Phil Cappelle
- Thread starter mullyman
- Start date
Yeah Mully. I agree with Dennis. It is a very good book. I just skimmed it again for the first time in a few years, and I found myself highlighting a few things I hadn't considered. I don't think it holds any deep secrets that will double your runs, but there are little nuggets in there. Here's one:
"The ideal angle for playing down-the-rail break shots is about 55 degrees."
He suggests that it's the best compromise between accuracy and cueball speed. To find 55 degrees you do this:
"The ideal angle for playing down-the-rail break shots is about 55 degrees."
He suggests that it's the best compromise between accuracy and cueball speed. To find 55 degrees you do this:
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Definately the best diagrams of any straight pool book I have. Its all in there - a very complete and clear reference book on straight pool.
I like the "bible" for general philosophy of straight pool, Fel's books for writing style and entertainment, and Capelle for reference use. If I'm having trouble with a specific part of my game, sometimes I pull out the capelle book and turn to that chapter and reread it. Its been working great for me.
<edit> without hijacking the thread - I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has a book with excellent detail on safety play. That's the part most lacking in the straight pool books I've read.
Jon
I like the "bible" for general philosophy of straight pool, Fel's books for writing style and entertainment, and Capelle for reference use. If I'm having trouble with a specific part of my game, sometimes I pull out the capelle book and turn to that chapter and reread it. Its been working great for me.
<edit> without hijacking the thread - I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has a book with excellent detail on safety play. That's the part most lacking in the straight pool books I've read.
Jon
I think everyone has hit the nail on the head with their points... There is just a ton of info and charts/diagrams. A lot of it you will know, I lot of it is redundant but it is information you would find in seven different books all lumped together in the same place... very good book.
Last week at King's Rare Books in Detroit they had just bought an estate containing about 50 pool and billiard books and priced them when I happened in. Picked up Cappelle's "A Mind For Pool", "Play Your Best Pool", and "Play Your Best Straight Pool" in a cheesy cardboard box AND Cranfield's bible all for $50. Felt like I hit the Lotto
. Other's available included both Mosconi's little book and Hoppe's 3 Cushion book. All fairly priced. The other common pool books were there too...Tom
. Other's available included both Mosconi's little book and Hoppe's 3 Cushion book. All fairly priced. The other common pool books were there too...Tom
For advanced players, I don't think it will help as much as books such as Freddies banking books, but overall its the best all-in-one book on straight pool out there. Babe's book, Holiday's books,etc... were ok but very brief, not produced as well, and they don't cover as much.
Phil is a master of collecting information and putting it in a good format with about 90% coverage of whatever topic he's covering. I just don't have the respect for him as a player as I do Ray Martin or Grady so any top pros who put out tapes or books will get more attention from me. Some stuff like reading a pack for dead balls in 14.1 might be too complicated to generalize in a book anyway. Find a living legend and pay him for lessons.
The quality of instruction in pool has increased dramatically since guys like Robert Byrne, Ray Martin, Eddie Robins, started putting out quality books. The older instruction from Mosconi, Mizerak, Hoppe was for beginners and almost useless to anyone who's played for awhile.
Between the Accu-Stats videos (and TAR now, of course) and books by Byrne, Cappele,etc... its MUCH easier to get from a beginner to a B player level in much shorter time. Old timers had none of this and had to pay to learn anything, todays players can get Accu-Stat videos, some quality books, and know almost everything they need to in a very short time. Once they start pocketing balls well, players can become monsters who know almost all the shots in a few years.
For example, if a European pro wanted to become a better one pocket player, how much easier do you think it would be to order a bunch of tapes of Efren, Hopkins, Daulton, Cook, Fusco, Varner,etc... instead of travelling around the states trying to match up and learn the way guys did before all this was available?
Phil is a master of collecting information and putting it in a good format with about 90% coverage of whatever topic he's covering. I just don't have the respect for him as a player as I do Ray Martin or Grady so any top pros who put out tapes or books will get more attention from me. Some stuff like reading a pack for dead balls in 14.1 might be too complicated to generalize in a book anyway. Find a living legend and pay him for lessons.
The quality of instruction in pool has increased dramatically since guys like Robert Byrne, Ray Martin, Eddie Robins, started putting out quality books. The older instruction from Mosconi, Mizerak, Hoppe was for beginners and almost useless to anyone who's played for awhile.
Between the Accu-Stats videos (and TAR now, of course) and books by Byrne, Cappele,etc... its MUCH easier to get from a beginner to a B player level in much shorter time. Old timers had none of this and had to pay to learn anything, todays players can get Accu-Stat videos, some quality books, and know almost everything they need to in a very short time. Once they start pocketing balls well, players can become monsters who know almost all the shots in a few years.
For example, if a European pro wanted to become a better one pocket player, how much easier do you think it would be to order a bunch of tapes of Efren, Hopkins, Daulton, Cook, Fusco, Varner,etc... instead of travelling around the states trying to match up and learn the way guys did before all this was available?
bud green said:
I have to disagree with this as a general statement. Some of the very best instructors I've ever known were not world-beaters, but are top notch at distilling and communicating knowledge. Top players are wonderful to watch, but they don't all have the ability to convey their knowledge in a teaching context. Just to give one example, Mike Sigel is one of the best to ever play the game, but try asking him to explain deflection and squirt.
I also have to disagree that you don't have to be a top player to write a book with great information.
I know Eddie Robin likes to think of himself as a top player, but I don't think too many people would really put him up there for one-pocket. However, I believe that he organized and made happen what most people would agree are the most complete and well done books in the entire game of pocket billiards. His one-pocket books are really nicely done. The only other book I've seen that comes close is Freddy's first banking book.
I know Eddie Robin likes to think of himself as a top player, but I don't think too many people would really put him up there for one-pocket. However, I believe that he organized and made happen what most people would agree are the most complete and well done books in the entire game of pocket billiards. His one-pocket books are really nicely done. The only other book I've seen that comes close is Freddy's first banking book.
As a 14.1 beginner, I just bought the book two days ago. Books are waaaaay UNDERpriced, imho. One piece of hard-earned advice can save me years of trouble at the table...that's worth a few bucks, for me, for sure.
I've read Fels, Mosconi, and some others, but they lacked the details that I'll probably need in the future. I figured Phil's book held those and it seems I was right. I've only read parts of it so far, though, so can't comment on the total package.
I got mine at Muellers, along with 6 LePro tips. Cost? $24.65 for the whole shebang!
Jeff Livingston
I've read Fels, Mosconi, and some others, but they lacked the details that I'll probably need in the future. I figured Phil's book held those and it seems I was right. I've only read parts of it so far, though, so can't comment on the total package.
I got mine at Muellers, along with 6 LePro tips. Cost? $24.65 for the whole shebang!
Jeff Livingston