Recommend the Best Instruction Book(s)

N

NeZ

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been playing for quite a while now but only recently got serious about studying the game and figuring out what's happening with the balls, etc.

I read "Essential Pool" by Babe Cranfield and enjoyed it. It had some really clear instructions that have helped me out quite a bit. I'm interested in getting some more instructions books.

Is there one instruction book that's a must read? Or should I get seperate books for the different areas of the game?

I play mainly nine ball but am interested in improving my all around skills. The areas I'm looking to improve are the usual...

1) Position Play
2) Banking
3) Overall Strategy

Any recommendations?
 
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I like any of the books by George Fels. I just got Play Your Best Straight Pool by Phil Capelle and I like it a lot.
 
NeZ said:
I've been playing for quite a while now but only recently got serious about studying the game and figuring out what's happening with the balls, etc.

I read "Essential Pool" by Babe Cranfield and enjoyed it. It had some really clear instructions that have helped me out quite a bit. I'm interested in getting some more instructions books.

Is there one instruction book that's a must read? Or should I get seperate books for the different areas of the game.

I play mainly nine ball but am interested in improving my all around skills. The areas I'm looking to improve are the usual...

1) Position Play
2) Banking
3) Overall Strategy

Any recommendations?
Click to expand...


Different areas of what game? There are very different strategies, patterns, and skill sets that are important to have for the different pool games. You can spend a lot of time learning one-pocket shots that you might never use playing a different game. The most important part of running out in 9-ball involves playing to the right side of the balls and leaving yourself the right angle, whereas the most important part of running out in 8-ball is choosing what order (pattern) to shoot your balls. Very different approaches are needed to excel in different games.

That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any book written by Phil Capelle whose title starts out "Play Your Best..." He'll give you a really good handle on what you need to do to play to your potential. I believe there's one for pool in general, 9-ball, 8-ball, and straight pool.

-Andrew
 
NeZ said:
... Is there one instruction book that's a must read? Or should I get seperate books for the different areas of the game?
...
Click to expand...
Start with Byrne's "New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards." But you should also get the Capelle, Fels, Martin and Beard books. The books cost a lot less than the lessons you would have to take to get the same information. The problem is absorbing all the info. You might consider finding an instructor who could help you out from time to time when you get stuck on some point in the books.

I recently went by a Borders (or was it Barnes and Noble?) and they had 13 different books on pool. That's more than the local fairly well stocked billiard supply store. Go in and browse.

Oh, and a rule book.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Start with Byrne's "New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards." But you should also get the Capelle, Fels, Martin and Beard books. The books cost a lot less than the lessons you would have to take to get the same information. The problem is absorbing all the info. You might consider finding an instructor who could help you out from time to time when you get stuck on some point in the books.

I recently went by a Borders (or was it Barnes and Noble?) and they had 13 different books on pool. That's more than the local fairly well stocked billiard supply store. Go in and browse.

Oh, and a rule book.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the good suggestions everyone. I'm going to hit amazon and browse around as well as my local Borders.

I did buy the new BCA Rule Book, so I'm set there.
 
Icon of Sin said:
One of my favs is Ray Martin's 99 Critical Shots.
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Along a similar line, The Pro Book by Bob Henning is very good. It presents a bunch of standard shots, kicks, safeties, kick safeties, and banks, plus some good material on match preparation.

Dave
 
I've got Martin's 99 Shots book, and two of Phil Capelle's books... Play Your Best Pool... and Play Your Best 9-Ball.

IMO, there's no comparison to the amount of information contained in Ray's book vs. Phil's books... Phil's books have an order of magnitude more information than Ray's 99 Shots book.

If you tend to be more of a beginner, I'd start with Phil's Play Your Best Pool. If you're a bit more accomplished and focusing only on 9-ball right now, go directly to Phil's Play Your Best 9-Ball.

Regarding banking information, I recall some in Phil's general book... and none in his 9-Ball book.

BTW, I'm not saying don't get Ray's book... I'm just saying that I believe that you'll get more for your money with Phil's books.
 
I agree with everyone on Phil Capelle and Robert Byrnes. Never read the other ones so I can't comment.

A great beginner book is "Billiards For Everyone" by Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter. I don't know if you can find it anymore, but he explains the fundamentals very well. He also goes into little details so that there isn't much left to the imagination.
 
I all time favorite is “Mastering Pool” by George Fels

“99 Critical shots” is also well worthwhile.

I think Mastering Pool is out of print but reasonable through Amazon

Cheers
 

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Has anyone read "The Eight-ball Bible" (or called something like that)?

I think someone suggested it over at easypooltutor.com
 
Advanced Pool by George Fels
Banking with the Beard by Freddy Bentivegna
Play Your Best Straight Pool by Phil Capelle
 
NeZ said:
1) Position Play
2) Banking
3) Overall Strategy

Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

There are many good books out with many great drills in them, but many are game specific, so if you're going to go to books to grasp skills and strategy for all games, then get your checkbook ready.

Here are some suggestions, though....

Freddy the Beard has the best book on the market on Banking.
Phil Capelle's 8 ball and 9 ball books are very good.
Anything Bob Byrnes put out is good.
Charlie Bonds and Joe Tuckers "The Great Break Shot" is a must for breaking... any game
Eddie Robyns books, if you can find them for less than the price of a good escort service.

There are countless good books out there... and to be honest, I've never picked one up that didn't have at least one piece of invaluable information in it... you can never learn to much.

Later,
Bob
 
Here's a list of every book, tape, dvd, etc I own. Feel free to use it as a guide.

I use a "star rating" for each. One = it sucks - five stars = a must have.

Books:

Play Your Best Pool - (Phil Cappelle) *****
Play Your Best Straight Pool - (Phil Cappelle) *****
Play Your Best 9 Ball – (Phil Cappelle) *****
A Mind for Pool - (Phil Cappelle) *****
Play Your Best 8 Ball – (Phil Cappelle) *****
Byrne’s New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards - (Robert Byrne) *****
Byrne’s Advanced Technique in Pool and Billiards - (Robert Byrne)****
Byrne’s Treasury of Trick Shots – (Robert Byrne) ***
Byrne’s Wonderful World of Pool and Billiards - (Robert Byrne) ****
Byrne’s Book of Great Pool Stories – (Robert Byrne) *****
Byrne’s Complete Book of Pool Shoots – (Robert Byrne) *****
McGoorty, A Pool Room Hustler- (Robert Byrne)*****
The 99 Critical Shots in Pool - (Ray Martin) ***
Precision Pool - (Kanov/Stauch) *****
Pool Player’s Edge – (Kanov/Stauch) *****
Mastering Pool - (George Fels) ***
How Would You Play This? - (George Fels) **
Pool Simplified- Somewhat- (George Fels) **
The Pro Book - (Bob Henning) ****
Black Belt Billiards- (Steven W. Campana) *****
101 Big Pool Shots - (Gerry Watson) ***
Win At Pocket Billiards - (Desmond Allen, PhD) (Originally published as “1,2,3 Rails and More”.) *****
The Straight Pool Bible- (Babe Cranfield) ****
Essential Pool – (Babe Cranfield) ****
Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards - (Willie Mosconi) ****
Willie Mosconi’s Winning Pocket Billiards- (Willie Mosconi) ****
Steve Mizerak’s Play Better Pool - (Steve Mizerak)*
Upscale 9 Ball - (Jack Koehler) *****
The Science of Pocket Billiards - (Jack Koehler) *****
The Hustler’s Handbook- (Steve Allen) ***
The Lesson - (The Monk) **
The 8 Ball Book - (The Monk) **
Point the Way - (The Monk) ***
Courage, Composure and Concentration- (The Monk) ***
I Came To Win- (The Monk) ****
Tricks and Games on the Pool Table- (F. Hermann) *
Answers to a Pool Player’s Prayers - (Richard Kranicki) *
Billiard Atlas on Systems and Techniques- Vol I – (Walt Harris) ***
Billiard Atlas on Systems and Techniques Vol II – (Walt Harris) ***
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards - (Mike Shamos) ****
Shooting Pool – (Mike Shamos) ****
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Pool and Billiards – (Ewa Mataya Laurance) **
The Game of Billiards – (Clive Cottingham Jr.) ****
The Official BCA Rules and Record Book - (Billiard Congress of America)
The Pleasures of Small Motions – (Bob Fancher PhD) *****
Playing Off the Rail – (David McCumber) *****
The 8 Ball Bible : A Guide To Bar Table Play – (R. Givens) *****
Aiming On the Cutting Edge – (Todd “The Impaler” Leveck)*****
“The Best Damn Pool Instruction Book, Period” – (Ron Schneider)**
“Banking with The Beard” – (Freddie Ventivegna)*****
“Mike Massey’s World of Trick Shots” – (Mike Massey)*****
“Blue Book of Pool Cues 3rd Edition” – (Brad Simpson) *****
“Joe Tucker’s Aiming System” (Companion workbook to DVD) – (Joe Tucker) *****
“Pro Skills Drills” (Companion workbook to DVD) – Dominic Esposito *****
“Hustler Days”- (R. A. Dyer) *****
“Rack Up A Victory” – (Tom Rossman) ***
“APA Official Team Manual”- (APA)
“Do It For The Game” – (Bob Campbell)**


Videos: (VHS)

How to Play Pool Right - (Jerry Briesath/BCA) *****
Robert Byrne’s Standard Video of Pool and Billiards Vol. I *****
Robert Byrne’s Standard Video of Pool and Billiards Vol. II *****
Robert Byrne’s Standard Video of Pool and Billiards Vol. V *****
The Monk 101 Vol. I *
The Monk 101 Vol. II *
The Monk 101 Vol. III *
Dr Cue’s Foundation for Banking and Kicking Vol. I *****
Dr Cue’s Foundation for Banking and Kicking Vol. II *****
Dr Cue’s Foundation for Banking and Kicking Vol. III ***
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. I *****
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. II *****
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. III *****
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. IV *****
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. V *****
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. VI *****
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. VII ******
Private Lessons with the Preacher (Don “Preacher” Feeney) Vol. VIII *****
Grady Mathews- “The Finer Points of Pool” *****
Grady Mathews- “The Finer Points of Banking and Safety Play” *****
Grady Mathews- “The Finer Points of One Pocket” ****
Grady Mathews- “The Finer Points of Straight Pool” ***
Grady Mathews- “Only Kicks” ****
Grady Mathews- “Advanced Principles of Pool and Billiards” ***
Jimmy Reid - “No Time for Negative” Vol. I ****
Jimmy Reid - “No Time for Negative” Vol. II ****
Jimmy Reid - “No Time for Negative” Vol. III ****
Jimmy Reid - “The Art of 8 Ball” *****
Eddie “Fast Eddie” Parker - “How to Master Pocket Billiards” *****
Bert Kinister - “The 60 Minute Workout for 8 Ball and 9 Ball” *****
Bert Kinister - “Advanced Fundamentals” *****
Bert Kinister- “Using the 6 Pointed Star” *****
Bert Kinister - “Step 1 – The Short Game” *****
Bert Kinister - “Step 2- The Middle Game” *****
Bert Kinister - “Step 3- The Long Game” *****
Bert Kinister- “The Mighty X” *****
Bert Kinister- “Building the Interior of the Star” *****
Bert Kinister- “Building the Six-Pointed Star” *****
Jim Rempe- “How to Run a Rack in Straight Pool” ****

“Clash Of The Titans”: 1966 BCA Straight Pool Championship, (Crane vs. Balsis) -*****


Videos (DVD):

“Capelle on 9-Ball: Archer vs. Reyes” w/ companion book *****
“Gamebreakers” – Robert Byrne *****
“The Pro Book” 4 Volume DVD- Bob Henning*****
“The Hustler”—Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie *****
“The Color of Money”—Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastroantonio *****
“Pool Hall Junkies” – Chaz Palmentieri, Christopher Walken, Rod Steiger, Mars Callahan, Ricky Schroeder, Alison Eastwood **
“Racking Secrets” 2 DVD set – Joe Tucker *****
“Aiming Workout” DVD (companion to book) – Joe Tucker *****
“Pro Skills” DVD (Companion to workbook)- Dominic Esposito *****

CD ROM

“The Best Damn Pool Instruction Book, Period” Companion CD ROM to book**

Motivational Audio Tapes:

“Focus on Winning” - The Monk- (4 audiotapes) ***
“Overcoming Contenderosis” – Ryan Elliot (Hypnosis) (12 cassettes) *****
“The Dead Stroke Tapes”- Ryan Elliot ( Hypnosis) (12 cassettes) *****

Practice / Teaching Aids:

Elephant Practice Balls and Training Manual *****
Jim Rempe Training Cueball and Manual **
Ghost ball Aim Trainer and Manual*****
Buddy Hall Stroke Trainer****
Spot Shots Markers**

Antique or Out of Print Books:

“Advanced Snooker” – (Joe Davis, 1954)*****
RARE AND OUT OF PRINT.

“The Billiard Encyclopedia”- (V. Stein / P. Rubino) *****
OUT OF PRINT.
 
Fats, you've got one impressive collection. I was thinking about doing something similar, but after seeing your stuff, I think I'll just keep my little "garage sale holdings" to myself. NeZ, after you get through with all those, then you'll be ready for "The Bank Shot and Other Great Train Robberies" by Minnesota Fats, "Cornbread Red" by Bob Henning, "Road Player" by Jerry Forsyth and Danny DeLiberto, and "Bet High and Kiss Low" by Grady Mathews...to learn the fine art of hustling from the masters (if you are so inclined). Be cautious here: collecting pool books and videos is almost as addicting as the game itself, but, like the game, well worth the money and effort.
 
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Cane said:
Charlie Bonds and Joe Tuckers "The Great Break Shot" is a must for breaking... any game
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This one sounds like something that would be excellent. I'm coming up blank on google and amazon searching for it though.

Is that the correct title and spelling, etc?

Usually even out of print books come up on amazon.

I did pick up 99 Critical Shots yesterday. I found it at my neighborhood used book store for $6.

Updated to add that I found the Great Break Shot book online, so ignore my question.
 
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