Play Your Best Pool

Rating:
Summary: The absolute best book on pool! ever!
Review: I bought this book about 4 months ago, when i was just getting into the game, and today my game has jumped in leaps and bounds, whether its cue ball control, strategy, english, spin, you name it, i can do it, and beat the best of them, and i can honestly say, this book is what has made the difference. I have no one to teach me, no one to show me how to play a shot, but whenever i have a problem i go back to this book and i learn something new everytime, i have read it about 10 times over. I highly recommend this book, to beginners and experienced players, read it and watch the quantum leap in your game. Phil Capelle is a master teacher.

Rating:
Summary: If you want to get better, BUY THIS BOOK.
Review: I have been playing pool for over five years now and have owned this book for a while. It has helped my game tremendously. When I started I didn't know the first thing about this game. After reading this book and Robert Bryne's Standard Book of Pool and billiards (another great book, but if you only buy one book I would recommend this one) I began to really improve. I can now run a rack of nine ball on tables with pro cut pockets. THIS BOOK COVERS EVERYTHING. If you are a complete beginner who doesn't even know the proper way to hold a cue (many advanced players do not have proper fundamentals either) or stand over the table this book will leave you with no doubts on the proper methods. This book as the title would seem to imply, can serve as a guide to take you to the limit of your natural talent. Obviosly the only games specifically discussed are eight and nine ball, but the techniques learned are a neccesity in any game. From fundementals to applying english (spin), to what exactly that english will do to both the cue ball and the object ball and even the principles of safety play (safety is the term used for a shot that is not intended to make a ball but rather to leave your opponent without a shot) this book has it all. After reading this book you will have thorough knowledge of 1: grip (how your stroking hand holds the cue) 2: proper bridging (the hand that guides the cue is called the bridge hand 3: alignment (how specific parts of your body should line up with the shot) 4: stance (all acceptable variations) 5: proper stroking 6: pocketing balls 7: applying and using english to play position 8: breaking 9: safety play 10: kick and bank shots and 11: effective practice routines. To put it briefly, unless you are a defending world champion you can benifit from this book. For beginners, after reading this book the game of pool will no longer intimidate but rather inspire. There is no magic formula for pool greatness but the knowledge contained here is a sound start.

Rating:
Summary: If you can have only ONE book, buy this!!
Review: I own 3 pool & billiard books and 2 billiard instructional videos. I must say that this book is very helpful for explaining important fundamentals, aiming, and shotmaking. A beginner or intermediate player will definitely improve his game by buying this book. The chapter on ENGLISH is the best written on the subject I have ever read. Phil Capelle explains in detail the effect of deflection, curve, and throw on your shots. If you have been always amazed on how the pros use english to control the cue ball AND make the shot, then this book will teach you how. With practice, you can beat most of your friends who haven't read a book on POOL theory.

Rating:
Summary: One of the top instructional billiards books.
Review: One of the best written so far for beginners and intermediates, but still something missing for the advanced players. I would highly recommend it, and rank this book 2nd behind 99 Critical Shots in Pool

Rating:
Summary: expected more
Review: The book is packed with useful tips for a beginner like myself, but still comes short of living up to the rave reviews printed on its back cover. While going into great detail about certain intricacies of the game, it seems to skim over certain key topics (only 1 page devoted to the break?). Good book. . but not great.

Rating:
Summary: All your past books in one...
Review: The only bad thing about this book is that my league handicap went up by two balls before I even finished reading it! I own over 20 books and 30 videos; it's like Cappelle has read them all and condensed the information into one easy to comprehend and understandable book. IT'S GREAT! Maybe not for a beginner, but I can't imagine a better book on the subject. He covers all the bases: basics, shots, stragety, position, banks, kicks, theory, mental, drills, practical shots and practice tips. There are many good books; but this is perhaps the best and most well rounded overall one book I've been fortunate to read. I have only four comments: 1. It really improved my game physically and mentally 2. If I could keep only one book, about pool, this would be it! 3. I wish I had written it. 4. THANKS, Phil Cappelle

Rating:
Summary: excellent reference and users guide
Review: This book covers every aspect of playing pool. I have read the entire book, many points i knew and many i did not. he gave a lot of scenarios on eight and nine ball and the reasoning on why to choose certain shots over others. If i could find any fault it would be having too many scenarios, but that is not bad, just makes for long reading. i particulary enjoyed the practice sessions, these are very informative and are improving my skill, especialy staightening out my stroke. it can be used later as a reference when trying to resolve new problems in your game. the book is well organized and it is easy to go back into the book to find a specific point. i highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: excellent reference and users guide
Review: This book covers every aspect of playing pool. I have read the entire book, many points i knew and many i did not. he gave a lot of scenarios on eight and nine ball and the reasoning on why to choose certain shots over others. If i could find any fault it would be having too many scenarios, but that is not bad, just makes for long reading. i particulary enjoyed the practice sessions, these are very informative and are improving my skill, especialy staightening out my stroke. it can be used later as a reference when trying to resolve new problems in your game. the book is well organized and it is easy to go back into the book to find a specific point. i highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: If you can have only ONE book, buy this!!
Review: This book is incredible! I have been reading and working with it for about a year and my game has improved from a very poor player to better than average. The language in this book is easy to understand. Mr. Capelle knows how to explain those complicated principles of physics in simple english. This is a big book that has lots of examples and easy to read diagrams. I gave my 21 year old son a copy 3 months ago and he says his game has gotten much better. I have seen many of the other instruction books on pool and I rate this one a classic!

Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK TO LEARN POOL
Review: This book is incredible! I have been reading and working with it for about a year and my game has improved from a very poor player to better than average. The language in this book is easy to understand. Mr. Capelle knows how to explain those complicated principles of physics in simple english. This is a big book that has lots of examples and easy to read diagrams. I gave my 21 year old son a copy 3 months ago and he says his game has gotten much better. I have seen many of the other instruction books on pool and I rate this one a classic!