Pool and Billiards For Dummies [Paperback]

Nicholas Leider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2010

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 dozens of photos and line drawings.

• See how hard to hit the cue ball and where to hit it, the angle to hold the cue stick and how much chalk to use, how to use a bridge, and how to put spin on the ball
• Includes advanced pool techniques and trick shots for the seasoned pool sharp

With Pool & Billiards For Dummies, even a novice can play like a champion!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

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 your very own poolroom.

• Gearing up — find, buy, and maintain the cue that's best for you and accessorize your game with chalk, racks, lights, and triangles

• Get schooled on the fundamentals of pool — find out how to build a solid stance; get a feel for aiming; and create a dependable, consistent stroke

• Control the cue ball — discover how to control the movement of the cue ball to make stop shots and incorporate topspin, backspin, and sidespin

• Take your best shot — follow instructions on tackling common shots, eyeing combinations, and playing offensively and defensively

• Oh, the games you'll play — get the rules and strategies for playing 8-ball, 9-ball, multiplayer games, and professionals' games

Open the book and find:

• The differences between pool and billiards

• Game-winning strategies no matter what version of the game is played

• Helpful diagrams and photos

• Drills for all skills

• Games to measure your progress

• The etiquette of pool

• Coverage of the Ghost Ball System

• The secrets of creating a powerful break shot

• Tips on finding the right cue for you

Learn to:

• Play by the rules and develop game-winning strategies for the most popular games

• Hold the stick correctly and hit the cue ball properly

• Play like a champion regardless of your experience

• Perform trick shots to amaze your friends

About the Author

Nicholas Leider is Managing Editor of Billiards Digest magazine, for which he continues to write extensively on billiards play and game strategy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (March 8, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470565535
• ISBN-13: 978-0470565537
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Billiards & Pool

More About the Author

Managing editor for Billiards Digest, Nicholas Leider has been toying with the cue sports since he bought his father a pool table (with his mom's money) for Father's Day when he was 15 years old. But only since joining BD as an editor in 2007 has he realized how much there is to learn about pool. With thousands of hours spent reading, talking and writing about the sport, Nicholas is prepared to answer the two Trivial Pursuit questions about pool.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best I've read, March 31, 2010

By 

Jay "Decatur Books" (Decatur, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pool and Billiards For Dummies (Paperback)

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid resource for players of any level, April 2, 2010

By 

Joe "'IceBerg'" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pool and Billiards For Dummies (Paperback)

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...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read...made me feel like a pro, April 27, 2010

By 

Big Porch - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pool and Billiards For Dummies (Paperback)

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.