Looking for a gift for someone special? Break through the ordinary and embrace the unique. Discard preconceived notions of what you think that special person would like and give them what they really want. That's right: lose the flowers, burn the barbecue apron, put to bed the robe and slippers and think pool!
It doesn't matter if the recipient is your husband, wife, brother, friend or sassy senior, they are never too old -- or young -- to take their game to a new level. And whether you're buying for a pro or rank novice, you'll find something to fit their 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 players adjust and improve their 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 (BCA) 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," asserts Goettlicher. "Often lessons are just what they need to get over it."
Professionals still need lessons? "Yes, all professional athletes do," Goettlicher responds. "Actually, I think that Tiger Woods has done more for billiard instruction than any other sports person." 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," he concludes.
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 states. "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 concludes.
Ready to shop for the perfect pool present? Start at www.bca-pool.com and click on Products to visit the BCA Store. There you will find instructional gifts such as "How to Play Pool Right" books, videos and posters and much more. Looking for a BCA-certified instructor or academy? Click on the Instruction Link from the home page or QuickFind menu for a complete listing. To find a billiard retailer near you or to visit one of the thousands of online billiard sites, visit the Marketplace listing in the Industry area. Click on Retail Stores to find a retailer near you.
Remember: a billiard gift, especially the gift of expertise, is just about the most perfect thing you can give because it will heighten their appreciation of the game, and you!
The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing its members with exceptional value by promoting and growing cue sports worldwide to make pool everybody's game. To locate a billiard retailer near you, visit www.bca-pool.com.
.
Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our
"