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. 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 Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved 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 "Byrne is to billiards what Shakespeare is to theater."-JERRY KARSH, PRESIDENT, U.S. BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION Bestselling author, Hall-of-Famer, and master teacher Robert Byrne presents his most impressive effort yet: an exhaustive compendium of more than 350 pool shots that will take its place among the game's classic instructional books. Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots takes players on an accelerated trip from pool kindergarten to graduate school. Most of these expertly diagrammed shots are not widely known and many are described here for the first time-in many cases these are the secrets of a lifetime. Players of every skill level, including the most advanced, will find their game greatly strengthened by the clever moves Byrne has assembled. *20 CATEGORIES OF POOL SHOTS-FROM TICKYS TO DOUBLE-KISSES AND FROM JUMP SHOTS TO DIAMOND SYSTEMS *SECRET SHOTS FOR WINNING GAMES *VARIATIONS THAT WILL AMAZE AND INSPIRE "I thought Byrne's best was already available, but 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 "Robert Byrne is a huge asset to our sport and one of the best instructors we've ever had. The shots in this book are very well selected, and I think this is his best book yet."-Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee, WPBA 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 Robert Byrne has won tournaments in eight-ball, nine-ball, and straight pool. In 1999 he won both the National Senior and National Amateur tournaments in three-cushion billiards. Named "best billiard writer" by Billiards Digest, his books and videos on pool have sold nearly a million copies. Byrne was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 2001. He lives in Dubuque, Iowa. ROBERT BYRNE won numerous tournaments including the National Senior and National Amateur tournaments in three-cushion billiards. Named "best billiard writer" by Billiards Digest , his books and videos on pool have sold nearly a million copies. He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 2000., BASICS 1 While this book is aimed mainly at players who can already handle a cue fairly well, there is always the possibility that it will fall into the hands of a beginner. For that reason, I will start with a brief review of fundamentals. Newcomers to the game should take a lesson or two from a qualified instructor and read one or more of the many fine instructional books now available, some of which I wrote myself. Getting past the beginner stage is impossible unless you know how to stand, hold the cue, stroke, and aim, and there's more to those seemingly simple acts than you might think. If you are unfamiliar with pool instructional materials and have never stu