A Mind for Pool: How to Master the Mental Game by Philip B Capelle

by Philip B. Capelle

To realize your full potential at pool you've got to master the mental game. A Mind For Pool gives you a complete course on the thinking side of pool. From the very first day that you pick up a cue your attitude towards things like practice, change, slumps and instruction all play an important part in your success as a pool player. The better you play, the more important the mental game becomes. In fact, when excellent players compete, the winner is most often the one who has learned to best handle the pressure, sharking, unruly crowd behavior and many other potentially game ruining factors. A Mind For Pool reveals the erroneous thoughts that can undermine your developments as well as your ability to compete successfully. In every instance the book then goes on to show you a more constructive way to view the situation. In the process you will learn how to concentrate on your game, minimize the impact of bad luck, win tournaments and much, much more.A Mind For Pool gives you 120 bite sized lessons on all facets of the mental game, each one a self contained unit. Each lesson is summarized by Capelle's Laws for Pool. You'll also find quotes from history's greatest thinkers that serve to reinforce each lesson. A series of 80 checklists enable you to easily evaluate all parts of your mental game. Icons point out tips, insights, warnings and pool facts.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Dennis Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for people who are having trouble staying motivated in the games of pool. I consider it a must have for anyone who plays pool competitively. It can really wake you up if you feel your game is going stale.

[Billy J Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect if you are in a pool slump. It is not all that technical; it addresses the mental side of the game. Several of the best pool players I know are fans of this book.

[Ruthie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of advice on how to work with the psychological aspect of pool. Some of the advice is common sense and common knowledge, and some of the advice is enlightening or encouraging. Unfortunately, there's no book that will keep bad shots or other negative aspects from getting into your brain during a match. All the advice in the world can't help completely because it has to come from inside and must be continually applied until it becomes a habit (easier said than done). This book did explain a lot of pool terms such as dead stroke that I was only mildly aware of. Overall, a pretty interesting read that contains a lot of good advice, especially for beginners or anyone who struggles to maintain a positive attitude during play.