Cue sports

This article is about the group of cue games. In the UK, "billiards" is the name for the specific game of English billiards. In the Netherlands, billiards is the name for the game of Carambole billiards.

Pool table with cue ball, object balls (in triangle), cue stick, and rack

Billiard balls

Billiards is a family of games played on a table, with a stick, known as a cue stick, being used to strike balls, moving them around the table. In certain contexts, "billiards" refers unambiguously to one or other of these games, such as English billiards or carambole billiards.

All billiard games are generally regarded to have evolved into indoor games from outdoor stick and ball games (1). The word billiard may have evolved from the French word 'billart' which means mace, the forerunner to the modern cue.

The word pool generally refers to pocket billiard games such as 8-ball, 9-ball, or Straight pool. The word pool comes from poolrooms, where people gambled off track on horse races. They were called poolrooms as money was "pooled" to determine the odds. These rooms commonly provided billiard tables, and by association pool became synonymous with billiards. The terms pool and pocket billiards are synonymous.

Equipment

Billiard balls

One ball and oversized cue ball near pocket.

The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of Billiard balls differ depending upon the specific billiards game being played. In eight ball, straight pool, and related games, 16 balls are employed: fifteen colored "object balls" and one white "cue ball". Object balls 1-7 are solid-colored, and are colored yellow, blue, red, purple, orange, green, and dark red or brown, respectively. Balls 9-15 are white, each with a single wide colored stripe that matches the corresponding solid ball; the 9-ball has a yellow stripe, the 10-ball a blue stripe, and so on. The 8-ball is solid black. In the game of 9-ball, only object balls 1-9 are used. Regulation balls are 2-1/4 inches in diameter and weight between 5 1/2 and 6 ounces. Other specific properties such as hardness, friction coefficient and resilience are very important. Such properties are met with cast phenolic balls.

Some balls used in televised pool games are colored differently to make them distinguishable on the images of the television screen. The 4-ball used on such games is colored pink instead of purple, while the 7-ball is colored sienna (or a lighter shade of brown) rather than brown. The stripes on the 12- and 15-balls are colored the same way. Later on, the cue ball used in these types of games became spotted for television viewers to appreciate the player's manipulation of the cue ball.

In snooker, there are fifteen red balls, six colored balls (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black), and one white cue ball. The balls are typically not numbered. These balls are normally 2-1/16 inches in diameter.

In games such as carom, straight billiards, English billiards, balkline, and three cushion, there are two cue balls and a red ball. One of the cue balls is typically white and the other one is either yellow or white with a red dot. These balls are normally 2-3/4 inches in diameter.

Billiard balls were originally made from Ivory, imported from Africa. At the beginning of the 20th century, in an amazing bit of accidental environmentalism, the billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants (their primary source of ivory) was limited. They challenged inventors to come up with an alternative material that could be manufactured. John Wesley Hyatt answered the call by inventing cellulose nitrate branded under the name celluloid, the earliest industrial plastic. Later on, to fix the problem of cellulose nitrate instability, the industry came up with other synthetic materials such as the phenolic resin, virtually the only material used today and branded under the name Aramith.

Tables

There are many sizes and styles of pool or billiard tables. Generally, tables are twice as long as they are wide. Most pool tables are known as 7, 8, or 9 footers referring to the length of the largest side. Snooker and English billiard tables are 12 feet long on the longest side. Pool halls tend to have 9 foot tables and cater to the serious pool player. Bars will typically use 7 foot tables which are often coin operated. The length of the pool table will typically be a function of space, with many homeowners going for an 8 foot table as a compromise. High quality tables are mostly 9 footers with a bed made of three pieces of thick slate to prevent warping and changes due to humidity. Smaller bar tables are typically made with a single piece of slate. Pocket billiard tables typically have 6 pockets, three on each side. Tables are covered with billiard cloth (often called felt, but actually a woven wool or wool/nylon blend called Baize). Bar tables, which get lots of play, use slower more durable cloth. Good quality pool cloth is faster, and the best quality pool cloth is made from worsted wool. Snooker table cloth traditionally has a nap and balls behave differently when rolling against the direction of the nap. The cloth of the billiard table is typically green reflecting its origin (Shamos).

Cues

Billiards is played with a stick known as a cue. A cue is either a one piece tapered stick or a two piece stick divided in the middle by a joint of metal or phenolic resin. The butt of the cue is the piece of larger circumference. The thinner piece of the cue is the shaft. High quality cues are generally two pieces and are made of a hardwood, typically maple for billiards and ash for snooker. All cues are tapered from the butt to the tip. The tip of the cue is cuffed by a ferrule which holds the leather cue tip. The leather tip, in conjunction with chalk, is used to impart spin to the cue ball. Cheap cues are generally one piece cues made of aluminum or wood with inferior tips of various materials. A quality cue can be expensive and may be made of exotic woods and other expensive materials which are artfully inlaid with decorative patterns. Skilled players may use more than one cue during a game, including a stick for the opening break shot and another shorter cue with a special tip for jumping. (See Cue stick.)

Chalk

Billiard chalk

Chalk is often applied to the tip of the cue stick to increase friction when the stick impacts the cue ball. The increased friction will impart greater spin to the cue ball and also reduce the risk of a miscue (unintentional slip between the cue tip and the ball).

Shooting techniques

English – the spin put on a cue ball to affect its direction after the object ball is struck; to give shooter an easier shot to follow current shot. These include follow, draw and stop, as well as left or right or some combination thereof.

If the cue ball is not struck directly in the center, spin will be imparted onto the cue ball. Spin can be used to control the path of the cue ball. This spin can also influence the path that an object ball will take when it is hit by the cue ball. Unintentional spin can cause missed shots.

If the cue ball is struck above the center of the ball, follow is said to be imparted to the ball. If the cue ball is struck below the center of the ball draw is imparted. Follow is over spin, where the cue ball is spinning faster than it would from its natural roll. The main use for this is to control what happens when the cue ball hits an object ball. If the cue ball has overspin on it, the cue ball, after making contact dead-on with the object ball, rather than stopping abruptly, will resume rolling forward and follow the struck ball. If the cue ball was hit with draw, it will reverse direction after hitting an object ball dead-on and draw back. If the cue ball does not hit the object ball dead-on, the cue ball will travel in a line tangential to the point of impact between both balls if the cueball carries no vertical spin. Top spin will cause the cueball to parabolically arch away from the tangent line in the direction of cueball travel, whereas bottom spin will cause the cueball to arch backwards from the line of travel. Spin dissipates as the cue ball travels, thus the effect will be less pronounced when it finally contacts an object ball - indeed, the backspin may have dissipated entirely by the time the cueball contacts the object ball.

If the cue ball is struck to the left or right of center, english or side spin is imparted. Interchangeable terms for the type of english include left or right english and running english or reverse english. The latter two terms are useful to describe what happens when a ball hits a rail. If a ball has running english, it will speed up when it hits a rail, and angle of the rail will be shallower than if the ball had no english on it. If the ball has hold up or reverse english, then the speed of the ball will slow down when it hits a rail and will come off the rail at greater angle than if it did not have side spin on it. Hitting a rail in itself will impart some spin onto the ball.

Another effect of spin is called throw. When a cue ball hits a ball, the friction between the balls can affect the path the object ball will travel. If a cue ball was hit on the left side and hits a ball fairly fully with moderate speed, it will tend to throw the ball to the right.

If the cue ball is struck so that spin is imparted along both axes, then the effects of both can be combined. Hitting a ball with draw and sidespin can actually cause the ball to curve. A shot called the massé, when the ball is hit from above, can cause the ball to go forward, curve, and then reverse direction. This shot is quite difficult. The massé is not allowed in some places as the table's cloth can be damaged.

Another technique known as the jump shot is allowed in some games such as nine ball. A legal jump shot requires that the ball be hit above centre driving it down into the table, such that the ball will leave the table surface. This is a difficult shot, and can also damage the table cloth. As such, this shot is also forbidden in some establishments.

Applying a significant amount of force with a hit below centre at a low angle can also create a jump. This technique is very difficult to control and more often than not it is the result of an accidental poorly-made shot rather than a practiced technique. This is considered an illegal shot in most games, but is accepted by some in casual settings.

Types of games

This section is in need of expansion to list the many variations of Billiards.

There are two main styles of billiard games: carom and pocket. The most popular pocket games are Eight-ball (or 8-ball), 9-ball, and snooker. In 8-ball and 9-ball the object is to sink a designated ball to win. In 8-ball, players must pocket a group of balls, either the solids or the stripes, before they can pocket the eight for the win. In 9-ball, players must shoot the balls in order, from one through nine. In snooker, players score points by alternating shooting red balls and balls of a different colour.

Straight billiards and three cushion

The most popular billiard games are probably straight billiards and three cushion. In both, players shoot the cue ball so that it makes contact with their opponent's cue ball as well as the red ball. Some of the best players of this game developed the skill to drive both balls into a corner and were able to score large numbers of consecutive points once the balls were in the corner.

The first professional tournament was held in 1879 (Shamos), where Jacob Schaefer Sr scored 690 points in a single turn. Because the balls barely moved, there was nothing for the fans to watch. Changes were subsequently made to the rules to add balklines, and the player had to drive a ball past these lines after so many shots. Initially, the championship game was 18.1 balkline. After a shot, one of the balls had to be driven past the balkline which were 18 inches from the rail. A more elegant solution was three cushion billiards, which requires a player to make contact with the other two ball on the table and contact three rail cushions in the process. This is difficult enough that even the best players can only manage to average one to two points a turn.

Eight ball

Main article: Eight ball

In the United States, the most commonly played game is 8-ball played on tables that are 7 feet long. In the United Kingdom the game is commonly played in pubs and it is competitively played in leagues. It is also played as a world championship tournament run by the International Pool Asociation

Nine ball

Main article: Nine ball

9-ball is the championship game in the US and is played on 9-foot tables. The governing organization of the United States Championship and the US Open is the Billiard Congress of America (BCA). Besides the US Open, there are many other professional pool tournaments played annually.

The World Pool Association (WPA) holds an annual 9-ball tournament to determine the world 9-ball champion.

One pocket

One pocket is a strategic game for two players. Each player is assigned one of the corner pockets on the table. This is the only pocket into which he can legally pocket balls. The first player to pocket the majority of the balls (8) in his pocket wins the game. The game requires far more defensive strategy than offensive strategy, much unlike 8-ball, 9-ball, or straight pool. It has been said that if 8-ball is checkers, one-pocket is chess.

Bank Pool

Bank Pool has been gaining popularity in recent years. Bank pool can be played with a full rack, but is more typically played with nine balls (sometimes called "9-Ball Bank"), the balls are racked in 9-ball formation... but in no particular order. The object of the game is simple... to be the first player to bank 5 balls in any order. Bank pool is one of the cleanest (no slop) games there are. No kicks (you must hit the object ball directly without hitting the rail first), no Caroms (you must hit the object ball directly without hitting another ball first), No combinations (cue ball to the object ball... object ball to the CALLED pocket)... the object ball can't hit another ball on the way (no "kisses"). Any ball pocketed with a foul, or in the wrong pocket is spotted. If the que ball is sunk (or knocked off the table), you must spot any balls that are sunk, and, you owe a ball which you must spot as well. Is you scratch and you haven't made a ball, you will owe the next one you sink. After a scratch, the que ball spots BEHIND the head string. Any ball sunk other that the object ball is spotted after your turn. Technically, fouling during three succesive turns will loose you the game... but that rule is largely ignored, so make sure the rules are clear before you begin play.

Championship Pool

• US Open Championship (BCA) - 9 Ball
• World Pool Association (WPA) - 9 Ball
• Snooker and carom billiards events often determine the champions in these events.

Billiard games

Carom billiards

• Carambole billiards
• Straight rail
• Three cushion billiard
• 18.1 Balkline
• 18.2 Balkline
• Four ball

Pocket billiards

• English billiards
• Golf
• Snooker
• Ten ball
• Banks
• Beer-In-Hand
• Cowboy
• Cutthroat (a three player game)
• Eight ball (also known as stars and stripes or solids and stripes)
• Flanges
• Indian
• Nine ball
• One Pocket
• Rotation
• Seven Ball
• Six pocket
• Straight pool
• Russian Billiards
• Chinese Eight Ball

Other variants

• Bar billiards
• Bumper pool
• Face Off
• Hexapool

Glossary

• Ball-in-hand - Some game types allow this after a scratch. The opposing player or team is allowed to place the cue ball anywhere on the table for a free shot.
• Bank - Short for bank shot where the cue ball contacts a ball, the ball hits into a rail, and then that ball is pocketed.
• Baulk-line - A straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion. Similar to the head string. Not to be confused with the balkline carom games.
• Balkline - A type of carom game created to eliminate very high runs in straight rail.
• Beer-In-Hand - A modification of billiard games where the players are required to shoot holding the cue stick with one hand, while the other holds a beer.
• Break - Many billiards games start with a break shot. For example, in 8-ball the first person to start play must place the cue ball in the kitchen and shoot the cue ball into the rack.
• Cue - Short for pool cue, or sometimes cue ball.
• Cue ball - A usually white ball. In most games the players start each shot by hitting their pool cue into the cue ball in an attempt to score points or pocket balls.
• Cue stick - A cue stick is usually around 5 ft. long which can be easily gripped with a tip which not only cushions the impact, but allows for spin to be transferred to the cue ball.
• English - An added spin placed on the cue ball when hit with the cue stick. This is done by aiming to either side or above or below the center of the ball. Adding English to the sides will cause the ball to curve after being struck, whereas top or bottom English will cause the ball to continue forward or make a sudden reverse after striking another ball or the rail.
• Head string - A line indicating an area where the cue ball can be placed when a player is making a break shot. The line runs across the short side of the table from the second diamonds on either side. The line is rarely drawn on the table. Also called the balk-line, or baulk-line.
• Kick shot - Like a bank shot, except the cue ball contacts the rail before striking the object ball. Some people use the term bank shot for this shot as well.
• Kiss - After the object ball is struck by the cue ball, it may bank off a cushion to restrike the cue ball, usually throwing the cue ball and object ball into undesired directions.
• Kitchen - The area on the table behind the head string. Where the cue ball must be played from after a scratch and before the break.
• Pocket - An opening in a table into which balls are shot. Also used as a verb to describe the act of a ball being sent into a pocket.
• Pot - Same as the word pocket used as a verb.
• Rack - A wooden or plastic triangle which is used to assist in setting up balls in games like 8-ball, 9-ball, and snooker. The rack allows for conistently tight grouping of balls, which is necessary for a good break shot. The term also is often used to refer group of balls itself. In games with 15 balls, the rack is triangle shaped. In 9-ball either a standard triangle rack is use, or a nine ball diamond rack is used.
• Rail - Pool tables have elastic rails which are covered in cloth. They are also called cushions.
• Safety - An intentionally defensive shot. This is a perfectly legal in many games, and there are often rules restricting how this shot may be executed. For example, in many pool games you cannot shoot into a ball which is in contact with a rail when playing a safety.
• Scratch - Any time the cue ball is hit into the pocket a scratch is called. Most standard rule sets allow the opposing player or team to place the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen for a free shot. Other game types allow "ball-in-hand" after a scratch.
• Sink - Same as the word pocket used as a verb.

More information

• BCA Hall of Fame
• Pool hustling

References

1. Stein, Victor & Rubino, Paul. The Billiard Encyclopedia - An Illustrated History of the Sport (2nd ed.) Blue Book Publications. ISBN 1-886768-06-4
2. Byrne, Robert. 1998. Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards. ISBN 0156005549.
3. Shamos, Mike. 1991. Pool. Mallard Press. ISBN 0-7924-5310-7.

Patents

• U.S. patent 50,359 -- Billiard ball
• U.S. patent 76,765 -- Billiard ball
• U.S. patent 88,634 -- Billiard ball
• U.S. patent 114,945 -- Billiard ball

External links

• billiards.port5.com- A page dedicated to offering rules for billiard games.
• Billiard Congress of America - The BCA website, which also sells books listing many popular billiard games and their rules.
• easypooltutor.com - Offering billiards lessons and helpful tips.
• The Billiard Resource: Pool Games Forum - A forum discussing billiard games and their rules.
• A History of Billiards
• A Brief History of the Noble Game of Billiards
• The Billiards Family
• Physics of Pool - How-to-play tutorial with Flash animations
• General Rules - Additional rules needed to play properly