Good book for learning to be a better player?

T

ThisIsMyUserNam

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All,

I have always learned best from books. Is there a good book you can recommend that can teach me what I need to know to improve? I am somewhere between beginner and intermediate (I can hit most of my straightforward shots, and have some ability to set up my next shot, but I don't play strategically, and have a lot to learn). I would like to get somewhere between intermediate and pro. I just bought a table, so I am going to put in the hours, but instruction would be great.
 
Do a google search for Billiard/Pool books and see what comes up. Bob Byrne's stuff is all good, "99 Critical Shots in Pool" by Ray Martin and Rosser Reeves. I have a bunch but can't think of more at the moment.
I agree with Neil, George Fels's Mastering Pool is great! If you would like a copy of George's article from an '80s Billiards Digest, 101 Ways to Improve Your Game, pm me an email address.
 
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Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards- Robert Byrne
Play Your Best Pool- Phil Capelle
Precision Pool- Kanov & Stauch
Pool Player's Edge- Kanov & Stauch
The 99 Critical Shots in Pool- Ray Martin / Rosser Reeves
 
Pool instructional books

I have several books I have accumliated over the years and just bought a lot of 14 books off ebay a few months ago.

I will be posting them on this site soon, but could make you a package deal for several good ones for a player your speed.

I have these that we can do a deal on:

-99 critical shoots of pool- great basic understandable book on position routes
-Phil Cappelle Play you best pool- my favorite suthor for pool instruction. He writes in sucjh understandable terms
-The Science of Pocket billiards-stretches things a bit, alot of theory to go with the art, probably best read last
-I have 3 different Byrnes books-all good for your speed

Also a few others.

I will send you a PM tomorrow A.M. listing the books I have and the prices. I will be selling them cheap if you buy 3 or more, it's the shipping that is always the issue.

Your work studying the right way to play will pay off in advancing much faster from intermediate speed. Plus you won't have so many bad habits to break later on.

I'll PM you tomorrow when I post what I have to sell in the for sale section and will give you first crack at them, probably selling at least 10 books.
 
Although there are many great books to improve your pool game, the two I found that are the most complete (and also very well written) are;

1) Phil Capelle's - Play Your Best Pool

2) Robert Byrne's - New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards


CONGRATS on your new table!

-Snake
 
ThisIsMyUserNam said:
All,

I have always learned best from books. Is there a good book you can recommend that can teach me what I need to know to improve? I am somewhere between beginner and intermediate (I can hit most of my straightforward shots, and have some ability to set up my next shot, but I don't play strategically, and have a lot to learn). I would like to get somewhere between intermediate and pro. I just bought a table, so I am going to put in the hours, but instruction would be great.
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I checked out the 8-Ball Bible and Capelle's 8 Ball book and liked them both . The 8-Ball Bible had the largest illustrations and gave a captioned cue ball with where to strike the cue on position play.


I may buy it someday.lol Capelle's was good too . Byrne's book is more focused on straight pool and billiards , and the illustrations were small and hard to see for me. I'd like to check out Freddie's banks book.


Don't just get one , think you could glean something from them all .
 
ThisIsMyUserNam said:
All,

I have always learned best from books. Is there a good book you can recommend that can teach me what I need to know to improve? I am somewhere between beginner and intermediate (I can hit most of my straightforward shots, and have some ability to set up my next shot, but I don't play strategically, and have a lot to learn). I would like to get somewhere between intermediate and pro. I just bought a table, so I am going to put in the hours, but instruction would be great.
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"the pro book" and "the pro book advanced" are, imo, the best books on the market. also anything by grady mathews is worth it's weight in gold
 
Read this entire message board along with all that found on Onepocket.org and you will be the best player in the universe lol.......

All you got to do is commit oh i dunno? A gazillion pages lol
 
no joke you read the pro book and it might make you a ball better depending on where you are with your progress. there are specific shots and goal setting areas in the book that really help give you a direction with your practice
 
I think a new player should read 'The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards' and 'Play Your best 8 Ball'.

Then read 'Pleasures of Small Motions', Inner Game of Tennis' and 'The Pro Book'.

But, instruction from a BCA instructor trumps all these books. Stroke is king.
 
When you get sick of reading, graduate to DVDs from Accustats & TAR matches w/good commentators, and Dr. Dave & Tom Ross' 5 dvd set that make up the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots "VEPS", this is much more thourough than the 99 critical shots by Martin, which I love, too.

Good luck.
 
99 Critical Shots is very good for almost any speed player as are most of the ones mentioed already, but I'm waiting for that book "Hit A Million Balls" to come out. Johnnyt
 
+1 for 99 critical shots

I didn't care for either of "The Pro Books"

The Capelle books are great for general all around information depending on your level. As is Precision Pool. Unfortunately by the time I got around to reading these someone had already shown me most of what was in them.

Fundamentals, position play, and 3 ball patterns is most likely where you need to work hard at your current level. But, when you are ready for it the best pool book period about any aspect of the game for me was Banking with the Beard. If there was a book written as well as this for position play and strategy we would have 3 times the amount of pros we have today. Honestly the bible of banking. I haven't had the pleasure of reading the Gos Pool by Freddy yet but it is on my list as soon as I have an extra couple bucks and an itch.

Disclaimer: I'm not a pro or instructor so take this as a review please.
 
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