BilliardsBlogger

Sorry all - just had to express my frustration at my recent efforts to clean up the look and feel of the blog.

I just re-did the navigation in the sidebar so that it included links to recent posts. Additionally, I started adding links to relevant posts from within the different category sections.

Improved navigation is overdue… I know. Once the site got beyong 10 posts I started thinking about the next evolution. However, I didn’t realize how painful navigation can be. I kept getting errors where links wouldn’t work - turns out I kept mispelling billiards as biliards. Or billliards. Simple mistakes… but they cost me hours of frustration. Hopefully its a little easier to get around the site.

Additionally, I’ve started cleaning up the CSS formatting a little bit. I have a funny feeling that the font in Internet Explorer is a little larger than it should be. If anyone is seeing the font size as looking really odd (either big or small), please let me know. Additionally, any feedback on navigation is always appreciated.

As part of my guide to the best billiards and pool blogs - a review of one of the top blogs as voted by my readership.

Blog Name: Bank the Nine
URL: http://bankthenine.blogspot.com/

Who should read it?: Anyone who appreciates the artistic side of pool and billiards

Blog Categories: All posts are categorized by date

Useful Links?: Some interesting stuff - a 3-cushion billiards site; cool photography blog; Dr. Dave videos; and the APA.

Blog Platform: Blogger

Blog Start Date: August 2006

Bank the Nine is Cary’s blog about his travels as a NYC amateur pool player and freelance photographer. His posts generally relate to his thoughts on the various pool hotspots across New York. The associated photos with each post are especially cool - everything is captured in a very understated black and white way. This photography seems to capture the beauty of the game in a way I hadn’t seen elsewhere on the web.

Bank the Nine includes a few videos, but it appears that the realy draw is the photography. The posts carry some interesting editorial as well - Cary shares thoughts on his own game. This is the type of blog I recommend taking your time with - its got a great style.

As part of my guide to the best billiards and pool blogs - a review of one of the top blogs as voted by my readership.

Blog Name: The Tip Jar
URL: http://site.sammspocket.com/blog/

Who should read it?: Anyone who wants great practical advice on ways to improve your game.

Blog Categories: All posts are categorized by date - plus within helpful categories (practicing, competing, my training, polls)

Useful Links?: Great link catgories - everything from recommended blogs, instructional/news, pool supply retailers, tours/leagues, players, etc…

Blog Platform: Wordpress

Blog Start Date: September 2005

I really looked forward to writing the review for the Tip Jar - I think its an awesome resource for the aspiring pool player. Not only are Samm’s posts both useful and detailed, but they are written in a very accessible manner. Samm presents a lot of interesting training concepts and has some great tips on practice tools. Virtually all of the posts has some valuable take-away that can improve your game- I’ve read the whole blog and plan to go back and revisit some of the older posts again in the future.

The Tip Jar is nicely laid out with helpful categories and an excellent set of links. In fact, the links could keep one busy for a long time as they cover a good spectrum of pool resources. Of additional note - Its a wordpress blog and there are a few plugins adding some nice extra functionality.

The Tip Jar recieved the 4th most votes in my best pool and billiards poll. I bet this blog is only going to get better and better - a must read.

As part of my guide to the best billiards and pool blogs - a review of one of the top blogs as voted by my readership.

Blog Name: Phillipine Billiards
URL: http://philippinebilliards.blogspot.com

Who should read it?: Anyone who is interested in Philippine Billiards - the blog follows the progress of Yisra’el’s favourite pros.

Blog Categories: All posts are categorized by date.

Useful Links?: A couple of Filipino tour websites and recommended blogs.

Google Pagerank: 3

Blog Platform: Blogspot

Blog Start Date: February 2006

If you like the work of Efren “the Magician” Reyes - then you can read a lot about his exploits and those of his fellow Filipino professionals at Philippine Billiards. Yisra’el’s blog reads like a regular update on the success of the Philippine billiards scene. The posts report results from major International tournaments - and there are editorial comments sprinkled throughout.

The blog is updated every week or two - and the archives make for a good review of the past year. I also have to say that the look of the blog theme is simple and easy to navigate… which I could learn from. Philippine Billiards recieved the 3rd most votes (11% of total) in my Best Billiards and Pool Blogs Poll, and it definetly worth a look.