What is the purpose of having a Pool Instructor?

M

Myrtle_04

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
To begin, I'd like to state that i'm not trying to bash anyone or put a bad light on pool instructors.

I am, in my eyes, a mediocre pool player, but I feel like I have good information to pass on to help players learn and hopefully spread my passion for the sport around.

My question is that with all the learning materials that can be found in stores, online, or at events like The Derby City Classic and Super Billiards Expo, what does an instructor do other than pass on information and learning materials?

Again, i'm not trying to trivialize teaching pool and those who do it. I simply want to teach what I can and wondering the best way to go about it instead of simply recommending this dvd or reading that book.
 
Just take one lesson from a good professional instructor and you will answer your own

Myrtle_04 said:
To begin, I'd like to state that i'm not trying to bash anyone or put a bad light on pool instructors.

I am, in my eyes, a mediocre pool player, but I feel like I have good information to pass on to help players learn and hopefully spread my passion for the sport around.

My question is that with all the learning materials that can be found in stores, online, or at events like The Derby City Classic and Super Billiards Expo, what does an instructor do other than pass on information and learning materials?

Again, i'm not trying to trivialize teaching pool and those who do it. I simply want to teach what I can and wondering the best way to go about it instead of simply recommending this dvd or reading that book.
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Hi there,

We have all been in your shoes at one time or another.

In fact I came from a small town and thought I was all it. I got a quick education when I took a road trip and got out of my little fish bowl.

Granted , there was not the internet back then but just the same hands on is so much better.

I teach a specialized aspect of the game. And I have a video. I can't tell you the number of players that have my video and then take a personal lesson only to find out that they only know half of what they need to know. They just didn't figure it all out from just the video.

The same is true about instruction. You don't know if you don't know something until you see what you didn't know.

Then you think. Gosh , that was so simple, why didn't I ever figure this out.

The nice thing about this pool info is you can learn it. You can keep trying to invent the wheel over again or you can just learn it.

Much easier to just learn it. One on one is the Champion of instruction for sure.

If you have a good instructor in your area try him out. Most are fairly reasonable.

Like I said, this will answer your own question for sure. I think you will be pleasantly surprised and you might just learn a golden nugget for that pool game of yours.

And that's the good stuff..............
 
What you say has merit except for a couple of things. Are you certain you can interpret exactly what each of those books describes as the proper stance, grip, stroke, etc.? Can you watch yourself to determine if you are doing it? What do you do when there seems to be a conflict in what one book's Author says versus another?

Pool/Billiards is a rather complex sport when you break everything down. Look at the number of moving parts (more for some than others), all the issues with dominant eye, aiming systems, deflection, squirt, swerve, blah, blah. If you're in no hurry, do as many of the old timers have done and put your time in on the table, reading the books, watching the DVD's and picking up stuff from people you play with.

I picked up my passion for pool later in life (Age 55). I don't have 20 years to pick up the skills by grinding out hour after hour. Doesn't mean I don't practice, I just don't want to have to hit 10,000 balls to figure a few things out. I'd rather hit 10,000 balls practicing something I learned and do the right kind of practice.

I've had two lessons with Scott Lee. I'm taking a lesson from John Brumback later this week or early next. In August, I'm going to be in Madison, WI and if things go as planned, will have the privilege of spending a few days with Jerry Brieseth. Scott has been fantastic and accelerated my learning curve a tremendous amount. I look forward to spending another day with Scott this fall in a full day lesson.
 
instructor

1)A good instructor recognizes where your problems are.
This might be different reasons as you think.

This might be your stroke mechanics, your stance, your arm, you body/feet position, your grip, your head/eye position, your pre shot routine, your aiming process AND then helps you to get rid of this problems by informing you - videotaping you- and giving you correct new pictures of how to do it right.

At last he gives you specific exercises that help you to create a new routine/better mechanics/grip/aim.....
Then your own training will be more successful then before!

In my eyes this is the main reason what an instructor is there for.

Training all alone on your own can be successful too but with some workshops at a good instructor you can cut down you training/learning time curve. When the basics are good your training will lead to more and faster success. Otherwise your mistakes might lead you to train wrong or will strengthen your bad habits and instead of getting better you will only reach a certain plateau and might get frustrated when your not getting better or you beeing in a slump without knowing why.

Only perfect training makes perfect! :wink:
 
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Thanks. I'm also wondering about how to start. Should I have a skill test or should I set up some kind of instruction plan based on what they want to learn. I only ask because most people I've talked to don't really know what they want to learn.
 
The purpose of an good instructor is to teach the student how to teach themselves. Since there is no one perfect way to do anything (including aim), there is no 'one size fits all'. A good instructor helps the student figure out their own "best process", and organize the variables into a concise package, that can then be practiced correctly, until they can 'stand and deliver', on demand, under pressure, in one try. More than anything, a good instructor helps take years off of the learning curve for the student. Books and videos cannot perform this function effectively.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
The purpose of an good instructor is to teach the student how to teach themselves. Since there is no one perfect way to do anything (including aim), there is no 'one size fits all'. A good instructor helps the student figure out their own "best process", and organize the variables into a concise package, that can then be practiced correctly, until they can 'stand and deliver', on demand, under pressure, in one try. More than anything, a good instructor helps take years off of the learning curve for the student. Books and videos cannot perform this function effectively.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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yes, I know everyone's stroke is different and feel for the game plays a big part. I'm just wondering how to help someone play better if they are close to my playing level. I would assume all I can teach them is a few concepts or shots they don't know.
 
I see now you're in Effingham. I live in the Indianapolis area so you could easily hook up with Scott Lee the next time he sees me. I'm sure he'll could visit you sooner than that if you wanted it to happen.

What to work on? That's going to be opinion. In my opinion, the most important thing is to get a solid, fundamental and repeatable stroke. Then you can work on other things. How can you work on aim when you don't know for sure where your stroke is going to hit the ball? I firmly believe 90% plus of the alleged aiming problems are in fact stroke problems.

I'm not trying to be a shill for Scott but describe how he works. He has a system and systematic approach. He video tapes the lesson and uses playback at different stages to show you your stroke, analyze it and make suggestions. He provides you with well prepared documentation to help you remember what you were taught after he leaves and that also contains various drills you can use to reinforce the learning. This worked well for me and my personality. Other people may prefer a different approach. I would add just one more thing. If you're not prepared to put in practice, you probably shouldn't waste your time and money. Taking the lesson won't bump up your game 2 or 3 notches all by itself. You have to put in the time practicing with the drills in order to see the improvement.
 
Get Lee Brett's "The Secret Art of Pool" and practice exactly as he teaches.

The very first thing you should do is to find an instructor that will video tape the way you play now. He will point out specific issues with your fundemantals and set you on the right road.

The instructor is your best and shortest route to success. Or, you can spend many decades trying to learn on your own.

Above all...........have fun.........its a game.

John
 
Did you get a chance to watch Wimbledon last week? Rodger Federer won for the seven time. This ties the all time record. Did anyone notice how many times the tv cameras showed Federer's coach?
Why does Tiger Woods confer with his caddy? It would hard to believe that a guy who is only a caddy would be able to offer help to one of the greatest golfer of all time.
Why does every major league baseball have a hitting coach,pitching coaching etc?
I have seen many pool players question why they make a certain shots sometime and miss other times. The are certain they hit the cue ball correctly.
A good coach would watch you and help you get rid of flaws in your stroke so that you hit the ball the same way each time, correctly.
 
The best stuff instructors have taught me is what the easiest shot selection is.

Play them games or have them watch you play the ghost and tell them what shot you would take and then have them tell you what shot they would take.

If you aren't comfortable with their choice then stop for five minutes and learn their shot.
 
I think some people are misunderstanding.

I actually just moved a couple hours south of effingham. Just haven't had a chance to change it on my profile. I'll do that soon.

I'm not currently looking for an instructor. My pool game has sort of taken a back seat for me at the moment since i'm back in school.

I'm a 7 in APA. Some would say overrated and others would say underrated. I've been playing for about 12 years. My stroke is what it is. I'm working with it rather than making drastic changes to it.

I'm looking at teaching what I know, but not exactly sure about how to go about it. I have several "nuggets" as people call them that I have learned from experience, teachers, and putting what i've learned from videos and trying to translate it onto a pool table myself.

I know that I can learn a lot from an instructor about my game via videotaping and explaining certain techniques.

My main questions are:

Is a skill test I should use to "grade" their actual skill level rather than their APA rating?

Should I just ask them what they want to learn even though most people don't REALLY know what they want to learn?

Do I teach concepts based on skill level or just teach what I know and see what they learn as we go along?
 
One Pocket John said:
Get Lee Brett's "The Secret Art of Pool" and practice exactly as he teaches.

The very first thing you should do is to find an instructor that will video tape the way you play now. He will point out specific issues with your fundemantals and set you on the right road.

The instructor is your best and shortest route to success. Or, you can spend many decades trying to learn on your own.

Above all...........have fun.........its a game.

John
Click to expand...

Solid advice..
 
It makes some people feel good. There are people who just like taking lessons.

Myrtle_04 said:
To begin, I'd like to state that i'm not trying to bash anyone or put a bad light on pool instructors.

I am, in my eyes, a mediocre pool player, but I feel like I have good information to pass on to help players learn and hopefully spread my passion for the sport around.

My question is that with all the learning materials that can be found in stores, online, or at events like The Derby City Classic and Super Billiards Expo, what does an instructor do other than pass on information and learning materials?

Again, i'm not trying to trivialize teaching pool and those who do it. I simply want to teach what I can and wondering the best way to go about it instead of simply recommending this dvd or reading that book.
Click to expand...
 
theUBC said:
1)A good instructor recognizes where your problems are.
This might be different reasons as you think.

This might be your stroke mechanics, your stance, your arm, you body/feet position, your grip, your head/eye position, your pre shot routine, your aiming process AND then helps you to get rid of this problems by informing you - videotaping you- and giving you correct new pictures of how to do it right.

At last he gives you specific exercises that help you to create a new routine/better mechanics/grip/aim.....
Then your own training will be more successful then before!

In my eyes this is the main reason what an instructor is there for.

Training all alone on your own can be successful too but with some workshops at a good instructor you can cut down you training/learning time curve. When the basics are good your training will lead to more and faster success. Otherwise your mistakes might lead you to train wrong or will strengthen your bad habits and instead of getting better you will only reach a certain plateau and might get frustrated when your not getting better or you beeing in a slump without knowing why.

Only perfect training makes perfect! :wink:
Click to expand...

well said...
 
What Should I Teach

The ACS and the PBIA have programs for instructors that teaches how to teach.
You might find the answer to your question there.
 
A good instructor sees how you are interpreting his instruction. He can understand your perspective of what he has to proffer and adjust his instructions accordingly to steer you to see his instructions more accurately.

This may take several iterations to get his messages into your mind.
 
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