Thoughts on various schools to improve playing?....

CCTEX

CCTEX

Active member
I see a few "schools" that tour around and some that are landed. Some are essentially franchise/systems that just have local instructors. I am sure many of you know all of this.

To accelerate the unfamiliar's learning curve, what are your thoughts?

Which ones do you like? Why?

Problems?
Things to watch out for?
LImitations?

Things I dont even know to ask?
 
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Texas Carom Club said:
Justin? Again?

Checkout the screen name to lol as if
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I have no idea who Justin is.

My name is Nate and I appear and star in movies and TV. I was in Robin Adairs shop today to buy a few things.

about.me

Nathan Gershon on about.me

I am an actor, Police Officer, and public speaker in Corpus Christi, TX. View my portfolio.
about.me about.me

I grew up playing pool but have been away from the sport for about 20 years. I was never good but I was certainly better and I would like to knock the rust off and finally learn some good habits.

Not everything in the world is nefarious.
 
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CCTEX said:
Not everything in the world is nefarious.
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Bullshit! Thanks how they suck you in and trap you!!
Screenshot_20210521-194215.jpg
 
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I have been considering dr daves billiards university. Because i like is scientific take on pool and because traveling somewhere for a weeks to learn appeals to me. But any of the instructors are good a good start. There is an adk the instructor forum you might be better andwers from.
 
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CCTEX said:
I see a few "schools" that tour around and some that are landed. Some are essentially franchise/systems that just have local instructors. I am sure many of you know all of this.

To accelerate the unfamiliar's learning curve, what are your thoughts?

Which ones do you like? Why?

Problems?
Things to watch out for?
LImitations?

Things I dont even know to ask?
Click to expand...
I would say that all of the instructors in the US are basically independent operators. There are some training/certifying organizations, but I don't think any of them requires the members to teach in a specific way. Different instructors have different techniques, areas of emphasis, strengths, and personalities.

If there is a way for you to get a brief intro lesson, I think that would be a good idea. Is there an instructor local to you? (I see a bunch are listed in Texas, but Corpus Christi is far from the ones I recognize.)

Personally, I think 3-day courses tend to overload the student unless most of the time is spent practicing what is taught.

Some instructors offer instruction on Zoom which is a way to eliminate travel costs. It also makes the instruction/practice cycle easier.
 
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Of course I then visited your site and given you spend time in TX and CA (which would've been helpful in the opening post) you've got more options than I predicted.

The only thing I can say is regarding the limitation and your last statement - keep in mind that you or whichever trainer you select will not know your limitations or potential and there may come a point where his skillset no longer helps you improve. But at that point, you will have enough knowledge to select a proper trainer or training program.

I would just start watching YouTube videos.

Dr. Dave (The best, most detailed videos of the math and science of billiards)
FXBilliards (Good "day-to-day" stuff. Has a great video about balls being wired and how to throw, etc.)
Darren Appleton - (the man does drills - lots of drills)

Some others:

Sharivari
Dr. Cue
Tor Lowry

Looks like you've had a fun life, welcome aboard.
 
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Chili Palmer said:
Of course I then visited your site and given you spend time in TX and CA (which would've been helpful in the opening post) you've got more options than I predicted.

The only thing I can say is regarding the limitation and your last statement - keep in mind that you or whichever trainer you select will not know your limitations or potential and there may come a point where his skillset no longer helps you improve. But at that point, you will have enough knowledge to select a proper trainer or training program.

I would just start watching YouTube videos.

Dr. Dave (The best, most detailed videos of the math and science of billiards)
FXBilliards (Good "day-to-day" stuff. Has a great video about balls being wired and how to throw, etc.)
Darren Appleton - (the man does drills - lots of drills)

Some others:

Sharivari
Dr. Cue
Tor Lowry

Looks like you've had a fun life, welcome aboard.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Life has certainly had some great highlights.

I have discovered Dr Dave....and I think that guy is awesome.

As for my skill exceeding an instructors ability, that is a long ways off. :)

I grew up playing pool....a lot. There has been about a 20 year break outside of a few games here and there. I just got my table set up and the passion is still there.
 
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CCTEX said:
Thank you. Life has certainly had some great highlights.

I have discovered Dr Dave....and I think that guy is awesome.

As for my skill exceeding an instructors ability, that is a long ways off. :)

I grew up playing pool....a lot. There has been about a 20 year break outside of a few games here and there. I just got my table set up and the passion is still there.
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I started in 1986 and played until 2004 (almost everyday for the first 5 or 6 years) then quit for 14 years. Got back in 3 years ago and have a table in my living room. I was ok back in the day but I was never good then as I am now - there's hope ;)

Also, your sentence about the instructor kind of made my point - you don't know what you don't know ;)
 
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Texas is a big place, so I can’t speak to proximity, but I think Charlie Bryant, Bert Kinister, and Randy Goettlicher are down there... I’m sure there are others.

I would also try finding out if Jeremy Jones teaches.
 
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CCTEX said:
I see a few "schools" that tour around and some that are landed. Some are essentially franchise/systems that just have local instructors. I am sure many of you know all of this.

To accelerate the unfamiliar's learning curve, what are your thoughts?

Which ones do you like? Why?

Problems?
Things to watch out for?
LImitations?

Things I dont even know to ask?ay
Click to expand...
I was 70 when Scott Lee stopped by for a 4 hour lesson....video feedback session...I can't say enough about how professional and structured it was. Give him a call ...he is a member on the forum.
 
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CCTEX said:
I wore my fireproof underwear. :)
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Good idea! You know how us pool players are, gotta haze the new guy a bit. Welcome to the forum, you seem like you'll fit right in! :)
CCTEX said:
I grew up playing pool....a lot. There has been about a 20 year break outside of a few games here and there. I just got my table set up and the passion is still there.
Click to expand...
It gets WAY more fun once you're back into the game and get serious about learning. You're going to have a lot of fun. Pool is frustrating, but I don't think we'd want it any other way.
PhilosopherKing said:
Bert Kinister
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Oh damn, I wish I were in Texas. I'd love to have some lessons with Bert. His videos were golden, he would get PUMPED doing the drills. His website has a ton of drills. I used to watch them 10 years or so ago, now that I have a table I should check out some of his videos again, it was hard to do them on the local coin op tables back then.
 
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boogieman said:
Good idea! You know how us pool players are, gotta haze the new guy a bit. Welcome to the forum, you seem like you'll fit right in! :)

It gets WAY more fun once you're back into the game and get serious about learning. You're going to have a lot of fun. Pool is frustrating, but I don't think we'd want it any other way.

Oh damn, I wish I were in Texas. I'd love to have some lessons with Bert. His videos were golden, he would get PUMPED doing the drills. His website has a ton of drills. I used to watch them 10 years or so ago, now that I have a table I should check out some of his videos again, it was hard to do them on the local coin op tables back then.
Click to expand...

I can take it. The new guy is easy to spot, he is the guy on fire and has all the arrows stuck in him. :)
 
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There are two types of people who a school is a good fit for:

1) Those who say "I am really into pool, have been sponging it up, but I'm prepared to make a significant investment in my game over the next 2-5 years and I'd like to spend a little time sharpening the axe before trying to cut down the tree". There are many good schools for this.

2) The type that says "I have been playing for years, have seen the videos, read the books, know the shots, and on a good day can run a lot of racks and beat a lot of good players. But then I play bad half the time, I'm always scalping someone and min cashing, why can't I be more consistent? Maybe I just don't have the talent or the time? I haven't seen much improvement over the last 3-5 years, do I give up on pool or try one more thing before deciding my best days are behind me?"

I have worked with both types. I don't mind helping people at the front of their learning curve shave years off their development. But I LOVE working with people that feel they've been stuck for many years and were defeated with the game. Show me a guy with a 620 fargo that thinks he knows everything and just struggles with execution and I'll show you a potential 700 Fargo that is missing key pieces. Most are too good though, they are good enough to think they have all of the info and blame time/talent for the stall out in their career. At times I get exasperated by their confidence bootcamps aren't effective, but then I realize that's my competition. And to be fair there are a lot of mediocre options out there. But that's the same with anything. Just because most movies are mediocre doesn't mean some aren't awesome. Just because some books are average doesn't mean some aren't life changing. I'm not going to try to convince anyone, my students solicit me not the other way around, but I darn sure want to put my name on this thread so those who are committed, open minded, and humble enough to ask for help can get it from the right person for them. I'm not for everyone. That is why I create long posts. If you don't like the cut of my jib there are better fits. If you do, the buck stops at MN Pool Bootcamp. Thanks all. Gotta go to bed, training my next student starting tomorrow morning and it will be 72 hours of insanity. I'd better get rested.

Below are some clips of recent positive feedback from students I've had earlier this year. Yes, I realize the last player was an APA 3 when he worked with me. That was a guy from the first demographic. 80%+ are 550-650 FR that I train. Many of them read this forum so hopefully they chime in. I have more testimonials, these were those given unsolicited just this month. The truth hurts.



MAY 23rd, 2021: I cannot thank you enough for the Bootcamp! I have had one hell of a month of May. I have a 1st, 2nd, and 2nd with one more tournament to go.
I took my bootcamp in the middle of February.
I'm recommending this as much as I can. Best money I have ever spent on pool and cannot wait to see where the next 1-3 years go.

MAY 23rd, 2021:
So I completed my training a little more than a week ago now. I haven’t cashed in the prior 6 months months. Played this past weekend and took 2nd. Yeah, I took some money back home finally.
The training has solved my problems in breaking out clusters and many more to say the least.

May 6th, 2021:
2 years' worth of league play pre-MN Pool Bootcamp (first photo) vs ONE MONTH of league play post-bootcamp. (THERE WAS AN IMAGE OF AN EMPTY SHELF VS A PICTURE NOW OF 6 PATCHES FROM LEAGUE FOR CLEAN SWEEPS AND BREAK AND RUNS, etc)

May 2nd, 2021: So when I saw Demetrius Jelatis I was a skill level 3 in the APA (out of 7) I immediately went up to a skill level 4 within a month and within a year later was at a skill level 5. I can say today that I just went up to a skill level 6!!!!! One more to go!!!!
 
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