Play Great Pool by Mark Wilson

F

FeelDaShot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Wow, what an amazing book this is!!! I’m not sure how long this book has been on the market but I am definetly late to the game on reading it. I should have been reading this years ago. Surprisingly, somehow I didnt even know it existed until last week. I assume it’s just not promoted enough (hence the reason for this post). Or maybe it’s the $80 price tag that deters potential buyers?

Regardless, this book is great. I havent read it all yet but it seems to be almost entirely devoted to teaching you how to develop a perfect stroke. It goes into extreme detail on all aspects/fundamentals of the stroke and explains why they are necessary. It also shows common problems that develop, the reason they’ve developed, and how to fix them.

One of my problems was that I had a reverse chicken wing stroke. I’ve tried to correct it myself by focusing on keeping my arm straight but it’s almost impossible to do. Once I started reading this book I realized that my footing was wrong and that’s why my arm was not properly aligning. As soon as I fixed my footing the arm lined up perfectly.

After just a weekend of reading/implementing my stoke is straight as an arrow and I’ve never hit the ball so well. Exciting stuff!!

5/5 stars, A+++, Top Tier
 
FeelDaShot said:
Wow, what an amazing book this is!!! I’m not sure how long this book has been on the market but I am definetly late to the game on reading it. I should have been reading this years ago. Surprisingly, somehow I didnt even know it existed until last week. I assume it’s just not promoted enough (hence the reason for this post). Or maybe it’s the $80 price tag that deters potential buyers?

Regardless, this book is great. I havent read it all yet but it seems to be almost entirely devoted to teaching you how to develop a perfect stroke. It goes into extreme detail on all aspects/fundamentals of the stroke and explains why they are necessary. It also shows common problems that develop, the reason they’ve developed, and how to fix them.

One of my problems was that I had a reverse chicken wing stroke. I’ve tried to correct it myself by focusing on keeping my arm straight but it’s almost impossible to do. Once I started reading this book I realized that my footing was wrong and that’s why my arm was not properly aligning. As soon as I fixed my footing the arm lined up perfectly.

After just a weekend of reading/implementing my stoke is straight as an arrow and I’ve never hit the ball so well. Exciting stuff!!

5/5 stars, A+++, Top Tier
Click to expand...

Welcome to the board Mark.
 
Joe_Jaguar said:
Welcome to the board Mark.
Click to expand...

No way-Mark is not like that at all. Ive listened to him for years commentating and never heard him mention the book til the just finished Derby when i think he was asked if he ever wrote a book-At any rate, he didnt even mention the name of it until asked. I had no idea of its existence either until then.
 
tap tap tap......

FeelDaShot said:
Wow, what an amazing book this is!!! I’m not sure how long this book has been on the market but I am definetly late to the game on reading it. I should have been reading this years ago. Surprisingly, somehow I didnt even know it existed until last week. I assume it’s just not promoted enough (hence the reason for this post). Or maybe it’s the $80 price tag that deters potential buyers?

Regardless, this book is great. I havent read it all yet but it seems to be almost entirely devoted to teaching you how to develop a perfect stroke. It goes into extreme detail on all aspects/fundamentals of the stroke and explains why they are necessary. It also shows common problems that develop, the reason they’ve developed, and how to fix them.

One of my problems was that I had a reverse chicken wing stroke. I’ve tried to correct it myself by focusing on keeping my arm straight but it’s almost impossible to do. Once I started reading this book I realized that my footing was wrong and that’s why my arm was not properly aligning. As soon as I fixed my footing the arm lined up perfectly.

After just a weekend of reading/implementing my stoke is straight as an arrow and I’ve never hit the ball so well. Exciting stuff!!

5/5 stars, A+++, Top Tier
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. Always good to hear positive experiences.

td
 
I have had the book since it first came out. Excellent. I liked how he didn't preach about his thinking about training. He said his was not the only way to play, but he felt his method would shorten the learning curve.
The mental training section is excellent.
 
Nostroke said:
No way-Mark is not like that at all. Ive listened to him for years commentating and never heard him mention the book til the just finished Derby when i think he was asked if he ever wrote a book-At any rate, he didnt even mention the name of it until asked. I had no idea of its existence either until then.
Click to expand...

Well I had just finished doing my taxes so I needed a laugh. Forgot the emoji :D
 
Mark's book is exceptional. It's well written and well-presented. Seriously, is there anybody anywhere that knows more about the pool stroke than Mark? I doubt it.

If you don't own it, you should.
 
sixpack said:
In that case you did an admirable job of avoiding swear words. :D
Click to expand...

Finishing your taxes is a great feeling-for me anyway-Starting them is so intimidating and nerve wracking as you never know if you will be able to finish them. There is always a problem. I'll pay more than i owe (to a point) if i can just get them over with. This year is supposed to be simpler I think? Hope so!
 
FeelDaShot said:
Wow, what an amazing book this is!!! I’m not sure how long this book has been on the market but I am definetly late to the game on reading it. I should have been reading this years ago. Surprisingly, somehow I didnt even know it existed until last week. I assume it’s just not promoted enough (hence the reason for this post). Or maybe it’s the $80 price tag that deters potential buyers?

Regardless, this book is great. I havent read it all yet but it seems to be almost entirely devoted to teaching you how to develop a perfect stroke. It goes into extreme detail on all aspects/fundamentals of the stroke and explains why they are necessary. It also shows common problems that develop, the reason they’ve developed, and how to fix them.

One of my problems was that I had a reverse chicken wing stroke. I’ve tried to correct it myself by focusing on keeping my arm straight but it’s almost impossible to do. Once I started reading this book I realized that my footing was wrong and that’s why my arm was not properly aligning. As soon as I fixed my footing the arm lined up perfectly.

After just a weekend of reading/implementing my stoke is straight as an arrow and I’ve never hit the ball so well. Exciting stuff!!

5/5 stars, A+++, Top Tier
Click to expand...

A recording device & dedication (lots of trial and error) pay WAY more dividends depending on current experience level.

C- to A- players should learn from a little to a lot depending on which end of spectrum they are on at the time.

IMO, a solid A player wouldn't get a very big bang for their buck. Then again, that's true for all instructional books/vids.

IMO, after a person gets to a certain level.... well, books/vids are useless compared to an instructor even though finding an instructor that's worth the $$$/time is like finding a needle in a haystack.
 
Yep, I agree! Great book! I bought it a few months ago and it has really helped my game.
d32b3877d30adc88f9c480130f78b23b.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Nostroke said:
Finishing your taxes is a great feeling-for me anyway-Starting them is so intimidating and nerve wracking as you never know if you will be able to finish them. There is always a problem. I'll pay more than i owe (to a point) if i can just get them over with. This year is supposed to be simpler I think? Hope so!
Click to expand...

Taxes and pool tables have a LOT in common.... such as:

"IT DEPENDS"......
 
sjm said:
Mark's book is exceptional. It's well written and well-presented. Seriously, is there anybody anywhere that knows more about the pool stroke than Mark? I doubt it.

If you don't own it, you should.
Click to expand...

Maybe, a guy named Jerry.
 
FeelDaShot said:
Wow, what an amazing book this is!!! I’m not sure how long this book has been on the market but I am definetly late to the game on reading it. I should have been reading this years ago. Surprisingly, somehow I didnt even know it existed until last week. I assume it’s just not promoted enough (hence the reason for this post). Or maybe it’s the $80 price tag that deters potential buyers?

Regardless, this book is great. I havent read it all yet but it seems to be almost entirely devoted to teaching you how to develop a perfect stroke. It goes into extreme detail on all aspects/fundamentals of the stroke and explains why they are necessary. It also shows common problems that develop, the reason they’ve developed, and how to fix them.

One of my problems was that I had a reverse chicken wing stroke. I’ve tried to correct it myself by focusing on keeping my arm straight but it’s almost impossible to do. Once I started reading this book I realized that my footing was wrong and that’s why my arm was not properly aligning. As soon as I fixed my footing the arm lined up perfectly.

After just a weekend of reading/implementing my stoke is straight as an arrow and I’ve never hit the ball so well. Exciting stuff!!

5/5 stars, A+++, Top Tier
Click to expand...

I agree. Great book, excellent material. And Mark is a great guy.
 
FeelDaShot said:
Wow, what an amazing book this is!!! I’m not sure how long this book has been on the market but I am definetly late to the game on reading it. I should have been reading this years ago. Surprisingly, somehow I didnt even know it existed until last week. I assume it’s just not promoted enough (hence the reason for this post). Or maybe it’s the $80 price tag that deters potential buyers?

Regardless, this book is great. I havent read it all yet but it seems to be almost entirely devoted to teaching you how to develop a perfect stroke. It goes into extreme detail on all aspects/fundamentals of the stroke and explains why they are necessary. It also shows common problems that develop, the reason they’ve developed, and how to fix them.

One of my problems was that I had a reverse chicken wing stroke. I’ve tried to correct it myself by focusing on keeping my arm straight but it’s almost impossible to do. Once I started reading this book I realized that my footing was wrong and that’s why my arm was not properly aligning. As soon as I fixed my footing the arm lined up perfectly.

After just a weekend of reading/implementing my stoke is straight as an arrow and I’ve never hit the ball so well. Exciting stuff!!

5/5 stars, A+++, Top Tier
Click to expand...

Mark did a great interview with Tor Lowry a few years ago before taking Captain duties of the Mosconi Cup team. He mentions the book if I can remember and some of the drills aspects that are within it which he was planning on implementing into team USA.

Even though Mark was not successful as Team USA captain, his selection of younger players over experienced players, and focus on drills as a team would be put into overdrive by the next coach Johan and eventually lead to USA victory.

After watching this interview, I purchased the book....

https://youtu.be/0DYZ_NVpeXc


I still believe his book is the only pool book that has ever mentioned breathing patterns while playing. In this section he goes in-depth on chest movements during breaths and how they are utilized by military snipers before and during a shot. He then applies it to pool and how to practice breathing patterns during play. Wonderfully intelligent.
 
Nostroke said:
Finishing your taxes is a great feeling-for me anyway-Starting them is so intimidating and nerve wracking as you never know if you will be able to finish them. There is always a problem. I'll pay more than i owe (to a point) if i can just get them over with. This year is supposed to be simpler I think? Hope so!
Click to expand...

It feels good to get them done but I always have to send in a big check so that hurts a little.
 
I don't care how good that book is or how much of a great guy Mark Wilson is (and I did enjoy his commentary on the DCC matches I watched), $70 is too damn much.
Oh wait, it's $100 because I live in Holland!!
*WAY* too damn much.
 
The book came out in 2014 I believe. It is the most comprehensive text on how to play pool I have ever read. I strongly recommend this book. Having said that it is not for lightweight reading or quick fixes.

FYI there were a few threads when this book came out. Some whining and moaning but also a few interesting comments.

https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=335792
https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=347484

Note comments by williebetmore (the motivator/editor/organizer/student/co-author)

Dave
 
hotelyorba said:
I don't care how good that book is or how much of a great guy Mark Wilson is (and I did enjoy his commentary on the DCC matches I watched), $70 is too damn much.
Oh wait, it's $100 because I live in Holland!!
*WAY* too damn much.
Click to expand...

You should see how much the average text book for a college course costs here. $100 is a bargain.
And it literally it a hard cover text book fit for a college course.
 
jrctherake said:
A recording device & dedication (lots of trial and error) pay WAY more dividends depending on current experience level.

C- to A- players should learn from a little to a lot depending on which end of spectrum they are on at the time.

IMO, a solid A player wouldn't get a very big bang for their buck. Then again, that's true for all instructional books/vids.

IMO, after a person gets to a certain level.... well, books/vids are useless compared to an instructor even though finding an instructor that's worth the $$$/time is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Click to expand...

I had the exact same thoughts on instructional material up until I decided to buy this book. Once you reach a certain level there's not much you don't know. The last thing I needed was another book explaining tangent line, draw, follow, deflection,etc. All of that stuff is second nature for us pool fanatics and is not included in the book.

At the advanced level, it's all about consistency. We're all capable of making almost any shot at any time but the difference is how often can we make it? In order to build consistency you need to strive for perfection when it comes to stroke, PSR, breathing, mental state, timing, backstroke speed, and so on. How many times have you tweeked one super tiny aspect of your game and started playing way better? That's all it takes for advanced players to improve.

With that being said, this book dives into all of those minor details and gives you a base line of what to strive for. I think this specific book will benefit players of all levels, including professionals. Mark even has a section of the book which explains how to review the book depending on your skill level (beginner to professional).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top