Cue the Experts S2 Ep 04 - Eric Naretto: Won the State Championship, Then Dedicated Life to Teaching
Eric Naretto found pool at seven years old on a bumper pool table at the Lake of the Ozarks and spent the next decade chasing the feeling until a Jeanette Lee trick shot on ESPN sent him to Kmart for a $25 titanium cue with a screw-on tip. A mentor named George Sweitzer, who couldn't execute the shots he taught, changed Eric's life and inspired him to dedicate his career to billiards education. Now a PBIA Master Instructor, ACS Level 4 Instructor, and 2025 ACS Outstanding Instructor of the Year, Eric runs the G1 Billiards Academy in Illinois where he's building a program to train the next generation of instructors. We discuss why the best teachers aren't always the best players, his "three middles of the table" strategy for position play, the metronome concept for stroke speed control, why he starts with upper body instead of footwork, and the emotional story of winning a state championship for the man who taught him everything.Find Eric on Facebook or visit academy.g1billiards.com.00:00 Opening00:48 Introduction to Pool Mastery 01:37 Memorable Moments in Pool 04:10 The Impact of Mentorship 07:11 The Journey to Becoming a Player 11:40 The Spark to Teach Pool 19:57 Lessons Learned in Attitude and Growth 23:55 Developing the G1 Billiards Academy 28:35 Instructing the Instructor 31:07 The Role of Tournament Directors 34:54 Marketing and Community Engagement 36:10 Advanced Techniques in Pool 41:59 Ebb and Flow of Performance 48:31 Building from the Ground Up 57:16 Creating a Comfortable Learning Environment 58:09 Controversial Views on Pool's Future 01:01:24 The Impact of Ultimate Pool on Traditional Play 01:04:06 The Importance of Precision in Play 01:05:10 The Value of Solo Practice 01:07:43 Technological Advancements in Pool Training 01:09:34 The Future of Billiards Education 01:12:39 Promoting Positivity in Pool 01:14:51 Seeking Help for Improvement