PBIA Recommended Technical Pool and Billiard Materials

winning-one-pocket-150x150Winning One Pocket
By Eddie Robin

If you are interested in learning “The Chess of Billiards,” one pocket is the game.  This book is for advanced players and up.

Plus, ‘Winning One-Pocket‘ delves into many finer nuances of the game.  Secrets that take years to acquire, and in fact, most of the time only get passed from champion to protege. Things such as logical end game strategies, and up table traps.  Moreover, the book discusses high concept of knowing how AND WHEN to apply pressure, and more importantly, when to back off.  After all, it’s about getting the money, and this book will give you better insight on how to do just that.

 

shosmovesstrategies-150x150Shots, Moves and Strategies
By Eddie Robin

Shots, Moves and Strategies is a serious and comprehensive look into the game of One-Pocket.  Amongst those that play this game, it is considered the consummate test of one’s offensive, defensive and execution skills.  The format of diagrammed game situations, shot choice, and the strategy behind shot choices, is excellent.  Commentary and analysis by some of the world’s greats at this game, exemplify the diverse, complex, and intense skills required to improve at this game.  This book gives the reader insight, direction, and the tools to better understand and apply the strategies of One-pocket.

 

howiplaysnooker-150x150How I Play Snooker
by Joe Davis

This is a tremendous book for anyone who is interested in improving at snooker.  Each point is clearly explained with accompanying photographs.  There is a section explaining the tactics of the game and how to develop a winning mentality.  It is worth owning even for those of us who grace crucible finals; as a piece of snooker history and memorabilia; a detailed account of the playing style of snooker’s consummate cueman.  If you’re interested in the history of snooker, or just looking for an insight in to the mind of a snooker genius, your snooker library needs this book.  Any aspiring snooker player will find some great pointers on technique.

 

advancedsnooker-150x150Advanced Snooker
by Joe Davis

Advanced Snooker concentrates on stance and cue action, so important to our game.  Perhaps the major contribution to the book’s success is the photographs.  The book is well-written, easy to read, and should be on every billiard player’s bookshelf.

 

 

eightballbible-150x150The Eight Ball Bible
by Randy Givens

The critically acclaimed The Eight Ball Bible is quite simply the best 8-Ball book ever written.  The Eight Ball Bible provides illustrated instruction for every major aspect of high-speed 8-Ball play from safety play to the mental skills needed for championship competition.  Players at all levels improve after reading The Eight Ball Bible.  Concepts are clearly explained with over 460 diagrams.  In the future players will either win using The Eight Ball Bible strategies or be defeated by them.  A must read for the serious 8-ball player.

 

pool_workoutPool and Billiard Workout
by Ralph Eckert, Jorgen Sandman, and Andreas Huber

The Pool Billiard Workout series is actually three volumes, representing three levels of play.  The authors are three of the best-known pool coaches in Europe, and these three books contain nothing but drills. The latter are well matched to their intended audience (Level 1, beginners to intermediate; Level 2, intermediates; Level 3, “For second league to world class players”, according to the cover blurb).  There is little question that your game will benefit from these drills, especially the advanced ones, many of which are new.  But be advised that the diagrams are quite small and the translation is frequently clumsy. Neither negative, however, should keep you from benefiting from the drills themselves.  Integral to benefiting from the instruction is the PAT, or “Playing Ability Test” — a system to assess one’s skills in 10 aspects of billiards. Each level comes with a version of the test (recommendation: get your coach to help you), and once you know how you rate in these categories, the books provide exercises for your weaknesses.  It’s methodical and helpful.

 

scienceofpocketbilliards-150x150Science of Pocket Billiards
by Jack Kohler

The Science of Pocket Billiards covers the entire spectrum from basics to the most advanced concepts of pool. There are 262 pages (81/2 X 11) crammed with information, along with 33 photographs and 277 illustrations to help clarify the material presented. The occasional player can skim through the book and learn enough for a lifetime of casual play, while a serious student of pool can study this book for months or even years and continue to gain valuable knowledge.

 

3cushionbilliardsystems-150x1503 Cushion Systems
by Sid Banner

This book is a fully comprehensive three-cushion billiard guide containing over 165 diagrams, historical pictures, an extensive billiard glossary and the rules.

This book is his complete life’s work at discovering, developing and improving great systems for pool and billiard players. If you’ve ever wondered how a good three-cushion player can send the cue-ball five rails around the table and hit one ball to carom into another, then this book will illuminate you!

This 200-page, spiral bound book covers nearly every billiard system in existence, including: the Clock System, the Diamond System, the System Sid 3/C Ball Hit System (for long and short angles), the Carom or Bank System, the Corner Plus System, the Cross Table System, the End Rail System, and the First Object Ball Hit Direction System. Although each has its own unique formula for figuring out the hit, they all have certain things in common. The similarities are explained in the foreword, and it is recommended that this section be examined before diving into the rest of the book.

Although tailored to 3-cushion billiards, this book contains loads of information that all pool player will enjoy.