In the powerful final chapter of our four-part Legends of the Cue conversation with Jerry Briesath, we arrive at the heart of a life devoted not just to playing pool—but to teaching it, elevating it, and preserving its future.

Widely regarded as the most influential instructor in billiards history, Jerry reflects on how the modern game has evolved—from the decline of nine-foot tables and the rise of technology, to the dramatic sophistication of safety play and break mechanics at the professional level. With the clarity that has defined his teaching career, he explains why stroke mechanics—not aiming systems or English—remain the foundation of all great play, and why so many players are still taught the game backwards.

Jerry shares timeless teaching insights: the power of repetition, the importance of “shots you must make,” and why respecting so-called “easy shots” separates good players from great ones. These aren’t theories—they’re hard-earned lessons refined over six decades on the table, in poolrooms, academies, and classrooms around the world.

The episode also turns deeply personal. In a moving moment, Jerry answers the question of what he would do differently if he could start again—an honest reflection that reveals the man behind the mentor. He revisits a missed straight-pool shot against a reigning world champion that still lingers in memory, and he defines how he ultimately hopes to be remembered: as someone who loved teaching as much as his students loved learning.

Joined by Allison Fisher and longtime protégé Mark Wilson, this closing episode is both a masterclass and a farewell—an intimate portrait of a teacher whose influence will outlive generations of players. Jerry Briesath didn’t just teach pool. He taught people how to learn.

A fitting final word from one of the game’s true giants.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part Three of our four-part conversation with Pool Hall of Famer and BCA Dean of Master Instructors Jerry Briesath, we dive deep into the heart of what made Jerry one of the most influential teachers the game has ever known: mechanics, curiosity, passion, and an unrelenting desire to help others get better.

Jerry explains timeless concepts that still confound players today—why banks on balls near the rail come up short, how sliding changes everything, and why “easy” banks must be overcut. These aren’t tricks or systems, but truths passed down from earlier generations of knowledge, including lessons Jerry absorbed and refined long before modern aiming systems existed.

The conversation expands beyond technique into teaching philosophy. Jerry draws a powerful distinction between working on something and committing to it—a mindset shift that separates incremental improvement from lasting change. Alongside Mark Wilson and Allison Fisher, he emphasizes that no aiming system matters if the stroke doesn’t repeat, and that mechanics must always come first.

We also explore Jerry’s remarkable impact on players at every level: from junior programs and BCA youth camps to elite professionals. He shares stories of helping players like Jeanette Lee rediscover winning form, guiding young talents at summer camps, and working with champions who trusted him to rebuild fundamentals at the highest level.

Equally compelling are the stories of Jerry’s legacy beyond the table—his instructional work in Europe, the creation of A Pool Lesson DVD series with Mark Wilson, and the passion that radiated from every lesson he ever taught. As Mark reflects, Jerry wasn’t just teaching shots—he was modeling enthusiasm, patience, and a love for the craft that inspired everyone around him.

This episode captures Jerry Briesath at his best: thoughtful, funny, generous, and forever curious. A master instructor reminding us that the cue ball never lies—and that learning never stops.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part 2 of our four-part Legends of the Cue conversation with Jerry Briesath, we dive deep into the heart of his instructional philosophy—and the ideas that forever changed how generations of players approach the game.

This episode is all about process over results. Jerry explains how his teaching evolved from instinct to system, anchored by one deceptively simple concept: the cue ball on the spot. From that single reference point, he reveals how the cue tip tells the entire story of a player’s stroke, why delivery matters more than the trophy, and how consistency under pressure is built long before competition ever begins.

Jerry shares priceless insights into timing, the pendulum stop, and the transition from backswing to forward swing—drawing parallels to golf, bowling, and throwing mechanics. You’ll hear why he teaches perfection even while acknowledging unorthodox champions, and how elite players separate themselves not by aiming better, but by moving the cue stick than their opponent.

We also explore Jerry’s impact beyond the lesson table: the culture he created in his rooms, the free-lesson philosophy that turned slow nights into packed houses, and the systems-driven approach that inspired lifelong improvement in beginners, league players, and future champions alike. From kids leagues that dominated state tournaments decades later to his instrumental role in shaping the BCA instructor program, Jerry’s influence reaches far beyond Madison.

Along the way, Mark Wilson, Allison Fisher, and Mike Gonzalez reflect on how these teachings shaped their own development—and why so much of what’s missing in today’s game isn’t talent, but environment, mentorship, and systemized learning.

If you’ve ever wondered why great players stay great under pressure, this episode provides the answer: trust the delivery, trust the system, and let the results take care of themselves.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”