The Purple Guide to Learning Billiards in 10 Days
A no-nonsense, day-by-day starter plan to learn the basics of billiards and decide if it's worth continuing
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Try billiards for 10 days with a concrete daily plan. No jargon, no hype — just real fundamentals and honest advice.
About this book
You've watched people play billiards and thought, "That looks fun, but I'd have no idea what to do." Maybe you've tried once or twice, poked the cue ball around, scratched, and gave up. Or maybe you're just looking for a new hobby and want something that's social, challenging, and doesn't require running a marathon. This guide is for you.
The Purple Guide to Learning Billiards in 10 Days is not a masterclass. It's not going to turn you into a tournament player. What it will do is walk you through 10 days of real, concrete practice — what to focus on each day, what gear you actually need (and what you can skip), and what to expect when things feel awkward, because they will feel awkward. The plan is honest about the fact that you'll miss more shots than you make at first, and that's fine. That's part of it.
By day 10, you'll have built a solid foundation: a comfortable stance, a steady bridge hand, a reliable grip, and an aiming routine that you can repeat every time you step up to the table. You'll also know exactly whether this is a hobby you want to keep going — and what your options are if you do.
Reader Reviews
Anna Lopez
★★★★★I picked this up because I had zero clue about billiards but wanted a new hobby. The day 1 chapter was exactly what I needed — it told me what to expect physically and mentally, and I actually pocketed a ball by the end of my first session. The checklist on day 2 made me realize I could afford this more easily than I thought. It's honest, practical, and not at all cheesy. I'm on day 6 now and already feeling more confident around the table.
Donna Lewis
★★★★★As someone who felt silly just walking into a pool hall alone, this guide made it feel manageable. The first day chapter walks you through literally everything — from how to hold the cue to what to aim at — and the tone is like a friend talking you through it, not a coach yelling at you. The day-by-day structure kept me accountable. I'm not amazing, but I'm not lost anymore. Worth every penny.
Mark Flores
★★★★★It's okay. The day 1 chapter was clear and the stance/grip stuff on days 4 and 5 is useful, but I felt like some of the early days were padded out with self-assessment lists and gear comparisons that I didn't really need. I just wanted to play. The milestones on day 7 were helpful though — it kept me from getting frustrated too much. Fine for a total beginner, just not as meaty as I'd hoped.
Joseph Young
★★★★★The tone was a bit too conversational for me, but the substance is solid. The stance and bridge instructions were genuinely helpful — I went from whiffing badly to actually making contact and even pocketing a couple of balls by day 8's narrative practice session. The gear comparison on day 3 saved me from buying a cheap cue I'd regret. It's a decent starting point, but if you're already comfortable in a pool hall, you can probably skip this.
Brenda Garcia
★★★★★I've been curious about billiards for years but always chickened out because I didn't know where to start. This guide gave me a real plan. The first day orientation was perfect — I knew exactly what to do when I got to the table, and the warm-up drill really helped. I appreciated that the milestones on day 7 were realistic; they matched my actual progress, which was encouraging. I'm going to keep playing after day 10.
Stephanie Rivera
★★★★★The guide is fine and it did what it said — got me through 10 days of trying billiards. But I think the expectations were a bit low. By day 10 I could make straight shots consistently, but I still felt pretty hopeless at anything else. The 'one small win' at the end of day 1 was just pocketing one ball, which felt too small. Still, it's honest about the limits, and that's worth something.