SPM Magazine Issue 30

Meet

Tanner Pruess

By Kat Day

Tanner Pruess taken by Joshua Ramey w/ Bad Roll Inc.

By Joshua Ramey w/ Bad Roll Inc.

Tanner Pruess is a third-generation pool player from South Dakota. Pruess grew up with a table in the basement and playing Junior-Adult leagues since he was about 10 years old. Through a good mentor and great instructor, Pruess developed into a top amateur that has won VNEA World Pool Championship (Open 9ball 2018, then Intermediate 8ball 2019) along with the Energy Capital 9ball/10ball Tournaments multiple times and 5 South Dakota State Masters Titles.

Tanner Preuss’s focus has shifted slightly from an emphasis on desire for competitive play to the desire to help instruct both junior and adult players.

“I am among the unique instructors that can perform at a top amateur level, but also instruct at a high level since I know these systems/routines have been tested in the battlefield.” States Tanner Pruess.

Pruess offers private one-on-one instruction and group clinics for both

juniors and adults. Clubs/leagues have hired Tanner Pruess to travel to their city and offer multiple days of group lessons for their members (Aberdeen, SD and Boise, ID).

Pruess recently started offering online training to those that might not be able to travel to Rapid City, SD or possibly traveling to students in a timely fashion. Pruess’s online training classes have taken off and students are progressing well with hard work (around 10 current enrollees). Tanner Pruess is PBIA, SPF, and ACS certified.

The most unique thing about Tanner Pruess is his alignment/aiming method he uses and teaches. He has titled it “AlignRight.” AlignRight is an alignment process and aiming method used to build consistency and confidence in your game! It is so much more than putting your cue on the table. It is about building your stance from the foundation up and forcing a better perspective to use a primarily objective aiming system.

Learn a little more about Tanner Pruess’s interview with Kat Day.

What made you get into pool?

“I come from a family where multiple members played league pool (Grandpa, Dad, Aunts, and an uncle) in South Dakota. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to grow up with a table in our house where I spent hours and hours enthralled by the game. I remember back to when I was really young and was taken along to watch my dad’s team compete in the state pool tournament. It was fascinating to see 100+ pool tables in one large room and to see the competitive nature of the sport… I was hooked.”

Who is Tanner Pruess?

“I am married to my love, Brittany Pruess. She supports my ambitions and inspires me. I work full time for

M.G. Oil Company as the HR Manager for nearly 1,000 employees. Yet, thanks to my countless hours and supporters along the way, I have become a top amateur pool player with a full-time job. I have been giving pool lessons for nearly a decade and just recently became PBIA, SPF, and ACS certified.”

What type of cue, tip, chalk, gloves, etcetera, do you use?

“I shoot with Keith Hanssen Kues. He is a master cuemaker from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has become a great friend and support. I just recently switched to HOW chalk and have loved the transition. Kamui Brown Super Soft has been my player tip for about a decade and they deliver a quality product that I can trust. Onboard Sportswear has been making a splash in the apparel scene in the USA recently, so I am excited to check out

their gear soon!”

What’s your favorite tournament win?

“I have a handful of tournament wins that are my favorite. My handful of South Dakota State Masters Titles are all meaningful. I have won the Energy Capital Classic (Gillette, WY) three times (9/10 Ball). My biggest wins happened at VNEA World Pool Championships (2018 Open 9ball, 2019 Intermediate 8ball).

More recently though, my favorite tournament wins don’t involve me at all as a player. I find more joy in seeing my student achieve success in various tournaments after coming to me for guidance. All the credit goes to them though for the hard work and desire to build their game!

Who has influenced your game?

My dad, Brian Pruess, was the one to influence and develop my game the most early on. After I achieved a good degree of success for a teenager, a master’s team took a chance on me to compete and grow my game with them. One member on that team, Mick Tiefenthaler, really devoted a lot of time and energy to make me one of the top players in South Dakota. Also, right around that time, my dad enrolled me in a 3-day class with Randy Goettlicher. That class really gave me great insight into fundamentals and systems to build my pre-shot routine.

What do you enjoy more – competition or instruction?

Just in the last year or two, I have really found more enjoyment in instructing. Seeing a student hit a good draw shot for the first time or watching a student become confident with Align Right has been so rewarding. I have shifted from

competing in most tournaments in the region to only competing in a few of my favorites and giving the rest of my time to instructing. What is AlignRight? AlignRight is a system that I named and created from an alignment process and an aiming method which is used to build consistency and confidence. You may see me line up my shots with the cue on the table; that is one small part of it. It also includes building your stance from the foundation up and forcing a better perspective to use a primarily objective aiming system. I have taught this system to beginning players and advanced players. All levels have found success and confidence in the system!

What kind of players come to you for instruction?

I have worked with a great variety of students – from teaching a kid the very basics of holding a cue for the first time, or a junior player looking to compete at a top level or even an adult master’s player looking to refine their position play. I can provide value

and wisdom to all levels in a calm and patient manner. The common trait with all those different types of players though is a desire to improve and a willingness to put in the hard work!

How much do you charge?

It depends on a few factors, but private lessons and online lessons are $75/hour. I also offer 4-hour group classes for $200/person. I also offer discount for junior players. How can someone work with you? Send me a message on Facebook or visit my website (www. PoolConfidence.com). I offer private and group classes at Breakroom Billiards in Rapid City, South Dakota during some nights and weekends. If traveling is an issue, I also recently began an Online Training Program. I am currently working with about 10 students all over the USA to help them spot their weaknesses and develop a plan to improve. If you can video record yourself shooting pool, I can help!