whats the best pool school?

metallicarokerx

metallicarokerx

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
a friend of mine and i are young and we have goals to be road players by the time were 21.. hes 19 and a 9 in 9 ball im 17 and a 6 in 9 ball and we always play 4 hours a day together and go home and do drills and stuff.. thing is that we have diffrent weakness/advantages and we would like to get them fixed and i thought it would be a good idea for the 2 of us to go to pool school.

with that said what do you think the best school is and how much does it cost? does it really help that much. is it worth the money???

thanks
 
Road players? I don't mean to be a smartass, but your earnings potential might be better served by putting college or a good trade before pool school.

We have fun on this board talking about legends of the road, but don't take it too much to heart. Almost every poster sharing stories about road players has made their living in some more dependable way. A goal of being a financially successful road player is like trying to be a professional basketball player - the odds against it are very long.

I wouldn't lecture like this except you're so young - at 17 I wanted to be Willie Mosconi so I know where you're coming from. At 19 I wised up, hung up the cue and focused on a more conventional profession. I realized that to make a decent living playing pool you really had to be Mosconi.
 
Best pool school? Your local college!

Rich93 said:
Road players? I don't mean to be a smartass, but your earnings potential might be better served by putting college or a good trade before pool school.

We have fun on this board talking about legends of the road, but don't take it too much to heart. Almost every poster sharing stories about road players has made their living in some more dependable way. A goal of being a financially successful road player is like trying to be a professional basketball player - the odds against it are very long.

I wouldn't lecture like this except you're so young - at 17 I wanted to be Willie Mosconi so I know where you're coming from. At 19 I wised up, hung up the cue and focused on a more conventional profession. I realized that to make a decent living playing pool you really had to be Mosconi.
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I have to agree with Rich on this one. Going on the road sounds romantic, but the reality is that you have to deal with some tough conditions out there. Everything about the road is hard except for the freedom, but you still have to work to earn your cash.

It is not just Werewolves of London and twirl your cue and waltz out with the cash.

Aspiring to be a great player is a great thing, but you should do it right. Get an education and a steady income. Then you will be able to afford to travel on the weekends and play to your heart's content without wondering how you are going to pay the bills.

Plus, you need to evaluate what you want out of life. It is ok to screw around for a while, but eventually, if you want to live the American dream and have a family and a nice house, etc... you gotta earn a good living. "Pool Hustler with years of road experience" just does not look good on a resume and will not get you into a management position when you are too old for the road and wish you had a decent job to fall back on.

These days, it is tough for families to make it with a single person earning $25/hour, which translates to $1000 a week, or $52,000 a year. A husband earning that probably needs to have his wife work too.

On the road you will still have daily expenses and there are only so many days in a row you can hack the seven-layer super torpedo burrito from Taco Bell and sleep in your clothing, in your car.

Most places you go, they won't be hangin out with hundreds of dollars to donate to you. You might work a few barboxes in each town for $50 or $100, but that hardly covers your expenses. Fairly nice hotels across America are $89/night. Looks like Motel 6 for you and you are going to have to spend two hours in a smokey bar just to pay for that.

A few hustlers have made a nice living, but not too many. The great ones were gifted at billiards and at gambling. Gifted. Everyone else donated money.

The real road players got their education in the smokey basements of the local pool halls - the School of Hard Knocks. They got beaten down so many times that they learned to be the beater eventually.

Your best bet is to start growing up and get a real education and real job.
 
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BillYards said:
I have to agree with Rich on this one. Going on the road sounds romantic, but the reality is that you have to deal with some tough conditions out there. Everything about the road is hard except for the freedom, but you still have to work to earn your cash.

It is not just Werewolves of London and twirl your cue and waltz out with the cash.

Aspiring to be a great player is a great thing, but you should do it right. Get an education and a steady income. Then you will be able to afford to travel on the weekends and play to your heart's content without wondering how you are going to pay the bills.

Plus, you need to evaluate what you want out of life. It is ok to screw around for a while, but eventually, if you want to live the American dream and have a family and a nice house, etc... you gotta earn a good living. "Pool Hustler with years of road experience" just does not look good on a resume and will not get you into a management position when you are too old for the road and wish you had a decent job to fall back on.

These days, it is tough for families to make it with a single person earning $25/hour, which translates to $1000 a week, or $52,000 a year. A husband earning that probably needs to have his wife work too.

On the road you will still have daily expenses and there are only so many days in a row you can hack the seven-layer super torpedo burrito from Taco Bell and sleep in your clothing, in your car.

Most places you go, they won't be hangin out with hundreds of dollars to donate to you. You might work a few barboxes in each town for $50 or $100, but that hardly covers your expenses. Fairly nice hotels across America are $89/night. Looks like Motel 6 for you and you are going to have to spend two hours in a smokey bar just to pay for that.

A few hustlers have made a nice living, but not too many. The great ones were gifted at billiards and at gambling. Gifted. Everyone else donated money.

The real road players got their education in the smokey basements of the local pool halls - the School of Hard Knocks. They got beaten down so many times that they learned to be the beater eventually.

Your best bet is to start growing up and get a real education and real job.
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Billyards...That is absolutely the most incisive post I've ever read. I would have posted precisely the same thing you did...but you did eloquently, and to the point. As someone who has "been there, done that", and who still manages to make a great living traveling the country teaching pool, and doing trick shot shows, I will vouch for the truth in your post. The only way to make any real living from pool, is to be an entertainer/teacher. The market is wide open for men or women, who possess personality, communication skills, and can play a LITTLE!:eek: :rolleyes: :D Truthfully, there's so much work, that there could be 100 people doing what I'm doing...all making six-figure incomes. Now, that, by nature, means that you're on the road a LOT. It takes a certain makeup to tolerate, let alone enjoy (and I LOVE doing what I do), a lifestyle of 'performing' on the road!

Nonetheless...I agree strongly with staying in school. Go to college and get a degree. That will ensure that you at least have a chance of GETTING a job making $50K a year! Play pool on the weekends...as an amateur or an aspiring pro. There are several successful 'semi-pro' tours, around the country, where you can test your skills against the best players in the region, if not the country. Keep in mind, that without a good job, you can't successfully finance playing on any pool tour.

About which poolschool to attend, guranteed to improve ANYONE'S pool game...the answer is Cue Tech, in Dallas. More students graduate from our programs, than from any other pool school. Randyg has a permanent pool school facility in Dallas, and he heads up a 'roadshow poolschool' schedule, which takes him all over the country. I work with him in many of these roadshow poolschools, along with other frequent guest instructors, from all over the country. In June, Randy and I will be teaching a roadshow poolschool with professional player/instructor Joe Tucker (and other guest instructors), at Snookers, in Providence RI, June 22nd-24th. What you learn in these intensive 3-day pool schools is invaluable, and literally life-changing(as far as your pool game) for some students. It delivers a jolt of education, an intense 'stroke' massage:D , and an injection of immediate confidence in your stroke!:D :D You also go home with an established plan for taking the knowledge you learn, and making it automatic. Then it's all up to you!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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The Road vs. Going to College

I don't want to disagree with the excellent advice given on here to aspiring poolplayers, but there is another school of thought on this subject. Yes, college and a good education is a wonderful thing. But some time spent on the road can be a remarkable learning experience as well.

In some young men (and women) who have spent many years in school, there is a great desire to see the world and do some exploring when they reach college age or thereabouts. This is not a bad thing and should be encouraged. I did both when I was a young man. I went to college for a few years and then went on the road for nearly five years. I would have to say that the years on the road better prepared me for everything else I've done in life. I learned how to deal with all kinds of people and situations, and find out what I was made of.

In hindsight, I wish I had gone back to school and got a medical degree like my brother. But I didn't and instead bought my first poolroom at age 27, and took a little different career path. I have no regrets though, as it has been one interesting journey. I now feel that for most young men, their 20's is a time of exploration and discovery, and they do not find their true career path until their 30's. So to these young men, I say explore, discover, find out who you are and what your passion is in life. And then go for it!

P.S. You can always go back to school when you are ready. College is an option that will be there. You may discover your career calling during the course of your journey.
 
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Apply a student visa to the Philippines. Enroll in one of the big Uni and play pool on the side. Two birds in one stone.
 
don't discourage these guys from chasing their dream fellas.you're never too old to go back to school but doing something like going on the road is one of those things i would imagine you'd have to be young to have the courage to do.
 
Ah yes, I remember that feeling. Here is an idea that isn't very far off. Go to college if you want. (I did, I graduated and now I am working in a field that had nothing at all to do with my degree and busy paying back 26K in loans). I had friends that married money (that’s the way to go, love is over rated {except that which you have for your children!}). I had friends that went to work for small companies in the office, and now make 60K a year and have no education to pay back, but hey at least I have that piece of paper that says I conformed. (And that I spent 5 year in a hedonistic state of debauchery! :D ).
You might want to think about the Air force, you will get a AS degree during your service with them, you will get to travel to places you would spend thousands going to if you had to foot the bill yourself, they pay you pretty good (considering the allowances and living), and the job is so cushy you get to do PT with a towel and water bottle). After all is said and done, you have a table in most REC halls, and you have free insurance. Then you have a pretty good sized check left over to go blow in the local area on pool. I believe there are still active based in the Philippines’ and the Azores so you can cut your teeth on the Asian market as well. Back when I enlisted originally in 87 you could sign up and get to serve with your best friend. But I was Army and that was then I did not do much traveling besides Ft. Benning, Stuart, Ft. Bragg, Ft, Knox, etc…. but hey, there are some pretty good rooms around there.
 
jay helfert said:
I don't want to disagree with the excellent advice given on here to aspiring poolplayers, but there is another school of thought on this subject. Yes, college and a good education is a wonderful thing. But some time spent on the road can be a remarkable learning experience as well.
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(I stopped reading at this point...)
 
Gotta throw the B.S. flag on the "College will always be there" statement. True, it will always be there, but it is also true that it will be tough as hell for you to go to school if you are trying to pay rent and feed your family. It is not fun to go at night, take it from me.

Plus... you will have to pay your tuition from whatever job you can get with your wimpy resume.

Screw that! There is plenty of time to see the world after you have a strong income!

You will literally piss your earning potential down the pot by not going to college. If your earning potential is low, then you will not be able to travel when you are older or retire in comfort.

I am not knocking Jay. He is one of the few guys that is/was gifted with talent and street savvy. He also chose to get off the road when the time was right. Could he still be a doctor? Sure, with hard work. Is it likely that he will go back to school at this point in life? No, not likely.

Fun in your 20's is ok in moderation. College is more fun than I have ever had in my life.

I certainly wanted to hit the road and play, but I would have traded my future for 5 fun years on the road.

You guys have to set your goals! Do you want to find yourself wondering how you will buy food for the week when you are middle aged?

It is much more comfortable to be earning a nice living, being able to travel anywhere I want, buying any cue I want (subject to wife approval!) and not worry about the bills.

It is true that you can learn a trade and make a nice income, I am not knocking that.

Try the road, but set a time limit (in months, not years!) and have a plan to get off the road when time is up. I am not against young people exploring the world and trying to make it on their own.

But remember that you will reach your goals quicker if you start sooner (meaning younger).
 
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yo man how long do you think these kids'll do the road life? i'm thinking maybe 2 years, after that they'll probably move back home (with their parents)and go to college. they'll get through college the same as if they'd gone right out of high school.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
yo man how long do you think these kids'll do the road life? i'm thinking maybe 2 years, after that they'll probably move back home (with their parents)and go to college. they'll get through college the same as if they'd gone right out of high school.
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I bet that it is closer to two weeks. Unless they are taking someone with them that has been down that path before.
Besides, @ their age they are going to be hard presses to get into any money matches in a "family style" billiard room, and no bars I know of will let kids in after 8 or 9 PM anyways.
 
I am going to have to weigh in on the “go for it” side. I have some personal experience with something similar.

School is always there, youth is not. You can always go back to school, but you will not always be young and unencumbered. I had a dream as a teenager that most people scoffed at also. I was advised and bullied into going to college instead of pursuing my dream. I made it one year in college before deciding everybody was wrong. I dropped out of college and moved to NYC. I pursued my dream and was successful for a little over two years. Unfortunately, I got injured and had to abandon my pursuit. So, I moved back to my home state, got a full-time job, got married, and enrolled in college. I graduated with honors. I have a very successful career, and even went back to school again a few years ago and got a Masters degree.

So, I chased my dream, but in the end I did have to pursue a “real job.” However, taking the few years off the typical track and chasing something different was a great experience that I had that most people will not. I am now rapidly hitting middle age and when I look back it is the few years chasing the dream I fondly remember, not school and working in the corporate world. I may not have been able to live my dream for my entire career, but I do not regret for a second chasing it. Actually, I feel a little sorry for those that never chased a dream.

There are many different paths one can take in life. One path is not right for everybody. I say go for it, it is better to try and fail than to live a life full of regrets.
 
do both

You can hit and road and goto school. There are many colleges that offer online courses. Take one or two courses per semester. In a couple of years you can have a semester or two of college. When you are young with no responsibilties that road sound very attractive. It is fun just hanging around the pool hall. But it is highly unlikely that you will make a decent living at it full time. If it is calling you try it, but look at the post by John Schmidt. He is one of the top players in the world right now, and he is asking people to back him to help defray costs. It can be exciting, but a really tough life. I've talked to some who have tried it. It sounds exciting to those of use who have a 9 - 5 job and can't wait to get to the pool hall at night. What ever you choose, good luck. I hope you are successfull in life. :)
 
Here is a quick homework assignment. Read "Playing off the Rail" for an insight of what the 'glamorous' road holds. 6+ months, Hotels, Crap food, Trains, Buses and a bunch of whacked out people. This is with Tony Annigoni that has/had an arm full of talent and he won most of his matches and they still just about broke even with expenses included. Their life was in danger at least 3 times and a couple of times they were certain to at least end up with broken bones. There is more to the road than just playing well. The movie "The Color of Money" is not a true portrial of what the road holds. You will not wake up beside Carmen and get to play with a Balabushka. Although Fast Eddie did say one important thing... "Pool excellence is *not* about excellent pool." To win enough money on the road you have to learn to win just enough. Give your opponent the idea that he has at least a chance to win. You have to be smart enough to know what people will answer before they answer it. If you go in and blow someone out for a $20 game. Guess what? You will be eating at burger king that night and sleeping in your car. Six things you have got to ask yourself before you think you are going to go on the road.

1) Am I smart enough to setup a game that I know I can win?
2) Are my morals low enough that I will not feel guilty setting up a hustle.
3) Can I protect myself in the event that I get discovered or if someone ends up robbing me.
4) Am I willing to sleep in a box *when* someone ends up hustling me. (I say when and not *if* because you will get hustled in return).
5) Am I strong enough to resist the urge to do drugs to enhance my performance.
6) When all is said and done am I willing to accept that even though I won most of my matches nothing I have learned on the road has helped me one bit to get a real job to support myself the rest of my life.

I know you are young and if want to try it for a few months... go for it. But don't spend the money on getting better @ pool. Spend it on a trade school and take the money that is left over and head to a big city to find out how well you match up. At least when you get home you can look forward to a prosperous life. Don't end up being a 4th page news article which is where this is headed.

JMO

JV
 
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alright so we're all decided right the kids should go for it. what's the best school for it. hay worst comes to worst they go broke and go home with their tails between their legs. lets give 'em a fighting chance and get 'em to a good pool school. any recommendations?

it's my opinion if you're going to do something stupid do it while you're young and have time to recover from the mistake. not saying that it's a mistake
 
poolplayer2093 said:
alright so we're all decided right the kids should go for it. what's the best school for it. hay worst comes to worst they go broke and go home with their tails between their legs. lets give 'em a fighting chance and get 'em to a good pool school. any recommendations?

it's my opinion if you're going to do something stupid do it while you're young and have time to recover from the mistake. not saying that it's a mistake
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There have been several good recommendations for schools and instructors in this thread. Really, to get the best answer, the original poster need to say where they are located. Ideally, they would go to a good instructor that is close enough for follow ups.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
alright so we're all decided right the kids should go for it. what's the best school for it. hay worst comes to worst they go broke and go home with their tails between their legs. lets give 'em a fighting chance and get 'em to a good pool school. any recommendations?

it's my opinion if you're going to do something stupid do it while you're young and have time to recover from the mistake. not saying that it's a mistake
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Worst comes to worst means they'll be lying in an alley rotting with empty pockets and bullet holes; you are sending them down a terrible path, if you ask me. Play tournaments, travel a bit, that's fine; but eventually there will be complications trying to "make it on the road."

And school will be there, but other opportunaties in life will slip away the longer you wait to attend. Higher income, more earnings for a life-time, more experience, more opportunatey for promotions, etc...
 
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