Very Best Pool Video Instruction: Free or Paid?
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Dr Dave
For shear comprehensiveness to the point of pain, DrDave (with an assist to Bob Jewett). (-:
Sharivari is also thorough. He and DrDave have very different styles.
Tor Lowry has the best paid videos and is my top choice overall. He covers everything in series of longer videos and has great drills.
Beyond that, Niels Feijin is a standout. Some amazing pro insight and great drills. Jasmine Ouschan has stepped up her videos too. Darren Appleton has some nice stuff.
Fxbilliards has a lot of good stuff, especially on multi rail positioning.
Scott Rohleder had a series of long but excellent tutorials 6-8 years ago.
DrCue is great for beginners.
Lotof good stuff out there.
Sharivari is also thorough. He and DrDave have very different styles.
Tor Lowry has the best paid videos and is my top choice overall. He covers everything in series of longer videos and has great drills.
Beyond that, Niels Feijin is a standout. Some amazing pro insight and great drills. Jasmine Ouschan has stepped up her videos too. Darren Appleton has some nice stuff.
Fxbilliards has a lot of good stuff, especially on multi rail positioning.
Scott Rohleder had a series of long but excellent tutorials 6-8 years ago.
DrCue is great for beginners.
Lotof good stuff out there.
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Are there really lots of people who share their knowledge fully and sincerely in this forum?
jbart65 is the poster child here. His recommendation of Tor Lowry is the best example based on my limited experience.
When I discovered Tor several years ago I was blown away. At the time the price was much cheaper. But it is still a bargain today.
Search YouTube for tor lowry. Then go to his channel. You are greeted with a free 105 minute video.
I was convinced to get his entire Zero-X collection.
He reveals a tremendous amount of pool "secrets."
But even he leaves out what I describe as Ultimate SEEING: how to use your own vision like an instrument or device.
Still, his pool instructional coverage is so vast no one could possibly be disappointed.
When you see him demonstrate his lessons and techniques you can instantly see his command of that knowledge.
Want to mentor a pool novice? Easy. Simply introduce them to tor lowry and the entire Zero-X video collection.
Thanks for your responses to my post.
Bob Byrne opened the door to the knowledge vault for me with his videos, then Grady Matthews Kicking system videos, Bert Kinnisters videos were awesome, Tor Lowerys stuff was always amazing, then Dr Dave created a treatise on the subject of Billiards ,that will probably never be surpassed. I believe Bob Jewett deserves recognition with Bob Byrne and Dr Daves material ,as I understand he was involved with both of them ,although I do not know, to what extent. I am sure I have forgotten someone ,I apologise.
All of these men gave a tremendous amount of time to the game and it's advancement and deserve to be honored for their effort.
Bert Kinister and Grady Mathews should always be sought out for their instructional videos. Pool is pool and has been for over a century. What is taught then doesn't mean it's outdated or hokey now. These men just flat out knew how to play pool and break it down in what to see, how to plan, and what to do. I agree with the Tor Lowery vote also. There are also some excellent specialists for specific games like 14.1; 9-ball; 8-ball; one pocket which is about using the brain for reading an entire table and positional play. Touch, speed control with optimum angles to run a table is paramount for any and all games. Find those who have it in their lessons whether live, on YouTube, CD's, etc.
I'm not familiar with "ultimate seeing." Could you please explain what that means?
I agree with all of the recommendations posted so far and have watched and learned from everyone mentioned.
I keep coming back to "A Pool Lesson with Jerry Briesath (Mark Wilson also involved)" 3 disc series. I play a little better every time I watch it. Worth a watch if you haven't seen it.
I keep coming back to "A Pool Lesson with Jerry Briesath (Mark Wilson also involved)" 3 disc series. I play a little better every time I watch it. Worth a watch if you haven't seen it.
We’ll find out soon when he releases his for sale video. It’ll be a bargain at just a hair more than Tor Lowry’s stuff.
I have watched some of the older teachers like Kinister, but the video quality isn't great. Nor are many of the older videos accompanied by PDFs to show you precise ball placement. Tor Lowry and DrDave excel at that.
That's why I focus on more modern teachers.
Bullseye Billiards, a 200-shot tutorial, is the program I am working on now. I've gotten up to 170 shots. You can also buy a couple of pool target cloths from the website for targeting. Well worth the small expense for those alone.
DrDave lent a hand to the program, and admittedly, that's a big reason why I bought it.
The tutorials have turned out to be much, much better than I expected. I practice each of the 200 shots first, then I aim to complete 20 successful attempts that I mark on an accompanying iPhone/iPad app. (App is $5 a month).
To end up on the target, one is forced to develop good speed control, consistent stroking and the ability to pocket the ball in the "correct" part of the pocket.
I've also learned a lot about the trajectory of the cue ball coming off rails, with and without spin. And I've learned a great deal about how very small changes in tip locations result in different paths for the cue ball.
I knew that shooting at 1 o'clock resulted in a different endpoint than shooting at 2 o'clock. I just didn't realize how much.
Similarly, shooting at 1:30 or 2:30 change the path noticeably enough.
Not only that, but if I went one tip over from the center, or 2 tips over, it also made a big difference.
When trying to dial in my shot to get the cueball to end up on the Bullseye target, I have had to hit the CB in slightly different spots (1/8 inch increments) to figure out exactly where I needed to hit to be as accurate as possible.
That's why I focus on more modern teachers.
Bullseye Billiards, a 200-shot tutorial, is the program I am working on now. I've gotten up to 170 shots. You can also buy a couple of pool target cloths from the website for targeting. Well worth the small expense for those alone.
DrDave lent a hand to the program, and admittedly, that's a big reason why I bought it.
The tutorials have turned out to be much, much better than I expected. I practice each of the 200 shots first, then I aim to complete 20 successful attempts that I mark on an accompanying iPhone/iPad app. (App is $5 a month).
To end up on the target, one is forced to develop good speed control, consistent stroking and the ability to pocket the ball in the "correct" part of the pocket.
I've also learned a lot about the trajectory of the cue ball coming off rails, with and without spin. And I've learned a great deal about how very small changes in tip locations result in different paths for the cue ball.
I knew that shooting at 1 o'clock resulted in a different endpoint than shooting at 2 o'clock. I just didn't realize how much.
Similarly, shooting at 1:30 or 2:30 change the path noticeably enough.
Not only that, but if I went one tip over from the center, or 2 tips over, it also made a big difference.
When trying to dial in my shot to get the cueball to end up on the Bullseye target, I have had to hit the CB in slightly different spots (1/8 inch increments) to figure out exactly where I needed to hit to be as accurate as possible.
After all is said and done in this thread about the great videos available from different instructors, NOTHING, NOTHING beats
a live in person lesson or lessons with a super star instructor that really knows how to play the game himself as well as
conveying and illustrating how to do it after seeing the deficiencies we have at the table.
a live in person lesson or lessons with a super star instructor that really knows how to play the game himself as well as
conveying and illustrating how to do it after seeing the deficiencies we have at the table.
I say you do more reading and less talking.
I think I mentioned in another thread. It refers to using your vision as an instrument or device.
But I have not explained any other details.
"We’ll find out soon when he releases his for sale video. It’ll be a bargain at just a hair more than Tor Lowry’s stuff."
I really don't know what I'll be doing regarding Ultimate Seeing.
But I would think that at most it would take up only about 5 - 10 minutes of a single Tor video.
Or even a 3 minute read.
But here is what I recommend right now. I was thinking about starting a new thread but here is appropriate.
I recommend studying YouTube videos of top players. Watch what they do. It can be difficult to see exactly.
I recommend watching Buddy Hall and Carlo Biado and Kim Davenport. Why? Because I can see much of what they are doing.
Forget Efren. His technique is so subtle as to be invisible. Same with Earl, Shane, Busty, etc.
Here is another tidbit. We've all heard about hand and eye coordination.
But not much if anything about fine motor skills (movements using small muscles in the hands and wrists)
and I would add arms, as well.
This comes down to your nervous system.
I would bet that most if not all of these top players have natural superior fine motor skills.
So most of us are destined to struggle and work harder.
Excellent pool requires exquisitely fine body control. I remember watching Cole. Sometimes it seemed like his body was like one of those Halloween skeleton costumes. Consistently manipulated like a marionette. Precise. It struck me sometimes as being a little bizarre. But the results, his personality, image, body language, etc. never failed to enthrall. And just 18 - 19 years old. He was already worldly well beyond his years. He was a well seasoned road player even then. (Cole was born on November 20, 1950.)
Few things are more satisfying than watching a predator get ate. (these are my words.)
If you want to hear a couple of stories about Cole listen to this podcast starting at about 57:00 - 1:00:30
EP 14: Tom George — Chalk Is Cheap
On episode 14 of our Legends Series, we are joined by Tom George. Tom and Nick discuss why 3-cushion billiards was Tom’s game of choice, his family’s history in the Billiards business, how the way of life in Duluth, Minnesota was during the 1960s, and some great stories about the traveling hustlers
chalkischeappod.com
short clip
Ben Gustafson Talks About Huster Cole "Hippie" Dickson playing Ron Dobosenski | On a bonus episode, Ben Gustafson talked about traveling hustler Cole "Hippie" Dickson coming through town and taking everyone's money at The Place Pool... | By Chalk Is
On a bonus episode, Ben Gustafson talked about traveling hustler Cole "Hippie" Dickson coming through town and taking everyone's money at The Place Pool...
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boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Geno at perfectaimbilliards goes into this. I think he is still doing in person and skype lessons. The secret he shares is really good for eliminating or minimizing visual distortions and optical illusions.
Stan Shuffette does address this in his book when he talks about "ticks" on the ball. It's not as easy to understand and I think unless I was already familiar with Gene's work I may have not understood it. Stan does a good job explaining it, but it's one of those things that make much more sense when talking to a person so you can ask the right questions to understand it. I'd imagine it's much easier to understand in an in person lesson or conversation.
Your eyes can definitely be used as an instrument. You can change eye dominance, focus, etc. You can readily find centers between objects and such. I'm an inspector IRL and I've got really good at eyeballing parts being parallel to our inspection carts. I'm using visual tricks and can often get an 8' part within 1 or 2mm of square before fine tuning. In reality 1-2mm is square enough since we use cad and programs often, but I like to nitpick.
I know that some of our older inspectors could be deadly accurate with a normal scale(ruler). Like they could get within .05mm by eyeballing it. It was interesting seeing them saying a number with a scale and then seeing them check it with a more accurate mic and the numbers lining up very closely.
I saw major improvements after watching ‘A Pool Lesson with Jerry Briesath’ which I paid for and is the most comprehensive video course I’ve found. There are many pointers that I practice each time at the table to keep my fundamentals in check. The only thing better than his video course would be a lesson with the man himself.
There’s also Tor Lowry, though I got more out of the items I paid for than his random teasers on YouTube.
All the rest of the free stuff is hit or miss but mostly misses. Most of the hits are from current era professional players and/or certified instructors. I find Jasmine Ouschan and Niels Feijen the most valuable.
There’s also Tor Lowry, though I got more out of the items I paid for than his random teasers on YouTube.
All the rest of the free stuff is hit or miss but mostly misses. Most of the hits are from current era professional players and/or certified instructors. I find Jasmine Ouschan and Niels Feijen the most valuable.
Perhaps I missed it in skimming the replies as I am late coming to this topic. My "very best" free video instruction would be. Barry Stark Snooker Coach
I travel overseas and develop slogans for many of the top sporting goods manufacturers. I have my own private jet and in my contracts I actually have pool lessons written in as part of the contract (as a bonus) if the company meets their goal. I have literally been to every top instructor in the United States. I have seen Jerry, Stan, Tor, Mark, Dave etc. They are all EXCELLENT. Here is what I will tell you. Hands down, Anthony Beeler is the best and Joe Tucker is a close second. If you put these two people together, you might conquer the world. That is only my opinion but I have only went to see one instructor two times and it was Beeler.
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