Nine Ball Billiards

Generations of barroom athletes have enjoyed billiards as contests of skill. Whether you play for fun in the local pub, or play for keeps on the professional circuit, there are many variations to keep you and your friends entertained. Nine Ball billiards is one favorite take on the age-old game.

Nine Ball billiards is a contest of skill and a test of concentration. This is because in Nine Ball, each player must be mindful of every ball that's on the table. Rather than simply focusing on a group of specific balls, Nine Ball requires that all players begin each shot with the cue ball striking the lowest numbered ball on the table. As long as that happens, the player is free to pocket any ball to keep his or her turn in play. In theory, the first shot should contact the one ball and all shots should initially contact the lowest number until that nine ball is finally pocketed.

A major variation of the basic billiards game play is that only balls played are those numbered one through nine, and the balls are racked in a diamond shape as opposed to the traditional triangle. Most of the balls can be set randomly within the diamond, however the one ball must be at the tip and the nine ball must be at the center. When the balls have been properly set, play begins as usually with the cue ball set behind the head string.

Upon breaking, the shooter must either pocket one ball or send four balls to the rails, to continue in his or her turn. If the breaking shooter should pocket the cue ball or knock a ball off of the table, the shot is lost. The opponent re-spots the ball and begins his or her turn. Any balls that are pocketed by a foul shot must be re-spotted before the opposing shooter can take a legal shot.

A shot is considered foul if the break shot is unsuccessful, and if succeeding shots don't result in pocketing a ball or contacting the lowest numbered ball first. If a player fouls, he or she has three opportunities to correct the mistake. The player is notified after the second foul and if the third shot also results in a foul, the game is called and the fouling player is declared the loser. If a player is not eliminated as a result of a foul, the Nine Ball billiards game continues until the nine ball is legally pocketed.

Billiards is a fun game that can easily be enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. Many people make billiards a part of their regular nights out, and variations on the game, like Nine Ball, ensure that no two nights will be the same.
Barbara Moore contributes to several web magazines, on recreation tips and hobbies themes.

The Billiards Table

Bars and recreation venues in rural or urban areas offer to their visitors the excitement and the sportsmanship of a famous table-played game, called pool or billiard. On the billiards table's totally flat surface, pool game fans strike, with the use of a specially designed long wooden stick known as "cue stick," colorful balls moving them around the table's area. Pool games attract a variety of publics from around the world, who enjoy the exhilaration of calculating angles and estimating how many strikes it will take them to accomplish their winning goal.

Pool tables are mainly separated into two categories, called carom and pocket tables. In fact, the word "billiards" when standing alone refers to the carom games played on a table without pockets, as opposed to games played on pocket billiards which people recognize as "pools" or also known as "snooker" tables. In Britain and Ireland though, the word "billiards" denotes the "English billiard" exclusively, which is the version of the table with the ball pockets. The difference between the two types is that carom billiards tables do not have six openings -four at each table corner and two at the middle of each of the table's largest sides- in which the pool player is called to direct the colorful balls on the surface of the table by striking each one of them, or more than one at a time, with a white ball. The white ball acts as the "mediator" between the cue stick's point and the round surface of the colored ball the striker aims to hit. If the striker manages to hit the white ball with the right speed and from the right angle then it will in turn hit the colored one which will be directed to fall into one of the tables' holes. Pool table fans generally refer to pocket billiard games, such as 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and one-pocket.

Found in many sizes and styles, billiards or pools are tables in a rectangular shape and are generally twice as long as they are wide. When someone refers to the number of a pool table's foots this actually denotes its longer sides' length. Mainly a function of space, the pool table's length varies. English billiard tables, for example, are 12 feet long, while bars typically offer 7-foot tables. Pool halls tend to have 9-foot tables for more professional players, whereas the once commonly found 10-foot tables are now considered collectible items. Finally, the "felt" or "baize" is the cloth that covers the pool table's exposed surface and he higher its quality the faster the balls run on its completely flat surface.

While the world "billiard" has presumably originated from the French word "billart," which means "mace"-an implement that was the predecessor of the modern cue-the game did not remain constricted in Europe. Evolving from an outdoor to an indoor game, billiard became known as "pool," which originates from "poolrooms" where people gambled off their money betting on horse races. Since billiard tables were commonly found in this type of venues, pools became a synonym of billiards and gained fanatic supporters in every continent.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Games, Sports, and Recreation

Famous Billiards Fans

Billiards, or commonly referred to as pool, is an indoor sport that has gained fanatics all over the world. As the trend of more and more home owners deciding to purchase a pool table and add it to their own home's entertainment corner or room shows, pool fans are drunk, extremely aggressive-looking fellows that are always ready to fight and have no sense of manners, or in any case, odor, is an image one can mainly attribute to movie scenes and real decadence-looking bars. But, as pool table fans are indeed increasing in numbers, the idea that these people probably have not been portrayed accurately generates a new interest in pool games and generates a chain reaction.

However, pool fans are not a recent phenomenon. Since this game's conception, thousands of individuals have experienced its thrills and were able to compete against each other during friendly or professional games. Some of the most famous pool fans are people known from history, politics, arts and science. Individuals like Mark Twain, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie Antoinette, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart, and Paul Newman, have embraced the game of pool and have contributed to its fame traveling around the globe over the centuries.

Abraham Lincoln, one of the first real American celebrities and an immensely important person in American history, owned a pool table and was admittedly a great pool gamer and fan. If one might think that critical issues of the American national interest, like slavery, the Civil War, and international relations, were probably discussed over a billiard game, perhaps is not far from the truth. As a billiard table has been brought in the White House and existed there for several administrations, many of the recent US Presidents have had the opportunity to play a couple of games with prestigious opponents, like Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, King Hussein, or Margaret Thatcher. Isn't it chilling for one to imagine that the world's fate might have been "played" over a billiards game?

In recent times, pool tables are produced in different sizes and for vastly different budgets. Much more affordable than their predecessors, pool tables now attract the attention of "simple" folks who wish to spend some quality time playing a great game. Thus, even if you are not yet an owner but would like to become one, there is no better time to attain your goal than today. Visit your local games department store, research over the Internet, participate at an auction or get to your neighbor's house sale. Perhaps a new talent is hidden under your sleve. Isn't time for you to discover it?

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Football, Recreation, and Games

Eight Ball Billiards

The game that began as a nobleman's sport has evolved into a barroom staple. But make no mistake the game of billiards, and each of its offspring, still retains that noble spirit.

While proper billiards is rarely found in average clubs, a number of game variations have become popular with the pub and club set. One of the most popular tournament-style billiards games is "eight ball". In eight ball billiards, one set of numbered balls is split between two players. One players shoots for balls 1-7 (also called "solids" or "low balls") and the other plays balls 9-15 ("stripes" or "high balls"). The first player to pocket all of his or her balls, and then legally pocket the eight (black) ball, is declared the winner.

Eight ball is an easy game with very few regulations. There are however, a few rules to keep in mind:

* When calling shots in this eight ball billiards, it is not necessary to indicate the pocket and ball when the shot is clear. If attempting a bank or combination shot however, you must declare your intention before proceeding to shoot.

* If the ball you are shooting jumps off the table, the shot is considered foul. At this time you can choose to accept the table and take a shot, or shoot again with the cue ball placed behind the head string.

* On your turn, your shot is only legal if it hits a group of your own billiard balls and either pocket a numbered ball, or cause a numbered ball or the cue ball to end up in a pocket. This does not apply to shots declared "open", or to break shots.

* After a break shot, if no ball was pocketed and no group of balls determined, the table is still considered to be open. In other words, if a player breaks and sunk neither stripes nor solids, the table remains open.

* A game may be acknowledged as a stalemate when six turns (three for each player) are taken consecutively and the next shot will result in the loss of the game. At this point, the game is re-racked, and the original breaker takes the break shot again.

Consult an official rulebook for a more concise description of all the rules to eight ball. To play a successful game you must be willing to learn and follow the rules, and retain the noble spirit of billiards.
Jennifer Brown writes for several web sites, on sports and recreation and recreation and hobbies subjects.

Billiards

 

Billiards is an age-old game and to some, a serious sport. While you're idea of fun might involve a casual game of snooker or eight ball, you should also possess a general knowledge of the grand old game of billiards.

The rules of billiards are quite simple, and not too unlike the barroom sport you're more inclined to play.

* In billiards, all of the balls within the racking triangle must be touching. If you take the break shot, strike the cue ball with your cue stick to initiate play of the game. Anything other than a direct strike of the cue ball can result in your disqualification.

* In regulation billiards, it is essential to call every shot. If you are playing under these rules, you must call the shot out loud before the stroke of the cue stick, indicating the ball you are shooting for and the pocket or combination you are attempting to hit. If you do not pocket your shot, your turn comes to an end. Any extra balls that are pocketed however, are credited to you.

* A billiards ball is only considered pocketed when it falls into the pocket and stays there. This includes balls that may fall through the pocket onto the floor. If the billiards ball bounces out of the pocket and back onto the table, it is not considered pocketed and the ball is still in play.

* Each of your shots must be made with both feet set firmly on the ground. Any billiards shot that you make with one foot raised off the ground, even slightly, is cause for disqualification.

* As the shooter, you can also be disqualified from the billiards game if you make a shot while one or more balls are still in motion. Billiards players must wait for all of the balls to come to a complete stop before taking the next shot.

* At any time, if the cue ball is pocketed on a shot, that player's turn is over.

* If a billiards ball jumps off of the playing surface as a result of a shot, that shot is considered foul. The ball can jump, but not leave the playing surface (rail or floor) without penalty. If your ball lands on the floor or rail, it is considered foul and must be replaced after all other billiards balls from the shot have stopped moving.

You never know when a new opponent might challenge you to a game of billiards. If you know the rules you'll be ready to join in the fun. Besides, having an understanding of proper billiards might just help you to become a better pool or snooker player.

Jennifer Brown writes for several online magazines, on sports and recreation topics.

Get The Most Out Of Your Billiards Room

I recently remodelled my home and decided to include a billiards room. I have always loved the idea of having one, especially so I wouldn't have to use the awful table at the bar down the street anymore. So, I was scouting the internet looking for pool tables when I thought--why not get all the accessories while I was at it?

So, I included billiards lighting and lamps into my search and wondered why I had originally intended to just put a pool table in a room. With nothing else. I started finding other really cool billiards accessories like college logo pub tables and bar stools. I mean, how great is that? I ended up purchasing a pub table, two swivel bar stools, a pool table, some matching college pool cues, and tons of billiards supplies like felt combs and chalk cones. I then went out and bought matching team color paint so I could have a fully themed sports game room. I was thrilled!

I had a group of my friends over and discovered that I didn't have enough places for everyone to sit. Everyone loved the college sports theme, so I decided to look for more college themed seating. I found the perfect match to my college team decor! I bought the college team logo billiards spectator chairs and boy were they nice. Finally, my billiards room was coming together and really looking and functioning beautifully.

One time I had a huge party and had tons of people hanging out, playing billiards--but everyone asked me where they could play cards. I had missed something in my previous shopping expeditions, so I went out hunting for card tables. I ended up finding matching college game table tops just like these: http://www.sports-collectibles-store.com/collegegametables.html that were set up so everyone could play poker comfortably. It was great and a big hit when my friends came over again.

Creating my billiards room was fun and the college team theme really worked out nicely. It is great to have a little relaxing haven in your own home to go to and just chill.

Steph Winston is a stay at home mom who just happens to love her alumnus team. If you would like to read more of her articles, please visit the game room furniture stories at the Discount Sports Collectibles store.

Billiards: Learn to Focus = Learn to Win

Trying to move up a level in any sport often means turning a losing habit into a winning habit. Quite often though a sportsperson will have the innate ability but cannot turn that natural talent into a winning formula.

Generally this is caused by a lack of focus, something that can easily be addressed. In billiards, pool and snooker this is a particularly important aspect of getting into the winning mould. How often do we hear players say "I took my eye off it" or "I just wasn't concentrating?" This is to do with focus and it can be caused by external factors both on and off the table.

Everything we do in our day-to-day life can have an effect on our focus and concentration. Many a time I have heard players in my local league claiming that they just did not play well in a particular match. It is very difficult to focus on a game like billiards when your mind is elsewhere, if you have had a bad day at work or home then this will affect your game. Billiards relies on focus and concentration and without them you may as well not turn up!

How can we try to regain this level of focus to allow us to play our match? It is a very difficult question and not one that has a finite answer; different people will deal with focus in many different ways. This guide offer's a number of solutions as to how to regain your focus whilst playing.

Pre-Shot Routine

To regain or even maintain focus and concentration during a game it is important to have your own pre-shot routine, a set of movements, or a mental checklist before you get down on every shot. If you get into your shooting position the same way every time you shoot then it allows you to concentrate solely on the job in hand and can cut out some of the many external factor's that may be going on around you.

Take a Break

In a match you can sometimes get frustrated when the "roll" does not go your way. I am a firm believer in the old adage that you make your own luck. Take a break from the table; get a drink, a toilet break, anything to refresh your mind. Come back to the table and on your next visit try to put all your efforts into the job in hand.

Re-hydrate

Although billiards is not a particularly physical sport it does take a large amount of mental concentration and calculation. Matches can go on for a long time in often very smoky atmospheres. With this point in mind it is important to re-hydrate regularly, billiards players often miss this factor. Water enables the body to function properly not only in a physical way but also mentally.

Ignore the Surroundings

I have been in a lot of matches where I have allowed my surroundings and what is happening on other tables to affect my focus and concentration. This can be other billiards matches, music or a particularly loud conversation. The best way to eliminate this external factor is to not allow your eyes to move from the table. Whether it is you or your opponent at the table your eyes should not leave the baize. This focuses your mind on the task and makes you mentally ready should your opponent make a mistake.

Eliminating external factors in your efforts to focus will greatly improve your game. This coupled with the will to win and the determination to improve will move your game to a sufficient level to achieve success.

Remember Learn to Focus = Learn to Win.r

P. Williams is the founder of American Pool Network a UK based pool tournament promotions company. He is also the brain behind APN-Leagues the UK's only national handicapped 9-ball pool leagues. He also operates Billiards Boutique A Pool and Snooker supply company.

Let me explain the game of Billiards

Billiards is a game you can play on a snooker table - but, arguably, it's much easier and more fun than snooker itself. Eight-ball billiards, especially, is one of those games that you can just pick up and play with only a little explanation, and you can often find tables for it in pubs and bars.

Eight-ball billiards is actually played with 16 balls: one white cue ball, seven solid-coloured balls (numbers 1 to 7), seven striped balls (numbers 9 to 15) and one black ball. The name of the game comes from the fact that the black ball is the most important ball, and its number is 8 - making it the eight-ball.

To start the game, you and your opponent both hit a ball as hard as you can to the other end of the table. Whoever's ball goes the furthest gets the first go and so gets to pick whether they want the solid balls or the striped balls. The players then take it in turns to pocket their balls in number order, lowest to highest. If you pocket a ball, you get an extra turn, but if you miss, or hit or pocket the wrong ball (including the white), it's a foul, and you miss a turn.

Once one player has pocketed all their balls, they get to shoot for the eight-ball. This is a very tense shot, as putting it in will win you the game, while missing gives your opponent a chance to catch up. Also, there's one final twist: if you pocket the eight-ball without first pocketing all your striped or solid balls, you lose the game on the spot! Harsh, yes; frustrating, yes - but also very entertaining at times.

As long as you're careful to play against someone who is as new as you, you should have a good time - although you might want to go at a quiet time, as better players might find it frustrating to watch beginners play so slowly on their table. Have fun playing billiards!

John Gibb is the owner of billiards information , For more information on billiards please check out http://www.billiards-did-you-know.info

Billiards - Cue Construction

In this article we'll focus on the last piece of billiard improvements which is the cue itself.

Cue construction, even in the early days, was more an art than a science. Billiard cues, even going back to the early maces, were probably the most artistic of all the items associated with the game itself. Early maces were hand carved ivory and inlaid jewels and gold. They were probably worth as much as the whole table itself.

With the advances made in industry in the 1800s cues were not only made beautifully but they could now be mass produced in a variety of styles. Probably the greatest cue manufacturer of the era was B. Finck Company. It was said that their cues in both beauty and quality was unequalled by anyone. Their cues were used by the finest players in Europe. Eventually they became the largest cue manufacturer on the continent.

By 1879 Finck had more than 160 cues in its catalogue. They made both one and two piece cues in many designs and styles. They even made cues that were designed for specific games and for all levels of society, from the lowest commoner to the highest in royalty. They also specialized in what were called "cues for kings." These cues were extremely expensive, made with inlaid gold and very rare gems. Most of the cues were actually purchased by the kings as more of a status symbol and were very rarely used in actual play. Finck also created custom cues which were awarded as prizes in various tournaments across the land.

Since Finck, many other famous cue makers came onto the scene including Britner, Rambow, Paradise, Balner, Martin, Szamboti and Balabushka. All of these companies, even today, make cues that are considered a symbol of excellence and are valued as true treasures.

There are many variations in the cues that are made. They are dictated by the game itself. For example, billiard cues are stiffer than pool cues because billiard balls are heavier than pool balls. Other variations include the type of wood that is used which will determine how light or heavy the cue itself is, as some prefer a heavier cue to a lighter one.

A good part of the reason that billiard cues were able to be made so well and attractive was the art of marquetry, which is the art of making designs or pictures with thin pieces of wood, shell or other materials. This art has been a part of billiard cue making almost right from the beginning. Floral, geometric or other inlaid designs have greatly added to the beauty of tables and cues. Precious gems and metals have also been used in this art. Even the art of "finishing," which Stradavari used on his violins, was also used on cues and tables.

The truth is, one of the main reasons for billiards popularity is the beauty of the game pieces itself.

In our last article in this series we're going to show how billiards made its way to America.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - Early History 1470 - 1600

In this article we are going to continue with the early history of billiards picking up from the late 1400s.

The early table games of the late 1400s were very similar to the games played on the ground. They were also played with pegs, posts and arches. The differences were that the maces were smaller in order to accommodate the raised playing surface. Also, rails were attached to the tables to keep the balls in play. There were many variations of the early, which were played mostly by monarchs and noblemen. These rulers literally dictated the rules that would be played on what was called their "home" table.

In the early 1500s the game spread like wild fire, especially in France. By the end of the century you could find billiard tables in taverns, inns and a number of other public places. From France the game eventually spread to other European countries. In each case it would find itself in homes of nobility and in the royal courts. As the need for tables began to increase at an alarming rate, monarchs would compete with each other to find artisans who could design the most magnificent tables and gaming rooms.

Even through the game was mostly played by nobility, the commoners of the lands also had their own tables built or built them on their own. This included farmers, migrants, field hands and just about anybody. The tables themselves were crude by comparison to the nobleman's tables, usually composed of whatever materials they could get their hands on. And even though some of these tables would fall apart in a stiff breeze, the joy that the game gave to these common folk was unequalled by even the wealthiest kings.

In the mid 1500s the billiards craze spread to England and believe it or not, at least according to history, one of the greatest fans of the game was Mary, Queen Of Scots, who, unfortunately was executed for her part in the attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, in 1588. When she was first placed in jail, she was allowed the use of a billiard table inside her prison cell. Before she was beheaded this privilege was taken away from her and she wrote a letter of complaint to the Archbishop of Glasgow. Even though she was never allowed to play again, one last wish of hers was granted. After she was beheaded her body was wrapped in the cloth from the table that she played on in her prison cell.

It is obvious from the above account that women enjoyed the game of billiards as much as the men. They also played and competed on every level. Legend tells us that these women were so skilled that they, Marie Antoinette for one, on the eve of the French Revolution, regularly pummelled their male opponents. This has to this day made billiards a popular sport for women as well because the nature of the game, not requiring a lot of physical strength, puts women on an equal playing field with men.

In the next article on billiards history we'll pick up with the 1600s.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - Early History 1470 - 1600

In this article we are going to continue with the early history of billiards picking up from the late 1400s.

The early table games of the late 1400s were very similar to the games played on the ground. They were also played with pegs, posts and arches. The differences were that the maces were smaller in order to accommodate the raised playing surface. Also, rails were attached to the tables to keep the balls in play. There were many variations of the early, which were played mostly by monarchs and noblemen. These rulers literally dictated the rules that would be played on what was called their "home" table.

In the early 1500s the game spread like wild fire, especially in France. By the end of the century you could find billiard tables in taverns, inns and a number of other public places. From France the game eventually spread to other European countries. In each case it would find itself in homes of nobility and in the royal courts. As the need for tables began to increase at an alarming rate, monarchs would compete with each other to find artisans who could design the most magnificent tables and gaming rooms.

Even through the game was mostly played by nobility, the commoners of the lands also had their own tables built or built them on their own. This included farmers, migrants, field hands and just about anybody. The tables themselves were crude by comparison to the nobleman's tables, usually composed of whatever materials they could get their hands on. And even though some of these tables would fall apart in a stiff breeze, the joy that the game gave to these common folk was unequalled by even the wealthiest kings.

In the mid 1500s the billiards craze spread to England and believe it or not, at least according to history, one of the greatest fans of the game was Mary, Queen Of Scots, who, unfortunately was executed for her part in the attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, in 1588. When she was first placed in jail, she was allowed the use of a billiard table inside her prison cell. Before she was beheaded this privilege was taken away from her and she wrote a letter of complaint to the Archbishop of Glasgow. Even though she was never allowed to play again, one last wish of hers was granted. After she was beheaded her body was wrapped in the cloth from the table that she played on in her prison cell.

It is obvious from the above account that women enjoyed the game of billiards as much as the men. They also played and competed on every level. Legend tells us that these women were so skilled that they, Marie Antoinette for one, on the eve of the French Revolution, regularly pummelled their male opponents. This has to this day made billiards a popular sport for women as well because the nature of the game, not requiring a lot of physical strength, puts women on an equal playing field with men.

In the next article on billiards history we'll pick up with the 1600s.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - Early History 1600 - 1674

In this article we'll be picking up our history of billiards from 1600 and working our way until 1674.

It really wasn't until 1600 that billiards began to be noticed to a great extent. The first writings and references to billiards could be found in the works of Shakespeare such as Antony and Cleopatra. The most popular passage of this reference was when the Egyptian queen suggests to her handmaiden, Charmian, "Let's to Billiards." This was from Act II, Scene V.

Even though the game was embraced by all European royalty, it was only in France that the game spread to every level of society from the very rich all the way down to the lowest commoner. Outside of France it was purely a game of nobles. It really wasn't until the reigns of French Kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV that the game spread throughout Europe.

The difference between these kings and those that came before them was not just their love for the game of billiards, it was their expectation of others to, not only join them for a game, but also to show a certain level of play. In other words, they loved the competition and they were willing to accept it from wherever it came. These games were not just amusement to these kings. These were games that could make or break political careers, much like politicians of today being seen in public events with people of influence in order to strengthen their chance for election. To play a king and to play well was a show of respect, not only to the king but to the whole country. Even monarchs when they came to visit were judged by the respect that they showed for the game.

Well, this had a kind of snowball effect. Most likely to keep in favor with France, the game of billiards exploded all over Europe. Skilled players were recruited by royal families in order to teach them and their children everything there was to know about the game. From this, rivalries developed and royal tournaments were played. What started out as a pastime was now turning into a sport. This craze eventually spread to the cities where tables popped up in taverns and inns. And just like in France, the game spread to every connecting village and town all over Europe.

A book by Charles Cotton called the Compleat Gamester, was published in 1674. It contains some of the earliest descriptions of English sports and pastimes. Even though the book is mostly a study of rules and equipment of the game, it does give one a very good idea of just how important this game had become all across the land and also marked the distinction between the classes of the times. The truth is, just as the newest fads of our time dominate magazines and publications, billiards at that time was as popular and important in European society as any game that has come along since anywhere.

In the next article in this series we'll be picking up where we left off at 1674.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - The Transformation Years 1674 - 1800

In this article we're going to cover what is called the transformation years of billiards starting with 1674 and working our way up to the year 1800.

By the year 1674 the game of billiards was still very similar to the version played on the ground. The only significant change was moving the game itself to a table. However, in the next 100 years, changes to the game would come quickly which would make the game look more like the modern version that we play today. The elements of ground billiards would slowly disappear altogether. What would replace these elements are those which made for some very different variations of the game itself. The games became more complex and required a great deal more skill.

In the 1700s began what is referred to as the transformation to the modern game. The innovation which probably changed the game the most during this time was the creation of the billiard cue. Makeshift cues had been used until this time. It was actually the mace that led to the creation of the cue stick and ultimately to the disappearance of the mace altogether. Players began to use the narrow end of the mace to make their shots and because of this discovered a new way of playing.

Prior to this, the mace had always been used to "push" the ball forward, kind of like a miniature shuffle board stick. The narrow end had always been the handle. The new way of holding the mace to make shots came from the difficulty of making shots where the cue ball was pressed up against the cushion of the table. Thus the narrow end was better suited for making these shots. By turning the mace around and shooting with the handle, players discovered an immediate improvement to their accuracy and control.

With the invention of the cue came other improvements such as leather tips, chalk, slate beds, fine cloth, rubber rails and standard sizes for tables. Better cushions made for better shot making. This began the birth of "carom" games that started in and swept across France. Gradually as time went by, billiards was looked at as a scientific game as well as a game of skill. The rules of the game, which included the equipment used, began to become standardized. By the mid 1700s billiards had spread from Europe throughout the whole world.

With the market and demand for billiards increasing at an alarming rate, a demand for standardized rules, tables and equipment had to be met. This of course led to big business. Manufacturing plants of tables and equipment began to pop up like daisies. Everyone was trying to get a piece of this ever growing market, which included merchants, investors and even kings.

Once again, monarchs competed with each other, not only to make the best tables and game rooms but to grab the largest piece of the marketing pie that they could get. Many craftsmen and merchants actually worked for kings trying to capture as much of the market as they could. Some would specialize in making quality cushions while others would concentrate on cue sticks. Others would work exclusively on designing tables. Importers would spend fortunes trying to get the finest materials in which to make the table cloths. It was this industrialization that forced many of the changes that the game had undergone. After all, with every new innovation and improvement that meant more sales as everyone had to have the finest billiard set up that they could get. This was now big money. Innovations that caught on big meant profit for a lifetime.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - The Transformation Years 1800 - 1826

In this article on the history of billiards we pick up the transformation years starting at the turn of the 19th century.

After the cue itself, the next radical change to the game of billiards was the invention of the cue tip by Captain Mingaud, an imprisoned French soldier, in the early 1800's. Prior to this invention, leather had been used at the end of cue sticks. But these tips did little to have any effect at all on shot making. They were really just leather patches put in place to protect the wood itself. Nobody is exactly certain of the date Mingaud came up with his invention but it is estimated that it was sometime between 1807 and 1823. The difference between his cue tips and the earlier ones was the radical effect it had on shot making with the "spin" that could be put on the ball. This allowed for more accuracy and control.

Mingaud himself was a student of the physics of shot making. He literally transformed the cue into a scientific instrument. By creating a hard backing, so that the tip could adhere to the surface of the cue, he reduced the pressure exerted on the wood. In addition to this an even distribution of force was created between the point of impact and the shaft of the cue. But the biggest change was the cue tip itself. By rounding off the surface he increased the area of the tip that could put a rotation on the ball itself. So that when the ball was hit off center it created what is now called "english" or "backspin." This changed the game forever.

As improvements to the cue were made, so were improvements made to the table. Other innovations also came about that radically changed the game from the construction of the tables to the improvements in cushions and balls to the invention of chalk. Also came about the fist tournaments and standardized rules for a variety of new forms of the game.

Like the game itself, table improvements also came about slowly until the 1800s. Even though the early tables that the monarchs used were beautiful to look at, functionally they were quite crude in comparison to our modern day versions. Early tables were constructed by cabinet workers. Because their beds were made of wood they warped easily within just a few years and structurally were not sturdy at all. The cushions were no more than just attached wooden rails which were unpadded until the 1600s. Their function was simply to keep the balls in play after being struck. The newer pads added a strategic element to the game play.

In 1826 England's John Thurston made a change in the way table beds were made, that would change the game forever. Because he was unhappy with the tendency of wood beds to warp he searched for a new material to make them from. Marble had been used on some tables with success but the cost just made it impractical. He looked for something cheaper that was more readily available that would be used on every table that his company produced.

We'll cover this radical improvement that changed the game forever as well as other improvements in our next article in this series.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - The Transformation Years 1826 - 1845

In this article we pick up from where we left off with John Thurston's changes to the billiard table itself.

What Thurston came up with was the idea to make the table foundation out of slate. This gave the manufacturer of the table and the player many advantages. The advantages to the manufacturer was cost and availability. Slate was very cheap and the supply was virtually unlimited. Like marble it had a smooth surface which resulted in much faster games as there wasn't as much friction. Also, once it was cut, measured and fitted just right, it eliminated the problem of warping. The only problem with slate was weight. It was very heavy. This led to further advancements where the tables themselves had to be constructed much more sturdily. This also led to an improvement in play. By 1835, 2 inch slate beds had become standard features in English tables. Because of the low cost and playability, this is the material of choice even today.

After the improvements in the table itself were made, attention was then turned towards the cushions. It was agreed by manufacturers that to improve playability, it was important for play off the cushions to be consistent. The early cushions were only short walls of wood. Lining these walls with leather or cloth did little to improve play. Around 1835 crude rubber from India was tried. These rubber cushions were an immediate improvement. But then the seasons and the weather changed and the India rubber turned soft when it got hot and rock hard when it got cold. Remedies were tried to keep the rubber at a constant temperature but were unsuccessful.

Then in 1837, Charles Goodyear, of the soon to be Goodyear tyre, started to experiment with the process of combining rubber and sulphur. Two years later, by accident when he dropped a solution on a hot stove, he discovered the process for vulcanized rubber. This discovery had a huge impact on many industries. Vulcanized rubber maintained its resilience in the worst heat and the most bitter cold. In 1845 Thurston was granted a patent to use Goodyear's discovery in billiard table cushions. He made what were called "frost proof" cushions which were composed or cork, leather and vulcanized rubber. This was a revolutionary breakthrough. Cushions were now consistent and reliable. Bank shots, which were at one time totally unpredictable, were now a very important part of the game. Vulcanized rubber is still used in table cushions even today.

During this time improvements in the quality of the cloth were also made. Wool cloths proved to be the most durable but even stretched out had an effect on the trajectory of the ball because of the friction. But during the mid 1800s many refinements were made to the wool through weaving, felting, dying and shearing, which resulted in a cloth that was quite playable that eventually Thurston added to his tables. When doing so it actually improved the smoothness of the slate underneath.

In our next article in this series we'll go over changes to billiard balls and other improvements to the game in the mid to late 1800s.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - The Transformation Years 1845 - 1897

In this article we're going to continue our transformation years with the changes that were made in billiard balls to begin with.

The early billiard balls were made of wood. They were easy to shape, inexpensive and readily available. In the 1600s ivory billiard balls came into use. While they were more playable than wood they were very expensive and only the very rich could afford them. And while they were nice to look at they never were very dependable. They also took a very long time to make as the tusk softening process took almost two years. Ivory billiard balls could split or fracture easily if not made just right. New balls had to be broken in gently by being struck softly for the first couple of months.

Finally in 1869 an Albany chemist mixed nitrocellulose with camphor under high pressure. This resulted in a hard, shiny, mouldable substance he called celluloid. The man's name was John Wesley Hyatt and while he didn't know it at the time, he had just invented the world's first plastic. It was this discovery that led to improvements in billiard balls to this very day. In April of that same year Hyatt discovered "collodion," which was actually an early form of celluloid. The addition of collodion to the surface of the balls resulted in a hard and perfectly smooth surface. Unfortunately, the new balls could shatter under hard impact and manufacture of them had to be stopped until a fix for this problem was found. The discovery that solved this problem was celluloid. However, because of the problems with his earlier billiard balls, acceptance of these celluloid billiard balls did not come easily. However, this process did lead to the discovery of Bakelite and cast-phenolic resins which are the main components of billiard balls even to this day.

Then in 1892 William A. Spinks, a professional billiard player from Chicago, began working with chemists on the components of chalk. It was during one of his trips to Paris that he discovered a chalk like no other. He was impressed with the chalk's ability to grip during play and set out to invent a chalk that could grip even more. Finally in 1897 he was granted a patent for billiard chalk, which actually did not contain any billiard chalk at all. It was made up entirely of silica and axolite. This compound was crushed to fine powder and then air floated to achieve just the right fineness.

The effect of the new "chalk" on the game would change billiards forever. The grit actually took hold of the ball on impact in a way that had never been seen before. It also solved the problem of blackboard chalk which discolored the billiard cloth and even rotted the fabric. The original color of this chalk was green but eventually it was made in just about every color. This chalk greatly improved the performance of the cue tip and literally revolutionized the game itself.

In the next article in this series we'll take a look at cue construction during the transformation years.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

Billiards - You'd Be Surprised What You'll Find

Billiards. There was a time when if you looked up billiards on the Internet you'd find instruction on how to play the game and the different variations of billiards that there are but today, that is no longer true. Today, if you look up the word billiards on a search engine you will find mostly, the following:

Billiards and the chaos theory. You will be amazed at how many articles you will find on this science. Chaos theory, in a nutshell, is the study of unpredictable and complex dynamic systems that are highly sensitive to small changes in external conditions, at least according to Webster's definition. So what exactly does that mean and what does it have to do with billiards?

Chaos theory as it applies to billiards is basically the theory, and this is simplified of course, that when you strike the cue ball with the cue stick and it gets sent hurtling towards the rack of balls, once it hits those balls they will react in a random pattern rather than is a predictable one. There is something, of course, to be said for chaos theory as it applies to billiards. If you've played the game and are any good at it you are sure to notice that you can hit the first ball in the rack in the same place with the same force and yet it seems that each time you do so the balls in the rack react in a different way. Strong supporters of the angle of reflection equals angle of incidence theory will of course argue this, saying that we never can really hit the lead ball in the same place with the same force more than once because we are human and fallible. This argument is likely to go on for a long time.

The point however is you would be amazed at the number of articles about billiards and chaos theory.

The other main thing you will find when doing a search on billiards is billiards simulations. not just with actual games but web sites with vector designs and square shapes with coordinates that you can plug in and visually see the path of the billiard ball after it is struck by the cue stick. For those of you who are mathematically adept you can change a number of the factors in these simulations such as the number of sides on the table itself. You can have as few as 3, as in a triangle, and in some programs as many as 10 sides for your billiards table. Of course you can also plug in your standard 4 sided table.

Other variables you can change are x and y coordinate values, x and y vector values, the speed of the ball and the number of iterations, meaning how many times the ball will bounce around the table until you wish it to stop.

Then of course there are the actual billiard simulation games themselves which are very realistic these days. As to what theory they are programmed from, that is anybody's guess.

Yes, looking up billiards on the Internet will find you some strange stuff. Want to actually learn about the game and how to play it?

Just type in "billiards instruction" and ignore the results that somehow creep their way in from the other categories.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Billiards

The Making of a Billiards Champion (Series III of V)

The Angel" Broadhurst

Stun Strokes
Once your fundamentals are correct and you are shooting with a straight and level cue, you need to master the stun stroke. This shot is the most important shot because it gives you a reference for cue ball positioning.

Straight-In Stun Stroke
When you hit a stun stroke on a straight in shot, it will produce a stop shot. In other words, the ball stops as soon as it makes contact with the object ball. Factors that influence this are a blend of the following; cue tip location, force, follow through, and quickness (the amount of time it takes the cue tip to accelerate through the ball).
There are an infinite number of blends of these variables that produce a stop shot. For example, you can use 4of follow through with a small force OR only 1of follow through with a large force to produce a stop shot. Play with these variables until you can manipulate each one and still get the same cue ball position. Measure your follow through by placing a ruler beside your cue tip. Then, vary the distance between the balls. Once youve mastered a stop shot with 1 diamond or 12 of distance, keep increasing it by another 12. The more distance you have, the more forward rotation or high english the ball picks up before it strikes the object ball. So the greater the distance, the lower you must hit the cue ball to produce a stun/stop shot.

Stun Stroke at an Angle
Once again, place the object ball 12 away from the cue ball. But this time, put the cue ball at a 30 degree angle, so that you are aiming at half the ball to pocket it. Use the same stun stroke, and the cue ball will travel straight down the tangent line. This is the line that is perpendicular to the object ball at 90 degrees. The harder or quicker you hit the ball, the further it will travel down the line.

This is the first step in predicting cue ball position. DO NOT move on to the next article until you are comfortable shooting Straight-In Stun Shots and Stun Strokes at an Angle at different distances. Be able to alter the variables (cue tip location, force and quickness) and get the same cue ball position.

(Jackie The Angel Broadhurst, National 8-Ball and Trick Shot Champion, invites everyone, of any gender or background, to play and learn about this great game together. Visit her website at www.TheAngelofBilliards.com.)

National 8-Ball and Trick Shot Champion, invites everyone, of any gender or background, to play and learn about this great game together. Visit her website at www.TheAngelofBilliards.com

A Beginners Guide to Billiards

Billiards is a universally popular indoor game that is enjoyed by people of all ages and both sexes. Traditionally, billiards is played in bars, clubs, pubs, and specials pool or billiard halls. However, more and more people are realizing the benefits and entertainment value of having a billiards table and games room within their very own home. This makes a great addition to any home, adding a touch of relaxation and atmosphere where any member of the family can escape the trials of everyday life for a short while. And with so many different billiards games to play, you can enjoy this entertainment year in and year out.

There are a number of different billiards games to choose from, but before you play these you need the necessary equipment. Apart from getting a good quality pool table that you can enjoy for many years to come, you will need the billiards balls and a good pool cue. You need to be able to use the correct movements and hone your skills to master billiards, so it may take a lot of practise before you become adept at this game however, you can have great fun with billiards even when learning to play and practising the shots.

A Brief History

Billiards is a hugely popular indoor game today, with countless fans that either go out to establishments to play these games or those that have their own billiards tables and pool rooms within the home. The game actually became popular in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in England. Gaming establishments known as pool rooms began to incorporate one or two of these billiards tables but they became so popular that soon they became the main feature of these pool rooms, and they became known as pool tables.

Pocket Billiards

Pocket billiards is played on a pool table with holes known as pockets in which to shoot the billiards balls. There is a pocket on each corner of the table and then one on each side, making six pockets in all. In all pockets billiards games, the object of the game is to shoot the balls into the pockets, although how and where you shoot the balls can vary from game to game. Below is a rundown of some of the most popular pocket billiards games:

8 BALL
This is one of the most basic and popular types of pool games, and is played by old and young, male and female, all across the world. With 8 ball fifteen balls are used, each of which is numbered. Player one is assigned balls one through to seven and player tow is assigned balls nine through to fifteen. The object of the game is for each player to try and pot all of his assigned balls. The first player to pot all of his balls can then try and pot the 8-ball. If he manages to do this without also potting the cue ball (the ball with which he is potting the other balls) then he wins the game.

9 BALL
This is another very simple form of billiards, and is an excellent starter game and ideal for those learning or practising their billiards skills. With this game there are just nine numbers billiards balls along with the cue ball. Each player has to shoot at the lowest ball in order to try and pot it, and as each lowest number gets potted the players move to the next one until the final ball, number nine, has been pocketed.

SNOOKER
This is a hugely popular game in England, where pool first originated. This particular variation of the game originated in the British Forces. Snooker is played with 21 coloured balls and one cue ball. The majority of the 21 balls used in snooker are red fifteen in all. The remaining six balls are each of a different colour, including one pink ball, one brown ball, one blue ball, one green ball, one yellow ball and one black ball. Each ball represents a different score when it is pocketed, with the lowest score going to the reds at one point each. The other ball scores range from 2-7, the highest being the black ball. Players must pocket a red ball before going on to pocket the coloured balls, and all coloured balls must be pocketed in order of value, so the black ball is always potted last.

STRAIGHT POOL
In this variation of the game, you use fifteen numbered balls and a cue ball. In this game the balls can be potted in any order. However, there is a twistthe player must specify which ball he is going to pot and which pocket he is going to shoot the ball into. Once fourteen of the balls have been pocketed and only one is left, the fourteen potted balls are places back on the table. The player then has to pot the final ball whilst breaking apart the racked up fourteen balls.

ONE POCKET
Like straight pool, this game is played with fifteen numbered balls and a cue ball. With this game one of the players must select a corner pocket from the foot of the table. The second player is given the remaining pocket from the foot of the table, and both players have to aim to shoot into their own pockets. Points are awarded for each ball that you pot into your own pocket, and points are deducted for potting a ball into your opponents pocket or for potting the cue ball.

ENGLISH BILLIARDS
This game is played with just three balls, and scored can be notched up in three different ways. The first way is by deflecting your ball off another ball and into a pocket. The second way is by hitting the ball and striking the other two balls. And the third way is by hitting the ball and knocking one of the other balls into a pocket.

General rules of the game

Most pocket billiards games involve a certain set of rules, although these should be checked against the regulations of each individual game. Some of the generalised rules include the following:

Racking balls: This must be done using a triangle, with the apex ball at the foot spot. All other balls should be racked behind the apex and should be tightly packed so that they are within the triangle and touching one another in a perfect triangle formation.
Striking the ball: The cue ball should be struck using the tip of the cue, otherwise the shot can be classed as a foul.

Pocketing the ball: If you do not pocket the ball then you are not allowed another shot and the next shot goes to your opponent until he also fails to pocket a ball, at which point it is your turn again.

Pocketed balls: A pocketed ball is that which is shot from the table bed into a hole (pocket) on the table and remains there. If it rebounds back on to the table it cannot be classed as a pocketed ball.

Ball positioning: The center (base) of the ball is what determines its final position.

Foot placement: In order to shoot a ball without fouling, the player must have one or both feet in contact with the floor. The footwear must also be taken into consideration and must be standard in size, shape and height.

Moving balls: A player cannot shoot a ball that is in motion without it being classed as a foul. This includes the cue ball and the object ball. A stroke cannot be counted until all balls have stopped moving.

Cue ball: If the player pots the cue ball, this is counted as a foul. Also, if the cue ball hits a ball that has already been pocketed, this is also classed as a foul.

Contact with balls: Any contact with object balls with anything other than the cue ball is a foul. Also, any contact with the cue ball with anything other than the cue tip is classed as a foul. This can include contact through hands, clothes, elbow or any other object or body part.

Jumping the ball: If a player intentionally strikes the cue ball below the center and causes it to jump in order to clear another ball, this is classed as a foul. Striking upwards and causing the cue ball to jump from the table bed is also considered a foul in most games.

There are a number of different billiards games to choose from, but before you play these you need the necessary equipment. Apart from getting a good quality pool table that you can enjoy for many years to come, you will need the billiards balls and a good pool cue. You need to be able to use the correct movements and hone your skills to master billiards, so it may take a lot of practise before you become adept at this game however, you can have great fun with billiards even when learning to play and practising the shots.

A Brief History

Billiards is a hugely popular indoor game today, with countless fans that either go out to establishments to play these games or those that have their own billiards tables and pool rooms within the home. The game actually became popular in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in England. Gaming establishments known as pool rooms began to incorporate one or two of these billiards tables but they became so popular that soon they became the main feature of these pool rooms, and they became known as pool tables.

Pocket Billiards

Pocket billiards is played on a pool table with holes known as pockets in which to shoot the billiards balls. There is a pocket on each corner of the table and then one on each side, making six pockets in all. In all pockets billiards games, the object of the game is to shoot the balls into the pockets, although how and where you shoot the balls can vary from game to game. Below is a rundown of some of the most popular pocket billiards games:

8 BALL
This is one of the most basic and popular types of pool games, and is played by old and young, male and female, all across the world. With 8 ball fifteen balls are used, each of which is numbered. Player one is assigned balls one through to seven and player tow is assigned balls nine through to fifteen. The object of the game is for each player to try and pot all of his assigned balls. The first player to pot all of his balls can then try and pot the 8-ball. If he manages to do this without also potting the cue ball (the ball with which he is potting the other balls) then he wins the game.

9 BALL
This is another very simple form of billiards, and is an excellent starter game and ideal for those learning or practising their billiards skills. With this game there are just nine numbers billiards balls along with the cue ball. Each player has to shoot at the lowest ball in order to try and pot it, and as each lowest number gets potted the players move to the next one until the final ball, number nine, has been pocketed.

SNOOKER
This is a hugely popular game in England, where pool first originated. This particular variation of the game originated in the British Forces. Snooker is played with 21 coloured balls and one cue ball. The majority of the 21 balls used in snooker are red fifteen in all. The remaining six balls are each of a different colour, including one pink ball, one brown ball, one blue ball, one green ball, one yellow ball and one black ball. Each ball represents a different score when it is pocketed, with the lowest score going to the reds at one point each. The other ball scores range from 2-7, the highest being the black ball. Players must pocket a red ball before going on to pocket the coloured balls, and all coloured balls must be pocketed in order of value, so the black ball is always potted last.

STRAIGHT POOL
In this variation of the game, you use fifteen numbered balls and a cue ball. In this game the balls can be potted in any order. However, there is a twistthe player must specify which ball he is going to pot and which pocket he is going to shoot the ball into. Once fourteen of the balls have been pocketed and only one is left, the fourteen potted balls are places back on the table. The player then has to pot the final ball whilst breaking apart the racked up fourteen balls.

ONE POCKET
Like straight pool, this game is played with fifteen numbered balls and a cue ball. With this game one of the players must select a corner pocket from the foot of the table. The second player is given the remaining pocket from the foot of the table, and both players have to aim to shoot into their own pockets. Points are awarded for each ball that you pot into your own pocket, and points are deducted for potting a ball into your opponents pocket or for potting the cue ball.

ENGLISH BILLIARDS
This game is played with just three balls, and scored can be notched up in three different ways. The first way is by deflecting your ball off another ball and into a pocket. The second way is by hitting the ball and striking the other two balls. And the third way is by hitting the ball and knocking one of the other balls into a pocket.

General rules of the game

Most pocket billiards games involve a certain set of rules, although these should be checked against the regulations of each individual game. Some of the generalised rules include the following:

Racking balls: This must be done using a triangle, with the apex ball at the foot spot. All other balls should be racked behind the apex and should be tightly packed so that they are within the triangle and touching one another in a perfect triangle formation.
Striking the ball: The cue ball should be struck using the tip of the cue, otherwise the shot can be classed as a foul.

Pocketing the ball: If you do not pocket the ball then you are not allowed another shot and the next shot goes to your opponent until he also fails to pocket a ball, at which point it is your turn again.

Pocketed balls: A pocketed ball is that which is shot from the table bed into a hole (pocket) on the table and remains there. If it rebounds back on to the table it cannot be classed as a pocketed ball.

Ball positioning: The center (base) of the ball is what determines its final position.

Foot placement: In order to shoot a ball without fouling, the player must have one or both feet in contact with the floor. The footwear must also be taken into consideration and must be standard in size, shape and height.

Moving balls: A player cannot shoot a ball that is in motion without it being classed as a foul. This includes the cue ball and the object ball. A stroke cannot be counted until all balls have stopped moving.

Cue ball: If the player pots the cue ball, this is counted as a foul. Also, if the cue ball hits a ball that has already been pocketed, this is also classed as a foul.

Contact with balls: Any contact with object balls with anything other than the cue ball is a foul. Also, any contact with the cue ball with anything other than the cue tip is classed as a foul. This can include contact through hands, clothes, elbow or any other object or body part.

Jumping the ball: If a player intentionally strikes the cue ball below the center and causes it to jump in order to clear another ball, this is classed as a foul. Striking upwards and causing the cue ball to jump from the table bed is also considered a foul in most games.

Reno Charlton is an experienced freelance copywriter and an award-winning childrens author from the United Kingdom. You can read more of her informative articles on pool tables and billiard accessories at http://www.pool-and-billiards.com.

 

Play Pool Better: Top Ten Ways to Improve your Billiards Game

Billiards is an old and much loved game, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. This is a game that people of all ages play; even the younger kids can play now on special child-size tables that are widely available. It is also a game that, although once more popular with men, is now keenly played by both sexes. You can play pool in all sorts of environments, from restaurants and bars to halls and homes. It is also a game that can be as relaxing or competitive as you want to make it. Some people like to enjoy a friendly game over a drink after work, others like to unwind with a few games on their home pool table, and some like to join leagues and clubs and play to win.

1. Understand billiards in general

Whether you are young or old, male or female, a relaxed player or a competitive player, the chances are you want to play as well as you can. Being able to play well is all part of the fun of playing billiards, so it is important to learn the rules and strategies of the games you are interested in, and then try and improve your game on a continual basis. Improving your billiards game is particularly important if you want to play competitively; however, it is also important even if you enjoy friendly games after all, its not much of a challenge if you cant put up much of a fight against your opponentplus, practicing the game is far too much fun to miss out on.

2. Practice the game

This is one of the key aspects of improving your billiards game the importance of practice cant be stressed enough, and many pros will tell you that getting in practice is the singularly most important part of becoming adept at billiards. Some people practice for hours each day which, of course, is not practical for everyone. However, getting in some regular practice at your local pool hall, bar, or even in the home, can be a big help.

Having easy access is the best way to enjoy practicing this game. If you have to go to the pool hall or bar, you dont always have the energy and motivation, particularly if you have been at work all day. This could mean losing out on a lot of valuable practice. However, setting up your own billiards table at home means that you can practice at any time in the comfort of your own home. Setting up a pool table/billiards room is relatively simple and very affordable these days, and once you have your room set up you wont have to pay for games at the bars, halls or clubs and you can enjoy a fantastic area in which to entertain, relax and, of course, practice.

3. Dont forget the cue

Your cue is a pivotal part of your billiards game after all, you wont get far without it! You should ensure that you buy a cue that is of good quality. However, strange as it might sound, you also need to find a cue that you can relate to. Remember when Harry Potter went to get his first wand in The Philosophers Stone, and he just knew when he had the right wand? Well, this is the sort of feeling your should aim for when you buy your pool cue. Hold the cue, get a feel for it, and make sure that you are comfortable with every aspect of the cue. Many professionals state that using the same cue for every practice and real game is a big part of their success, and if you are going to be playing with the same cue you have to make sure that it is one you are perfectly happy with.

4. Join a league or club

You could find that joining a pool league or billiards club or team can help to improve your game. This is not only because you will be able to get in some regular practice, but also because you will have a network of support. You can pick up tips and advice from other members of your team or club, and these can really help you to improve your game. Plus taking part in friendly competitions can help to give you that competitive streak, which in itself can help you to develop and improve your game through pure motivation.

5. Start simple

If you are something of a novice at pool then the trick of improving your game is to start simple and work your way up. There is no point trying to jump straight in to the most complex games. A game like 8 ball or better still 9 ball can help you to practice shooting and can help to condition your body in order to improve your game. Positioning and action is everything when playing billiards, and these simple, basic games will help you to improve both through practice.

6. Observe, observe, observe

We all need a mentor if we want to do something really well, and billiards is no exception to this rule. You can pick up some really useful tips simply by watching the pros and the very experienced. Whether its the latest world champion playing on television or whether its your best mate whos known as a real whiz with the cue, you should pay careful attention when the experts are in play. Try and study their positioning, their actions, trick shots, and the way they play.

7. Use training balls

You can now get billiards training balls, and these can prove invaluable to someone just learning how to play or wishing to improve their game. These balls have a clear target to aim for, so when you are trying to pot the ball you will know exactly where to aim. Using these training balls can help to condition your mind when you are playing, and pretty soon you will be able to hit the mark without the specially marked balls, and you can enjoy potting your object ball every time.

8. Use online tools

There are plenty of online tools available to help you improve your billiards game, such as virtual pool. Although these games cant help with the improvement of your physical stroke, they can give you a good idea of game rules and strategies, which are things that you must familiarise yourself with in order to start improving your game if you dont know how to play properly you cant learn how to play better.

9. General tips

As well as the above quite specific tips on improving your pool game, there are also some general tips that you should bear in mind when you are actually in the process of playing or practicing billiards. Hopefully, these tips will help you to develop and improve your game so that you can play to the best of your ability. These general tips include:

Cue Shot: Make sure that your stroke is smooth and consistent. You should place your other hand on the table, making it as stable as you can, and then allow the cue to slide through this hand as smoothly as possible it is a good idea simply to practice the stroke before you start worrying about practicing with the billiards balls.
Keep the cue ball in sight: When you are aiming, you should be looking at the cue ball and not the object ball. Aim to strike it just below the centre, and stay focussed on the cue ball as you shoot.
Arm positioning: When you are playing, you should keep the arm you are shooting with close to your body, and your elbow should be bent at a ninety-degree angle. Let your shoulder do the work as you shoot this is where the action and movement should stem from. Do not be tempted to use excessive force, as this will simply spoil your shot simply keep it smooth and controlled.

10. Enjoy it!

One thing to keep in mind when trying to improve your pool game is it is a game! Dont let yourself get stressed or frustrated; simply enjoy it and enjoy practicing it. Billiards is a great way to relax and unwind, and shouldnt be something that you get stressed about. As with many things in life, practice makes perfect. You wont become a billiard pro overnight it can take a while to become adept at the control, concentration, and movement required to shoot pool successfully. But you can have great fun whilst you are getting there.

1. Understand billiards in general

Whether you are young or old, male or female, a relaxed player or a competitive player, the chances are you want to play as well as you can. Being able to play well is all part of the fun of playing billiards, so it is important to learn the rules and strategies of the games you are interested in, and then try and improve your game on a continual basis. Improving your billiards game is particularly important if you want to play competitively; however, it is also important even if you enjoy friendly games after all, its not much of a challenge if you cant put up much of a fight against your opponentplus, practicing the game is far too much fun to miss out on.

2. Practice the game

This is one of the key aspects of improving your billiards game the importance of practice cant be stressed enough, and many pros will tell you that getting in practice is the singularly most important part of becoming adept at billiards. Some people practice for hours each day which, of course, is not practical for everyone. However, getting in some regular practice at your local pool hall, bar, or even in the home, can be a big help.

Having easy access is the best way to enjoy practicing this game. If you have to go to the pool hall or bar, you dont always have the energy and motivation, particularly if you have been at work all day. This could mean losing out on a lot of valuable practice. However, setting up your own billiards table at home means that you can practice at any time in the comfort of your own home. Setting up a pool table/billiards room is relatively simple and very affordable these days, and once you have your room set up you wont have to pay for games at the bars, halls or clubs and you can enjoy a fantastic area in which to entertain, relax and, of course, practice.

3. Dont forget the cue

Your cue is a pivotal part of your billiards game after all, you wont get far without it! You should ensure that you buy a cue that is of good quality. However, strange as it might sound, you also need to find a cue that you can relate to. Remember when Harry Potter went to get his first wand in The Philosophers Stone, and he just knew when he had the right wand? Well, this is the sort of feeling your should aim for when you buy your pool cue. Hold the cue, get a feel for it, and make sure that you are comfortable with every aspect of the cue. Many professionals state that using the same cue for every practice and real game is a big part of their success, and if you are going to be playing with the same cue you have to make sure that it is one you are perfectly happy with.

4. Join a league or club

You could find that joining a pool league or billiards club or team can help to improve your game. This is not only because you will be able to get in some regular practice, but also because you will have a network of support. You can pick up tips and advice from other members of your team or club, and these can really help you to improve your game. Plus taking part in friendly competitions can help to give you that competitive streak, which in itself can help you to develop and improve your game through pure motivation.

5. Start simple

If you are something of a novice at pool then the trick of improving your game is to start simple and work your way up. There is no point trying to jump straight in to the most complex games. A game like 8 ball or better still 9 ball can help you to practice shooting and can help to condition your body in order to improve your game. Positioning and action is everything when playing billiards, and these simple, basic games will help you to improve both through practice.

6. Observe, observe, observe

We all need a mentor if we want to do something really well, and billiards is no exception to this rule. You can pick up some really useful tips simply by watching the pros and the very experienced. Whether its the latest world champion playing on television or whether its your best mate whos known as a real whiz with the cue, you should pay careful attention when the experts are in play. Try and study their positioning, their actions, trick shots, and the way they play.

7. Use training balls

You can now get billiards training balls, and these can prove invaluable to someone just learning how to play or wishing to improve their game. These balls have a clear target to aim for, so when you are trying to pot the ball you will know exactly where to aim. Using these training balls can help to condition your mind when you are playing, and pretty soon you will be able to hit the mark without the specially marked balls, and you can enjoy potting your object ball every time.

8. Use online tools

There are plenty of online tools available to help you improve your billiards game, such as virtual pool. Although these games cant help with the improvement of your physical stroke, they can give you a good idea of game rules and strategies, which are things that you must familiarise yourself with in order to start improving your game if you dont know how to play properly you cant learn how to play better.

9. General tips

As well as the above quite specific tips on improving your pool game, there are also some general tips that you should bear in mind when you are actually in the process of playing or practicing billiards. Hopefully, these tips will help you to develop and improve your game so that you can play to the best of your ability. These general tips include:

Cue Shot: Make sure that your stroke is smooth and consistent. You should place your other hand on the table, making it as stable as you can, and then allow the cue to slide through this hand as smoothly as possible it is a good idea simply to practice the stroke before you start worrying about practicing with the billiards balls.
Keep the cue ball in sight: When you are aiming, you should be looking at the cue ball and not the object ball. Aim to strike it just below the centre, and stay focussed on the cue ball as you shoot.
Arm positioning: When you are playing, you should keep the arm you are shooting with close to your body, and your elbow should be bent at a ninety-degree angle. Let your shoulder do the work as you shoot this is where the action and movement should stem from. Do not be tempted to use excessive force, as this will simply spoil your shot simply keep it smooth and controlled.

10. Enjoy it!

One thing to keep in mind when trying to improve your pool game is it is a game! Dont let yourself get stressed or frustrated; simply enjoy it and enjoy practicing it. Billiards is a great way to relax and unwind, and shouldnt be something that you get stressed about. As with many things in life, practice makes perfect. You wont become a billiard pro overnight it can take a while to become adept at the control, concentration, and movement required to shoot pool successfully. But you can have great fun whilst you are getting there.

Reno Charlton is an experienced freelance copywriter and an award-winning childrens author from the United Kingdom. You can read more of her informative articles on pool tables and billiard accessories at http://www.pool-and-billiards.com.

 

 

How to set up the perfect billiards room

If you enjoy relaxing over a game of billiards at the local bar, then what could be better than having your very own billiards table at home? Your home is the place in which you want to relax and enjoy life without having to think about work and other hassles, and if billiards is your thing then it makes sense to have your own table, which you can enjoy whenever you like. With your own billiards table at home, you can invite friends around for a few beers and a few games, or you can simply brush up on your billiards skills in the comfort of your own home.

If you are thinking of getting your own billiards table, the first thing you need to decide is where your table is going to go. The perfect solution is to create a billiards room, where you can create the perfect look, atmosphere, and ambience to complement your billiards table. Of course, having a large home and a room going spare would be ideal, but not many people have this luxury, so the next best thing is to make room. Depending on the size of your home and your family you could relegate another room, such as a little-used dining room or even a large basement. A few changes in dcor, colour, lighting and furnishings can make this into a perfect billiards room environment.

If you dont have a room that you can convert, you may want to think about building on your property. A proper games room such as a billiard room can make a fantastic addition to the home, and not only will you get hours of enjoyment and delight from this addition but it could also add value to your home. You can get some excellent prices these days when it comes to extending your property, and if you have building skills you may want to have a go at it yourself. Even a large conservatory can make an excellent place to have your billiards room.

Wherever you decide to have your billiards room, you need to ensure that it will serve the purpose. You need to have room for your pool table and for necessary accessories that will give your billiards room the right ambience and look. You also need to have room to freely move around, so dont be tempted to go for a room that can just about squeeze in your pool table with very little room for anything else, including the players!

Accessorize, furnish and light it up

The key to the perfect billiards room is to have the right billiards accessories, furniture and lighting as well as a suitable space. You can get some fantastic accessories these days, so you can make your billiards room really individual and unique. You will need to look at the more fundamental accessories as well, such as:

Cue sticks
Pool cue racks
Pool table covers
Pool table lights
Other pool table accessories

Other pool table accessories include essentials such as ball racks, table felt, table hooks, chalk and brushes.

In addition to the essential products, you will find a range of really cool furnishings and accessories that are perfect for your billiards room. You can get billiards clocks, framed posters of famous pool players, pool coat racks, billiard room signs, beer signs (to add to the authentic setting), ashtrays, mugs, towels just about anything you can think of.

Furniture and dcor for your billiards room will largely be a matter of personal taste. However, your room will look so much cooler if you can stick to the billiards room theme. You can get an excellent range of furniture to select from these days, and you can enjoy giving your room a great look with:

Wooden or metal bar stools
Spectator chairs or stools
Pedestal table and chair sets

Coupled with accessories such as billiard prints, neon signs, cue racks, and the other fantastic items available these days, this can give your billiards room just the right appearance to make it the perfect place to relax and hang out.

Lighting is another very important consideration, and this can make all of the difference to the look and atmosphere of your billiards room. You can select from a wide choice of billiard room lighting, such as swag & bar lights or stained glass lights. Again, the choice is your and should depend upon the rest of your dcor. It is important to also consider wall lighting as well as lighting for above your billiards table. In addition to the wall and table lights, you can add neon signs to the walls, which will add a really great touch and authentic atmosphere to your billiards room.

Why have a billiards room?

There are many ways in which a billiards room could enhance your home and your life. If you enjoy a game of pool down at the local bar, then having access to your very own billiards room will be a dream come true. You can invite your friends round to play a game or two, and make your billiards room in to a real entertainment center for the whole family. Some great reasons for having your own billiards room include:

Spending more time with the family: Its not always easy to get quality time with the family, and there arent all that many places in which the whole family can get together and enjoy themselves without paying a fortune. Your new billiards room will provide the perfect environment, where you, your partner, the kids, and even granny can relax and enjoy the atmosphere, fun and relaxing ambience that will surround you.

Giving the kids access to some fun: Most kids live to play games like pool, but generally cant get into bars and play like adults can! If you want to give your kids something to do, and you would rather they were at home in the evenings rather than wandering the streets, your billiards room is the perfect solutions. Your kids can invite their friends around from time to time, and they will all be thrilled to spend time in your cool billiards room.

Enjoying being the host and entertainer: If you like to have friends around, then the billiard room will be a fantastic addition to your home. Having dinner parties will never be the same again, and you can all retire to the billiards room for a few games, a couple of drinks, and to listen to some music. You can even enjoy a few pre-dinner games and even if youre not inviting friends around for dinner, they will be delighted to come around simply for a game of pool and a couple of beers.

Increase the value of your property: A well designed games room could really add value to your property, as these rooms are becoming more and more popular. People like nothing more than having a space in which they can relax and enjoy themselves, forgetting about everyday hassles, and this is what you will be giving them with a billiards room.

Enjoy your new billiard room

Once you have got your billiard room fully kitted out and decorated, you will be ready to reap the rewards with years of fun and relaxation with family, friends, even alone. You can use your new billiards room to entertain, enjoy quality time with others, brush up on your billiards skills, enable the kids to learn how to play, and to have a great time with the important people in your life.

Billiards is a universally popular game, and people wont fail to be impressed with your fantastic new billiards room. This will be a place where you can get away from it all no more having to slope off to the local bar for a couple of beers and a game or two; you can simply go to your billiard room and enjoy a game whenever you want to. You could even have a well-stocked mini-fridge in your billiard room filled with beers or soft drinks, so you can enjoy a cold drink as you play a relaxing game of pool.

If you are thinking of getting your own billiards table, the first thing you need to decide is where your table is going to go. The perfect solution is to create a billiards room, where you can create the perfect look, atmosphere, and ambience to complement your billiards table. Of course, having a large home and a room going spare would be ideal, but not many people have this luxury, so the next best thing is to make room. Depending on the size of your home and your family you could relegate another room, such as a little-used dining room or even a large basement. A few changes in dcor, colour, lighting and furnishings can make this into a perfect billiards room environment.

If you dont have a room that you can convert, you may want to think about building on your property. A proper games room such as a billiard room can make a fantastic addition to the home, and not only will you get hours of enjoyment and delight from this addition but it could also add value to your home. You can get some excellent prices these days when it comes to extending your property, and if you have building skills you may want to have a go at it yourself. Even a large conservatory can make an excellent place to have your billiards room.

Wherever you decide to have your billiards room, you need to ensure that it will serve the purpose. You need to have room for your pool table and for necessary accessories that will give your billiards room the right ambience and look. You also need to have room to freely move around, so dont be tempted to go for a room that can just about squeeze in your pool table with very little room for anything else, including the players!

Accessorize, furnish and light it up

The key to the perfect billiards room is to have the right billiards accessories, furniture and lighting as well as a suitable space. You can get some fantastic accessories these days, so you can make your billiards room really individual and unique. You will need to look at the more fundamental accessories as well, such as:

Cue sticks
Pool cue racks
Pool table covers
Pool table lights
Other pool table accessories

Other pool table accessories include essentials such as ball racks, table felt, table hooks, chalk and brushes.

In addition to the essential products, you will find a range of really cool furnishings and accessories that are perfect for your billiards room. You can get billiards clocks, framed posters of famous pool players, pool coat racks, billiard room signs, beer signs (to add to the authentic setting), ashtrays, mugs, towels just about anything you can think of.

Furniture and dcor for your billiards room will largely be a matter of personal taste. However, your room will look so much cooler if you can stick to the billiards room theme. You can get an excellent range of furniture to select from these days, and you can enjoy giving your room a great look with:

Wooden or metal bar stools
Spectator chairs or stools
Pedestal table and chair sets

Coupled with accessories such as billiard prints, neon signs, cue racks, and the other fantastic items available these days, this can give your billiards room just the right appearance to make it the perfect place to relax and hang out.

Lighting is another very important consideration, and this can make all of the difference to the look and atmosphere of your billiards room. You can select from a wide choice of billiard room lighting, such as swag & bar lights or stained glass lights. Again, the choice is your and should depend upon the rest of your dcor. It is important to also consider wall lighting as well as lighting for above your billiards table. In addition to the wall and table lights, you can add neon signs to the walls, which will add a really great touch and authentic atmosphere to your billiards room.

Why have a billiards room?

There are many ways in which a billiards room could enhance your home and your life. If you enjoy a game of pool down at the local bar, then having access to your very own billiards room will be a dream come true. You can invite your friends round to play a game or two, and make your billiards room in to a real entertainment center for the whole family. Some great reasons for having your own billiards room include:

Spending more time with the family: Its not always easy to get quality time with the family, and there arent all that many places in which the whole family can get together and enjoy themselves without paying a fortune. Your new billiards room will provide the perfect environment, where you, your partner, the kids, and even granny can relax and enjoy the atmosphere, fun and relaxing ambience that will surround you.

Giving the kids access to some fun: Most kids live to play games like pool, but generally cant get into bars and play like adults can! If you want to give your kids something to do, and you would rather they were at home in the evenings rather than wandering the streets, your billiards room is the perfect solutions. Your kids can invite their friends around from time to time, and they will all be thrilled to spend time in your cool billiards room.

Enjoying being the host and entertainer: If you like to have friends around, then the billiard room will be a fantastic addition to your home. Having dinner parties will never be the same again, and you can all retire to the billiards room for a few games, a couple of drinks, and to listen to some music. You can even enjoy a few pre-dinner games and even if youre not inviting friends around for dinner, they will be delighted to come around simply for a game of pool and a couple of beers.

Increase the value of your property: A well designed games room could really add value to your property, as these rooms are becoming more and more popular. People like nothing more than having a space in which they can relax and enjoy themselves, forgetting about everyday hassles, and this is what you will be giving them with a billiards room.

Enjoy your new billiard room

Once you have got your billiard room fully kitted out and decorated, you will be ready to reap the rewards with years of fun and relaxation with family, friends, even alone. You can use your new billiards room to entertain, enjoy quality time with others, brush up on your billiards skills, enable the kids to learn how to play, and to have a great time with the important people in your life.

Billiards is a universally popular game, and people wont fail to be impressed with your fantastic new billiards room. This will be a place where you can get away from it all no more having to slope off to the local bar for a couple of beers and a game or two; you can simply go to your billiard room and enjoy a game whenever you want to. You could even have a well-stocked mini-fridge in your billiard room filled with beers or soft drinks, so you can enjoy a cold drink as you play a relaxing game of pool.

Reno Charlton is an experienced freelance copywriter and an award-winning childrens author from the United Kingdom. You can read more of her informative articles on pool tables and billiard accessories at http://www.pool-and-billiards.com.