The Art of One Pocket

u12armresl said:
Just buy the book.
I can't believe all the people wanting free copies because they don't play the game or want to get better.
It's a small price to pay and you wont get rid of a book like that.
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I didn't ask to be included in the book giveaway, as I'm not gonna be able to put it to use as much as others might be. Still. I think it's a wonderful gesture on Steve's part, and I look forward to reading folks reviews after they get theirs.
 
or1pkt said:
Thank You! He will give you a full review and he is also planning to use the book for his 8th grade book review project where students can read and review any book of their liking vs standard assigned reading.

Thanks again!
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Have him include game references in his review...the photos are so good they give other books the break and 10/4. 😉
 
alphadog said:
Isn't that member here , Lou something or other , a 1 pocket player. He always lets the other members know just how smart he is , he would be a good candidate.😉
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Yes there is, and it turns out he had this to say about the book 😲

lfigueroa said:
The book is breathtakingly gorgeous.

Opening the shipping box, “The Art of One Pocket,” with its dramatic black dust jacket, made me feel as though I should put on white cotton gloves, almost as if I were about to handle a prized tome from the Vatican Library. It’s that lovely and certainly several notches above the usual pool-oriented book.

The writing is precise and crisp and an excellent distillation of the disparate thoughts on the game various players have offered on one pocket over the years. It’s all here in a nice, neat package that walks you through learning the game, from delivering and responding to the opening break, to the more esoteric strategies a player will undoubtedly face over the course of multiple games and from different opponents. I especially like the use of clear diagrams — employing a properly proportioned table, pockets, and balls — that are easy to understand and do fine service in support of the accompanying text.

Strategy, such as intentional scratches and the importance of playing the score are covered, as well as banks, kicks, and shot selection. Readers are even provided a chart covering most of the handicaps a player is likely to offer or be offered, complete with a break out of the percentage advantage a particular spot offers.

Without doubt, ”The Art of One Pocket” is destined to be a crown jewel in any pocket billiard book collection and will take its proper place alongside other masterworks in the sport. But more importantly, it supplies a long-needed roadmap to learning a beautifully subtle and intricate game for any player who has been daunted by the complexities of one pocket and even provides graduate level guidelines for the more seasoned player. As the late Freddy “The Beard” Bentivegna might have said, “It’s almost 400 pages of one pocket goodness."

Buy it (good luck borrowing a copy) and enjoy this finely crafted work on the game of one pocket which I and thousands of other aficionados love.

Lou Figueroa
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Well between work being a bear and the start of deer season (should have taken the book to the field to have something to look at since the deer didn’t show up), I have managed the beginning and the first 2 chapters. A couple of things I want to note so far:

1. Steve calls out some other books on the game of 1 pocket which is a huge credit in my book for doing so.
2. The beginning was not over simplified like a lot of pool books tend to be. I have never met a newbie looking to get started in 1 pocket. It is almost always saved for a little further down the road once some skill is developed.
3. Steve’s first practice scenario of break, return, return is what I typically practice and what I teach to most younger players wanting to get started but don’t know how to practice 1 pocket By themselves.


I do think there are a few things that could have been mentioned in the beginning.

1. What is the equipment? I play on a Diamond with 4.25” corners that was the Derby City money room table from a few years ago. Next to it is a Diamond with 4.125” corner pockets that is a monster. I will leave opponents different shots based on the table we are on. Table length is your friend.
2. Don’t be afraid to kiss the object ball in certain situations. A kiss can be used to clear a pocket on a tight table or kiss the ball toward your pocket. It seems I play the kiss at least once per game.
3. Full rack banks. While full rack banks can be monotonous at the beginning it can really show a newer one pocket player great angles and shots around other balls.


Some of these may be covered later in the book but just came to mind as I was reading along and taking a few notes.
 
mattb said:
Well between work being a bear and the start of deer season (should have taken the book to the field to have something to look at since the deer didn’t show up), I have managed the beginning and the first 2 chapters. A couple of things I want to note so far:

1. Steve calls out some other books on the game of 1 pocket which is a huge credit in my book for doing so.
2. The beginning was not over simplified like a lot of pool books tend to be. I have never met a newbie looking to get started in 1 pocket. It is almost always saved for a little further down the road once some skill is developed.
3. Steve’s first practice scenario of break, return, return is what I typically practice and what I teach to most younger players wanting to get started but don’t know how to practice 1 pocket By themselves.


I do think there are a few things that could have been mentioned in the beginning.

1. What is the equipment? I play on a Diamond with 4.25” corners that was the Derby City money room table from a few years ago. Next to it is a Diamond with 4.125” corner pockets that is a monster. I will leave opponents different shots based on the table we are on. Table length is your friend.
2. Don’t be afraid to kiss the object ball in certain situations. A kiss can be used to clear a pocket on a tight table or kiss the ball toward your pocket. It seems I play the kiss at least once per game.
3. Full rack banks. While full rack banks can be monotonous at the beginning it can really show a newer one pocket player great angles and shots around other balls.


Some of these may be covered later in the book but just came to mind as I was reading along and taking a few notes.
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Thank you mattb! Yes, I see my book as a piece of the whole picture of One Pocket knowledge. That “pool” of knowledge has been built by many capable players, writers and commentators over the years. I definitely respect them all! I see my book as a good companion, especially to the Robin and Wirth books. The Art of One Pocket takes a different approach than those classics; it is in fact intended to go with them 😁 Thank you for noticing 👍
 
mattb said:
Looking for some new reading and was considering The Art Of One Pocket by Booth. My question, is it worth the $70 asking price? Yes? No? Thoughts?

I have A Game of Controlled Agression by Wirth and of course the 2 Holy Grails Winning One Pocket and Shots Moves and Strategies.
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Got a wicked good review from prolific pool author Philip Capelle!

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mattb said:
Looking for some new reading and was considering The Art Of One Pocket by Booth. My question, is it worth the $70 asking price? Yes? No? Thoughts?

I have A Game of Controlled Agression by Wirth and of course the 2 Holy Grails Winning One Pocket and Shots Moves and Strategies.
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Yes, absolutely!
 
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The Art of One Pocket by Steve Booth

So I had the chance to read the book “The Art of One Pocket” by Steve Booth over the winter and I have to say I am fairly impressed. A little about me. I have been playing since a teenager but once I got into my 40’s it became all about one pocket and also giving back To other players. I play...
forums.azbilliards.com

Well I finally had time to do my review. I really liked the book overall and would recommend it. I added a link above to my review. I tried to keep it short and concise but if you have any questions please feel free to hit me up.

Again, I have to give a big thank you to Steve Booth. You can tell he really put some time and effort into his book and is proud of it as he should be. Thanks, Steve.
 
mattb said:

The Art of One Pocket by Steve Booth

So I had the chance to read the book “The Art of One Pocket” by Steve Booth over the winter and I have to say I am fairly impressed. A little about me. I have been playing since a teenager but once I got into my 40’s it became all about one pocket and also giving back To other players. I play...
forums.azbilliards.com

Well I finally had time to do my review. I really liked the book overall and would recommend it. I added a link above to my review. I tried to keep it short and concise but if you have any questions please feel free to hit me up.

Again, I have to give a big thank you to Steve Booth. You can tell he really put some time and effort into his book and is proud of it as he should be. Thanks, Steve.
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Thank you mattb -- for following up with the review, and not to mention pretty good review too 😆

I shipped out a total of three donation books to a cross-section of AZB members for review because of your inquiry in this thread -- still have a couple more reviews to come in -- maybe this thread bump will give them a bump to follow up. :)


Thanks again!!!
 
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