Just bought this book. Hope I won't regret it
Mark Wilson's New Book
- Thread starter Mike the Beginner
- Start date
You should have read further. We already gave Randall a hard time, and he said he didn't mean it, and we're all being nice to each other now.
Mike
I got my book (Play Great Pool) in the mail this morning. As I flip through the pages I see this is exactly what I thought it would be. After reading this book you don't need anymore books, after reading and practicing what's in it. This is the center piece in any pool players library. I can see why it took years from start to publish. I could see this book to be the bible in every school and college that has and will have a pocket billiards program. Thank you Mark for all the hours and years of work you put into this. IMO it will become a classic. Johnnyt
That's an excellent endorsement, I couldn't agree more.
JT,
Thanks for the kind sentiments.
I must slightly disagree with your assessment about not needing other books. Mark made NO attempt to reinvent the wheel and cover things well done in other books and sources. Only Part I is meant to be comprehensive; Part II is just filled with "random" observations of things he thinks essential for a pro player to master (and that may not have been covered well in other sources).
Leaf forward to Chapter 28 ("Required and Recommended Reading and Instructional Sources"). Mark was not kidding when he said that those sources must be studied along with "Play Great Pool" if you want to achieve anything near your full potential. Pool is freaking difficult
Ordered this book two weeks ago, how long does it take to get delivered? No confirmation message or delivered message too
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
It took just over two weeks to arrrive here in Japan.
You should email Mark directly if you are concerned and you should get a quick response.
stlshooter@hotmail.com
You should email Mark directly if you are concerned and you should get a quick response.
stlshooter@hotmail.com
I only wish the type was larger. Ima gonna hafta by ticker spectetackles.
In all seriousness though the book is a high quality text.
I'm looking forward to digging into it.
In all seriousness though the book is a high quality text.
I'm looking forward to digging into it.
Just placed my order as well...
I had the opportunity to meet Mark Wilson when he was running Teachers in Fairview Heights. I was very impressed with him. The man is a a true gentleman and has a love of the game. I have never heard anyone say one bad word about him. If I still lived in St. Louis, I would definitely look to take some lessons on top of individual practice using guidance from the book. He has taught quite a few players that went on to become world-beaters. I am looking forward to reading the book and putting to practice what I learn.
I had the opportunity to meet Mark Wilson when he was running Teachers in Fairview Heights. I was very impressed with him. The man is a a true gentleman and has a love of the game. I have never heard anyone say one bad word about him. If I still lived in St. Louis, I would definitely look to take some lessons on top of individual practice using guidance from the book. He has taught quite a few players that went on to become world-beaters. I am looking forward to reading the book and putting to practice what I learn.
I got my copy, and am making my way through it. So far so good. Took just a couple of days to get to the east coast. A hair dinged up but I wasn't buying it to mount on the wall, I want to see what kind of info
and advice I can get from it.
Will post a review eventually but so far this book seems loaded with text and info.
and advice I can get from it.
Will post a review eventually but so far this book seems loaded with text and info.
I was talking with Mark yesterday before our lesson and he said something to me that I thought would be of some benefit to others that have his book.
Even though I have had some lessons from Mark he encouraged me not to skip over the chapters on stance,grip,bridge etc. His said to treat it like a text book, work through the first chapter and go on to the second and so on.
It makes sense to me, why bother skipping ahead to advanced techniques without ensuring that you got everything else down cold. I haven't had enough time yet to read it, I only got it about 24 hours ago but I can already see that this is the last book I will need to buy on the subject.
In most instructional books the first few pages are 1 paragraph on how to stand, 1 paragraph on grip and so on. This book tells you and shows you how and why in detail and goes to great lengths to get you to understand why some of the most basic things are so important and often overlooked.
This is not a coffee table book, it's a work book. And you will get out of it what you put into it.
Even though I have had some lessons from Mark he encouraged me not to skip over the chapters on stance,grip,bridge etc. His said to treat it like a text book, work through the first chapter and go on to the second and so on.
It makes sense to me, why bother skipping ahead to advanced techniques without ensuring that you got everything else down cold. I haven't had enough time yet to read it, I only got it about 24 hours ago but I can already see that this is the last book I will need to buy on the subject.
In most instructional books the first few pages are 1 paragraph on how to stand, 1 paragraph on grip and so on. This book tells you and shows you how and why in detail and goes to great lengths to get you to understand why some of the most basic things are so important and often overlooked.
This is not a coffee table book, it's a work book. And you will get out of it what you put into it.
Should be receiving my copy this week - international shipping is painful.
Will provide a review later.
Will provide a review later.
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Rec'd my book two days ago and it's already paid for itself. Tweaked (actually "tweaked" is an understatement) my stance -- and thereby dominant eye position, balance, much less weight on bridge hand, clearance, and subtleties related to those. Shotmaking to any part of a pocket has been dramatically improved.
All that from a barely-begun initial read. I can only imagine the eventual total playing effect after putting in the proper amount of study and solo-practice application of the wonderful accomplishment and principles that this veritable textbook represents and deserves
Btw. As my 14.1 breakshot avatar might imply, I'm a lefty so I simply printer-scanned, then electronically horizontally flipped and printed out a few of the pertinent illustrations in miniature to better ingrain the image in my mind from a lefty's perspective. Easy to do.
Regarding the above suggestion re: spiral books at the table, no matter whether the spiraling material is either plastic or metal they do pose significant risk to the fabric of the table and its cushions unless there's an intermediate piece of fabric to lay those kinds of bindings on.
Arnaldo
Extremely well said, and "hear hear."
Mike
P.S. BTW to others who asked, my book came pretty quickly, earlier than I expected. I imagine Mark Wilson (with help from family?) are shipping the books out themselves, so the work has to get fit into their regular lives and other activities. If this guess is right, that would mean that some go out soon and some go out later. I wouldn't worry about it. It's not a business with a staff and a "regular schedule."
But if you're really concerned--like if it's been a month or more and you haven't got your book--I'd contact him about it. Book order fulfillment is hard to keep good track of, and a few things do indeed slip through the cracks. But give it a month. Asking about it is called "customer service" and it takes up a surprising amount of time, and you don't want to put the demand on his time until you really need to. (Can you tell I've had a little experience with this kind of thing?)
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See if your local library will order it to stock permanently on their shelves. This has worked for me in the past for relatively pricey but best-in-their-field "How To" and "Teach Yourself" books, as well as for a wide variety of textbooks (which this excellent tome certainly is) This route can work especially well when you suggest your request to libraries within nearby well-populated cities.
The charm of Wilson's book for public libraries is that it will be magnetic (and checked out regularly) to high-schoolers and both young and older readers who presently enjoy playing or are contemplating taking the game up.
Definitely recommend trying this whether you're figuratively or in fact, literally, broke. We'll all been there and helpful advice sometimes comes in handy when it related to something you love.
Arnaldo
For those of you that think $70 is a little pricey, I say, you get what you pay for. I have already made changes in my stance and pre shot routine and have seen immediate results, much to the chagrin of my pool playing buddy. I'm a year older than the price of this book, you're never too old to learn. However the older you are, the harder it is to break bad habits. This book takes you through the steps and it is up to you to do the work.
Mark and Don (if you'll permit me) have done an excellent job in putting this book together. You'll will not be disappointed. I only hope that there is another book in Mark's future.
Mark and Don (if you'll permit me) have done an excellent job in putting this book together. You'll will not be disappointed. I only hope that there is another book in Mark's future.