The Complete Handbook of Billiards
For Professionals, Businesses, and Serious Players Who Need Real Knowledge
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The authoritative, no-nonsense guide to billiards equipment, maintenance, and business—for buyers, operators, and serious players who need real answers.
About this book
Billiards equipment is not simple. A pool table is a precision instrument—its playing surface, rails, pockets, and mechanics directly affect game outcome, player satisfaction, and profitability. Yet most buyers, venue operators, and service technicians rely on incomplete manufacturer specs, forum hearsay, or sales pitches.
This handbook cuts through that. It explains what billiards actually is, how modern equipment works, and why specifications matter. It walks you through choosing the right table for your venue or home, installing it correctly, maintaining it on a realistic schedule, and fixing the problems that arise. It profiles the major manufacturers and brands, their positioning and quality tiers, and the legitimate business models—reselling, servicing, renting, consulting—that work in this industry.
Written for pool hall operators, equipment buyers, instructors, service technicians, tournament players, and entrepreneurs, this is the reference you keep at hand when you need to make a decision or solve a problem in billiards.
Reader Reviews
Laura Brown
★★★★★I run a pool hall with twelve tables, and this handbook has already saved me hundreds in unnecessary service calls. The maintenance chapter alone—especially the section on cloth wear patterns and when to actually recover versus when not to—is worth the price. Everything is concrete, no fluff. I'm buying copies for my staff.
Elizabeth Scott
★★★★★As someone looking to start a small equipment rental business, I found the Chapter 6 breakdown of business models really helpful and realistic. My only wish is that the supplier section had a few more current distributor contacts—though I understand the handbook steers clear of that for shelf life. Overall, genuinely useful.
Joshua Allen
★★★★★Finally, a book that treats billiards seriously instead of as a hobby book with pretty pictures. The explanation of slate composition and what it actually does to play speed in Chapter 2 cleared up years of confusion I had. This is exactly the kind of practical reference I needed.
Emily Young
★★★★★I'm a tournament player and I've been recommending this to newer players who want to understand why table quality matters so much. The Chapter 1 breakdown of playing surface consistency and how it affects stroke reliability is excellent. Exactly what a serious player should know.
Andrew Wright
★★★★★Own a small bar with four tables, and this book was invaluable when I had to decide whether to refurbish my existing tables or buy new ones. The Chapter 3 decision framework is practical and straightforward. The troubleshooting section has already helped me understand what my repair tech is telling me about my rails. Highly recommend.
Ashley Clark
★★★★★Solid reference, but I found it a bit too technical in places for someone who just wanted to buy a decent home table without becoming an expert. The Chapter 1 explanation of slate leveling is thorough but maybe more detail than a casual buyer needs. Still useful, just steeper of a learning curve than I expected.
William Perez
★★★★★Good information overall, but the business opportunities section (Chapter 6) feels a bit thin for someone actually trying to start a service business. I was hoping for more on pricing strategies and customer acquisition. Still, the equipment knowledge itself is solid and practical.
Sandra Garcia
★★★★★This is what I wish I'd had when I bought my first commercial table. The Chapter 2 specifications section breaks down the difference between mid-range and premium equipment in a way that finally made sense. The maintenance chapter is a real time-saver. One thing: I would have liked more on regional variations in equipment preferences, but that's a minor gap.