jessiedoll
Banned
My friends and I have been thinking about taking lessons from an instructor. We've compared prices and can't decided which would be the better value.
What is the Better Instructor Value?
- Thread starter jessiedoll
- Start date
The one who will teach your alignment and proper stroke first.
If the recognized instructor will do that before teaching rocket science, he/she is the best value.
If the recognized instructor will do that before teaching rocket science, he/she is the best value.
jessiedoll said:
Come out here and I'll just ask for you to pay for lunch - I'm serious about that. I have been known to charge 1/4 of what the certified instructors charge and I have trained players of all levels from league level to top professionals.
That is pure love of the game Blackjack. It means alot to people starting out to find a suitable mentor to quide them properly and you are no exception there. Kudos to you. Sean
jessiedoll said:
Shopping PRICE has never been my chosen scenario.
Supposedly, a BCA Recognized Instructor is qualified to teach the game, that is the plain & simple reason for the BCA affiliation.
JessieDoll, you did not state what level of play you are at.
3-10, 11 being Pro.
You also didn't say where you are located, geographically.
There are BCA Instructors just about everywhere, except the far reaches of the Planet.
I like the idea of the COACH type Instructor. This kind of instructor can help you with the basics thru the intermediate levels of the Game & possibly into the Professional Level. If the Instructor is somewhat close, you can maintain the teacher-student relationship, to keep your skills on plane.
Taking lessons as a group has it's positives & a few negatives.
The basic negative is this. The instructor has to divide his valuable time between students.
A couple positives are these. Competition between students reinforces learning (sometimes). As your friends learn certain facets of the game & you learn other facets, you might be able to assist each other in keeping the group moving along at a close pace.
Good Luck...
That depends on your goals. If you are interested in being a casual player, learning the rules, and the basics of the game---I think the answer is a no-brainer. If your goals are loftier---then you may try several instructors before you find one that meets your learning style. Let me give an example. How many high school music students go on to play instruments after being out of school for 4 years? Really a low percentage. Why? Because it is boring for the casual musician to spend hours reading music and playing scales. But take the student who learns to play by ear---they usually continue to play for many years. The drawback in playing by ear is that you may be limited in developing long term musical progression. My point is ---YOU HAVE TO HAVE FUN.
A 3 day class with RandyG turns out to be about 1/3 of the price you are showing for a Master instructor per hour. Something to think about.
Also, each instructor sets his or her own rates. The rates in your poll will not be the same, depending on which instructor you decide to go with.
Steve
Also, each instructor sets his or her own rates. The rates in your poll will not be the same, depending on which instructor you decide to go with.
Steve
blackjacks offer is hard to turn down, ive paid alot more than lunch for lessons although they were well worth it
I took a lesson from a recognized instructor, Sherri Cole, she now lives in NC. She does a 8 hour session but I was with her for 10. No extra charge and it was one on one. I talked to and played with some players about 6 months later that went to a clinic by a Master. They paid a lot more and one told me that he was disappointed. I told him I was thinking about attending that same clinic. He said that I would be wasting my money because my stroke was far better than anyone he has seen. I have had many players since ask me about giving them lessons because they are impressed by my stroke and how easy I make the CB move around the table. Granted I am still not the greatest player but my stroke has improved to where many ball bangers think I am.
Even with the lesson it took a lot of practice on my part and my game went down hill because of the drastic change I had to make to break old habits. I was in a slump for many months until I got adjusted to the new way. Every now and then I catch myself reverting back to the old habits and sloppiness that causes me to make mistakes.
Either way the lessons will benefit you but if you can get them from a recognized you will be saving some money because from what I understand they all teach and use the same program.
I think my money was well spent. Should have done it years ago and it wouldn't have been so hard to adjust.
Even with the lesson it took a lot of practice on my part and my game went down hill because of the drastic change I had to make to break old habits. I was in a slump for many months until I got adjusted to the new way. Every now and then I catch myself reverting back to the old habits and sloppiness that causes me to make mistakes.
Either way the lessons will benefit you but if you can get them from a recognized you will be saving some money because from what I understand they all teach and use the same program.
I think my money was well spent. Should have done it years ago and it wouldn't have been so hard to adjust.
For the money Mark wilson is preatty hard to beat. Like TheBook says, it doesnt do any good unless you actually apply what they are teaching you. Im currently going through that process of retraining myself. its slow and often times painful but the payoff is a much more consistent game.
Going to an instructor is a good thing. If I were you, I'd look around and find someone that you feel you understand better. Someone who communicates with you so that you understand them. It won't do you any good no matter how much you pay if you can't understand the instructor.
If Blackjack is close to you, I don't think that I would pass on that one. From what I hear, he is a fantastic teacher. Wish I lived closer!
I would not get so hung up on what level the instructor, word of mouth means much more to me than a BCA level. I have had instruction from several, one a Master BCA instructor, I cannot say that it meant much more than a title to me.
Good luck to you and your friends!
JBK
I would not get so hung up on what level the instructor, word of mouth means much more to me than a BCA level. I have had instruction from several, one a Master BCA instructor, I cannot say that it meant much more than a title to me.
Good luck to you and your friends!
JBK
Asking what the best value is, means to me that you can probably make yourself afford any of those, but are just trying to be a little thrifty. That's a good thing. As far as finding the best value in taking lessons in anything (not just pool) is a little more difficult than finding the best value of an object (car, washing machine, etc.)
You will probably have to try several to find the right one. And the right one will very most likely have little or nothing at all to do with the price of the lessons. You will be looking for that instructor that when he or she says "…….. …. ……", you say to yourself, Yes! I understand that.
Not all instructors are able to communicate what they know. This is where BCA certified or not doesn't matter. Unless you are at a very high level of play most instructor know enough to help you a lot. The tough part is finding one that is able to communicate that knowledge to you. One that can easily adjust to your needs.
JR
You will probably have to try several to find the right one. And the right one will very most likely have little or nothing at all to do with the price of the lessons. You will be looking for that instructor that when he or she says "…….. …. ……", you say to yourself, Yes! I understand that.
Not all instructors are able to communicate what they know. This is where BCA certified or not doesn't matter. Unless you are at a very high level of play most instructor know enough to help you a lot. The tough part is finding one that is able to communicate that knowledge to you. One that can easily adjust to your needs.
JR
I meant to say this above and got side tracked.
The most important part of taking lessons is consistency and practice. I have benefited from lessons GREATLY. The biggest reason was that I took lesson from the same teacher every week for over a year. Never missed a week. Had specific things to practice and did practice them in-between the lessons. This kind of training over an extended period of time is what will make the biggest difference.
I don't mean to take anything away from crash courses from top level instructors though. That is a great thing, but I do think that it needs to be backed up with regular local lessons.
The most important part of taking lessons is consistency and practice. I have benefited from lessons GREATLY. The biggest reason was that I took lesson from the same teacher every week for over a year. Never missed a week. Had specific things to practice and did practice them in-between the lessons. This kind of training over an extended period of time is what will make the biggest difference.
I don't mean to take anything away from crash courses from top level instructors though. That is a great thing, but I do think that it needs to be backed up with regular local lessons.
After that I'll vote
...
I find it hard to stomach that their knowledge increases proportionally to the cost increase in this poll. The first one has to be the best value listed, and I would expect there are better values to be had elsewhere.
bruin70 said:
Bruin,
I think you are off a bit. I believe that private lessons (one on one) run closer to $2500 for a few hours (just in case you find enough change under the couch cushions).