One reason is that billiards, unlike golf or tennis, has no farm system in place to rear or encourage aspiring players. Players are tight secrets they know and there is no stable to groom young champs. And golf and tennis have thousands of teaching pros in place, with at least one lesson provider at every course, club and spa.
Here's How:
Billiards players ought to take their "cue" from other sports... Get a billiards teacher’s references and above all, avoid teachers who make you pay to watch them play so you "learn by watching".
Most of the better billiards lessons should feature you making shots under the watchful eye of your coach. At other times, the two of you may play an instructional game together.
Negotiate your cost based on whether you as a student will show improvement at pool and billiards! I know top players who charge $100 to $1,000 or far more for an hour’s pool lesson without teaching anything effective to their students. A number of pros who shall remain nameless, asked to write pool instructional books or star in pool videos declined, saying, “How can I teach billiards? I don’t know what I’m doing at the table.”
Tips:
The key to a pool coach is whether he or she can coach effectively. Sounds trite, perhaps, but would you rather take pool lessons from the world’s best pool player or the world’s best pool coach?
A Billiards Congress of America (BCA) certified instructor or BCA master instructor will guide you for around $20 hourly for lessons. BCA instructors have demonstrated their playing and teaching skills before a review board of their peers, and are qualified to walk you through numerous basic and advanced pool proficiencies.
- Most BCA instructors offer group and family rates. To renew their annual certification, they may ask you to submit BCA forms reviewing their attitude and ability to teach, too.
What You Need:
- A list of goals you want to achieve in the sport of billiards
- A commitment to practice outside the lessons--it takes time to master new skills
- A pad and a pencil or pen for pool and billiards notes
- A digital camera to photograph your teacher and you at the table for later study
