The day started out like all the other days. Check out of the motel. Find something to eat. Got woke up about 2 hours early because the maid wanted to clean the room with me in it I guess.
Now my next lesson is in Keokuk, Iowa which I had never heard of but I know it's there because I punched it in my GPS and found it for sure.
I had been trying to get there for a few days from St louis but each day I was going to leave I either ended up giving another lesson or I would play someone.
Anyway, Mike was very patient and it was Saturday and I was on my way.
When I got there I kind of recognized Mike from years back. You know how it is when you know you saw someone before. That would have been 25 to 30 years ago but just the same there was that flicker of recognition.
When we went inside there was this beautiful brunswick gold crown. Mike informed me that he had quit playing for about 20 years and was trying to get back at it. He had bought the Perfect Aim video and was happy with what he had learned but soon it would be obvious that he only understood a small portion of it.
Mike thought he was right eye dominant. He was constantly being pulled to the left eye naturally though. But by thinking he was right eye dominant he was trying to make all the adjustments the wrong way to make Perfect Aim work.
As we got going on the lesson and it was obvious to Mike that he was for sure left eye dominant the chips started to fall into place. Now he was starting to see why the shots we'ren't looking right before but now there was a clarity that before seemed unachievable.
Then is when the Special moment happened. Mikes had introduced me to his son Jamie when I first got there. He had dissappeared for the last 3 hours in the house somewhere. I asked Mike if Jamie played pool and he told me no. Maybe just a little but he's not very good. He doesn't play.
Just then I had a thought. I could see a chance to maybe create some interest in pool with someone that had no interest right now mainly because he couldn't make a ball and just gave up right away. Thus Jamie just doesn't want to play because it seems impossible to him.
I told Mike to get Jamie and I'd show him some stuff. When Jamie came out I could just see he is a great kid. The kind of kid I would want my son to hang out with when he was growing up.
We found out that Jamie was right eyed dominant and I showed him where the eyes had to be to see the shots correctly. He had a tough time making a bridge but got the job done. You have to remember he doesn't play at all. Mainly because he seemed to suck at it. But soon it was obvious why. He wasn't getting the eyes in the right position to see the shots correctly.
I set up a few short shots. His stroke needed much to be desired but he got the cue in the right position. With more playing that stroke will improve quickly. As he worked to get it aimed right I could see that this was going to be a great success. He made about 3 or 4 straight in shots in a row and then he missed one. He knew though that it was how he stroked it and not how he had it aimed because he could actually see the shot correctly. Wow he said, with a big smile. It actually looks like it will go. I am seeing it right. It looks like it will go.
Then we set up some cut shots and he commenced to lining them up right and cutting them in the hole and after each shot there was this big smile that just kind of lit up the whole room.
Then came the test. I set up a long shot. One that would be a challenge for anyone to make on a 9 footer that normally doesn't play on one. As Jamie got down on the shot and moved his head into place I could see that he understood now how to see and aim the shots.
He fired in this 9 ball. It went right into the center of the hole. There was that big smile again that lit up the whole room. He said it looked like it would go. I could see it.
As I turned to look at dad I could see a big smile on his face also. He was almost in disbelief I think.
For me this was, should we say, a codac moment.
Maybe in the near future Mike will have a sparring partner on that 9 footer.
As a teacher it feels so good to be a part of something as special as this.
This is a great example of why us teachers keep on a teachin.
Sometimes as teachers we get back much more than we can ever give......
Thanks for reading and have a great day.............
And Jamie, keep playing. Your gonna find out that if your making the balls it's alot more fun to play.
Thanks guys Geno...........
Now my next lesson is in Keokuk, Iowa which I had never heard of but I know it's there because I punched it in my GPS and found it for sure.
I had been trying to get there for a few days from St louis but each day I was going to leave I either ended up giving another lesson or I would play someone.
Anyway, Mike was very patient and it was Saturday and I was on my way.
When I got there I kind of recognized Mike from years back. You know how it is when you know you saw someone before. That would have been 25 to 30 years ago but just the same there was that flicker of recognition.
When we went inside there was this beautiful brunswick gold crown. Mike informed me that he had quit playing for about 20 years and was trying to get back at it. He had bought the Perfect Aim video and was happy with what he had learned but soon it would be obvious that he only understood a small portion of it.
Mike thought he was right eye dominant. He was constantly being pulled to the left eye naturally though. But by thinking he was right eye dominant he was trying to make all the adjustments the wrong way to make Perfect Aim work.
As we got going on the lesson and it was obvious to Mike that he was for sure left eye dominant the chips started to fall into place. Now he was starting to see why the shots we'ren't looking right before but now there was a clarity that before seemed unachievable.
Then is when the Special moment happened. Mikes had introduced me to his son Jamie when I first got there. He had dissappeared for the last 3 hours in the house somewhere. I asked Mike if Jamie played pool and he told me no. Maybe just a little but he's not very good. He doesn't play.
Just then I had a thought. I could see a chance to maybe create some interest in pool with someone that had no interest right now mainly because he couldn't make a ball and just gave up right away. Thus Jamie just doesn't want to play because it seems impossible to him.
I told Mike to get Jamie and I'd show him some stuff. When Jamie came out I could just see he is a great kid. The kind of kid I would want my son to hang out with when he was growing up.
We found out that Jamie was right eyed dominant and I showed him where the eyes had to be to see the shots correctly. He had a tough time making a bridge but got the job done. You have to remember he doesn't play at all. Mainly because he seemed to suck at it. But soon it was obvious why. He wasn't getting the eyes in the right position to see the shots correctly.
I set up a few short shots. His stroke needed much to be desired but he got the cue in the right position. With more playing that stroke will improve quickly. As he worked to get it aimed right I could see that this was going to be a great success. He made about 3 or 4 straight in shots in a row and then he missed one. He knew though that it was how he stroked it and not how he had it aimed because he could actually see the shot correctly. Wow he said, with a big smile. It actually looks like it will go. I am seeing it right. It looks like it will go.
Then we set up some cut shots and he commenced to lining them up right and cutting them in the hole and after each shot there was this big smile that just kind of lit up the whole room.
Then came the test. I set up a long shot. One that would be a challenge for anyone to make on a 9 footer that normally doesn't play on one. As Jamie got down on the shot and moved his head into place I could see that he understood now how to see and aim the shots.
He fired in this 9 ball. It went right into the center of the hole. There was that big smile again that lit up the whole room. He said it looked like it would go. I could see it.
As I turned to look at dad I could see a big smile on his face also. He was almost in disbelief I think.
For me this was, should we say, a codac moment.
Maybe in the near future Mike will have a sparring partner on that 9 footer.
As a teacher it feels so good to be a part of something as special as this.
This is a great example of why us teachers keep on a teachin.
Sometimes as teachers we get back much more than we can ever give......
Thanks for reading and have a great day.............
And Jamie, keep playing. Your gonna find out that if your making the balls it's alot more fun to play.
Thanks guys Geno...........
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