What should novice pool players do to improve their games?
True, the book is aimed mainly at players who have some experience with knocking balls into pockets, but I knew that it might fall into the hands of beginners. That’s why the first chapter is a review of basics, how to stand, aim, and stroke for example, how to spin the cue ball to get it into position for the next shot, when to go for the score and when to play safe. Those topics are covered in greater detail in my earlier books, particularly in Byrne’s New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards, and in my first two instructional videotapes. The new book shows the surprising and even amazing things that can be done on a pool table by players with good fundamentals. Outstanding skill isn’t required, just a bit of inside information. Novices who want to improve quickly should take a lesson or two. Typical mistakes made by beginners include the failure to provide solid support for the front of the cue during stroking and aiming and holding the rear of the cue in the wrong place. A teacher c
