Teaching question --what would you do

[Andrew Manning]

If what you say that they dont want to get any better!!! but have more fun my advice is to { drink more beer} is that not what most legue players do??/ all leugies i have saw they all are drinking and hollering and having fun. to shoot serious you have to take the fun out of the game,look at the faces of the pro players until they lift the winning trophy they are not having fun they are dead serious to leiuge players { drink more beer] STICK

I disagree totally, just because you're focused and concentrating doesn't mean you're not having fun. For me, the better I play, the more fun I have, even though it doesn't always show on my face because I'm concentrating.

Also, the league players where I play are drinking less and playing more seriously than anyone else in the pool hall, including those who are gambling. I'm not sure where this perception comes from that the league players are drunken bangers. They may not be as good, on average, as those players that put their money on their shooting ability, but for the most part, they take the game seriously.

-Andrew

 

[supergreenman]

. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a 2 or 3 line up to pocket a ball, and thought to myself "what are they even hoping will happen with the cue ball?" You can tell they just haven't thought about what the cue ball's going to do, because sometimes they'll get down to shoot a shot, and pocket the ball in such a way that the cue ball doesn't even have a chance of landing in a good place, no matter how lucky they get.

So I'd teach them, before they learn to really CONTROL the cue ball, to at least PREDICT the cue ball action, and choose their shot accordingly. They should think "if I shoot this shot, the cue ball's going to go there, do I want that to happen?" At first their predictions will be off, but eventually they'll get a lot better at it, and choose patterns much more wisely than before. And then if, somewhere along the way, they develop any real cue ball control, they'll be a force to be reckoned with.

-Andrew

I think if they are truly interested in learning something to bring thier game up a little bit I would start with alignment. I think it's the first thing a begginer will get wrong. After that a quick lesson on the 90/30 rule to show them the natural CB paths so that they can plan thier next shot.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Slow down, stay down
30 and 90 degree rules
Keep asking them over and over while they are about to shoot...

Where is the cue ball going after this shot?
Where is the cue ball going after this shot?
Where is the cue ball going after this shot?

 

[Andrew Manning]

Keep asking them over and over while they are about to shoot...

Where is the cue ball going after this shot?
Where is the cue ball going after this shot?
Where is the cue ball going after this shot?

While I agree with the idea that they need to be asking themselves this question, repeating this incessantly while they're trying to shoot sounds to me like a good way to get punched in the mouth.

-Andrew

 

[time_is_now]

basics

Lets say you have 2-3 people that are at a "D" or below level. They really
dont car to ever get really good but would like to make their league
play of a night or two more enjoyable.

What would you teach them?
What do you think would help them the most?
How would you convey them? ie what methods would you use?

Obviously they will have different strengths and weaknesses.
I have seen different peoples approaches and was just curious as
to some others and some others methods to help the players understand.

Most say to read a book but thats easier said than done. Some people dont learn well that way and can be shown hands-on much better.


Hopefully some of the guys who are considered the top AZ players will chime in. I am certain that they have seem mistakes by low level players and know whats common.

teach them the basics

stance
bridge
line up
stoke cue
to stay down........

if one can stand correctly with a decent bridge, when lined up correctly they will improve big time....especially on forgiving tables such as valley bar boxes....most teaching the starting level best comes from one naturally learning from seeing how it is done

 

[Da Poet]

I know you were looking for expert advice, but I captain a team and I have a slightly different angle.

I have to say, the quickest and best way, and I mean THE quickest and best way to get your lower skilled players to improve AND enjoy their evenings, is to get a hot chick on your team. (or an equal equivalent depending on the makeup of your team, don't want to be sexist)

This works wonders until they start dating one of the players, then it all goes back downhill again, but hopefully by then, they'll have all clung to the excellent advice above long enough to improve a little.

Good luck!