Best Way to Watch Pro Video?

What's the best way to watch poker video? When you're watching golf to learn you're watching form, club selection, compensation, etc. Every sport has its element that people wanting to learn from film look for. What are these elements in poker? What's the best way to approach video, and what can be gleaned from it? Any thoughts?

i would be careful from watching and trying to learn from what you see on tv. there are a few reasons i say this. for one when you watch the WSOP they only show the hands that made the cut for tv. of the one's you see there are 100 that didn't. you will notice the chips stacks are different from hand to hand. also the stakes played by the pro's are not likely the stakes you will play. usuing a highly advanced play on a non-advanced player will not be good on your BR. also you should try to take it in context of the tournament. final table play is a lot different than opening day. moves you see at the final table are not ones they made on day one. if you are going to learn anything from watching on tv then learn to act like a pro.

So you're saying to really gain anything from watching edited pro play you either have to have a pro mindset/be a pro, or get full, unedited video so you can gather all the details that are omitted otherwise?

Watching poker videos can do alot for your game. watching televised poker, not so much. It's just the crazy hands, fun hands, weird hands and/or interesting hands that make it on to tv. You won't really learn a whole lot about watching televised poker. Look for some of the videos of people playing poker online and commenting on their play and teaching you somethings along the way. There are quite a few really good ones out there for free and there are some you have to play for (grinderschool, stoxpoker, etc). If you want to learn from videos I'd recommend checking those out. If you are watching poker on tv, just take it for what it is; just enjoyment.

Thanks Eric, I think that answer my issue pretty well.

FTP Academy has videos for free. Anyone who has a FTP account has access to the FTP Academy.

You start out as a Bronze Member with somewhat limited access, but once you do just a few of the challenges (50 points), you become a Silver Member and have access to a lot more (most) of the videos. Then at 500 points, you become a Gold Member and have unlimited access.

There are lots of very good videos there with pro players teaching you the game. Each pro will cover one topic in a video. The videos are broken down into Lessons and Sessions. There is also the Test Your Skill section where you take a test on the lessons and sessions you have done.

All these videos are free and I have found them very useful.

As for the TV shows, I think Poker After Dark shows just about all the hands. You actually get to see the pros fold hand after hand after hand. Most of the poker on TV is edited to show just the "spectacular" hands like 72 cracking Aces. Makes for good TV but because you see just a small amount of what is actually going on, it is just entertainment and nothing more. Sort of like watching a baseball game through a small peep hole in the fence.

Yeah, Poker After Dark seemed more legit, it seemed more plausible that a full game would take at least five hours of filming versus the shorter shows I'd seen before. I suppose the fact is, especially with big events like the WSoP, that you can't show everything.

Still though, I wasn't aware that there were over the shoulder style videos, I'll have to hunt some down. Thanks for the tip.

deucescracked ftw?

Try it free for 7 days

Not too bad...they'll give you a week trial for free.

There are many, many, many poker training video sites online. One of the best rated for Tournament play is PokerXfactor. I'm guessing that you really don't need a membership on there at the stage where your game is probably at (you can learn a ton before getting on there... when it would then be much more useful).
PokerAfterDark (as far as TV poker goes) is a 6-handed SNG.. and they do show 'ALL' the hands (not just 'most' of them.... cuz if they're skipping some then why do the blinds not miss anyone?). It is a 6-handed SNG with a Winner-Take-All format (players will generally get their chips in once the blinds go up on more marginal +EV situations or when pot is giving them the odds to get it in... even if they're assuming they're a bit behind (or alot in some spots). This is as 'legit' of a format as you're gonna get.... BUT at the same time, remember it is just a 6-handed WTA SNG (big differences from a typical MTT with all the different blind levels, etc.).
WSOP could never cover an event in it's entirety. Think about it.... even the HeadsUp play of last year's MainEvent lasted for what seemed like eons (many hours... I listened to it live on the internet) and that's just two players, playing HeadsUp in one event at high blinds. I can't imagine how many hands are actually played in one WSOP MainEvent??? (even by just the one player who goes from start til' final table....ALOT... 5days worth).
When GusHansen took down the WPT Event, he was dealt a total of 850 hands (played ~320). How much tv time would that be from start to finish? (and how much of that time would the general poker viewing public be bored to tears with cuz they'd have no clue what was going on (ie. 'metagame').
You can also find some 'free' poker training vids. online... but good ones are hard to come by imo.
If you're really interested in some of the freebies.... send me a pm and I'll try to steer you in the direction of some.
GL on the tables!

btw... you've found yourself a pretty decent site here with lots to be gained from hanging out.

Phew...that is a LOT of poker. I get antsy after only four hours playing online. I can see now why some people think poker is more of a sport than a game.

I'll definately give deucescracked a whirl later this week. I'm dropping my health and wellness class (I needed to pay some idiot $500 to tell me how to put on a seatbelt and not get an STD...really?) so that'll open up about 2-3 hours per school day to study and practice. Thanks so much to every here for putting up with a punkish noob and being so helpful. *grins*