in your opinion

Byrne's Standard Book of Pool and Billiards....

And welcome to the forum...you'll find TONS of great information here from a bunch of really awesome people of all skill levels.
 
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I'll second that. I've got lots & lots of books from along the way, but this is THE one book I've always recommended to anyone. You'll get your feet wet way above the knees, and have a well rounded basis to move forward in your learning. There's so much to absorb in this book...
 
Byrnes or Ray Martin's "99 Critical Shots in Pool" (I started with 99 when I bought my first pool table--at 13). Buy both used, you'll not regret either.

:) I went to the book shelf and looked at 'em all after I posted originally...I pulled the bible and 99 Critical Shots and they are sitting on the table next to me. I've been leafing through them both for an hour.

Another GREAT choice of first books HotCross...
 
I agree then on to Phil Capelle "Play your best Pool"
Mark

This is the one I was going to suggest. PC has several other books, also...And I own them all. Anything by Phil Capelle will greatly help your game. He lays everything out in a very easy to understand manner...He probably simplifies teaching better than any other pool book author I've ever seen.
 
thanks.

thanks you guys, all the replies helped out more than you can imagine. i've played pool all of my life, but for leisure only, never looked into actually getting better. i look forward to frequenting this forum, it's so.. hospitable. thanks again!
 
I like both BB's book and Ray Martin's 99 Critical Shots. I would like to suggest also The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards by David G. {"Dr. Dave"} Alciatore, PHD. $14.95 with good info and color illustrations. I bought this a few years ago with a beginner in mind.
 
books for beginers

I love the AZ crowd, however sometimes you may be getting inadvertant bad advice. Pool shots and book about pool shots are not going to realy help you, I agree that there are bits of knowledge in Ray's book but nothing that you won't pick-up over time. Robert byrn is alos interesting but they are shots non the less. If you want to do yourself a favor play real good pool, look for Phil Cappel books for practice and a mind for pool was also suggested earlier. There's no nonsense in there, no magic tricks, no easy formulas other than hard (realy hard) honest work on the real things that matter. You could also spend your time working on shooting balls of the pocket points if you like that sort of stuff.

Good luck i wish i started on the right foot.

TH


http://www.billiardspress.com/
 
DVD's

How to Play Pool Right (by BCA Master Instructor, Jerry Breisath)

Also, Play Better Pool Vol 1 and 2 (featuring BCA Master Instructor RandyG and Scott Lee)

Both are very good videos. I have many many books on pool and find that I like the videos better for use with my students.
 
Although I don't consider my stuff as "beginner material" I try to write in a way that everybody understands the message.

I also put a disclaimer in all of my material - and tell everybody that if you get your hands on a copy of The 99 Critical Shots in Pool - you'll never need another textbook.

That about covers it.
 
in your opinion, what is THE best/broadest beginners pool book available?

If I may offer my two cents ... I know the question regards the best/broadest "BOOK" for beginners, but keep in mind that a picture is worth a thousand words and a DVD video is about a hundred thousand pictures. :) ... so, a hundred thousand times a thousand, thats a lot of words!

With one exception, ( that being that Mr. Byrne's stance is too upright to use as a good example of stance, IMPO) The Byrnes Standard Video 1 and 2 are of OUTSTANDING quality and content with examples offered both on the table and on a display board with step by step explanations. These would be a great foundation to any beginners library of information.

Buy those two videos, then visit Accu-stats.com and purchase a few good match videos, ( I'd personally suggest some straight pool with someone like Ralf Souquet playing a classic style) and the books IMO are a good secondary reference.
 
I have always liked Mastering Pool by George Fels. Its a great book for beginners with basic strategies in various pool games.
 
Ray Martin's 99 Critical shots is a good book. Willie Mosconi's little book I think it is called is a good resource too. it is a little pocket sized red book with some good 411. You can find it at most book stores
 
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