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Precision Pool
Sharpen your strategy and shot-making skills! Whether it's eight ball, nine ball, straight pool, or one pocket, Precision Pool will reveal the secrets the pros know.
Authors Gerry "The Ghost" Kanov and Shari "The Shark" Stauch leave nothing to chance, sharing the wealth of experience they gained from coaching or competing against virtually every top professional player. The result--Precision Pool--is simply the most comprehensive and useful book ever written on pool.
This updated second edition includes the following: Grips Vision and aim Power breaks Bank shots Combinations English Safeties Practice plans Match strategies 200 full-color diagrams of critical shots, common patterns, and trick shots Whether you are a weekend player or seasoned professional, if you are serious about improving your game, Precision Pool is your best shot.
Authors Gerry "The Ghost" Kanov and Shari "The Shark" Stauch leave nothing to chance, sharing the wealth of experience they gained from coaching or competing against virtually every top professional player. The result--Precision Pool--is simply the most comprehensive and useful book ever written on pool.
This updated second edition includes the following: Grips Vision and aim Power breaks Bank shots Combinations English Safeties Practice plans Match strategies 200 full-color diagrams of critical shots, common patterns, and trick shots Whether you are a weekend player or seasoned professional, if you are serious about improving your game, Precision Pool is your best shot.
- GenresNonfiction
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1999
9 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 29, 2018
Kanov, G., & Stauch, S. (2008). Precision pool: Key skills, shots, & strategies for eight ball, nine ball, one pocket, straight pool (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Don't get a table with coin-operated mechanism, unless you're trying to get your money back. - p. 2
The best slate is from Liguria, Italy; best cloth is green. - p. 3
Most 170g balls are made by Belgium's Saluc in phenolic resin, which yellows with age. - p. 4
The balance point of a cue is 1-2" above the wrap, or 8" above the butt. - p. 5
Tips are typically 13mm. - p. 6
Before bridging, place cue 1" behind CB. - p. 8
Men have a higher head position and therefore more power, women lower and less power. - p. 11
Hold (not grip) 5-6" above the balance point. - p. 12
Hold chalk in the back hand to loosen your grip. - p. 14
The mechanical grip is also called the rake. - p. 22
Backswing is about 5-6", maximum 10". - p. 24
Swing through the cue ball. - p. 25
Take an average of three warmup swings. - p. 27
Hesitate on the final swing; take your final look at the object ball. - p. 28
Volleyball and pool are among the few sports that use the superior hemifield - the upper half of the visual field. At least volleyball allows you to tilt your head up, but pool is less dynamic. - p. 37
Look last at object ball to allow your eyes to relax. - p. 38
Use blue, green, or grey lenses to reduce glare. - p. 42
Chalk is free. - p. 46
First, second, and third rails take about 60%, 30%, and 10% of the speed of the cue ball. - p. 49
Follow shouldn't exceed one cue tip. - p. 53
It is unlikely that you'll draw the cue ball back onto your cue. - p. 56
Widen your stance, putting at least 60% of your weight on your front leg. Hold the cue 3-6" behind your normal grip. The break won't top 31mph, though. - p. 67
In 9-ball, right-handed players used to break from the centre till they realized breaking from the right could pocket the wing ball. Try to achieve zero spin on the cue ball. Do not dig the cue into the table. Hit centre into the 1-ball. - p. 68-71
Line up some coins between the cue ball and head ball. See how airborne the cue ball is on your break by seeing which coins it contacts. - p. 76
A break cue should be 0.5mm larger, but lighter. - p. 77
Factors affecting bank shots: speed , English, angle - p. 90-93
It takes 30-46cm for a cue ball to jump over the impeding ball, so not when too close to the rail. - p. 112-113
The more you elevate your cue for a massé, your contact point moves from low to side English. Don't hit too hard. - p. 115-116
Be 30-60cm from your next object ball, with <45° cut. Cheating the pocket (or with spin) increases your chances of missing by >75%. - p. 128
Avoid the 15cm margin near the rails. - p. 132
Types of safeties:
•hide cue ball
•hide object ball (harder)
•two-way shots
•create clusters
- p. 151-152
Undercut, rather than overcut a shot, so the ball goes safe even if the shot is missed. - p. 156
Attempt shots if you're 75-80% sure; otherwise, play safe. - p. 163
You need at least 50cm for a ball to roll into the hanger and follow it in. - p. 167
For most 8-Ball leagues, the balls left on the table dictate the score. - p. 186
Rollout options:
•add distance
•pot 9-ball and foul
•create clusters
•create jump/kick shot
- p. 188-190
Double-elimination format: Proceed through winners' bracket till you lose, then move to one-loss bracket. Two losses and you're out. Winners of both brackets compete in the final. - p. 193
On team play, start with your strongest players. - p. 194
Don't get a table with coin-operated mechanism, unless you're trying to get your money back. - p. 2
The best slate is from Liguria, Italy; best cloth is green. - p. 3
Most 170g balls are made by Belgium's Saluc in phenolic resin, which yellows with age. - p. 4
The balance point of a cue is 1-2" above the wrap, or 8" above the butt. - p. 5
Tips are typically 13mm. - p. 6
Before bridging, place cue 1" behind CB. - p. 8
Men have a higher head position and therefore more power, women lower and less power. - p. 11
Hold (not grip) 5-6" above the balance point. - p. 12
Hold chalk in the back hand to loosen your grip. - p. 14
The mechanical grip is also called the rake. - p. 22
Backswing is about 5-6", maximum 10". - p. 24
Swing through the cue ball. - p. 25
Take an average of three warmup swings. - p. 27
Hesitate on the final swing; take your final look at the object ball. - p. 28
Volleyball and pool are among the few sports that use the superior hemifield - the upper half of the visual field. At least volleyball allows you to tilt your head up, but pool is less dynamic. - p. 37
Look last at object ball to allow your eyes to relax. - p. 38
Use blue, green, or grey lenses to reduce glare. - p. 42
Chalk is free. - p. 46
First, second, and third rails take about 60%, 30%, and 10% of the speed of the cue ball. - p. 49
Follow shouldn't exceed one cue tip. - p. 53
It is unlikely that you'll draw the cue ball back onto your cue. - p. 56
Widen your stance, putting at least 60% of your weight on your front leg. Hold the cue 3-6" behind your normal grip. The break won't top 31mph, though. - p. 67
In 9-ball, right-handed players used to break from the centre till they realized breaking from the right could pocket the wing ball. Try to achieve zero spin on the cue ball. Do not dig the cue into the table. Hit centre into the 1-ball. - p. 68-71
Line up some coins between the cue ball and head ball. See how airborne the cue ball is on your break by seeing which coins it contacts. - p. 76
A break cue should be 0.5mm larger, but lighter. - p. 77
Factors affecting bank shots: speed , English, angle - p. 90-93
It takes 30-46cm for a cue ball to jump over the impeding ball, so not when too close to the rail. - p. 112-113
The more you elevate your cue for a massé, your contact point moves from low to side English. Don't hit too hard. - p. 115-116
Be 30-60cm from your next object ball, with <45° cut. Cheating the pocket (or with spin) increases your chances of missing by >75%. - p. 128
Avoid the 15cm margin near the rails. - p. 132
Types of safeties:
•hide cue ball
•hide object ball (harder)
•two-way shots
•create clusters
- p. 151-152
Undercut, rather than overcut a shot, so the ball goes safe even if the shot is missed. - p. 156
Attempt shots if you're 75-80% sure; otherwise, play safe. - p. 163
You need at least 50cm for a ball to roll into the hanger and follow it in. - p. 167
For most 8-Ball leagues, the balls left on the table dictate the score. - p. 186
Rollout options:
•add distance
•pot 9-ball and foul
•create clusters
•create jump/kick shot
- p. 188-190
Double-elimination format: Proceed through winners' bracket till you lose, then move to one-loss bracket. Two losses and you're out. Winners of both brackets compete in the final. - p. 193
On team play, start with your strongest players. - p. 194
April 15, 2008
A few years back, my husband introduced me to pub nights and the game of pool. Even though my play was sporadic at best, I immediately loved the game and took on the challenge of getting better. Now, I play whenever I can and am looking to join a league.
Since I've learned to play pool mostly through trial and error and by watching other people, I always wondered what bad habits I had picked up while trying to improve my game. When I saw the book Precision Pool, I had to have it.
I would highly recommend Precision Pool to anyone wanting to improve their game. This book starts with the basics: everything from the stance and creating a proper bridge (an area I needed some guidance in) to finding the right cue for the job at hand and understanding the construction of a pool table. The majority of the book, however, focuses on how to succeed at key shots and set up for the next shot.
For best success, you can practice these shots by replicating the full color illustrations and instructions given for each set of angles, strategies, and trick shots. I read the book, went off to the pub to play a few games. I was surprised at how much I retained and was able to use during actual play. Even though I'm still getting used to the new bridge, I can already see a drastic improvement in my game. My husband even wants to borrow the book now.
Since I've learned to play pool mostly through trial and error and by watching other people, I always wondered what bad habits I had picked up while trying to improve my game. When I saw the book Precision Pool, I had to have it.
I would highly recommend Precision Pool to anyone wanting to improve their game. This book starts with the basics: everything from the stance and creating a proper bridge (an area I needed some guidance in) to finding the right cue for the job at hand and understanding the construction of a pool table. The majority of the book, however, focuses on how to succeed at key shots and set up for the next shot.
For best success, you can practice these shots by replicating the full color illustrations and instructions given for each set of angles, strategies, and trick shots. I read the book, went off to the pub to play a few games. I was surprised at how much I retained and was able to use during actual play. Even though I'm still getting used to the new bridge, I can already see a drastic improvement in my game. My husband even wants to borrow the book now.
January 21, 2012
Extremely well organized written for the hard core enthusiast. Not really appropriate for the recreational player...they'll probably be overloaded. Excellent read for the intermediate/league player. Interesting practice drills & strategies.
August 4, 2012
Brilliant, but then I wrote it :)
December 12, 2014
This book drastically improved my game and developed a greater appreciation for the sport I love.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews