Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards
- Thread starter bobbydee
- Start date
Sadly, people don't read books much these days. If they can't become an expert in 30 seconds of ticker-tocker they lose interest.
Very true, I am currently on my third or fourth reading of Mark Wilson's " Play Great Pool" with my own video sessions as I read the book. The Byrne book is a very good starter billiards book- couple it with Mark's book to get off on a great start to excellent billiard stroke mechanics that will serve well for a lifetime of enjoyment of this game.
Honestly bob while your not wrong we also didn’t have you tube back then. With all the great players giving free lessons on you Tube I would have used that a lot as well. Back then your choices were a book or hope that some of the old players took a liking to you and your game and would give you some of the things they learned over the years.
The internet and the use of video combined with really good instruction in person can result in the most dedicated and no longer the most naturally adaptive participants to becoming champions in many sports or games.
For those not more naturally gifted- it has become more possible to rise to the top - books alone always had this limitation- if you just don’t naturally do things correctly - the internet and the video sure speeds up the catch up learning process.
For those not more naturally gifted- it has become more possible to rise to the top - books alone always had this limitation- if you just don’t naturally do things correctly - the internet and the video sure speeds up the catch up learning process.
Your overall sentiment might be on track, but I find that those of the younger generations who are really interested and dedicated will still read through these books, and are of the same makeup of those who did it before them. There's just fewer in between nowadays.
The original version of the book is how I learned to play. I still remember having the book open on a pool table at Mr Billiards as I was learning, trying the shots. Maybe because of that, but I still think it is the book others should be judged against.
One of the things that Bob Byrne did much better than some other authors was keep the explanations short and simple. And correct. I'm a slow reader and it bothers me a lot when an author takes three pages to say what could have been said more clearly in a paragraph.
A result of this brevity is that there is a lot more useful info in Byrne's books than some others.
Hear Hear, BobbyDee!
What a fantastic book and this is a good reminder to revisit some things.
Also thankful for Mr. Jewett’s progressive practice ideas and interference systems. My favorite is the spot shot method, which trumped Ray Martin’s recommendation in 99 Critical Shots.
What a fantastic book and this is a good reminder to revisit some things.
Also thankful for Mr. Jewett’s progressive practice ideas and interference systems. My favorite is the spot shot method, which trumped Ray Martin’s recommendation in 99 Critical Shots.
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I prefer books and great illustrations make it all the better. I can tuck it under my arm and see how it’s works out
when I’m at the pool hall. Along the way, I collected a small stash of books I found helpful. Of all the books I’ve
read, one in particular stands out. I must have read and browsed this book hundreds of times down thru the years.
In my opinion, and of course everyone is entitled to their own, this is the most functionally helpful instruction book
presented in a straightforward manner, especially diagram illustrations executing the shot, I have ever read. I’ve
recommended it to friends and later regretted seeing how much their game improved when they started beating me.
If you are a pool player that enjoys pool instruction books, this is the best one I have found. I am not implying there
aren’t equivalent, or even better, pool instruction books. All I am telling the readers is this is the best one I’ve read.
when I’m at the pool hall. Along the way, I collected a small stash of books I found helpful. Of all the books I’ve
read, one in particular stands out. I must have read and browsed this book hundreds of times down thru the years.
In my opinion, and of course everyone is entitled to their own, this is the most functionally helpful instruction book
presented in a straightforward manner, especially diagram illustrations executing the shot, I have ever read. I’ve
recommended it to friends and later regretted seeing how much their game improved when they started beating me.
If you are a pool player that enjoys pool instruction books, this is the best one I have found. I am not implying there
aren’t equivalent, or even better, pool instruction books. All I am telling the readers is this is the best one I’ve read.
