Rating: 
Summary: A very mixed bag
Review: Covers some aspects of Straight Pool...but never in enough depth or clarity. More worth your money are Capelle's "Play your Best Straight Pool" (everything you can imagine about the game) and Fels' classic "Advanced Pool" (not quite as in depth as Capelle, but with good sections on the mental aspect of pool, plus several racks analyzed shot by shot). To be perfectly honest, I junked Babe's book a month after buying it; I simply had no use for it alongside better books like the above-mentioned.
Rating:
Summary: A very mixed bag
Review: Covers some aspects of Straight Pool...but never in enough depth or clarity. More worth your money are Capelle's "Play your Best Straight Pool" (everything you can imagine about the game) and Fels' classic "Advanced Pool" (not quite as in depth as Capelle, but with good sections on the mental aspect of pool, plus several racks analyzed shot by shot). To be perfectly honest, I junked Babe's book a month after buying it; I simply had no use for it alongside better books like the above-mentioned.
Rating:
Summary: A very mixed bag
Review: Covers some aspects of Straight Pool...but never in enough depth or clarity. More worth your money are Capelle's "Play your Best Straight Pool" (everything you can imagine about the game) and Fels' classic "Advanced Pool" (not quite as in depth as Capelle, but with good sections on the mental aspect of pool, plus several racks analyzed shot by shot). To be perfectly honest, I junked Babe's book a month after buying it; I simply had no use for it alongside better books like the above-mentioned.
Rating:
Summary: If there's one thing this is, it's a book
Review: Cranfield and Moy do manage to get across a few useful facts and strategies for straight pool, but there's really nothing new here. Not only is the content of the book fairly weak, it's also full of technical inaccuracies. Considering the level of play that Cranfield was at, it's interesting to note that he apparently has no grasp whatsoever of the actual effects of english and throw. While a good player of any of the other cuesports might find this a useful introduction to the strategy of straight pool, I think a beginner may find this book does irreparable harm to his understanding of basic fundamentals.
Rating: 
Summary: A book from one of the best.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Straight Pool from a Straight Shooter
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new here: 'Bible' redundant, old hat
Review: Pool players: if you are anything above a low C player than this book is really a waste of time, and exposes no unique opinions/strategies/skills/drills that you will find useful. Basically the book rides on the coattails of the authors' professional achievements; sadly these do NOT bring with them a knack for either teaching OR writing, as sorely evidenced in this thin texts' lack of content. Time would be better spent with Cappelle, Fels and Koehler. These three will say all this book says and much, much more. Good luck with your runouts....
Rating:
Summary: Nothing new here: 'Bible' redundant, old hat
Review: Pool players: if you are anything above a low C player than this book is really a waste of time, and exposes no unique opinions/strategies/skills/drills that you will find useful. Basically the book rides on the coattails of the authors' professional achievements; sadly these do NOT bring with them a knack for either teaching OR writing, as sorely evidenced in this thin texts' lack of content. Time would be better spent with Cappelle, Fels and Koehler. These three will say all this book says and much, much more. Good luck with your runouts....
Rating:
Summary: The Straight Pool Bible
Review: The Straight Pool Bible conveys the basics (physical and mental), the art, and the strategy of playing pool in the most simple yet comprehensive manner. Beginners as well as advanced players will learn much from reading less than 200 pages. The information is clear, and the diagrams are most helpful. Of course the concentration of the book is straight pool, for which there is ample instruction; but the lessons learned will be applied easily to eight-ball, nine-ball, one pocket, and even snooker. I found the sections devoted to the mental game extremely interesting and helpful. I have not found another book devoted to billiards that has conveyed the way to acquire, practice, and focus the mental aspect of pool as well as The Straight Pool Bible by Cranfield and Moy.
Rating:
Summary: The Straight Pool Bible
Review: The Straight Pool Bible conveys the basics (physical and mental), the art, and the strategy of playing pool in the most simple yet comprehensive manner. Beginners as well as advanced players will learn much from reading less than 200 pages. The information is clear, and the diagrams are most helpful. Of course the concentration of the book is straight pool, for which there is ample instruction; but the lessons learned will be applied easily to eight-ball, nine-ball, one pocket, and even snooker. I found the sections devoted to the mental game extremely interesting and helpful. I have not found another book devoted to billiards that has conveyed the way to acquire, practice, and focus the mental aspect of pool as well as The Straight Pool Bible by Cranfield and Moy.
|
