"I'm a difficult student."

When it comes to pool, I am not, by any means, the perfect student. In fact, I have even been known to be “difficult.” It’s not deliberate. It just happens. As I have recently been conducting some pool clinics of my own, I have a small group of regular students that attend most weeks. One in particular, Rob, is giving me a taste of my own student-hood. Being an imperfect student does not make me a poor learner. In fact, I understand and retain most things very quickly. That is, after the questioning and hesitation subside. Only after I let down my guard and allow myself to trust my instructor am I able to completely absorb all the information that is presented to me. You see… I can’t help my curiosity. Already inquisitive, having an analytical mind allows some slight paranoia to set in. This is the part where I wonder how it could be that this new information is true when I’d known it another way for so many years. “Are you sure I should use outside english here? I have always shot this with inside english.” This over-analyzing causes me to be reluctant to receiving the new information. It’s not that I don’t trust my instructor, I just can’t help myself. For me, and many others, I need to understand why, how, and what will happen. Why do I do it this way instead of the tougher way I’ve been doing it all along? How does that happen when I hit the ball the way you tell me to? And, what exactly will happen when I shoot it the way you say? Finding an instructor with the patience to understand your need for understanding is half the battle. Discovering myself on the other side of the fence, I now understand it’s a very busy two-way street. So, if you’re an eager student with an inquisitive mind and many questions, trust in your instructor. Believe in what they have to share with you. You don’t have to like it but don’t waste too much time. It may help to have a notebook with you to jot down some of the curious thoughts and ask them later. Try not to interrupt an explanation. You may find your answer in the end. Many times, I even answer my own question after just shooting the shot. On the other hand, patience I always had. I developed that while teaching private violin lessons to middle-schoolers for ten years. The important thing is to make sure the point is heard. I try to make my clinics fun and interactive. I have been know to ask students to repeat their question at the end of a session as to not stray from the lesson at hand. I always make sure I answer all questions and I usually like to ask a few of my own. I dedicate this article to Rob, one of my favorite students. He is not nearly as difficult as I am, but we’re lucky our brains work the same way. May you all find such rewarding student-teacher relationships.

Designing Your Own Game

If you were shopping for a new car, you wouldn’t just purchase the first one off the lot just because the consumer reports gave it the highest ratings. Would you? You might do some research and test drive a few before making a decision. By that point, you should have a pretty good idea what color, model, and features you want to be driving around with. Perhaps cars are not important to you. Assume you’re searching for a new home or a mate. Imagine choosing something that is significant to you. Now, take those elements and direct them towards your pool game. This may sound silly, but if pool is important to you, why wouldn’t you put as much thought and consideration into designing that game as you would when designing a new home? Developing YOUR pool game deserves as much attention as making a major purchase. It should also be a major decision. The responsibility of processing what you learn is on your shoulders. Along with that, is the decision of WHAT TO LEARN. Yes, this is true. Many instructors out there will disagree with me on this one. Most of them feel that their way is the only way. I’m here to let you know that you do not have to buy into any of that propaganda. You DO have a choice. How is it possible that there are so many brilliant pool instructors out there that each subscribe to their own philosophies and concepts on this game? They are each just as successful and just as well-respected. Some may share a kicking and banking system; some may share mechanical views; and some may not agree at all. However, there is one thing that they will all agree upon. That is, their way is the best way. Right? Otherwise, why did they get into this business? Or, better yet, why wouldn’t they be teaching it the other way. My point is that you can not leave it up to the professionals (the consumer reports) to determine what you should know (or, what you should be driving). By reading books and columns by various writers, you’re doing the research for yourself. By taking lessons from more than one instructor, you’re test driving your options. Lastly, by taking with you the things that work best for you from each one of those instructors, you’re designing a game that is built for YOU. Ask any pro who they learned this game from and I guarantee that you will never hear just one name. Do not be fooled into believing that any one instructor’s way is the only way. The best instructors will agree with that. Of course, you will find one instructor betters another. I spent two years working exclusively with one mentor and learned more than I could possibly imagine about this game. That does not mean that I forgot anything that I learned prior to that. I still take lessons today from various instructors and take with me a little bit from everyone. Discover for yourself what works for you and never stop searching for more knowledge.

Did I really prove a point?

I recently joined Chisolm's APA League on Sunday nights. I only agreed to play so long as I was never asked to throw a game or play below my handicap. The more I've been playing, the more I've been appreciating my teammates. Their eagerness to learn more and more about this game is what has kept me playing with this team. Anyway! Here's the point... Last week, during my first match, my opponent's teammate made some rude comments to my teammates about my game. I had not warmed up and admittedly was not playing my best. Although I stayed ahead of my opponent and eventually beat him, his teammate still found it necessary to tell my teammates that I wasn't playing up to my handicap and basically that I was overranked. Well, after league I approached this guy for a game. I said, "What do you want to play for?" He only had $7 to his name so we played one game for $5 and one game for $2. Not only was he not a good player (and didn't realize it) but he had stepped right out of my book, as though it were his bible. He didn't just get down on his shot before the cue ball stopped moving, it was going mach speed when he would get down and would never stop anywhere near where he was positioned. While I was down on a shot, he even tried to ask me where I was from. I said, "I'll answer any of your questions after this game." Anyway, I took his only $7 and he claims that he'd have more money to lose this week. After we played, he began telling me about all these other bars I could go to for good gambling action and where I could find people to gamble with. To all this I responded, "I don't even like to gamble. I only played you to prove a point. I heard what you said about me and I didn't appreciate it." He denied that he was trying to "talk sh*t" and claimed that he was only trying to boost his teammate's confidence (even though the teammate wasn't around when he made the comments). He completely tried to back-pedal his way out of it. The bottom line is: I am a far better player than this guy and will beat him 99.999% of the time that we match up. He is a decent ball-maker and that's about it. I would never gamble with someone just to take their money. It's not about the money. It was about the principle. However, I still wonder if continuously taking his money will ever really prove a point... On a side note: Personally, I am a tournament player. I train to compete in a controlled, respectful environment. I am courteous to my opponent and expect the same in return. I would not object to scheduling a gambling match where both opponents know when and where it will happen and I am playing a race for a certain amount. But, I do not agree with spending 13 hours in a pool hall, only to break even. Is this right or wrong? It doesn't matter. It's my choice. I choose to be a tournament player.

Brutal Honesty

A few weeks ago, my good friend, Mark Margaretten (writer for InsidePOOL magazine) and I had a nice, long heart to heart. You see, Mark is probably the highest paid pool writer out there today. His column, View From The Cheap Seats, is a creative, non-fictional perspective to this game. It's a unique, well-written, intellectual, obscure twist from just about every other pool article you’ll read. It’s not instructional, nor informative. It is what it is; the pool world as viewed through the eyes of Mark Margaretten. On that note, Mark's column is highly noted and his unique style keeps his editor and readers wanting more and more. What is his secret? This is what he shared with me. His secret is simple... Honesty. The key is utter and complete, brutal honesty. Mark does not try to write about things he doesn't know or understand. He does not try to sugar coat his wins and he does not disguise his losses. He simply writes about his observations and allows his distinctive writing style dictate the direction of his stories. Why am I sharing this with you? Well, it’s two-fold. First, in speaking with Mark, I have realized that I have fallen victim of the sugar coating and the disguising. I often only share the positive and not the negative for fear of judgment and disinterest in my readers. I am also guilty of not writing about defeats at times because I’m too disappointed to share them. Well, I am making an early New Year’s Resolution. From this point forward, I give you everything. I promise to share the good and the bad and everything in between. I promise to always give you my absolute “honesty”. Secondly, as I make this promise to you, I believe it’s important for us to make this promise to ourselves. In a game where you can not mask your shortcomings, it is still easy to try. We all have insecurities and deal with them in our lives. However, the table does not lie and will not allow distractions and dishonesties to be hidden. I have found my best game on my worst days by addressing disruptions in order to devote myself to the shot in front of me. In life and in pool, being honest about your weaknesses and confronting them will always clear your mind for what’s to come. Thank You for Reading & Happy Holidays