Best books?

[cram]

I am looking for *very* good (high level) books about 8-ball, 9-ball and 14.1.
I am not speaking about books teaching the basics (Mosconi, Byrne, etc.), i.e., books that always begin with 'how to aim', 'kind of bridges', etc.).
I don't say I am perfect in those fundamentals but it is not what I am looking for.
Any advices?
Thanks,
Marc

 

[Gregg]

Phil Capelle's books are anything but for beginners, IMO.

 

[cram]

Phil Capelle's books are anything but for beginners, IMO.

Thanks!
Is it possible to have some commentaries from people having read one of the following books of Capelle:

Play Your
Best Eight Ball

Play Your Best
Nine Ball

Play Your Best
Straight Pool

Are these books interesting? (I am not a beginner, not interested per se in stroke or aiming systems, or books speaking of pool *in general* for ex.)

My interest has more to do with tactical, etc. aspects of the specific 8-ball, etc. games.

Marc

 

[jhendri2]

I have Play Your Best Straight Pool. It has everything you're looking for. It's an excellent book.

Jim

 

[Harvywallbanger]

The Monk: 'Point the Way' It dives into your mental game and a very good read.

 

[VIProfessor]

Thanks!
Is it possible to have some commentaries from people having read one of the following books of Capelle:

Play Your
Best Eight Ball

Play Your Best
Nine Ball

Play Your Best
Straight Pool

Are these books interesting? (I am not a beginner, not interested per se in stroke or aiming systems, or books speaking of pool *in general* for ex.)

My interest has more to do with tactical, etc. aspects of the specific 8-ball, etc. games.

Marc

I have PYB Nine Ball and PYB Straight Pool, and I can say with confidence that both these books are chock full of "the knowledge" that an intermediate player and even many advanced players can use to take them to the next level.

 

[Aaron_S]

Thanks!
Is it possible to have some commentaries from people having read one of the following books of Capelle:

Play Your
Best Eight Ball

Play Your Best
Nine Ball

Play Your Best
Straight Pool

Are these books interesting? (I am not a beginner, not interested per se in stroke or aiming systems, or books speaking of pool *in general* for ex.)

My interest has more to do with tactical, etc. aspects of the specific 8-ball, etc. games.

Marc

I have the 9-Ball book, and it is by far the best instructional book in my collection. IMO, all of the mainstream books written before the Capelle books ended just as they were getting to the interesting stuff. Play Your Best 9-Ball was the first book I recall that covered some of the topics that you could actually consider "advanced", including some stuff about strategy. There may be better books out there now, though, I'm not sure.

 

[PKM]

I was wondering how much overlap Capelle's 8-ball and 9-ball books have with his "Play Your Best Pool"

 

[VIProfessor]

I was wondering how much overlap Capelle's 8-ball and 9-ball books have with his "Play Your Best Pool"

Believe me when I tell you that Capelle's books on the individual games have tons of information that you won't find in PYB Pool. They are definitely worthy (I would say essential) additions to any pool library.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I am looking for *very* good (high level) books about 8-ball, 9-ball and 14.1.
I am not speaking about books teaching the basics (Mosconi, Byrne, etc.), i.e., books that always begin with 'how to aim', 'kind of bridges', etc.)....

So that leaves specific strategy and tactics for those specific games. At one pocket (which you don't mention) the obvious choice would be Eddie Robin's books. Unfortunately, Eddie has not yet written books for the other games, and while the suggestions given so far for 8, 9 and 14.1 are mostly very useful, I think they don't reach the level of Robin.

The books that teach basics sometimes also teach strategy. I thnk Mosconi's earlier book ("Mosconi On Pocket Billiards") has more on 14.1 strategy than the later one. Byrne expanded his sections on game specifics for his "New Standard" book.

For nine ball, Capelle has a video/book out that covers the shots of a specific match that I thought was a pretty good way to present the ideas.

For 14.1 and 9 ball, George Fels has sections in "Mastering Pool" which I think might have been republished as "Advanced Pool" -- maybe George can comment before I review my copies.

Also for 14.1, you should get Cranfield's book.

For eight ball, get the recent book by Randy Givens.

To look for new and used books, I like the site: http://used.addall.com/ (The "In Print" link gets you to current books.)

 

[Scott Lee]

An essential book, for playing ANY pool game, is Banking With The Beard. One well-known pro I showed the book to, about 18 months ago, just before it was published, made this comment to me:

"Anybody who loves pool should have this book! Anyone who gambles HAS to have this book!"

I'd call that a 'strong' recommendation. Freddy's new book, The GosPool, is also going to become a staple in peoples libraries!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[DaveK]

An essential book, for playing ANY pool game, is Banking With The Beard.

I got my copy just before Christmas and it already has a bunch of blue finger prints The way Freddy presents the banks and techniques is excellent, it's a great book I would recommend to any serious pool player.

I would also recommend The Pro Book by Bob Henning for a good summary of pool shots. If you find your shot repetoire lacking, The Pro Book might be the answer. I have also heard good things about Martins 99 Critical Shots, another repetoire book.

Dave

 

[Handsumm]

I have read about a dozen books this year, and the only one that taught me more than I already knew was Robert Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots..350 moves every player should know.

He starts out the book saying it's not for beginners. He goes over three cushon kicks and shots, banks, jumps, tickys, combos, throw, and other things that leave spectators scratching their heads.

Good book. The Play Your Best series is great for a low to midlevel player, but the book I described will make pros go "Oh yeah, that's a good one."

 

[Scott Lee]

For eight ball, get the recent book by Randy Givens.

Just FYI, Givens' book is dedicated to 8-ball on 7 foot barboxes. For those applications, it is a terrific book!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[chiefseabee]

Best Book

Freddy the Beards Books are in my opinion the best out there.

AL

 

[cram]

Thanks a lot for all the recommendations and explanations!
Marc

 

[akaTrigger]

Play Your Best Pool

Thanks!
Is it possible to have some commentaries from people having read one of the following books of Capelle:

Play Your
Best Eight Ball

Play Your Best
Nine Ball

Play Your Best
Straight Pool

Are these books interesting? (I am not a beginner, not interested per se in stroke or aiming systems, or books speaking of pool *in general* for ex.)

My interest has more to do with tactical, etc. aspects of the specific 8-ball, etc. games.

Marc

I've said this before, but Phil Capelle's Play Your Best Pool helped me place 9th at the BCA Nationals in Vegas just after the first time I read it. Before that, I barely placed in the money in that 8-ball tournament. I have his other books too, but that one helped me most in 8-ball.

www.billiardspess.com (free shipping from his website)

Melinda