The Straight Pool Bible: Personal Instruction from a World Champion Arthur "Babe" Cranfield and Laurence S. Moy [Paperback]

Arthur "Babe" Cranfield (Author), Laurence S. Moy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

From minimizing cue ball movement to handling the pressure of competition, this guide imparts the skills necessary to master pool's most demanding game.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A major new book."--Billiards Digest

From the Back Cover

Straight pool, according to the Billiards Congress of America, "is generally considered to be the game that provides the greatest all-around test of complete pocket-billiards playing skill, requiring great concentration, accuracy, shot-making, defense, patience, and knowledge." In The Straight Pool Bible, legend Babe Cranfield, one of only thirty-eight inductees to the Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame, shares a lifetime's worth of lessons. From minimizing cue ball movement and setting up the best possible break shot to playing safety and handling the pressure of competition, The Straight Pool Bible imparts the skills necessary for mastering pool's most demanding game. (51/2 X 81/4, 192 pages, diagrams)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158574025X
• ISBN-13: 978-1585740253
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Billiards & Pool

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insights and Inspiration, January 24, 2001

By 

Brian D. Robbins (Armonk, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Straight Pool Bible: Personal Instruction from a World Champion Arthur "Babe" Cranfield and Laurence S. Moy (Paperback)

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. In pool speak - a "dead on" combination of personal anecdotes of one of pool's greatest champions and useful techniques for improving your game. This book is much easier to read (and thus, in many respects, more useful) than a number of comprehensive treatises on the game that are available. Larry Moy has made a great contribution to the game and, together with "Babe," has gone a long way to making a difficult, but exciting, game a little easier and even more enjoyable.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Straight Pool from a Straight Shooter, July 31, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Straight Pool Bible: Personal Instruction from a World Champion Arthur "Babe" Cranfield and Laurence S. Moy (Paperback)

I've never been much of a pool player, but I have always wanted be play well. I have a decent eye but little, if any, technique. I play on an infrequent basis, mostly because I am good enough to beat novices on a regular basis, but not nearly good enough to beat anyone who truly understands the game. I tried once to watch some videos on the game but it seemed as though they were either too rudimentary or got caught up on trick shots that I could never use in a practical manner.

I needed someone to show me how to play the game. How to make my next shot easier--not harder. In short, I wanted to know the "tricks" that made me a better player. This book does all of that.

If you want to learn how to improve the very essence of your game, whether you are a true novice or an intermediate player (like myself) this really is the "Bible of Pool." For the pros, I still think this is a great source. Cranfield is a former world champ, is in the Billiards Hall of Fame, and has shared all of his insights with Moy.

If you like the game, make the investment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book from one of the best., December 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Straight Pool Bible: Personal Instruction from a World Champion Arthur "Babe" Cranfield and Laurence S. Moy (Paperback)

I've had the pleasure of watching Babe Cranfield play on numerous occasions. In my opinion, he ranks as one of the the top straight pool players of all time. The beauty of his game was an aggressive style coupled with brilliant pattern play. Few could run a rack in the simple uncomplicated manner of the Babe. This book conveys the importance of pocketing balls in the correct sequence to ensure run-outs without moving the cueball all over the table - a lost art to the modern nine ball player. While there are no new fundamentals or deep secrets revealed, the reader does gain insight from one of the finest gentlemen to ever play the game.