Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards [Paperback]

Robert Byrne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1998

“The definitive work on pool and billiards” (National Billiard News) by champion player Robert Byrne

 

Now updated throughout and expanded with new material on strategy in eight- and nine-ball, trick shots, and billiard memorabilia, Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards is the classic guide to cue games—complete with detailed diagrams and photographs to help improve play at every level. 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the world of cue sticks and side pockets, this is the gospel, the 1998 revised, standard version of the 1978 bible. A champion player, indefatigable writer, and inexhaustible promoter of his sport, Byrne racks his book into two halves, the first a primer on pool, the second on three-cushion billiards. Beginning with the fundamentals, he goes on to run the table with lots of readable advice and detailed diagrams for how to play individual shots, including trick shots, strategies for eight- and nine-ball, and rules for the major pool games. Then it's on to billiards, where he banks from the fundamentals to the art of shot making and tactics for play at every level, touching on every conceivable cushion along the way. --Jeff Silverman

Review

In the world of cue sticks and side pockets, this is the gospel, the 1998 revised, standard version of the 1978 bible. A champion player, indefatigable writer, and inexhaustible promoter of his sport, Byrne racks his book into two halves, the first a primer on pool, the second on three-cushion billiards. Beginning with the fundamentals, he goes on to run the table with lots of readable advice and detailed diagrams for how to play individual shots, including trick shots, strategies for eight- and nine-ball, and rules for the major pool games. Then it's on to billiards, where he banks from the fundamentals to the art of shot making and tactics for play at every level, touching on every conceivable cushion along the way. (Amazon.com Review - Jeff Silverman )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Second Edition edition (July 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156005549
• ISBN-13: 978-0156005548
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Billiards & Pool

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Byrne is brilliant!, February 4, 2003

By 

P. Elward "crashomon" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards (Paperback)

This is a book I come back to time and time again. As someone who plays off and on, I often refer to the book when pool is 'back' in my life. This is a keeper!

The diagrams, the history, why shots do what they do, how to play the angles, you can't beat it. Its both informative and entertaining.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to run a table & Shot you can't learn anywhere else!, November 23, 2002

By 

D. Thurman (Sandy, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards (Paperback)

Robert Byrne has set the standard. As a state ranked player I decided to read this book. My game went to the next level. His checklist for running a table, his description of different types of "throw" shots and his simplifying the stroke all were instrumental. In pool, unlike other sports, there are few real teachers, Robert Byrne is a great teacher for the beginner to the very advanced player. It's the least expensive pool lesson you'll ever get.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All I Needed, December 28, 2004

By 

Dan (Flanders, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards (Paperback)

I have only been playing for about six months, so I am not too good. If you are like me, and you want to improve your game, buy this book. It is fun to read and extremely helpful. I probably won't be able to master every technique in the book in ten years, but the two or three things I have learned have taken my game to a whole new level. I love it. It is all I need.