Who has the best instructional videos?

Donovan

Play it safe or go home.
Silver Member
I was wondering what your opinions were on instructional videos. No one can ever really replace having a great instructor, but for those who do not use that fantastic resource, who has the best stuff out there?

1. For Advanced Players:

2, For Intermediate Players:

3. For New Players:

Since it is the giving season, I thought about this for friends who are players. I have many friends at many levels of the game, and this just occurred to me to be one of those perfect gift ideas. Of all the video productions that I have seen,

I have really grown to like the Bert Kinister stuff the most! I tend to go back to those often. When I help a new player, I do use Bert's Fundamental strategies and Mighty-X drill. I also liked the Tom Rossman banking and kicking stuff.

What do you guys think?
 
mighty x

spot a ball 1 diamond up and one diamond in and do the opposite with the cue ball.

after pocketing the object ball attempt to draw the cueball into opposite corner.

I actually have an "X" drawn on my table at home to work on this drill, it helps improve stroke. In conjunction with Joe Tuckers 3rd Eye it has helped to straight stroke
 
I have seen many, but really got the most benefit from Jimmy Reid's 'No Time For Negative' series... Here is his page... http://www.freepoollessons.com/

I learned how to do pre-shot and addressing the table and shot correctly from him. Improved my game overnight, no joke.
 
Describing it is not that easy...

pinkisntwell said:
Can someone describe the Mighty-X drill?

You can tell someone what happens to the balls, but without seeing someone shoot it and hearing the comments from Bert, it really won't do you any good. I've seen people quit practicing over not be able to do it, because there are parts that need instruction if you want consistency and confidence.

I will tell you this. If you learn it the right way, straight shots will become the shot that you will look forward to shooting and will intimidate the people who struggle with straight shots. Most players say that the straight shot across the table is the hardest shot in pool.

If you have a great stance and address the ball properly so that your body is in-line when you get down on a shot, then you will love this drill (but only when you start making it ;) ). I do recommend the fundamental video he has for address the ball, because he shows you how to do it no matter what body shape or size you are.
 
BillYards said:
I have seen many, but really got the most benefit from Jimmy Reid's 'No Time For Negative' series... Here is his page... http://www.freepoollessons.com/

I learned how to do pre-shot and addressing the table and shot correctly from him. Improved my game overnight, no joke.

I just ordered his video's for myself 2 weeks ago. They still have not arrived. :(
 
accu stats

Even though Accu Stats videos are not considered "instructional", I think you can learn more by watching them than anything else in the world...especially one pocket. I cant think of a better way to learn the game than by watching two strong players going at it, with two commentators that know the game. Just my opinon, even though I think it is actually right this time. LOL
 
i think you can get a lot of great ideas watching accu-stats, as far as ways to get position and safety play, but i sure wouldnt recommend it for someone on the beginning or intermediate level who are still working on fundamentals. Can you imagine them trying to copy eferns sidearm stroke, or bustamante..or mcready lol.
 
I really like the Linda Lovelace series (…oops wrong website)

Uh ..umm

Actually I like Grady’s one pocket tapes.
 
I feel for any beginner who has not seen Robert Byrne's Standard Tape of Pool and Billiards Vol. I.

Intermediate is Vol. II of the same name.
 
pinkisntwell said:
Can someone describe the Mighty-X drill?
if there is only 1 drill that you ever do the X drill should be it...if a person cannot shoot in a straight shot with a good stroke all other shots will be affected...it is excellent i encourage you to try it.....i have it on cd from Bert Kinister and watch it every so often........here is his site www.bertkinister.com
 
For new players I would say the Byrne's videos are pretty good and easy to follow. For intermediate to advance, I don't think you can beat Bert's videos. Some of them are better than others of course but you should be able to get something out of every single video. Even the better A players will see stuff they have never seen before more than likely. He is pretty fun to watch too. Some of the better videos are:

1. The 60 minute workout for 9-ball and 8-ball.

12. The Mighty X

16. Bank shots for 8 and 9 ball

20. Advanced 60-minute workout

24. Kicking for Cash

35-38. 4 Step program to increase run out ability.

49. Bank your way to improved concentration and the 3 minute diamond system.

56. Secrets of Shotmaking

These are just a few of the ones that I got something that made pool a little easier of a game. I also liked the ones showing you how to do his drills like the star pattern drills and the ladder drills. The rest of his tapes are pretty self explanitory in the title so if you need work on any of those areas you should pick them up. I haven't gotten the new ones yet so I can't comment on those (60-64). Here is a link to his website.

http://www.bertkinister.com/

You can also get them at seyberts.

http://www.seyberts.com/instructional/videos/bert/videos.htm
 
I agree with using accu-stats for advanced players. It does work for safeties and strategy.

I'm not a fan of Robert Byrne for anything pool related. There has got to be better videos out there. He is just too dry and the videos are really poor in presentation. Maybe it is just me, but I have fallen asleep watching one of his videos for the first time. Sorry, Bob!
 
Donovan said:
I agree with using accu-stats for advanced players. It does work for safeties and strategy.

I'm not a fan of Robert Byrne for anything pool related. There has got to be better videos out there. He is just too dry and the videos are really poor in presentation. Maybe it is just me, but I have fallen asleep watching one of his videos for the first time. Sorry, Bob!
I totally agree. He really knows his stuff, but he is incredibly dry and boring (IMO). I said it before, I think Mike Sigel's instructional tapes are great. As a matter of fact, he has new some DVD's out now. I haven't seen them, but I'd bet they are pretty good.
 
JLW said:
I totally agree. He really knows his stuff, but he is incredibly dry and boring (IMO). I said it before, I think Mike Sigel's instructional tapes are great. As a matter of fact, he has new some DVD's out now. I haven't seen them, but I'd bet they are pretty good.

I have never seen any Sigel DVD's. I have some matches of him playing Straight pool from accu-stats. Oh, and I do have some old stuff from the 80's that he is in when Pretty Boy Floyd and Mizerack put all those all-star instrutcional videos. I can't even remember the name of them off hand, but they were not that good at all. I think they were called like Learn From the Best or something like that.
 
Donovan said:
I have never seen any Sigel DVD's. I have some matches of him playing Straight pool from accu-stats. Oh, and I do have some old stuff from the 80's that he is in when Pretty Boy Floyd and Mizerack put all those all-star instrutcional videos. I can't even remember the name of them off hand, but they were not that good at all. I think they were called like Learn From the Best or something like that.
Check out sigelscues.com. He advertises the DVD set there. It's also advertised during the IPT match he had with LJJ. He made an instructional tape back in the early 90's called Perfect 8 Ball, Perfect 9 Ball and Perfect Straight Pool. I've got the tape, and I think it's great. I know a lot of people don't like Sigel personally, but I think he comes across as very entertaining and knowledgeable on this tape. IMHO, it's worth buying just for the Straight pool information.
 
Bert Kinister's $100 Video - review

I got Bert's $100 Video last night in the mail.

OK, most of us know how entertaining Kinister is to watch on his videos. He has to be the most enthusiastic and comical instructor with great stuff to show you on video. He has 64 videos (crazy huh?) so far, but if you were going to have to pick just one video to see if Bert's stuff is for you, then this one is the one to get.

There are some incredibly original ideas on how to get out of situations and playing safe that I've never seen before. How to keep from double hitting balls when they are really close together...it's in there. Long shots simplified, yeah that is in there too. I don't want to make a spoiler of his work, because that really isn't right. I can say, this video is one I will watch many times.

I have never spent this much money for one DVD before. Bert's colorful delivery of information and content is worth it's wait in gold, but what he is teaching in this video - really was worth the $100 bucks.
 
Yeah, Sigel's 'Perfect Straight Pool' has a great section on different last ball situations and how to deal with them.
 
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