Teaching a beginner

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skyman

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I have recently started teaching my son how to play pool. He's 13 and has never really even picked up a cue. So last night we sat down for about an hour and worked on stroke, angles, and pocketing balls. As far as whats next I'm not really sure since I've never quite seen a set regiment for what to teach. Does anyone have a good regiment for progression for a complete beginner?

My plan was:
1) Stroke and Pocketing balls
2) top and bottom spin
3) side spin
4) 2 ball position drills
5) 3 ball position drills
6) How to play 8/9 ball
 
skyman said:
I have recently started teaching my son how to play pool. He's 13 and has never really even picked up a cue. So last night we sat down for about an hour and worked on stroke, angles, and pocketing balls. As far as whats next I'm not really sure since I've never quite seen a set regiment for what to teach. Does anyone have a good regiment for progression for a complete beginner?

My plan was:
1) Stroke and Pocketing balls
2) top and bottom spin
3) side spin
4) 2 ball position drills
5) 3 ball position drills
6) How to play 8/9 ball
Click to expand...


See Phil Cappelle's "Play Your Best Pool". I can't think of a better guide. Other than that, just make sure he's just playing a lot. He'll pick it up.
 
skyman said:
I have recently started teaching my son how to play pool. He's 13 and has never really even picked up a cue. So last night we sat down for about an hour and worked on stroke, angles, and pocketing balls. As far as whats next I'm not really sure since I've never quite seen a set regiment for what to teach. Does anyone have a good regiment for progression for a complete beginner?

My plan was:
1) Stroke and Pocketing balls
2) top and bottom spin
3) side spin
4) 2 ball position drills
5) 3 ball position drills
6) How to play 8/9 ball
Click to expand...

Skyman
Above all make it fun for him:)
 
To start with

Jude Rosenstock said:
See Phil Cappelle's "Play Your Best Pool". I can't think of a better guide. Other than that, just make sure he's just playing a lot. He'll pick it up.
Click to expand...

I have read "Play Your Best Pool" I agree that it is great for what you want. One suggestion though, in Mike Segel's 3 set DVD on pool. The first 7 drills you do not get to hit a ball. It is all about where your arm should be at address, your stance, making sure your stroke is straight, and stroking thru the ball. The very first practice is to stroke the cue down the edge of the rail between the cushion and wood. That way you have a straight line to watch your stroke against. You can also use the edge of your dining table and practice at home. Focus on these things to begin with and he will have the basic down correctly. Everything else after that will have a firm foundation to grow on.

Just my .5 cents worth. It is not really worth 2 cents.
 
Skyman, I think its great that you have a son that is interested in learning. I'm new here but I think that you should teach him about 8 and 9 ball while doing those drills. It would give him an understanding what they are for, and how they could be benifical in real life. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Skyman, I think its great that you have a son that is interested in learning. I'm new here but I think that you should teach him about 8 and 9 ball while doing those drills. It would give him an understanding what they are for, and how they could be benifical in real life. Just my 2 cents worth.

This was one point I wasnt sure about. With a "clean slate" , I thought it would be best to learn the skills before the game. My reasoning was to build up some positive successes with the 2 and 3 ball drills before we put 9 or even 15 on the table.
 
I would try to concentrate on the mechanics such as grip, stance, head position, etc. to start with. Then once he gets where he can make balls, teach him about english. So many beginners think they should use english to make the ball, when you should actually only use english for positioning the cueball. JMO.

Southpaw
 
YOU teach your son this game and it will be better all around for all of us.

Make it fun and when your son has the basics, play him some 9 ball and spot him the break and the 4. :cool:

Yours Truly,
The Woim
 
These are all great ideas. I have been teaching my son how to play for the past 2 years (on and off). He really enjoys pool and I have seen him run several successive 5 ball runs and a few 7 ball runs playing 8-ball. I am taking him to Randy G.'s Pool School in Dallas this next year. So, my suggestion is if he really enjoys pool, after a little while take him to something like that (you can only teach up to your level) and take him to tournaments so he can see many different people play.

My $.01

Dean:D
 
Southpaw said:
I would try to concentrate on the mechanics such as grip, stance, head position, etc. to start with. Then once he gets where he can make balls, teach him about english. So many beginners think they should use english to make the ball, when you should actually only use english for positioning the cueball. JMO.

Southpaw
Click to expand...

Excellent point. When giving beginners help, I have found that teaching them how to form a balanced stance tends to have the most immediate impact.
 
League

In my area there is an APA youth league on Saturdays. The kids get to play with others there own age and the operator trys to get the skills to match for even games when she can. Also, some of the better players from the league will show up and help some of the kids out and give them pointers.

You may want to check with the different leagues in you area to see what they have. You may also want to check with the pool halls to see if any of them have something setup for kids competition.
 
skyman said:
I have recently started teaching my son how to play pool. He's 13 and has never really even picked up a cue. So last night we sat down for about an hour and worked on stroke, angles, and pocketing balls. As far as whats next I'm not really sure since I've never quite seen a set regiment for what to teach. Does anyone have a good regiment for progression for a complete beginner?

My plan was:
1) Stroke and Pocketing balls
2) top and bottom spin
3) side spin
4) 2 ball position drills
5) 3 ball position drills
6) How to play 8/9 ball
Click to expand...
I'd wait on the side spin and the multi-ball drills until he has a relatively smooth, straight stroke.

An outline for a Basics Clinic is available for free at http://www.sfbilliards.com/basics.pdf -- it might give you some other topics to cover.
 
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