Randy G's Pool School Review

[randyg]

I went to RandyG's Pool School at Sal Conti's room in Southington, CT. And I have nothing but great reviews about the experience. I holed up in my basement for months drilling what I had learned from them to rote.

However, the instructors there did lack in diagnosing one problem that I had and asked them about which kept escalating during the weekend, and had been a problem for me for a couple years.

They had me questioning my stance, my cue length, and general health because no one instructor could help me. I was having an ongoing problem with my shoulders and neck. The longer I kept shooting, the greater the pain would be. I had no clue why this was happening.

When I got back home, I talked with Fran Crimi (another Master BCA Instructor) about the school and my unsolved problem. She invited me up to the former Corner Billiards - now Amsterdam's new place - for an evaluation, free of charge, BTW. Anyway, after watching me for 10 minutes shooting she diagnosed my problem and offered a solution that still works for me!

What I'm trying to convey is, I loved RandyG's Pool School, but they aren't the end-all, be-all of instruction. As happy as I was to learn the mechanics that I so desparately needed to learn, they weren't the end of the line for helping me.

Randy's school is a great start, but don't stop looking there. I've enjoyed great instruction from Dawn Hopkins, Jimmy Caras, and Joe Tucker as well! It all depends on what you're looking for!!

Barbara

AMEN.....randyg

 

[randyg]

I just hold the school and the staff in a different reguard, having been around and played most of them.

What doe's one's playing ability have to do with their teaching ability?....randyg

 

[Quesports]

Exactly!

What doe's one's playing ability have to do with their teaching ability?....randyg

Somebody named Tiger Woods has a teacher also, and I do not think he plays golf like Tiger.....
Dan

 

[RBLilly]

What doe's one's playing ability have to do with their teaching ability?....randyg

Exactly my point!

Some are born to be teachers! Some are born to be players! Some are born to be both!

You just have to know what you were born to do!

 

[Scott Lee]

what a knucklehead...

I just hold the school and the staff in a different reguard, having been around and played most of them.

sicbinature...So I guess you subscribe to that "dream world philosophy" of 'if you can't BEAT me, you can't TEACH me'? Best of luck in pursuing a better pool game...or do you already know everything? If so, there's just a FEW people on here who will gladly match up with you for whatever you'd like to play for.

They just don't know what they don't know!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[sicbinature]

sicbinature...So I guess you subscribe to that "dream world philosophy" of 'if you can't BEAT me, you can't TEACH me'? Best of luck in pursuing a better pool game...or do you already know everything? If so, there's just a FEW people on here who will gladly match up with you for whatever you'd like to play for.

They just don't know what they don't know!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

For whatever I would like to play for. lol. Ignorance is truly bliss. How about I set up a game with you here in Dallas at Diamonds for whatever you want to play for, and then you can get back on here and say whatever you like. PM me.

 

[Scott Lee]

Ignorance is truly bliss.

A PM is not necessary. You didn't answer whether or not you know it all. So I guess ignorance IS bliss on your part too! I never said I could beat you, or anybody else. All I said was that if you think that way ("if you can't beat me, you can't teach me"), best of luck in learning to improve from where you are...and that there are very likely plenty of players here on AzB who will match up with you, whoever you are (since you choose to hide behind something other than your own name).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[catscradle]

sicbinature...So I guess you subscribe to that "dream world philosophy" of 'if you can't BEAT me, you can't TEACH me'? Best of luck in pursuing a better pool game...or do you already know everything? If so, there's just a FEW people on here who will gladly match up with you for whatever you'd like to play for.

They just don't know what they don't know!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Boy Scott, am I ever lucky. I'm sure glad I can't beat either you or Randy, otherwise I'd have to pass on 2 of the best instructors of anything I've ever seen in my life.
I guess the vast majority the NFL & MLB coaches will have to step down now, given the above insight from sicginature.

 

[catscradle]

... You don't know what you don't know.
Steve

I know what I don't know... much more than I do know.

 

[randyg]

I know what I don't know... much more than I do know.

What did you say

 

[catscradle]

What did you say

That I don't know a lot. lol. (and I'm no dummy)

 

[Tristan]

Boy Scott, am I ever lucky. I'm sure glad I can't beat either you or Randy, otherwise I'd have to pass on 2 of the best instructors of anything I've ever seen in my life.
I guess the vast majority the NFL & MLB coaches will have to step down now, given the above insight from sicginature.

There is a difference, however, between your analogy of NFL/MLB coaches and these billiard instructors. There are no examples (that I am aware of) of pro or pro level Football or Baseball players that reached elite level without organized instruction or coaching. In pool, on the other hand, the instruction that very good players have had - insofar as they had instruction at all - tends to take the form of better players mentoring lesser skilled players, with gambling often involved.

I do not think that the poster who questioned RandyG's school was suggesting that instruction was bankrupt, but instead simply asking for a demonstration this particular school's worth.

It is true that "even Tiger Woods has a coach," but I guarantee you that he did a lot of research into WHO that coach was going to be before he selected them, and did not select that coach based on the recommendations of ammeter country club golfers.

I agree that the skill level of the coach is of little importance to their ability to teach -- HOWEVER -- I think that the reasoning of the poster was as follows: "if neither the coach nor his students can perform at a high level, what indication is there that the money I spend on these lessons won't be spent in vain?"

Obviously "high level" here is subjective, but it's not unreasonable to expect at least a few A+ level players to credit a high priced, ostensibly high profile school like Cue-Tech with some of their success.

None of this is intended to be negative or an insult to RandyG or his school, only observations.

 

[randyg]

There is a difference, however, between your analogy of NFL/MLB coaches and these billiard instructors. There are no examples (that I am aware of) of pro or pro level Football or Baseball players that reached elite level without organized instruction or coaching. In pool, on the other hand, the instruction that very good players have had - insofar as they had instruction at all - tends to take the form of better players mentoring lesser skilled players, with gambling often involved.

I do not think that the poster who questioned RandyG's school was suggesting that instruction was bankrupt, but instead simply asking for a demonstration this particular school's worth.

It is true that "even Tiger Woods has a coach," but I guarantee you that he did a lot of research into WHO that coach was going to be before he selected them, and did not select that coach based on the recommendations of ammeter country club golfers.

I agree that the skill level of the coach is of little importance to their ability to teach -- HOWEVER -- I think that the reasoning of the poster was as follows: "if neither the coach nor his students can perform at a high level, what indication is there that the money I spend on these lessons won't be spent in vain?"

Obviously "high level" here is subjective, but it's not unreasonable to expect at least a few A+ level players to credit a high priced, ostensibly high profile school like Cue-Tech with some of their success.

None of this is intended to be negative or an insult to RandyG or his school, only observations.

All very valid points....SPF=randyg

 

[Scott Lee]

I do not think that the poster who questioned RandyG's school was suggesting that instruction was bankrupt, but instead simply asking for a demonstration this particular school's worth.

Actually, sicbinature insinuated that he played better than Randyg or the Cue Tech instructors, and therefore the instruction was of no or limited value to him personally. Like I said...a ridiculous premise! With the amount of positive feedback from players of all abilities (including pros) who have gone through Cue Tech, there can be no doubt that it will benefit all students, and highly benefit MOST students.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[randyg]

Actually, sicbinature insinuated that he played better than Randyg or the Cue Tech instructors, and therefore the instruction was of no or limited value to him personally. Like I said...a ridiculous premise! With the amount of positive feedback from players of all abilities (including pros) who have gone through Cue Tech, there can be no doubt that it will benefit all students, and highly benefit MOST students.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I hate to own up to this fact BUT: I'm starting to get beat by quite a few of CUE-TECH students. Either I have to start playing more and teach less, wonder which option will win.....SPF=randyg

 

[randyg]

Actually, sicbinature insinuated that he played better than Randyg or the Cue Tech instructors, and therefore the instruction was of no or limited value to him personally. Like I said...a ridiculous premise! With the amount of positive feedback from players of all abilities (including pros) who have gone through Cue Tech, there can be no doubt that it will benefit all students, and highly benefit MOST students.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Scott, I don't think he knows who our Instructors are....SPF=randyg

 

[catscradle]

I hate to own up to this fact BUT: I'm starting to get beat by quite a few of CUE-TECH students. Either I have to start playing more and teach less, wonder which option will win.....SPF=randyg

I expect teaching would win. If you developed your personal pool game to the point you were the very best, you would not be contributing as much to pool as you do as the fine teacher you are. A good teacher is much more than the ability to perform, and, IMO, a much rarer commodity than a person who can perform.
You and Scott just keep on keeping on, you're doing fine.

 

[mattman]

Either I have to start playing more and teach less, wonder which option will win.....SPF=randyg

I would venture to say that you will choose the option that puts the bread on the table.

 

[pathman]

I went to Randy's school a few years back. I was so skeptical when I got there that I'm sure I came across like a smart-ass. After a couple of hours I really started to see why this was a valuable experience. I also happen to know a few "champions" who have been out to Dallas to work on a few specific flaws in they're game. Randy doesn't name names and neither will I, but suffice to say, some of the pool groupies on this board would be shocked at some of the names. And I firmly believe that none of the instructors that were there when I went would like it one bit to gamble with me in a little one-hole, but I would still listen to anything that they had to say about my game.

 

[Scott Lee]

I hate to own up to this fact BUT: I'm starting to get beat by quite a few of CUE-TECH students. Either I have to start playing more and teach less, wonder which option will win.....SPF=randyg

Randy...Isn't it the greatest compliment that we, as instructors, can get?...to have our students surpass us in tranferring information to ability at the table? Besides...NOBODY just steps up and beats YOU! That is, unless they are already a champion!...and like pathman said, many of those have still chosen to listen to ways on how even they can improve!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com