ONE thing from 50 tapes it may carry you over the course of your whole playing career. I bet if you listened to all his tapes, you would pick up several things that might help you get the cash somewhere down the line.
I took lessons with a local guy in NJ. He was the complete opposite from Bert. He would actually tell me specific shots for kicking and banking and the dynamics behind everything, as opposed to running drills for hours. I also read Phil Capelle's book on nine ball and use one safety in his book routinely.
All in all, those three means of learning has made me 10 times as much I had paid for lessons...so the way I look at it, everyone could offer some kind of insight and I wouldn't discount Bert 's teaching methods.
Christian
You should change you question to "Question about how to search the forums"
Don't take this the wrong way, but this has been discussed many many times over the years. There are many threads with great information about Bert's tapes including lists of the good ones and the bad ones.
It is generally a good idea to always search the forums before posting questions. There is a wealth of fantastic information on on here.
Don't take this the wrong way, but this has been discussed many many times over the years. There are many threads with great information about Bert's tapes including lists of the good ones and the bad ones.
It is generally a good idea to always search the forums before posting questions. There is a wealth of fantastic information on on here.