1
It was our good fortune to meet Bill Donato at a recreation centre in the Villages, Florida. It was quite literally, a game changer.
As background, we had taken a 3-hour beginners group lesson from another individual, and we were using what we learned from them in our attempts to practice and play pool. As beginners we were struggling to make most shots, and could not figure out why we lacked accuracy and consistency. Per happenstance, our practicing was in the same recreation centre where Bill Donato play and instructs. After witnessing our struggles, Bill graciously introduced himself and asked if he could give us some tips. We welcomed the input and quickly realized that lessons from Bill would be very helpful!
In those lessons, Bill was able to quickly evaluate what we were doing wrong, and with his expertise, saw what we needed to unlearn from that initial lesson. He worked with us to impart some core skills which would serve as a foundation we could build upon.
Bill taught us the correct grip, stance, and how to aim. He gave us practice drills, and always explained the why of what he was sharing. Bill always has a smile and would mix in some humor (such as showing us some trick shots). He was always patient and precise in his instruction. We quickly saw an improvement in our ability make basic shots, and we know the core skills Bill has imparted, will serve us well as we continue to develop our abilities.
In summary, Bill possesses a profound understanding of the game of billiards and a remarkable ability to impart that knowledge to his students. We gladly and wholeheartedly recommend
Bill Donato to anyone looking to
elevate their skills and deepen their passion
for the game of billiards. He is not only an
outstanding instructor but also a true
ambassador for the sport and a kind and
gracious human being.
Sheila & Biagio Tilotta
705-241-7181
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​2
Bill Donato Recommendation February 4, 2022
My name is Paul Brockmann and I live in The Villages, Florida. I have been taking lessons from Bill Donato for about eight weeks, and he has helped me considerably.
I am ranked as a 5 in an APA league. I have won many more games in the APA league and otherwise since I started with Bill. In the league, I have beat level 7’s, 6’s and others straight up over the last several weeks. I have improved quite a bit, and I attribute that all to Bill.
Areas where Bill has helped include:
Game strategy - How to approach a game and where to hit the cue ball and object ball to maximize your chances.
Defensive plays - This is an area where I was lacking and I would say many people are lacking.
Smart and effective defensive play can improve your results dramatically. Shot technique - Improving your shot accuracy and your cue ball placement. Precise draws, follows, stuns, safe shots.
I enjoy my time with Bill. He is fun and interesting as well as being a great player and an excellent teacher. Bill has been very, very generous with his time. Bill, thank you very much! I would recommend Bill for any skill level.
Call me any time at 812 725 3254. Paul Brockmann
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​3
I was very fortunate to meet Bill Donato. He has changed my game in many aspects. We started with basic stance and stroke. Shortened my bridge and slowed by stroke.
Before I meet Bill, I incorporated many different aiming systems into my game that was very difficult to keep track of. Bill taught me precision aiming. I quickly improved my game and went from a 3 in the Friday APA league to a 5 in just 4 weeks of training. I wanted extreme drills and intense levels of instruction. I like most, was having issues with long shots.
Bill discovered my aim on the cue ball was slightly to the right on the cue ball which applied right English to every shot. I learned to use and control the use of English. Learning to walk around the table and observe shots from all angles will help to chose the appropriate shot to take.
Bill taught me safety play which is as important as making a shot. Working drills that teach you where the cue ball travels, will increase shot accuracy and increase your chance of placing the cue ball where you expect it to stop. Once you think that you have learned everything that improves your game,
Bill has stepped up his practice with more rigorous drills. Bill is my mentor who continues to motivate me to step up my game. Bill puts his total self into every lesson and enjoys celebrating all of your accomplishments. Bill treats you with respect. Bill is a great source of knowledge who knows his business when it comes to instruction.
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PHONE
309-264-1042
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​4
I have been asked to tell you how I feel about the quality of teaching from Bill Donato and I am most happy to do so.. I have a BS degree in physical education black belt in karate and brown belt inTai Chi.
At 69 years old I understand how training works and how teachers think. Before I was introduced to Bill I had lessons from a well-known teacher here in The Villages never playing pool before. I began a year and a half ago, so we started with the basics.
As my skills improved this other teacher quickly progressed me on to all sorts of upper level skills that I was not ready for, including throw, english, stunning, attempted cue ball control, etc. As a result of this rushed and unplanned teaching style I had no consistency and I couldn't even hit a straight ball when I came to Bill!
It took lots of patient teaching from him, with constant evaluation of my progress and we discovered as a left-handed player I was standing all wrong! What a marked difference in my play since I have adjusted to the stance change!
Bill has been the only teacher willing to diligently work to find how and why I was missing. I also have a particular eye disease (Puesda Macular Hole) which is a clear challenge for me with aiming. We reviewed several aiming systems and have combined them in an organized fashion to produce a wonderful level of accuracy! Bill's persistence to find a way has helped me develop my confidence and accuracy.
I am very pleased with his teaching style as he is diligent to remind me of the basics, the true foundation. Helping to pinpoint wrong techniques and to reestablish correct ones has been the goal.
As one practical example, I like that he doesn't just lecture and tell me something won't work, he lets me explore and try the options to learn from my mistakes. Then as we turn them into practice assignments with goals in mind.
I have also enjoyed learning the defense aspect of billiards. I feel I have adapted this and my league play has improved as a resultI am thankful for Bill's patience, expertise to demonstrate and his careful assessments to make me the player I desire to be - my best. I recommend him to my friends who are serious pool players.
In summary I am thankful to have found such an accomplished, diligent and focused teacher from which to learn. I look forward to our current bi-weekly lessons and I look forward to increased sessions as my skills improve.
He is one of the clearest teachers I have worked with not only in explanation but also in practical application and the ability to demonstrate with consistency a particular technique.
I hope this summary has been helpful and I look forward to continued learning with this "above the rest" teacher.
Respectfully,
Juli Ormsby
11/14/23
859-329-8268
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​5
My name is Elizabeth Bonomo and I met Instructor Bill Donato
Over a year ago when I was playing Billiards at a Recreation Center here in The Villages Florida. He was so friendly and introduced himself as a Certified Instructor. At the time I had just started playing and felt I was too much of a project, my husband was much better than I was and I thought he would be a better candidate for the lessons. That was the last time we saw him. About six months later I stopped by Fish Hawk Recreation Center to practice pool because it was raining and I couldn’t play Pickleball. Who walks in while I was there Bill Donato! I was so happy to see him. We talked a bit and then he had an appointment so he said let me know if you guys want a lesson. I went home that day and told my husband that God sent Bill Donato in to see me when I was practicing today. I really needed help so I texted him and set up an appointment for the three of us to meet. That was October of 2023 and we have been working with Bill ever since. My husband’s game has changed greatly because he now plays much more defense and is at the top of Division 1 of The Villages Billiards Club and feels that Bill has helped him a lot. I am still considered a beginner but I am now a shot maker because Bill has taught me how to hit the ball softer with more feel and he is teaching me how and when to play safe. He is a very knowledgeable professional Instructor with a big heart who gives his time and expertise to many people in and out of The Villages and I happily consider him my Billiards Instructor and friend.
Elizabeth Bonomo 352-321-8477
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​6
My name is Jonathan Bonomo. I live in The Villages Fl.
My wife and I met Bill about a year ago while he was giving a lesson at one of the recreation centers here in The Villages. He was extremely nice and talked to us about billiards.
A little while passed and in Oct of 2023 I reached out to Bill for lessons. I considered myself a decent pool player. Then Bill and I started working together. His knowledge and skill of billiards is beyond anyone else I have met. He refined my stroke making me a more consistent player. We also are working on slowing my pace down so I can be more deliberate and confident when I am going to shoot and play position. But one of the areas that Bill has made me advance most in is my defensive or safety play. Since working with Bill I have advanced from a middle of the road Division 1 eight ball player to a top tier Division 1 player.
Bill is patient, kind, understanding and a gentleman who loves helping people and the game of Billiards.
Jonathan Bonomo 352-321-8481
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​7
Our names are Dave & Theresa Rouleau and purely by good fortune we recently met Bill Donato in The Villages, Florida. One of the items on our bucket list is to learn how to play billiards. Bill very kindly agreed to teach us, absolute beginners, despite not usually instructing novices.
At the very beginning of our first lesson, Bill took a great deal of time to tell us his background then asked about us. He truly seemed interested to get to know us and make us feel comfortable. He was extremely patient and explained things in a very simple yet professional manner so we could understand the concepts. He then demonstrated each point so we could see for ourselves how the ball responded. He concentrated on only a few basics then suggested some drills so we could practice at home. At our request, Bill showed us a few shots at the end of the lesson and we were totally in awe at his skill and knowledge.
We have since had one more lesson with Bill. He provided more practice tips and drills then followed up with a demonstration. Although we haven’t been playing too long, we already see improvement in our play.
We are beyond grateful that we met Bill and could not hope for a kinder or more knowledgeable teacher. Bill seems to get great enjoyment sharing his skill and genuinely revels in improving his students’ abilities. He is extremely encouraging and makes himself very available to answer questions.
We highly recommend Bill and are extremely happy to share our experience with him. He is very humble and is a wonderful teacher!
Dave & Theresa Rouleau
617-275-3482
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​8
My name is Carolyn Bates and I live in Gainsville Florida.
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I first met Bill Donato thru a friend who had already had received instruction from him and I could not have been more pleased with his knowledge and certainly his skills in playing the game. He was always so helpful and gave me all the time I needed to advance my own skills to where I went from a 3 level APA player to where I am now at the 5 level.
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He taught me things in such a way that made total sense and he always demonstrated the procedures to me which is when I knew he was a true professional.
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He showed me how to win at 8 ball as well as how not to lose at 8 ball. He often would use that phrase as we were playing. Now everyone knows, we all lose from time to time, but he did it in such a way that it was always interesting and made it clear on how he was doing it and what I needed to do to make myself a better player.
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He showed me techniques that I had seen in videos but when showing me live, it made it so much more understanding. Frankly I do not know how he shoots with such skill and seemingly remains calm while doing it. He gave me ways to blank out most of the pressure when playing in league games and even when playing friends.
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I owe him a lot and will always recommend him to any level player.
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I do not get to see him much because he lives way down in the Villages but he has come to me when I needed for instruction and I will always be grateful.
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Someday I will hopefully get to his skill level. In the mean time, he made it clear that correctly practicing and correcting your mistakes is a daily thing.
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Thank you Bill Donato for being a friend.
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Carolyn Bates
call me anytime 715-543-6464
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9
​To: Billiard Players in the Villages:
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My name is Ray Stephens, I play in five different billiard leagues in the Villages. In most pool games I consider myself to be a good overall billiard player. In pool games I play each week, I win the majority.
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I have the pleasure to know Bill Donato, or as I refer to as “BILLY CUE”!!! In my humble opinion, Billy is the most complete Billiard Player/ Pool Instructor that I have ever had the pleasure to play with!
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Billy has total control of his Cue Stick, Speed on the ball, Aiming the ball, English on the ball shooting the ball, he is one fine pool player!
As an instructor, Billy Cue, can simplify the aspect of pool instruction that he is trying to pass on to his students. He is very calm, works with you over and over until you understand and can shoot the shot you are trying to make. His understanding of the table and how the ball interacts with each other can surprise you in every manner. He can recognize shots on balls you would never consider, and yet he can teach you how to recognize and make the shot with simple adjustments in how you shoot your shots.
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I for one, believe that I am becoming a much better all-around billiard player since I have started playing with BILLY CUE! I look forward to working with Billy in the future and I know that I still have a lot to learn!
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I want thank Billy for the time he spends with me, and the knowledge and skills that he passes on to me each time we meet and play “the game of pool”! I look forward to the future!
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Ray Stephens 301-351-1555
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All recommendations have their personal phone numbers for calling them to verify comments are theirs and that I did not write my own reviews.....
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