The Science of Pocket Billiards

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Summary: Stop "monk"ing around and learn the game
Review: After reading many billiards books that are filled with an over abundance of subjective pseudo-psychology it's nice to see one that concentrates on the facts. The psychology behind the game is very critical, but I've spent good money on books that were too long on the mambo jumbo and too short on the facts. If you want to understand what's happening on the table and how you are making it happen (or not)this is the book for you.

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Summary: This book covers every important aspect of pocket billiards.
Review: I am a scientist by profession. I have authored more than twenty published scientific reports. My books on pool are the result of thirty years of observation, participation, and experimentation. I tried to focus on scientific reasoning as opposed to unverified opinion in developing and explaining the concepts of pool. Although scientific principals are followed, the books are written in easy to understand layman's terms

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Summary: BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK BOOK
Review: I can't say enough about this book. I am willing to bet that there is more accurate information in this book about bank shots than there is in all the other pool books combined. The same is true for rail-shots, deflection, English, and many other aspects of pool. Like the laws of physics, the principals of pool will never change. I expect to keep this book in the family (and treat it as an heirloom) for many generations to come. Buying this book is a winning proposition.

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Summary: Comparative Evaluation
Review: I have a large collection of books on pool. I not only collect then, I read them from cover to cover. I go to the table and test every concept, drill, stance, stroke, and practice routine that the author discusses in each book. After all this reading and studying I have come to the conclusion that Jack Koehler's book THE SCIENCE OF POCKET BILLIARDS is the best book ever published on the subject of pool.
Since I have all this pool knowledge all my pool friends come to me for advice about various aspects of pool. If the question is about bank shots, I refer them to Jack's book. If the question is about deflection, I refer them to Jack's book. If the question is about rail shots, combination shots, or practically anything else about pool, I refer them to Jack's book. In summary, the answer to practically any pool related question can be found in the book THE SCIENCE OF POCKET BILLIARDS.

Rating:
Summary: best single book
Review: I have a large portion of the books availabile on the subject. This is the best single text, and it is my favorite of the lot. It discusses nearly every facit of the game in no nonesense terms. You will learn in "matter of fact" terms why you miss shots, which shots have the largest margin of error, how to allow for error, and much more.

Everything from basic technique to banking and kicking systems is discussed. This book can be easily understood by the layman. Pool players can be a superstitious bunch. It's hard to get a good player to explain exactly what has to happen in order to make a shot. If you want to take the "voo-doo" out of pool and shot making, then this book is for you. I highly recommend it to all pool players.

Rating:
Summary: best single book
Review: I have a large portion of the books availabile on the subject. This is the best single text, and it is my favorite of the lot. It discusses nearly every facit of the game in no nonesense terms. You will learn in "matter of fact" terms why you miss shots, which shots have the largest margin of error, how to allow for error, and much more.

Everything from basic technique to banking and kicking systems is discussed. This book can be easily understood by the layman. Pool players can be a superstitious bunch. It's hard to get a good player to explain exactly what has to happen in order to make a shot. If you want to take the "voo-doo" out of pool and shot making, then this book is for you. I highly recommend it to all pool players.

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Summary: For Those Who Need To Know HOW and WHY
Review: Many pool players are instinctive and natural, but for those of us who need to know WHY and HOW things work in order feel that we've mastered our understanding, there is absolutely no better source than this book for understanding the game of pool. I've read it twice, some of it three times or more. I return to it often, not just for technical help but because in reading it I am able to digest anew the "wisdom" it contains.

I've played pool for forty years. I have a thorough understanding of the game. I've read lots of books about pool. This, for me, is the best available. Period.

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Summary: THE SCIENCE OF POCKET BILLIARDS is the best book available.
Review: POOL & BILLIARD MAGAZINE has the largest circulation of any monthly magazine in the world on the subject of pool and billiards. In the August 1994 issue they did an evaluation of all the available instructional books and video tapes. They reported "Subjectively and, I hope, objectively, I think "THE SCIENCE OF POCKET BILLIARDS" by Jack H. Koehler is the best."

Rating:
Summary: A little dry, but worth the effort!
Review: This is perhaps one of the best refernece books on what is acutually going on when a ball is struck on the pool table.

Koehler has decent organization, clear examples, and perhaps too much in the way of genuine scientific analysis in this book. But it is still one of my favorite refernces when trying to understand what I need to do to make the cue ball and object balls move in a specific way.

Without a doublt it belongs in any serious player's library.