disappointing, 24 Dec 2003

It covers the basics but all VERY wordy and short of diagrams.hasnt it been said before that a picture paints a thousand words?. Many of the important stuff i recognise also can be found in Frank callan's website eg dominant eye and some practice routines. Explains the various types of shots but doesnt explain the effects or ball paths eg what happens when you play a 3/4 ball shot with screw. Talks about side but doesnt show what running or check side is diagramatically or covers anything about combined spin. I also find some of the angles taken by the photographer of Jim posing in his stance pose pretty awkward.

Lots of nice photographs of stars but I dont think relevant for too many to be shown if it is meant to be purely instructional. The space could be used to write more on the fundamentals and techniques.

However i have to admit that the section on tactics and billiards is worth studying. Hence the stars otherwise I wouldnt bother about in any further given that there is hardly anything on english billiards these days.

For a good instructional book, one of the best ive ever read is Cliff Thorburn's Snooker skills. Lots of photos showing techniques, photographed ball paths of shots, and explains with diagrams about play around the black. etc. Its a real pity that this book is already out of print. One can also consider Steve Davis's insructional video more enlightening than this book.

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