I am looking for some great instructional books. Looking for recommendations for the best out there. Books could be specialty books i.e. racking, aiming, safety play, etc as well as specific games (8 ball, 9 ball, 14.1).
Whare are the best instructional books you would recommend?
- Thread starter Shermanscs
- Start date
I probably don't have nearly the experience of many on the board but the one book that gave me that 'Ah hah' moment was
The Science of Pocket Billiards
Whether you consider yourself a beginner or not, you'll find a lot of useful information in two of the most commonly read books, namely:
Byrne's Standard Book of Pool & Billiards by Robert Byrne
Play Your Best Pool by Phil Capelle
Both books cover a broad range of topics, and I'd recommend reading both of them. Both Byrne and Capelle have written other books you can buy through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various pool web sites. You can certainly save money buying used copies.
Dr. Dave Alciatore, who posts here on AzB, not only has his own book, The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards, but also provides a lot of useful, free instruction online:
http://billiards.colostate.edu/
You can find a collection of articles by Bob Jewett and other info here:
http://www.sfbilliards.com/misc.htm
For banks, check out Banking with the Beard by Freddy Bentivegna.
I'd also recommend buying an instructional DVD or two and perhaps a DVD of a full match from Accu-Stats so that you can study runouts, shot selection, and safeties in professional games:
http://www.accu-stats.com/
I have a few dozen books on pool, snooker, and billiards and I feel like I've just started my collection. If you want to see a large collection, check out Bob Jewett's list of books to trade:
http://www.sfbilliards.com/books_to_trade.htm
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I really like 99 critical shots. by Ray Martin.
Check out Joe Tucker Racking Secrets DVD. If you want this in book form, then look into The Great Break Shot by Charley Bonds, it includes Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets book in its entirety, as its out of print.
As a general instruction and drill book, I'm a big fan of Phil Capelle's Practising Pool. The book covers nearly every aspect of the game, as it should along with 8-ball, 9-ball game strategy. Another that sets this book apart is the spiral bounding. It lays flat on the pool table or stool when I'm practicing. For practicing drills, the book gave me great advice on setting up shots precisely; using notebook donuts and a ruler. No other instructional book that came across suggested this.
This week, I picked up a Picture Yourself Shooting Pool by Mathew Sherman. It comes with a 3 hour DVD, and loaded with tons of color pictures. I haven't read through yet, but initial impressions reminds me of Precision Pool.
As a general instruction and drill book, I'm a big fan of Phil Capelle's Practising Pool. The book covers nearly every aspect of the game, as it should along with 8-ball, 9-ball game strategy. Another that sets this book apart is the spiral bounding. It lays flat on the pool table or stool when I'm practicing. For practicing drills, the book gave me great advice on setting up shots precisely; using notebook donuts and a ruler. No other instructional book that came across suggested this.
This week, I picked up a Picture Yourself Shooting Pool by Mathew Sherman. It comes with a 3 hour DVD, and loaded with tons of color pictures. I haven't read through yet, but initial impressions reminds me of Precision Pool.
I don't have that one. How does that book compare to Capelle's Play Your Best Eight Ball? Is there advice in the Givens book that you haven't seen presented as well as other books?
If you like one pocket and billiards then get Eddie Robins three published books.
They are very nice leather bound and really thick. They look like old college textbooks, and have enough info an knowledge on the subjects to be a text book at MIT. The two one-pocket books also have tons of pictures and stories to go along with it. Matter of fact Eddie told me awhile back that someone had brought one by that had a great majority of the players signatures on their pictures through the book, and thats a hell of a feat. Quite alot of those guys are dead, much less to find all those players...nice piece of history.
1. Winning One Pocket
2. Winning One Pocket - Shots Moves and Strategies
3. Three Cushion Billiards
They are somewhat pricey, descent copy is gonna run around 200 a book give or take. You want the second printing of the first book not the first printing. There were alot of misprints on the diagrams because of a computer error or something. If you need help finding them or any of just pm me.
G.G.
They are very nice leather bound and really thick. They look like old college textbooks, and have enough info an knowledge on the subjects to be a text book at MIT. The two one-pocket books also have tons of pictures and stories to go along with it. Matter of fact Eddie told me awhile back that someone had brought one by that had a great majority of the players signatures on their pictures through the book, and thats a hell of a feat. Quite alot of those guys are dead, much less to find all those players...nice piece of history.
1. Winning One Pocket
2. Winning One Pocket - Shots Moves and Strategies
3. Three Cushion Billiards
They are somewhat pricey, descent copy is gonna run around 200 a book give or take. You want the second printing of the first book not the first printing. There were alot of misprints on the diagrams because of a computer error or something. If you need help finding them or any of just pm me.
G.G.
Play Your Best Pool by Phil Capelle.
8 ball bible. Based on bar table 8 ball, kicking systems, how to practice augments Phil Capelle's book.
For the money its still hard to beat Willie Mosconi's championship billiards.
8 ball bible. Based on bar table 8 ball, kicking systems, how to practice augments Phil Capelle's book.
For the money its still hard to beat Willie Mosconi's championship billiards.
I had both books, Given's Eight Ball Bible was stolen from me on a job site. They cover most of the same but the Given's book is geared toward 7 footers - a more clustered game with a greater emphasis on safety work so you avoid the failed runout.
I totally agree, I also think it is better than all the Brynes Books combined. For some one starting out the Brynes Books do not clearly show / explain how the shot in the diagram is executed. While Ray Martins 99 Critical shots is simple to understand, and the drills / shots can be applied to any pool game.:smile:
Great Post
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This book was very important for me as well.
+1 for The 99 Critical Shots of Pool
Anything by Capelle is bound to be good, I'm just not sure exactly which ones I have at home.
I've started working through Capelle's analysis of a hill-hill 9-ball match between Archer and Efren, where he disects each shot of the match.
Anything by Capelle is bound to be good, I'm just not sure exactly which ones I have at home.
I've started working through Capelle's analysis of a hill-hill 9-ball match between Archer and Efren, where he disects each shot of the match.
Yes it is Mike, check out PoolDawg or Ozone. I can't remember which I go it from.
Reyes/Archer DVD
The DVD/book combo is well worth it, and it's available from several suppliers including...
http://marketplace.azbilliards.com/store/product.php?productid=17010
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/caon9baarvsr.html
The listed price at Seybert's is cheaper, but you'd probably want to call to ensure it includes the book:
http://www.seyberts.com/products/Capelle_on_9_Ball_Archer_vs_Reyes_DVD-2355-0.html
The DVD/book combo is well worth it, and it's available from several suppliers including...
http://marketplace.azbilliards.com/store/product.php?productid=17010
http://www.ozonebilliards.com/caon9baarvsr.html
The listed price at Seybert's is cheaper, but you'd probably want to call to ensure it includes the book:
http://www.seyberts.com/products/Capelle_on_9_Ball_Archer_vs_Reyes_DVD-2355-0.html
You can find brief reviews of some of the most popular books here:
Regards,
Dave