Teach a boy to shoot pool

Thanks everyone

This has gotta be the most useful thread (for me) that I've ever started on this board. Thanks to each one of you who responded. I read your posts carefully, jotted down some notes, and I'm ready for my next session with Tony (and the rest of the nephews too).

I definitely like the idea of shooting balls directly into the pockets, and I'll make a game of it by insisting that he make three in a row, then five, etc., each session.

I'm also excited about "wired combos" that will give him the thrill of hearing the ball go into the pocket. Maybe I'll post another thread like this in a year or so and let you all know how it turned out.

And Scott, I scrounged up a copy of "Rack 'em Daddy" from the library. Thanks for the excellent suggestion.
 
We're not done, yet!

Our granddaughter had her own pool cue (29 inches) when she was maybe 6 months old. We sat her on the pool table and put one object ball in the corner, where it will fall in the pocket, regardless of where it's hit. Then, we would sit her sideways and teach her to hold the cue where the wrap is and use her "guide" hand (which we now just call a "guide") to keep the cue moving in the right direction. (The wrap hand is over and the guide hand is under, so it can stay still and let the cue move, one day.) One of us would help her move the cue into the cue ball, which then rolled toward the pocket and knocked the object ball into the pocket, making everyone start clapping and get all excited. This just made her day!

When she was tiny, the guide hand moved with the cue. She is now 3 years old and the guide hand is doing much better at staying put, although it still moves with the pool cue, once in a while.

Also, it's about time for a new cue. And, I was either thinking of making some kind of higher ground for her, all around the pool table, or making some kind of stilts. So, I really appreciate the mention of the toy buckets and cheap sandals. She is too tall to sit on the table anymore, but too short to shoot properly, even if she's stretched up onto her toes. I didn't like the higher ground idea, because it would get in the way of our front leg, when shooting.

At 3, she now actually shoots those object balls into the corner pockets on her own. We even use the side pockets, once in a while. Since she doesn't get to play nearly as often as she used to, she gets way too impatient to play for long and has a fit when we finally say today's time is up, but she truly appreciates the next time she gets to play.

We are just now starting to use chalk, because she is finally beginning to really comprehend the actual purpose and is just beginning to slow down enough to really think about what she's doing.

Now, we also have a grandson, who just turned 6 months. I guess it's about time for his first pool cue...
 
renard said:
Sounds like your doing pretty good already. Usually the stroke comes on its own accord with repetition. Teaching the proper bridge is a must. Combining these two will result in the miscues becoming less frequent.

The real problem is his height. He is going to have to adapt a Willie Hoppe side arm delivery just to make balls.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...=12&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

As he gets older he will most likely adapt a more conventional stance. But don't be thrown off if his stance looks like Willie's. Let it be, unless you want to build a shooter deck for him.
- SNIP
Click to expand...

My 8-yr old son has started shooting normally almost from the start, even with a closed bridge. I started teaching him the open bridge, a bit of a side stroke, but after watching me for a bit, he asked how to shoot in the standard style. He can't reach very far off the rail, but I just move the balls a bit closer for him if needed. He uses a kid-size 2-peice stick I got for $30 or $40 many years ago, and I think they are the same price now. I think Action makes some nice models.

If he can at all put his arm in a regular right-angle grip, even if he can only shoot off the rail at balls, I think that may be the way to go. Another thing that worked for me is to constantly say "chalk, and do 1-2-3 (the warm-up strokes), then hit". His stoke is miles better than many of the older people that I see due to this, and if you help him aim a bit, his eye will develop for the angles.

Try Virtual Pool (1,2, or 3, they are all almost the same) on the computer, it will help introduce a fun way to learn the rules and angles. I played this with my son and he seemed to have picked up on the right angle to hit a ball to make it without me showing him. There is a free 4-ball demo of Virtual Pool 3 out there.

For when we shoot together, I made a fun game where he can shoot balls in any order, I play in rotation, and the person to pocket the last ball wins. Needless to say, I stratch on the last ball a lot ;) :), it makes him happy to beat me. They key is to stop when he gets a bit antsy and do something else. Try bringing a portable DVD player or asking the house man to pop in a kids DVD in the TV ( assuming the place is not busy ). After a snack and some Monsters Inc. the little one is refreshed and ready for another rack.
 
Hi. sorry to hijack the thread, but this reminds me of when my son started playing...@ about 3yrs old, he started with a Toys R Us table,about the size of a pillow. Then @ 4yrs old, i bought him a 5ft table with balls big enough to have the proper physics (like draw,spin etc)...

some of you might have seen this video clip before, as i posted it last year..here's the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhwXwd142M

The thing to note is...i didn't really teach him anything, even the loop bridge was his own "copying" what he sees on pool videos (& watching me shoot).

I think the best thing is to just let him shoot, have fun,miss,get annoyed, & even let him divert his attention whenever he wants..(keyword here is enthusiasm & Interest!)

My boy,sort of has a short attention span, & will play with his toy cars, after about 20minutes, but he will be back on the pool table shortly after...especially if someone is there to "shoot" around with!

he used to use my break cue's shaft..back then..now he uses a "short" full cue..(about the length of a jump cue)

He now has a pre-shot routine (watching Mika Immonen-you know, the stretching the cue in the air, & wiping of the chalk fron the ferrulle with his fingers) so its basically "monkey-see-monkey-do"

today, at almost 5yrs old, he shoots better, but being the only child, & without anyone to shoot pool with, with me too busy,etc..he's showing slightly less interest. This thread reminds me that maybe i should start real coaching for him!

p.s. here is also a picture of him i posted about 2 years ago!
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=38008
 
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Pool

WesleyW said:
If you want to teach him stuff, you don't want to rush. So you need to take some time, a lot of time. Don't tell him everything. Start with the basics and teach him not more than 2-3 basics stuff every time you see him. For example, teach him to chalk his cue everytime he shot a ball. The next time you see him, you teach him to stay down after everytime he shoot. Just some little easy stuff he can learn. If he is really getting progress and likes the game. Than you can teach him a little higher level basics, like the stance, grip, follow, draw, etc.
Click to expand...

START HIM OUT RIGHT AWAY WITH A PROFESSIONAL AIMING SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT HIS AGE IS. AS LONG AS HE CAN HOLD A CUE AND POKE AT A BALL, GET HIM STARTED ON THE PRO SYSTEM. CALL ME FOR THE PRO SYSTEM. 484 623 4144.
 
halhoule said:
START HIM OUT RIGHT AWAY WITH A PROFESSIONAL AIMING SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT HIS AGE IS. AS LONG AS HE CAN HOLD A CUE AND POKE AT A BALL, GET HIM STARTED ON THE PRO SYSTEM. CALL ME FOR THE PRO SYSTEM. 484 623 4144
Click to expand...
 
Start Him Out Right Away With A Professional Aiming System No Matter What His Age Is. As Long As He Can Hold A Cue And Poke At A Ball, Get Him Started On The Pro System. Call Me For The Pro System. 484 623 4144
 
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