Pool & Billiards for Dummies

by Nicholas Leider

Book Overview

Practical, step-by-step tips for players of all levels

From Snooker to Carom to good-old-fashioned 8- or 9-Ball, Pool & Billiards For Dummies reveals the tips, tricks, and rules of play, covering the variety of the ever-popular games that make up pool and billiards. This hands-on guide discusses everything from the rules and strategies of the games to how to set up a pool room to choosing the right equipment, and is accompanied by...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470565535
• ISBN13: 9780470565537
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Easy to read...made me feel like a pro

Very clear pictures and text. Pretty instructive for a beginner with plenty of additional takeaways for someone looking to get serious about competing (or hustling). Would be great if there was a companion video, but the writing, instructions and drills are still really easy to follow.

Solid resource for players of any level

I've been playing pool for a while, but am entirely self-taught. I thought I was decent until recently getting hustled by a guy with a toothy smile who smoked Winstons (yes, Winstons) the whole time we played. I know - if you don't know who the sucker is in a pool hall, it's probably you. Needless to say, I went home and ate an entire Jack's Pizza feeling sorry for myself. My friends say I'm a (slightly) competitive person, so it's no surprise that to avoid that embarrassment again, I decided see what books were out there for learning about pool from some experts. I picked up this book since it was brand new (maybe it would have some new strategies that haven't been written about before?) and on sale (always looking for a deal). Turns out to have been a great decision. First, it is structured very logically and easy to follow. Second, there is a lot of insight about the game (strategies, techniques, etc.) that the author makes super clear and easy to digest. And most importantly, you can immediately take these ideas to the table and see improvement. My friend has a table, and he and I have spent some time playing and practicing some of the techniques. He is a very good player, and was surprised to find that there were things in the book that even he could learn from - so I think this book has something for all levels of players. This book has really piqued my interest in the game, and the things I've learned from it have inspired me to become more than just a casual player. And hopefully I can avoid losing my shirt to Dr. Teeth again...

One of the best I've read

I own several pool guides: Robert Byrne's "New Standard" and "Advanced Technique," Philip Capelle's book, Matt Sherman's book, Jeanette Lee's guide and even "The Complete Idiot's Guide." However, this new guide is surprisingly among the best. It's highly readable, smart, and comprehensive, but also very technically accomplished--much more than I expected from a "Dummies" book. It is accessible enough for beginners, but sophisticated enough for people like me who have been playing for over 10 years. I highly recommend it.