Seeking improvement

A

Aaron69

Registered
I'm actually interested to get an instructor to look at my fundamentals and advise changes if required.

I believe it all comes down to practice. So is an instructor really necessary? Are books and videos enough ? If necessary, how many lessons should I take ?

Randomly played for almost 2 years. Wishing to take my game to another level.

Self-taught(s) / Guided training / Mixture of both please give me some advise.

Thank you!
 
Aaron69 said:
I'm actually interested to get an instructor to look at my fundamentals and advise changes if required.

I believe it all comes down to practice. So is an instructor really necessary? Are books and videos enough ? If necessary, how many lessons should I take ?

Randomly played for almost 2 years. Wishing to take my game to another level.

Self-taught(s) / Guided training / Mixture of both please give me some advise.

Thank you!
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It may be hard to change your mind but I think that it is much harder for an individual to see what it is that they are doing wrong than it is for a coach or an instructor.

You should take instruction for as long as you are in need of improving your game.
 
too many paths

Aaron69 said:
I'm actually interested to get an instructor to look at my fundamentals and advise changes if required.

I believe it all comes down to practice. So is an instructor really necessary? Are books and videos enough ? If necessary, how many lessons should I take ?

Randomly played for almost 2 years. Wishing to take my game to another level.

Self-taught(s) / Guided training / Mixture of both please give me some advise.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

There are too many paths when just trying to learn on your own. For every one path that works and creates an Allen Hopkins or Keith McCready with unconventional styles that work there are hundreds of dead ends. Starting with an instructor and an occasional meeting with one afterwards gets you started on a working path and keeps you on it. I don't believe there is only one way to shoot pool but it is nice to know you are on a path that will get results.

If you don't have a qualified instructor available video is the next best thing. Shoot yourself from directly in front and behind, and at a right angle from the side. What you think you are doing may be far different than what you are doing. Video rarely lies.

I have learned many things on my own with little or no instruction. It wasn't uncommon to find I had been doing something wrong for a year or two by the time somebody else noticed or I noticed other people did it differently.

I will say that Lil Joe Villalpando's videos that are available at pooliq.net would have shortened my pool learning curve about five years once I had a decent stroke. Video is good for some things, books for others. Neither is as good as a few hours with an instructor for some things. Very nice to correct mistakes immediately before they become entrenched habbits.

Hu
 
First of all thank you all for the valuable inputs! I will definitely get an instructor to check on my fundamentals and get me on the right track.

Was thinking whether it is better for a 1-1 session or is it possible to share the cost with a friend for a 1-2 session ?
 
I showed up to my local hall every day for a month before the owner came over and told me I was doing everything wrong. I listened, learned and last year at some college tourney I heard a professor telling the students he brought to pay attention to how good my mechanics are.

Pool's always been a "dark" game no one wanted to share their secrets in fear that they would come back and beat them one day. Now that's changing and there are tons of good players who want to advance the game and will gladly share their knowledge with you under one condition. YOU have to listen and want to improve. I'll help anyone once, but if you don't want to improve I won't bother with it again.

Go to youtube and type in us open 9 ball and watch the pros. don't watch the shot, watch them, their mechanics. stance, stroke, everything. you'll notice they do the same thing every time. You don't need professional instruction. PM me if you want any more help
 
I would definately seek out professional instruction. If you do what they tell you and practice, practice, practice, it will definately shorten your learning curve. There is a lot about pool that you don't realize that you don't even know if that makes sense. A good instuctor can give you that info in an organized manner that fits your game. There are some great instructors on here that will come out to your house or pool hall. Scott Lee is on of them. Do a search on here of instructors and you will find some valuable info.
 
Aaron69 said:
Are ... videos enough ?
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Videos of other people - NO!!!

Videos of yourself that you can compare to others with solid fundamentals? A starting point.

Videos of youself analysed by a competent instructor who can assist you in correcting your technique? Much better. :D

You can waste a lot of money buying instructional videos and books.
There is lots of free stuff on line.

Better to go see RandyG or Scott Lee for one of their three day groups, or book weekly sessions with a good instructor if there is one where you live.
Then buy a video camera to see yourself as your opponent sees you.:grin:
 
If you want to play better make a commitment to practicing. Practice by yourself a lot too. I've figured out things that have jumped my game leaps and bounds in the last year by practicing for hours alone. also practice with other people that want to improve so you can constantly push each other. build a rivalry if you want.
 
Ditto on taking professional lessons. Practice is a waste if you do not know what to practice. Ditto on the 1 on 1.
 
Professional instruction is probably the quickest way.
Those who come to my mind first:
Jerry Brieasth
Joe Tucker
Stan Shuffett
Mark Wilson
David "Blackjack" Sapolis
Depends on where you are for availability.
 
Aaron69 said:
I'm actually interested to get an instructor to look at my fundamentals and advise changes if required.

I believe it all comes down to practice. So is an instructor really necessary? Are books and videos enough ? If necessary, how many lessons should I take ?

Randomly played for almost 2 years. Wishing to take my game to another level.

Self-taught(s) / Guided training / Mixture of both please give me some advise.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

If all you do is "randomly play" it will be difficult to improve. The question you have to ask is whether it is worth it to spent a lot of time playing pool at the expense of other activities.
 
Aaron69...I travel the entire country teaching 1-1 and in groups. I also offer a satisfaction guarantee or your money back. PM me with your location and contact information if you're interested in working with me.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledg.com

Aaron69 said:
First of all thank you all for the valuable inputs! I will definitely get an instructor to check on my fundamentals and get me on the right track.

Was thinking whether it is better for a 1-1 session or is it possible to share the cost with a friend for a 1-2 session ?
Click to expand...
 
Getting into the game

After 50 plus years in the pool world, I have relented and decided to take giving personal lessons seriously. Firstly, I have decided to lower my rates from, "I charge so much, I hope you dont take them," to a reasonable $75 an hour, 2 hr maximum and minimum a day. I have had a student for the last couple months and thru him I have put together a basic lesson plan covering fundamentals, strategy, strokes, english, cloth and cushion variations, One Pocket, and whatever else that might come up.
I teach at home and have a Gold Crown in my game room. Parking if free and there is no table time. Right there is at least a $20 hr savings.

Credentials include, but are not limited to, Jet Johnson, winner of the DCC bankpool ring game 2010. Jeannie Vogelsang winner of the women's Illinois State Championship, and finally, just ask Efren Reyes who taught him how to play One Pocket.

Beard in Chicago

contact: bankingwiththebeard@comcast.net
 
$75 an hour is still a lot of money for most folks in this economy. Sometimes you have to pay table time on top of the fee. I'm known in some circles as the "poor man's teacher". My rates are very reasonable.
 
Depending on who you choose, the Instructor will give you so much information for you to work on, I'd plan on one lesson and then work on what you were given, then once you think you've mastered it, schedule the second for the refresher/second check and advanced work.

My lesson with Scott was about 4-5 hours.
My lesson with Mark Wilson was about 7-8 hours.
Ceulemans/Jaspers 3 days

Without a qualified instructor helping you the cost of years of table time will far out strip the cost of professional lessons. Some things you will likely never learn on your own.


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