What is the purpose of having a Pool Instructor?

So if you just do drills over and over if you have fundamental problems you will just "work" it out with repetition and discipline even though you can't spot what they are to correct them?
You can
buy books,video's and there's youtube.I'm sure you will find your glitch and
try and correct it.If having a coach makes you feel better and in turn
makes you play better,all the power to ya.My opinion is that a coach is not needed.
 
I tried this. After 50 years of not improving I employed a certified instructor. I must be freak... I'm taking lessons and getting better.
It depends on how serious you are about your game.
The majority of average players I see in the poolhall, practice all the shots
there already good at.I rarely see guys doing a drill on a shot they
completely hate.They just bang balls around for hours not improving on
anything,just keeping there arm warm.For me my game went way up
when my common sense kicked in and thought''drawing the snot out of the ball over and over won't win me matches but practicing breaking,kicking
banking,and strategy will''.I'm not saying a coach is bad,I just think its
not needed.
 
Please explain why there are coaches in virtually every sport there is (amateur and professional), if they are not needed. Please explain how and why the Asian players (men and women), in a few short years, have come from almost nowhere, to dominating many of the world's events. Hint: They have coaches!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

.My opinion is that a coach is not needed.
 
Please explain why there are coaches in virtually every sport there is (amateur and professional), if they are not needed. Please explain how and why the Asian players (men and women), in a few short years, have come from almost nowhere, to dominating many of the world's events. Hint: They have coaches!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
It all depends on how serious you intend to take your game.Of course someone pointing out errors will help you but your average player won't find the time or the money.In other sports they have coaches all year round.When it comes to pool,if a player is going to have a year around coach and mentor,good for him.Most people with kids,job and responsibilities won't find the need to have a instructor.Most guys go up to a better player in the room and ask
for some advice that might help them.Unless your life is devoted to becoming the best in the game then I don't see the point but if it is,then a coach will help.
 
It all depends on how serious you intend to take your game.Of course someone pointing out errors will help you but your average player won't find the time or the money.In other sports they have coaches all year round.When it comes to pool,if a player is going to have a year around coach and mentor,good for him.Most people with kids,job and responsibilities won't find the need to have a instructor.Most guys go up to a better player in the room and ask
for some advice that might help them.Unless your life is devoted to becoming the best in the game then I don't see the point but if it is,then a coach will help.

so what is your argument? you're going around in circles. You're basically saying that instructors are useful, but only to people who are serious about getting better. Wow! what a statement. You compared it to other sports. When was the last time you saw a player that wasn't serious about getting better with any kind of instructor or coach. I didn't post this thread to argue about whether or not a person has the time or resources to afford a pool instructor.

What is the point of commenting on a thread if you're simply going argue a point that isn't being questioned???
 
It all depends on how serious you intend to take your game.Of course someone pointing out errors will help you but your average player won't find the time or the money.In other sports they have coaches all year round.When it comes to pool,if a player is going to have a year around coach and mentor,good for him.Most people with kids,job and responsibilities won't find the need to have a instructor.Most guys go up to a better player in the room and ask
for some advice that might help them.Unless your life is devoted to becoming the best in the game then I don't see the point but if it is,then a coach will help.

As a side note, coaching/instructing, I prefer to see myself not as someone who points out errors, but solutions!

As to finding oneself a mentor instead of a paid instructor, needless to say, if one gets lucky, it may be the best that can happen to an aspiring player.

Unfortunately, when I was a teenager taking up pool, I couldn't find a single person who'd share any secrets, even less so when it turned out I was beating everyone in the neighborhood within a year. At that point, boarding a plane to get some serious instruction abroad seemed (and turned out to be) the only choice. In hindsight, I was probably lucky none of the locals was willing to share their knowledge with me (such as that "one must jab at the ball and pull back the cue as quickly as possible to get draw on the cue ball" or "always aim at the center of the cue ball regardless of what spin one is applying, in order to baffle one's opponent"?!). Today, after more than a quarter of a century, some of those people still come to me to take lessons. And it's not because I beat them as a teenager, nor because I might still be able to beat them today.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
Last edited:
As a side note, coaching/instructing, I prefer to see myself not as someone who points out errors, but solutions!

As to finding oneself a mentor instead of a paid instructor, needless to say, if one gets lucky, it may be the best that can happen to an aspiring player.

Unfortunately, when I was a teenager taking up pool, I couldn't find a single person who'd share any secrets, even less so when it turned out I was beating everyone in the neighborhood within a year. At that point, boarding a plane to get some serious instruction abroad seemed (and turned out to be) the only choice. In hindsight, I was probably lucky none of the locals was willing to share their knowledge with me (such as that "one must jab at the ball and pull back the cue as quickly as possible to get draw on the cue ball" or "always aim at the center of the cue ball regardless of what spin one is applying, in order to baffle one's opponent"?!). Today, after more than a quarter of a century, some of those people still come to me to take lessons. And it's not because I beat them as a teenager, nor because I might still be able to beat them today.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
I see what your saying.Its hard sometimes to get a point across on the computer.I think any great knowledge is wonderful in any aspect in life.My point with the coaching is based on average players or league players.To have a full-time coach is costly in the pocket and in the time department.I'll ask for pointers off a few pros in my area who gave me great advice and have instructed me to try different solutions.Like I said before,if having a coach makes you play better then all the power to you.:)
 
Best thing

Having instruction is the best thing that I ever did. I had a lesson from Scott Lee an year ago and going to see Randy G tomorrow, I am very excited.

Though I am a beginner, my learning is faster now, as I have a consistent stroke.
 
I see what your saying.Its hard sometimes to get a point across on the computer.I think any great knowledge is wonderful in any aspect in life.My point with the coaching is based on average players or league players.To have a full-time coach is costly in the pocket and in the time department.I'll ask for pointers off a few pros in my area who gave me great advice and have instructed me to try different solutions.Like I said before,if having a coach makes you play better then all the power to you.:)

Dude, get a grip and quit going around in circles....who the heck said anything about having a full time coach? Nobody. Lessons can be as little as hour or entire weekend. Depends on each persons needs and their current finances,,,,but ain't nobody getting rich giving pool lessons....
 
Dude, get a grip and quit going around in circles....who the heck said anything about having a full time coach? Nobody. Lessons can be as little as hour or entire weekend. Depends on each persons needs and their current finances,,,,but ain't nobody getting rich giving pool lessons....
Not going around in circles,pool lessons are pricey if your being taught by a Pro.I know guys who get lessons a few times a week,and let me tell you,it isn't cheap.As far as what each person needs,would depend on how serious that player wants to get with there game.
 
Not going around in circles,pool lessons are pricey if your being taught by a Pro.I know guys who get lessons a few times a week,and let me tell you,it isn't cheap.As far as what each person needs,would depend on how serious that player wants to get with there game.

I would guess that, of those who have taken lessons, far more would call them priceless. :)
I have one coming tomorrow. If I can learn to identify and correct my biggest fault. I will be happy. It will be money well spent.
I will win that money back. :wink:
 
Srini...You'll love working with Randyg! Have a great weekend! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Having instruction is the best thing that I ever did. I had a lesson from Scott Lee an year ago and going to see Randy G tomorrow, I am very excited.

Though I am a beginner, my learning is faster now, as I have a consistent stroke.
 
Not going around in circles,pool lessons are pricey if your being taught by a Pro.I know guys who get lessons a few times a week,and let me tell you,it isn't cheap.As far as what each person needs,would depend on how serious that player wants to get with there game.

But the vast majority don't take "numerous" lessons. Just like golf, they take lessons to get them to a certain point, and if they get stuck at a certin level, or want to learn something else, they go back....

Again, I'm just not sure who the entire sporting world can have coaches and instructors, but for some reason pool shoud NOT, or is pool so easy that it should just come naturally to everyone ???
 
I see what your saying.Its hard sometimes to get a point across on the computer.I think any great knowledge is wonderful in any aspect in life.My point with the coaching is based on average players or league players.To have a full-time coach is costly in the pocket and in the time department.I'll ask for pointers off a few pros in my area who gave me great advice and have instructed me to try different solutions.Like I said before,if having a coach makes you play better then all the power to you.:)

In my experience, no one except a pro competing in a sport that pays top dollar needs a full-time coach, plus perhaps someone to assume their everyday obligations. Not even Roger Federer has had a coach throughout his career, although he did in his formative years. And pool isn't among those sports, at least not here.

It's my understanding we're discussing instruction here, however, not coaching. In pool, if at all, we only have coaches for youth and teams, either sponsored or paid by clubs/associations.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
Last edited:
A couple things I think everyone will agree on...

You don't necessarily have to take lessons to become great... But you will have to put in more time to get there.

Lessons are not cheap and not everyone can afford them, but the alternative is not cheap either. I have played over 1850 hours in a year. The table time and losses to better players were expensive, but it has paid for itself and then some.

You still have to put practice time in on the table regardless, but good lessons will shorten the time needed. That's why they are expensive... Because it takes years to develop the knowledge you get from a top level instructor. I learned old school by playing better players and making a lot of donations. I would not give away what I have learned either. It has cost me a lot to gain the knowledge I have.

If you can afford lessons... It's worth it!
 
Back
Top