It’s time to think about Father’s Day. Every year, there is a collective sigh across the land as the family of “dear old Dad” ponders the age-old question, “What do we get him this time?”
This year, break through the ordinary and embrace the unique. Discard preconceived notions of what Dad would like and give him what he really wants.
That’s right: toss the ties, lose the lawn tools, burn the barbecue apron, put to bed the robe and slippers and think pool!
If pool is his passion, or simply his pleasure, give him something to sharpen his skills and deepen his enjoyment of the game. It doesn’t matter if the man in your life is your husband, father, brother, son or sassy senior, he’s never too old — or young — to take his game to a new level. And whether you’re buying for a pro or rank novice, you’ll find something to fit his taste and your pocketbook.
When it comes to billiards or pool, the gift options are endless. A specially designed set of practice balls provides vivid visual feedback to help the player adjust and improve his game. Books of instruction and inspiration are another popular gift idea and “how to” videos are also appreciated. Private lessons can make a noticeable difference in a player’s game.
Randy Goettlicher, a founding member of the Cue-Tech team and a Billiard Congress of America certified Master Level Instructor, is a true believer in taking a game to a whole new level through private instructions.
“Pool players, both professional and amateur, occasionally find themselves in a physical or psychological slump,” said Goettlicher. “Often lessons are just what they need to get over it.” Professionals still need lessons? “Yes, all professional athletes do,” Goettlicher said.
“Actually, I think that Tiger Woods has done more for billiard instruction than any other sports person,” he added. Why Tiger Woods? “Because when he wins a tournament, he gives credit to his instructor for keeping him at the top of his game. Every Monday, he meets with his instructor to go over his game to discover what went right and what went wrong. Folks see this and say to themselves, ‘If he takes lessons to continually improve, then so should I,’” Goettlicher said.
Bob Radford, BCA board member and chairman of the BCA Instructors Committee, recommends looking for a BCA-certified instructor. “We want the player who wants to improve his game for fun or competition to have a positive experience with billiard instruction,” he said. “The better the experience, the more likely he is to return for additional instruction to continually improve his skills and enjoyment of the game,” Radford said.
Ready to shop for the perfect pool present? To find a billiard retailer near you or to visit one of the thousands of online billiard sites. To locate a billiard retailer near you, visit www.bca-pool.com.
— Courtesy of ARA Content
