Beginners book recommendations?

[PeterP]

Got any? Just looking to learn the basics, something with practice exercises & a few trick shots. Thx!

[pooltchr]

Check out Ewa Lawrence's Complete Idiot's guide to Pool and Billiards. Well written, easy to understand, and covers the fundamentals pretty well. Just keep in mind it is a book written for the general population, therefore can not be specific in helping you develop much beyond a beginning level. I personally recommend finding an instructor over books and videos. It's much more personalized, and if you are serious about pool, it's the best way to learn.
Steve

[Wally_in_Cincy]

Phil Capelle-Play Your Best Pool.

George Fels-A Smarter Way to Learn Pool.

[9 Ball Girl]

I'd highly recommend Steve Campana's book, Black Belt Billiards. He's known as Socrates here on the CCB. Check it out: Black Belt Billiards (http://members.aol.com/blkbeltbilliards/)

[Predator314]

Yeah... Black Belt Billiards is your best bet if you're looking at learning to play and develop your stroke.

[Voodoo Daddy]

PETER...do your pool game a favor and get "99 Critical Shots" by Ray Martin. And forget the trick shots until you can draw your ball!!!

[pooltchr]

Rethinking my earlier post. He asked about basics and a few trick shots. BBB is without a doubt a GREAT book for someone who has the basics down and wants to develop a real game. Personally, I use it all the time. I tried to answer his question as he asked it, which is still good advise if someone just wants to be able to make a few balls with friends, but you guys gave him better direction. The trick shots don't come until you have developed a stroke.

[UTAddb]

the mentioned books plus-
-Robert Byrne's books
-Mizerak's book
-Phil Capelle-Play your best 9 ball
Go to the library and clean out their pool books. The only one I've found unhelpful is Jeanette Lee's book. "Precision Pool" wasn't that great either.

[dmgwalsh]

These all sound good. I read McEwan's book and it was helpful. Byrnes stuff is great, too. I jsut got a couple of Byrne videos from the library. Pretty good and the price is right. Dennis

[Fred Agnir]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote PeterP:</font><hr> Got any? Just looking to learn the basics, something with practice exercises &amp; a few trick shots. Thx! <hr /></blockquote>Why trick shots?

Fred &lt;~~~ Byrne or Capelle

[Yuppie]

Precision Pool (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0880118970/qid=1053527984/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-4344836-4205733?v=glance&amp;s=books&amp;n=507846) is a good one and see if you can borrow WIllie Mosconi's Autobiography from your local library.

[Aboo]

I second, or third the recommendation for Steve/Socrates book, Black Belt Billiards.
Excellent book for drills, shots and attitudes that are applicable to the pool hall and not theories that are only applicable at Harvard...