I am trying to teach a member of our 8-ball league team how to advance his skills. He can pocket balls fairly well. From my perspective, his biggest problem is that he does not recognize patterns that more experienced players understand naturally. Each table layout is a new problem that he tries to solve each time at the table. Recently, he had a 3 OB pattern to handle where he missed an opportunity for a free ball. We are trying to teach 8-ball strategy when he is limited in tactical skills for stringing together just a few balls at a time.
I have books like The 99 Critical Shots and Byrne’s Complete Book of Pool Shots. I also have Phil Capelle’s book on 8-ball. But handing those books to a beginner and expecting them to absorb and make use of that many shot types of such varied complexity is too much to expect. Too many books start out teaching how to hold a cue and shoot a stop shot and later in the same book are demonstrating how to turn a carom into a masse. Is there a book (or just a few chapters of a book) that teaches less experienced players some basic 2 object ball patterns to practice which could elevate their games substantially?
Sorry if the request is vague. Your insights would be appreciated. These are players for whom 8-ball is a casual pastime and who are not likely to take lessons. This particular player has a table at home but may not be making the best use of his practice time.
I have books like The 99 Critical Shots and Byrne’s Complete Book of Pool Shots. I also have Phil Capelle’s book on 8-ball. But handing those books to a beginner and expecting them to absorb and make use of that many shot types of such varied complexity is too much to expect. Too many books start out teaching how to hold a cue and shoot a stop shot and later in the same book are demonstrating how to turn a carom into a masse. Is there a book (or just a few chapters of a book) that teaches less experienced players some basic 2 object ball patterns to practice which could elevate their games substantially?
Sorry if the request is vague. Your insights would be appreciated. These are players for whom 8-ball is a casual pastime and who are not likely to take lessons. This particular player has a table at home but may not be making the best use of his practice time.