8ballsecrets

willam

willam

Registered
Hi,

I recently came across a site, www.8ballsecrets.com
It's advertising a book, supposedly one of the best around.
If there's anyone around here who actually owns this book, I'd like to hear your opinions.
Thanks.
 
Everything about this book says "keep away" imo. They have a diagram on that site as an example of what you can find in the book, and it looks like it's saying elevate the cue 45 degrees and hit way below the miscue limit (aka a scoop).

The author is a self-described no name with no credentials.

One of the websites promoting it is "legitbuy.info". Someone actually thought up and registered that internet address. To me, nothing sounds more like a scam than "legitbuy".

And there are multiple youtube accounts that advertise the book without showing anything useful from it... just still shots of the cover.

I think his marketing department might need some help.

For your money there are a TON of good pool books out there, written by expert players who have actually accomplished something in the world of pool. Search this site for recommendations (or just take my word for it and start with the 99 critical shots in pool, by Ray Martin).
 
Get the 8-ball Bible. If you can find a copy. As far as 99 Critical Shots,...every pool player should have one on their book shelf. Johnnyt
 
willam said:
Hi,

I recently came across a site, www.8ballsecrets.com
It's advertising a book, supposedly one of the best around.
If there's anyone around here who actually owns this book, I'd like to hear your opinions.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of this book, and I've got a lot of pool books. If you want to learn about 8-ball strategy, you're probably better off buying Phil Capelle's book entitled "Play Your Best 8 Ball". His books are all excellent.
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/plyobe8ba.html

One of the best pool books every written is "The 99 Critical Shots of Pool" by Ray Martin.
 
A different question might be to ask if any azb'er knows anything about the pool playing ability/knowledge and/or business reliability of a guy called Ben Kowalski whose home town is Long beach and who claims to have played pool moderately succesfully in Long Beach for over 25 years but at the same time says he has never ventured beyond Long Beach to play pool.
 
Thanks for your opinions, everybody. 20 bucks saved.
Actually I own quite a few books, including some of the ones mentioned above.
This particular one just sounded too good to be true, yet - as pointed out by CreeDo too - I was unable to find out even who was the author. That's why I thought I'd ask around.

So ... who is Ben Kowalski? :)
 
willam said:
Hi,

I recently came across a site, www.8ballsecrets.com
It's advertising a book, supposedly one of the best around.
If there's anyone around here who actually owns this book, I'd like to hear your opinions.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Avoid this book. It's either a scam or written by someone who knows little to nothing of pool. Take this quote for example,

"If you’re a good player now…even a mediocre one…you can quickly become virtually unbeatable using an easy to follow system that’s proven to take all levels of 8-ball players to brand new heights.

And it won’t take months or even years to get to the point where you’re a feared competitor...in fact, with an open mind and a little bit of practice, you can dominate the game of 8-ball in just a few short weeks."

These are absurd promises, stay away. It reminds me of fitness commercials that say you can lose 120 pounds and have a fantastic body in three weeks.
 
willam said:
.... I was unable to find out even who was the author. That's why I thought I'd ask around.

So ... who is Ben Kowalski? :)
Click to expand...

He's the author :p

From Long Beach :)

Never played outside Long Beach :p

Virtually unbeatable :)

Feared competitor :p

Dominated the game :)

Don't you know anything William? :p
 
Who is...

willam said:
Thanks for your opinions, everybody. 20 bucks saved.
Actually I own quite a few books, including some of the ones mentioned above.
This particular one just sounded too good to be true, yet - as pointed out by CreeDo too - I was unable to find out even who was the author. That's why I thought I'd ask around.

So ... who is Ben Kowalski? :)
Click to expand...



He's the brother of Alexander Graham Kowalski---the first Telephone Pole.
 
poolfoole said:
I've never heard of this book, and I've got a lot of pool books. If you want to learn about 8-ball strategy, you're probably better off buying Phil Capelle's book entitled "Play Your Best 8 Ball". His books are all excellent.
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/plyobe8ba.html

One of the best pool books every written is "The 99 Critical Shots of Pool" by Ray Martin.
Click to expand...

Good post, are you really banned, or did you type that under your handle to be cute? Your status shows that you're online right now....Sup?
 
the420trooper said:
Good post, are you really banned, or did you type that under your handle to be cute? Your status shows that you're online right now....Sup?
Click to expand...

Could be that he meant to say that he's in a band, but misspelled it. Or, he's describing himself after someone attacked him with that famous roll-on deodorant. Much easier to type into that small space than "Right-Guarded". :p
 
the420trooper said:
Good post, are you really banned, or did you type that under your handle to be cute? Your status shows that you're online right now....Sup?
Click to expand...


I've seen a few dudes do that to be cute. I know banned with a lowercase B is how real bans look. Maybe you're not allowed to put that (in lowercase) under your name.
 
My friend CB, who posts here as Gerald, has lived in Long Beach forever (he's in his 60's). He has been around pool forever, and would know if this guy is for real or not (I suspect not). Maybe he'll see this and post.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

memikey said:
A different question might be to ask if any azb'er knows anything about the pool playing ability/knowledge and/or business reliability of a guy called Ben Kowalski whose home town is Long beach and who claims to have played pool moderately succesfully in Long Beach for over 25 years but at the same time says he has never ventured beyond Long Beach to play pool.
Click to expand...
 
Johnnyt said:
Get the 8-ball Bible. If you can find a copy. As far as 99 Critical Shots,...every pool player should have one on their book shelf. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

I second that on The 8 Ball Bible. Excellent instructional manual. My ONLY complaint is everything is written based on the heavy cueball, which isn't really used by most places anymore. Even still, I say it's the best instructional book I've ever read. Well written with excellent diagrams.
 
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poolfoole said:
I've never heard of this book, and I've got a lot of pool books. If you want to learn about 8-ball strategy, you're probably better off buying Phil Capelle's book entitled "Play Your Best 8 Ball". His books are all excellent.
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/plyobe8ba.html
Click to expand...
I wonder about the usefulness of 8 ball books. It seems to me playing straight pool is the best way to learn 8 ball.

Capelle's book is the best I've come across, and yet in his Play Your Best Eight Ball he fails to really highlight the importance of tying up your opponent's balls during your run, and of manufacturing balls during your run (something that is usually associated with straight pool because in 8 ball you have less time).

The only skills you will learn in 8 ball that aren't present in straight pool is tying up balls and two-way shots. And that's why you play one pocket and rotation so your skill set is complete.
 
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lewdo26 said:
I wonder about the usefulness of 8 ball books. It seems to me playing straight pool is the best way to learn 8 ball.

Capelle's book is the best I've come across, and yet in his Play Your Best Eight Ball he fails to really highlight the importance of tying up your opponent's balls during your run, and of manufacturing balls during your run (something that is usually associated with straight pool because in 8 ball you have less time).

The only skills you will learn in 8 ball that aren't present in straight pool is tying up balls and two-way shots. And that's why you play one pocket and rotation so your skill set is complete.
Click to expand...

Excellent point. lewdo26.

Tying up balls and manufacturing break out balls is two of the things that Mr. Givens talks about in The 8-Ball Bible that really opened my eyes. Also, when you say two way shot, that's Mr. Givens' mantra (something like), "Shot Safety Forever.", meaning just that. Always shoot your balls with regard to your opponent's leave.
 
Anything by Capelle is excellent in my opinion. I have read at least in part all of them. The 8 ball bible is also an excellent book, but really specializes in bar table 8 ball. Just about everything in both books can be applied to full table an bar table 8 ball. It is just that the bible takes more into consideration the heavy ball and small table.
You will not be disappointed in either book. Both excellent.
 
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