Byrne’s Complete Book of Pool Shots: 350 Moves Every Player Should Know

Robert Byrne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2003 | Series: Harvest Original

A comprehensive shot-by-shot instructional guide from billiards expert Robert Byrne

Ranging from tickys and double-kisses to jump shots and diamond systems, Byrne’s Complete Book of Pool Shots takes players on an accelerated trip from pool kindergarten to graduate school. Players of every skill level will find ways to improve their game and get ahead of their opponents with 350 of Byrne’s clever and intricately diagrammed moves—many of which are outlined here for the first time by one of the game’s most masterful players and teachers.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The game’s preeminent writer (his Byrne’s New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards, first published in 1978, has been a top seller for a quarter century) returns with his trademark blend of succinct sentences, dry wit, and sound advice. In some ways, the concept is similar to Ray Martin’s The 99 Critical Shots in Pool (1982); by mastering the most commonly occurring shots, players will learn to recognize their variants in game situations. Byrne, however, does Martin one better–or perhaps 251 shots better–by including esoteric moves that represent the most advanced applications of the physics involved. This staggering collection–including caroms, billiards, rail-first shots, tickys, and masses–is not for the rank beginner. There is scant information on how to hold a cue or how to stand while shooting. But any player with a reasonably consistent stroke will find engaging exercises here. Even better, the chapter on fouls provides ample fodder for spotting hustlers (Byrne notes that this information is provided “for your protection, not so that you can start a life of crime yourself.”). Keir Graff

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Review

PRAISE FOR BYRNE’S NEW STANDARD BOOK OF POOL AND BILLIARDS

“The best book ever written on both pool and billiards.”–Michael Shamos, curator, the Billiard Archive

“Byrne is to billiards what Shakespeare is to theater.” –Jerry Karsh, president, U.S. Billiards Association

“Just when I thought Robert Byrne’s best was already available, this book proved me wrong. Takes the art of pool to another level with charm and wit…a masterpiece!”

(Tom ‘Dr. Cue’ Rossman, ESPN and World Masters Trick Shot Champion )

“It’s simple — without this book you’ll start losing to people who have it. No matter how much you think you know about pool, you don’t know this much.”

(Michael Shamos Author and Curator of the Billiard Archive )

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