The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pool & Billiards

by Ewa Mataya Laurence

You're no idiot, of course. You know that "English" isn't just the name of a language, it's also the type of spin you use to control the cue ball in pool. But when it comes to racking them up, making a break shot, and sinking balls in the corner pocket, you feel like "English" is your second language. Don't hang up your cue stick yet! In her comprehensive book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pool & Billiards, Ewa Mataya Laurance--one of the world,s most accomplished and mesmerizing players--gives you:

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 1998

Reviews

[Cheryl Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a LOT to digest. The book discusses equipment, form/posture, game play, and all its variations. To counter another reviewer, I believe the author feels compelled to spend some up front time on equipment because, quite frankly, it can be darned expensive or mismatched to the player. And, some of the information about the construction and materials was quite useful, even if you are not buying, because you learn how tables and house cue sticks degrade or are otherwise compromised through heavy play (informative to me because I play at a clubhouse). Now, I am a beginner, who played a lot of 8-ball many years ago, and I found the pointers on creating a better V-bridge to be most useful. The detailed photos and hints (like yet another reviewer said) helped me correct some problems. As far of the rest of the book, yes, it is simply exhaustive. This is not a book you sit down and read, it is book you digest. Because it discusses the basics, as well as every permutation that can occur (both due to the position of the balls, as well as addressing fouls and safety plays, etc) it can be almost impossible to absorb in a single or two readings. In this way, the book is almost a reference book, as opposed to a learning guide. It certainly did not put me to sleep, but - quite the contrary - heightened my interest in a game that has such intricacies! As an engineer, I appreciated the considerable vector analysis inherent in the game, and thought the author did a good job balancing introductory material, with game play, rules, and drills. While I have this book from the library, I am clearly going to have to buy it. I also liked the side notes that described events from tournament play, making apparent the huge distance between beginners like me and professionals.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning to this book is a snooze-fest where she goes into some detail on how to purchase a pool table, where to put it, etiquette when playing at someone's house, etc. I know no one who has a full size table in their house. I play at a club, with many others, or sometimes I go to a center where you have to pay to play. Etiquette for those circumstances would have been more appreciated. I wish everyone would give thoughtful consideration to "line of sight" and not interfere with it, if possible.

The next part of the book was informative (break shots, ghost ball, etc.), but her explanation of bank shots I found completely baffling, so I pretty much just lost interest about there and put it down. I have never been interested enough to pick it up again.

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it the full five stars, if only within 100 pages I found at least four errors I had been making. (Yes, my game is improved, thanks.)

But I found parts so overly chatty. And perhaps it is me, but I would have preferred more diagrams.