Seeing quantum leap in your clients ?

JoeyInCali

Maker of Joey Bautista Cues
Silver Member
If you had a student/client who had a quantum leap in his game, what was the one thing you think really caused it ? Or series of things.
 
I taught my son the SPF fundamentals when he wanted to finally get better, he was about 16 at the time, he already knew how to pocket a ball but lacked the consistency of better players. He went form a skill 3 in our city league to a 6 in 12 weeks once he got a straight stroke and PSR and has stayed there because he didn't want to practice anymore and now that he has a family of his own doesn't have the time, though he mentions coming home to get some lessons.

My sons friend saw how much my son was improving and wanted lessons too because the were in competition with each other, he went from a 3 to a 5 in those same 12 weeks as my son.

My Grandson who is 2 LOVES pool, I work with him all the time keeping it fun for him. Looking forward to see when he is able stroke the stick without Pa Pa's help! :thumbup:
 
Sometimes it's the little things. Like meeting a student who is aiming for years now to the wrong part of the pocket. A little discussion, a little demonstration and he is pocketing many more balls than before.

And at the risk of the flames, sometimes an aim system makes a BIG difference for a player.
 
Little things mean a lot!

Sometimes it's the little things. Like meeting a student who is aiming for years now to the wrong part of the pocket. A little discussion, a little demonstration and he is pocketing many more balls than before.

And at the risk of the flames, sometimes an aim system makes a BIG difference for a player.

People see things in different perspectives like aiming; I primarily use "contact point" to aim but I also use CTE and use SVB stick aiming method too, but for the life of me I can't see the "Ghost ball " method of aiming. I worked with Scott Lee a month ago and we worked a simple drill and it has improved my game! The more open your mind is the more you learn.
 
If you had a student/client who had a quantum leap in his game, what was the one thing you think really caused it ? Or series of things.

Well, I hate to admit it, but my student that improved the most did it because of what I told him NOT to do. The right mix of cocaine got him to where he ran a ten pack on me last time I played him.

Don't recommend his solution for anyone. It's a temp. fix, and will cost you a lot more than you can win one time at the table.
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now guess how many not so smart individuals will be playing pool & trying the find that right mix?

You should never have posted this & should take it down ASAP before someone quotes it & you lose control of it.

OOOPS! I just did.

I' remove your words ASAP.
 
Most people who come for help have been playing for awhile and have developed certain bad habits. Most of the time they have no idea what these bad habits are. And sometimes, even when they know what they are, they can't stop the process.

I have the ability to get into the mind of the player. I know what they are thinking at the table just by the way they are playing. Once I figure out what triggers the bad habit -- for example: Maybe they start to feel anxious and pick up the pace when 'X' number of balls are left --- whatever it is --- there are hundreds of triggers. I will identify it and help the player replace it with a trigger that sets off a good habit in place of the bad one.

I have seen players make that giant leap to another level when they put in the work to adopt new triggers to replace the old ones that have been hurting them for so long.
 
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Most people who come for help have been playing for awhile and have developed certain bad habits. Most of the time they have no idea what these bad habits are. And sometimes, even when they know what they are, they can't stop the process.

I have the ability to get into the mind of the player. I know what they are thinking at the table just by the way they are playing. Once I figure out what triggers the bad habit -- for example: Maybe they start to feel anxious and pick up the pace when 'X' number of balls are left --- whatever it is --- there are hundreds of triggers. I will identify it and help the player replace it with a trigger that sets off a good habit in place of the bad one.

I have seen players make that giant leap to another level when they put in the work to adopt new triggers to replace the old ones that have been hurting them for so long.

Hi Fran,

There's the fire, stop pouring gasoline on it & instead pour water on it.

There was a time that I started to develop a tendency to miss the tough shot that was required for the win.

This sort of crept up on me as it certainly was not always the case.

I certainly did not like it & found that it was fear... & too much of it.

I was looking ahead... & even though they were tough shots, they were shots that I had become accustomed to making. I was looking ahead & thinking about how I would feel... IF... I 'blew it'... and LOST... & I 'HATE' losing, even though I don't mind too much getting beaten.

Anyway, when I realized that I was actually causing myself to miss with the trepidation, I employed a simple quick deep breathing process while I convinced myself that the shot was NOT that difficult & that I had made one's like it & tougher many many times before& I that I am certainly capable of making it... so just focus on IT & then, like Nike stole from me, Just Do IT.

My point is that I was lucky enough to handle it myself perhaps because of my other sports background.

The point is that You're very experienced as an Instructor but IMO more importantly as a Player & You have the insights to know what a player goes through.

Anyway, I just thought I'd chime in & agree that like you say it can be a rather 'small' thing & NOT so much a stroke fundamental or any lack of physics or physical knowledge but can be other matters as you were pointing out.

Best Wishes to You & ALL.
 
Hey Rick,

It's great that you were able to recognize the problem. You're right in that I learned a lot of what I teach through my experience as a competitor. If you're going to compete against the best in the world, you have to make sure that your auto-pilot is helping you and hot hurting you.

Once, early in my career, I found myself missing the 9-ball in my matches. I couldn't figure out what I was doing. Then one day I asked a friend to watch me shoot to see if he could pick up on anything. He did and started laughing. He said I would probably make more 9 balls if I would keep my eyes open when I shot them. Sheesh.
 
Hey Rick,

It's great that you were able to recognize the problem. You're right in that I learned a lot of what I teach through my experience as a competitor. If you're going to compete against the best in the world, you have to make sure that your auto-pilot is helping you and hot hurting you.

Once, early in my career, I found myself missing the 9-ball in my matches. I couldn't figure out what I was doing. Then one day I asked a friend to watch me shoot to see if he could pick up on anything. He did and started laughing. He said I would probably make more 9 balls if I would keep my eyes open when I shot them. Sheesh.

Thanks for the laugh, Fran.

It was a pretty healthy laugh too, as that is NOT what I expected... But I could see you doing it.

Yeah, it's amazing how little we recognize some of the things that we do & that is why it is useful to have eyes that know what to look for when we are having an issue.

Just this past summer I played golf with my oldest Son on vacation in Fla. I taught him how to play starting when he was like 4. He had not been playing all that well lately, but also not that much due to work.

Anyway after 4 holes I told him 2 things, one of which he did not readily believe but did so when I asked him if he thought I was lying to him.

It took a few holes to get it fixed hitting only one drive per hole but he shot 3 under par on the back nine on a course he'd never seen & could have had 2 eagle putts if he'd known the holes.

He's been playing really good golf ever since. The thing is that I know his swing & him probably better than he does himself.

I think You are much that way for pool when you tag on your playing experience to your teaching experience.

Best to You & Stay Well & Warm.
 
If you had a student/client who had a quantum leap in his game, what was the one thing you think really caused it ? Or series of things.

In order to fix a problem, you must first identify the problem. I use video analysis with every student. It allows me to show them any issues in their mechanics. Then we go to work correcting the problems (SPF is the biggest key to solid fundamentals) A great majority of my students tell me this was the key to improvement in their game.
 
100% agree Steve! The very first thing any potential student should do is ask their potential instructor if they use video analysis. I can tell you all day what you're doing, but seeing yourself on video (especially in slow motion) is the real key to finding and fixing problems quickly.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

In order to fix a problem, you must first identify the problem. I use video analysis with every student. It allows me to show them any issues in their mechanics. Then we go to work correcting the problems (SPF is the biggest key to solid fundamentals) A great majority of my students tell me this was the key to improvement in their game.
 
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