Why Do I Want an Instructor?

By Steve Jennings

25 years ago, I was a pretty decent pool player. I played in our local weekly tournaments and did pretty well. I won a few and cashed out in even more. But when I started entering some regional tour stops, I quickly learned that I wasn’t at the level I needed to be. So I practiced more (or I THOUGHT I was practicing.) I read books, watched videos, and put more hours in at the table. But no matter what I did, I seemed to be stuck. I hit a plateau and couldn’t get past it.

At that point, I admitted to myself that I wasn’t going to get it on my own. I contacted a couple of instructors and ended up in a 3-day school held by my (now) good friend Randy Goettlicher. I went into the class thinking I might get some tips to get on track. Boy, was I wrong! Those three days changed my pool game completely! Seeing the results of that weekend made me want to become an instructor, so I could help other players find the same kind of improvement that I had found. Randy’s knowledge and ability to see and correct flaws in my mechanics handed me the opportunity to develop into a solid player and, more importantly, led me to work on becoming the best instructor I could be. Today, I am a triple-certified Level 4/Master instructor. All because I attended a 3-day pool school.

So why do you need a professional instructor? The obvious answer is because you want to become a better player. And by working with a qualified instructor, you can do it with far less work, time, and frustration. A qualified instructor can observe what you do, and how you do it. We have learned to see those pesky little flaws that have been holding you back. We also can help you correct those issues and develop a program that will put you on the fast track to excellence. Most of the problems happen outside of your field of vision. When you are shooting, your visual focus is on the table in front of you. The problems often occur behind you, so you are unable to see what’s going wrong, and often end up wondering why you missed a shot. If you become aware of all you are doing, it’s easier to understand what went wrong, and what action to take to correct the problem. That’s what a good instructor can do for you. So who needs a professional instructor? Almost everyone! Obviously, a beginner to the game, or the lower skill level players need help to build a solid foundation for their game. Solid fundamentals and routines will help develop the ability to deliver the cue ball accurately. The intermediate-level player may need help fine-tuning those things, or developing other skills, like table mapping, reading a table, and more accurate cue ball control. And even the highest level players rely on instructors and coaches as observers to point out those things they may not even be aware are happening. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s simply a way of ensuring that your performance at the table will always be the best it can be. And taking every available opportunity to learn more every day will keep you ahead of the players who try to go it alone.

As instructors, we have all become students of the game. We read, watch, and study at every opportunity. We work together with other instructors to gain more knowledge and get new ideas from each other. Our primary goal is to be the instructor that can successfully develop our students. We train each other, challenge each other, and sometimes push each other so you can receive the highest quality billiards education possible. Because when you succeed, we have succeeded.

Lastly, if you want to elevate your game or think you might like to become an instructor yourself, feel free to contact me at 980-253-0211, and let’s discuss your options.