Advanced Pool [Paperback]

George Fels (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Expanding on his earlier work Mastering Pool (Contemporary Bks., 1977, o.p.), Fels has produced a guide for the player who wishes to advance beyond the basics. He concentrates here on the mental aspects of the game. His book's major sections cover straight pool, eight-ball, and nine-ball, the three major pool variations that Fels claims best illustrate his approach to the game. Within each section, he describes the major differences between the variant and other pool games, then gives tips on strategy and tactics that can improve a player's game. More than 100 diagrams help illustrate the text. This is a good addition to libraries needing something other than basic texts on an increasingly popular game.?Terry Madden, Boise State Univ. Lib., Id.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: NTC / Contemporary Publishing Group (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809233215
• ISBN-13: 978-0809233212
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,052,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Fels is subtle but profound., November 7, 2000

By 

Cris Biron (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Pool (Paperback)

I'm your regular pool player aficionado. I've been playing the game for a few years now and I'm still mesmerized by the tremendous simplicity of its complexity. How difficult can be using a stick to hit a ball that in turn will hit a second ball and drive it to a pocket? Yet, when you see a good pool player doing just that, time after time, game after game, you might be inspired to wonder how far you can progress in this fascinating game.

After reading just a few pages of Mr. Fels' book, Advance Pool: Techniques and Strategies for Mastering the Game, I went to my favorite pool hall and applied a few of his suggestions and advice. To my astonishment, I saw myself pocketing balls more often and with much more cue-ball control.

Of course, when you read: "The softest possible hit that will accomplish the various objectives of any given pool shot is the best possible hit", you know you have to pay attention. Mr. Fels' guidance is subtle but profound, just like the game of pool. No matter how skilful you are at billiards, I believe in this book you will find something that'll make your game better and, perhaps more important, much more enjoyable.

20 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential information for improving your pool game., July 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Advanced Pool (Paperback)

Do you know the name of the first person to say, " I feel like I am behind the eight ball again.?" No, well neither do I, but now that I have your attention, I would like to tell you about a book writen by George Fels. The title of the book is "Advanced Pool: Techniques and Strategies for Mastering The Game." This book dealt not only with the physical elements of the game, it also stressed the importance of the mental aspects of the game as well. Most of the books writen about pool point out the obvious aspects of the game such as the use of English to make the cue ball move to a favorable position for the next shot. Getting the best position to make the next ball should ultimately lead to winning the game. Indeed position play is very important in the game of pool. Mr. Fel's book points out that getting position is as much a mental process as a physical process. I urge you to read this book. It is writen in a style which is easy to understand. It also contains many graphics to illustrate the situtation being discussed. The next time you are behind the eight ball, just remember you are not the first person to be in that spot, and you will not be the last. If you read this book and apply the advice given in it's pages you will surely be playing at the top of your game

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Strategic Book on Pool, July 2, 2008

By 

Mark "Mark" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Pool (Paperback)

This truly is a great book on the topic, and one of the best books I've ever read covering pool. It does cover mostly straight pool (aka 14.1 continuous); however, those topics spill over to one pocket, bank-shot games, and even 8-ball and 9-ball. If you are just learning pool (i.e. less than 500 hours at a table), do not buy this book. You will be disappointed because of your limited experience as a player. If you are just learning, I suggest "99 Critical Shots in Pool" by Ray Martin. For novice and intermediate players, 99 can help players immensely. Also, 99 is written in a fun, creative way. This book is not fun; however, if you are an advanced player (i.e. pool most-likely isn't "fun" any longer), you can learn a great deal about the game from this book from its great diagrams and great explanations. This is a book that you can read about 10-15 pages and then you have to set it down to absorb what you just read.