Johnny got me thinking about this.If you were to seek out formal instruction, would you go into it with the idea that you might have to break down your game and start from scratch, or do you just want someone to tweak a few things here and there, but overall not really change anything about the way that you play?M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.
Matt makes a good point.The newer style of teaching does bear a strong resemblance to Alison Fischer is style of play.The reason for this is to reinforce the ideas of limiting excess body movement and keeping everything is a straight line.Alison just exaggerates everything that we tend to teach at the BCA, but that is what practice is about, to exaggerate, repeat, and measure the results.Alison may seem mechanical and uncomfortable but she is really not at all. Take a completely different style of play like Bustamante.As different as his stroke is from Alison's, he still keeps the cue moving straight and most of the movement is coming from below the elbow, like it should be.Frankly, I've been playing around with Bustamante is stroke lately, and l do like some of the aspects of it.That is not what l would teach.It is very fluid, and there is nothing wrong with that.That sidearm stroke like McCready is does drive me nuts though l will admit.Ever seen Willie Hoppe?Yikes.

For real l would let you tell me l would shoot a couple of racks or whatever then would be open to any and all sugestions-May even get spellin lessons

Like you said Tiger Woods has coaches
Forman has Trainers
Bata may have an inst

l think a trainer is better for a beginner than someone who is been shooting over 20 years, some as much as 50!.
l think he can probably give me some tips, and maybe realize something that l am doing wrong, but it would be hard for someone to change their game completely, after all those years. l am sure l would use some tips, or try some!

l would go into it totally open minded. Hoping that an instructor would be able to pinpoint any weakness in my game & help me to get rid of it. l think most players have things that they could use help with. Some more than others. Could be a slight flaw in ur stroke, Maybe the way u strategize, having trouble with bank shots , can not play position properly etc. etc.. l think it would be silly to get formal instruction if u aren,t going to change anything about the way u play. l guess u would have to go into it with the idea that no matter how long you've been playing u still can & will learn something new. They say u can not teach an old dog new tricks. Just depends on how stubborn that old dog is.

l was in my mid 30 is when l took up tennis.like a ''vice'' & really serious about it.went to see the local pro for some lesssons.one of the best known in my area...he looked at me & asked as to how serious was l about it..'' l want to be State Ranked by 40''..''well the biggest problem u have is that u r an ''old dog'' & u r going to have to learn new tricks''..in other words, u r going to have to change ur game in order to get anywhere...right away l change & go back to play my buddies.all of a sudden l am getting beat with this new game..but l endured the losses & little by little my game changed to the point that l was #8 in the State in my division at 40!..a ''sightful''(not sure if that should be the word)..but an Instructor that has the ''sight'' or the ability to draw the shot in ur brain & also the ''sight'' to see the faults in ur game would add a lot & therefore l would be willing to change my game in order to excell down the road...but not only the way that l play but the way that l ''think'' my game...always wondered how some pro tennis players did a certain shot...John McEnroe & Martina Navratilova on TV as announcers can show u the shot just by their ''depective'' statements..you see how they did it & why..they do not realize just how great an Instructor that they would make..so YES, l would change my game entirely just to be able to improve my game .so l would put myself totally in ur hands...at 60 l can still attain this higher level & truly believe it..just need a good coach!!...BUT one has to want it to do it!! That is the key word to any success 'WANT''!!!

l just got back to playing pool about four years ago l played some in my twentys then went to working off on jobs in different states & roping caves on the semie pro rodeo tour had to retire from work on medical at age 42 started playing pool as a pastime was rated a 4 on both bca & apa if a lot of u remember a few mounts ago l started asking all of u regulars on here where l could find a instructor here in ala & a lot of stuff about how to get a goog draw & about good cues & many other things & all of u were very helpful l found a rated instructor in tenn went to him he made me start over l & it realy helped my game l had several session with him he moved my game up to a soliead 5 & some times l hit a six for a while but l drop back & fourth but in openion if ur r serious about ur game a good insturctor will take ur game apart & get u on the right tract but u have to be willing to want to learn & be paticant to get to the leval u want

l personally would seek out an instructor who is ideas about the pool stroke r more congruent with mine. l believe MOST players would benefit greatly from an instructor that could break down their stroke & start from scratch, & l would not be completely against this. However, there is more than one was to play well, & l would make sure l found someone who taught more of the style l want to have.

l like to play more like the 'old timers,' even though l am relatively young. l would rather play like Willi Mosconi than Allison Fisher. A lot of instructors have taken to teaching a snooker style approach to the game, which is fine, but not what l am looking for. l like to have a more upright stance, more angle with the cue, & a free flowing stroke. l would not enjoy playing with my chin on the cue & with a very rigid, mechanical stroke. If l am not going to enjoy the game as much after an instructor makes his 'improvements' to my stroke, there is no point in doing it since this is a game, & it is meant to be fun.

So l guess my answer is that l would be open to having an instructor break down my stroke if need be, but he must teach the style l want to use, otherwise l would not even go to him (And l do know of at least one that teaches the style l like, even though l have not really researched it much).