Billiards
Lunar Rocks Billiard Balls
Designed for the Hollywood motion picture "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" starring Eddie Murphy, Lunar Rocks(r) billiard balls display the most unique design ever applied to a billiard ball. Each ball is a one-of-a-kind work of art.
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Alabama Complete Set Billiard Balls
Officially Licensed College Billiard Balls: a great new way to play 8-ball! Each officially licensed billiard ball set has 7 solids, 7 stripes, one 8-ball, and one bright white cue ball.
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Mizerak 7' Victoria Billiard Table
Sale Price: $899.99*
Retail: $999.99 (10% off!)
(ToysRUs)
Knock the eight ball in the corner pocket on Mizerak's(r) Victoria 7-ft. billiard table. Elegantly designed with a rich cognac finish on top of the birch wood veneer cabinet, the billiard table provides excellent playability to match its old-style look.
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Sports Fan Products UCLA Bruins 8ft. Billiard Cloth
This officially licensed UCLA Bruins 8 foot billiard cloth is designed with team graphics, which are specially dyed with vibrant colors that are permanently embedded into the fabric so game play is not effected.
Merchant: NFL Shop
Deluxe Billiard Balls Set
"High Quality Eight Ball Billiard Balls Set". This Deluxe Billiards Ball set will provide outstanding endurance and uncompromised quality.
Merchant: Shopping Warehouse
Pool and Billiards Magazine - 1 Year Subscription
Sale Price: $24.95*
Retail: $47.40 (47% off!)
(PoolDawg)
As the first monthly magazine to cover the world of pool and billiards Pool & Billiard Magazine is the sport's oldest monthly magazine and boasts the largest readership of billiard businesses players and fans.
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Billiards is a family of games played on a table, with a stick, known as a cue stick, which is used to strike balls, moving them around the table.
All billiard games are generally regarded to have evolved into indoor games from outdoor stick and ball games., Specific page reference needs to be filled in! The word "billiard" may have evolved from the French word billart, meaning "mace", an implement, similar to a golf club, which was the forerunner to the modern cue.
The word "pool" generally refers to pocket billiard games such as 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and one-pocket. The word "pool" comes from "poolrooms," where people gambled off track on horse races. They were called poolrooms as money was "pooled" to determine the odds. Because such rooms commonly provided billiard tables, pool became synonymous with billiards by association. The terms "pool" and "pocket billiards" are now interchangeable.
Equipment
Billiard balls
The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of Billiard balls differ depending upon the specific billiards game being played. In eight ball, straight pool, and related games, 16 balls are employed: fifteen colored "object balls" and one white "cue ball". Object balls 1-7 are solid-colored, and are respectively colored yellow, blue, red, purple, orange, green, and dark red or brown. Balls 9-15 are white, each with a single wide colored stripe that matches the corresponding solid ball; the 9-ball has a yellow stripe, the 10-ball a blue stripe, and so on. The 8-ball is solid black. In the game of 9-ball, only object balls 1-9 are used. Regulation balls are 2 inches (57.15 mm) in diameter and weigh between 5 and 6 ounces (156 to 170 g). British pool also uses 16 balls, but they are not numbered, with the "suits" being divided into reds and yellows instead of stripes and solids (and shots are not "called" since there is no way to identify particular balls to be pocketed); the balls and the pockets on the table are usually slightly smaller (though larger than those of snooker (see below).
Other specific properties such as hardness, friction coefficient and resilience are very important. Such requirement are met today with balls cast from phenolic resin. Historically, balls were often made of clay and even elephant ivory for a period (see below for more detail). Coin-operated pool tables historically have often used either a larger ("grapefruit") or denser ("rock", typically ceramic) cue ball, such that its extra weight makes it easy to separate it from object balls (which are captured until the game ends and the table is paid again for another game) so that the cue ball can be returned for further play, should it be accidentally pocketed. Modern tables usually employ a magnetic ball of regulation or near-regulation size and weight, since players have rightly complained for many decades that the heavy and often over-sized cue balls do not "play" correctly.
Some balls used in televised pool games are colored differently to make them distinguishable on television monitors. The 4 ball used in such games is colored pink instead of purple, while the 7 ball is colored sienna (or a lighter shade of brown) rather than brown. The stripes on the 12 and 15 balls are colored the same way. Likewise, cue balls used for televised matches may depart from the norm by having spots or stripes on their surface so that spin placed on them is evident to viewers.
In snooker, there are fifteen red balls, six colored balls (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black), and one white cue ball. The red balls are typically not numbered, though the six colored balls often are, and can easily be mistaken at first glace for pool balls (the design is similar, but the number does not match pool's scheme). Snooker balls are normally 2 inches (52.4 mm) in diameter.
In the carom games such as straight billiards ("straight rail"), three-cushion billiards and balkline, as well as English billiards, there are two cue balls and a red ball. One of the cue balls is typically white and the other one is either yellow or white with a red dot. These balls are normally 2 inches (69.9 mm) in diameter.
Billiard balls were originally made from ivory, imported from Africa. In the mid-19th century, in an amazing bit of accidental environmentalism, the billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants (their primary source of ivory) was limited. They challenged inventors to come up with an alternative material that could be manufactured. John Wesley Hyatt answered the call by inventing cellulose nitrate in 1870, branded under the name celluloid, the earliest industrial plastic. Subsequently, to fix the problem of cellulose nitrate instability, the industry experimented with various other synthetic materials for billiards balls such as bakelite and other plastic compounds. Eventually phenolic resin became the industry standard and is virtually the only billiard ball material used today.
Rack
A rack is the name given to a frame (usually wood or plastic) used to organize billiard balls at the beginning of a game.
Tables
There are many sizes and styles of pool and billiard tables. Generally, tables are perfect rectangles — twice as long as they are wide. Most pool tables are known as 7-, 8-, or 9-footers, referring to the length of the table's long side. Snooker and English billiard tables are 12 feet long on the longest side. Pool halls tend to have 9-foot tables and cater to the serious pool player. Bars will typically use 7-foot tables which are often coin-operated. Formerly, 10-foot tables were common, but such tables are now considered antique collectors items; a few, usually from the late 1800s, can be found in up-scale pool halls from time to time.
The length of the pool table will typically be a function of space, with many homeowners purchasing an 8-foot table as a compromise. High quality tables are mostly 9-footers, with a bed made of three pieces of thick slate to prevent warping and changes due to humidity. Smaller bar tables are most commonly made with a single piece of slate. Pocket billiards tables normally have six pockets, three on each side (four corner pockets, and two side pockets).
All types of tables are covered with billiard cloth (often called "felt", but actually a woven wool or wool/nylon blend called baize). Bar or tavern tables, which get a lot of play, use "slower", more durable cloth. Good quality pool cloth is "faster" (i.e. provides less friction, allowing the balls to roll farther), and the best quality pool cloth is made from worsted wool. Snooker table cloth traditionally has a nap (consistent fiber directionality) and balls behave differently when rolling against the direction of the nap. The cloth of the billiard table is typically green reflecting its origin, Specific page reference needs to be filled in! (also the reference should be added to indicate what the origin of green originally was) (and thus the name of the pool movie The Color of Money--adapted from the Walter Tevis novel of the same name--referring to the color of American currency notes).
Cues
(See also Cue stick)
Billiards games are played with a stick known as a cue. A cue is usually either a one piece tapered stick or a two piece stick divided in the middle by a joint of metal or phenolic resin. High quality cues are generally two pieces and are made of a hardwood, generally maple for billiards and ash for snooker.
The "butt" end of the cue is of larger circumference and is intended to be gripped by a player's hand. The "shaft" of the cue is of smaller circumference, usually tapering to an 11-14 millimeter terminus called a ferrule, where a leather tip is affixed to make final contact with balls. The leather tip, in conjunction with chalk, can be used to impart spin to the cue ball when not being hit in its center.
Cheap cues are generally one piece cues made of ramin or other low quality wood with inferior tips of various materials (usually plastic). A quality cue can be expensive and may be made of exotic woods and other expensive materials which are artfully inlaid in decorative patterns. Skilled players may use more than one cue during a game, including a separate cue for the opening break shot and another, shorter cue with a special tip for jump shots.
The mechanical bridge
The mechanical bridge, sometimes called a "rake" or simply "bridge" and known as a "rest" in the UK, is used to extend a player's reach on a shot where the cue ball is too far away for normal hand bridging. It consists of a stick with a grooved metal or plastic head which the cue slides on. Many amateurs refuse to use the mechanical bridge based on the perception that to do so is unmanly. However, many aficionados and professionals employ the bridge whenever the intended shot so requires.
Chalk
Chalk is applied to the tip of the cue stick, ideally between every shot, to increase the tip's friction coefficient so that when it impacts the cue ball on a non-center hit, no miscue (unintentional slippage between the cue tip and the struck ball) occurs. The quality of chalk varies greatly from brand to brand, which can significantly affect play. High humidity can also impair the effectiveness of chalk. Cuetip chalk is often not actually the substance typically referred to as "chalk", but some proprietary compound, frequently with a silicate base. "Chalk" may also refer to hand chalk, used to lubricate the cue and bridge hand during shooting (many players prefer talcum powder or a slick pool glove because of the long-term abrasive effect of actual carbonate chalk on the shaft of the cue).
Types of games (carom and pocket)
There are two main varieties of billiard games: carom and pocket. The main carom billiards games are straight billiards, balkline and three cushion billiards. All are played on a pocketless table with three balls; two cue balls and one object ball. In all, players shoot a cue ball so that it makes contact with the opponent's cue ball as well as the object ball.
The most popular of the large variety of pocket games are Eight-ball, 9-ball, one-pocket, bank pool and snooker. In 8-ball and 9-ball the object is to sink a designated ball to win. In 8-ball, players must pocket a group of balls, either the solids or the stripes, before they can pocket the eight for the win. In both one-pocket and bank pool the players must sink a set number of balls; respectively, all in a particular pocket, and all by banking. In 9-ball, players must shoot the balls in order, from one through nine. In snooker, players score points by alternating shooting red balls and balls of a different colour.
Straight billiards or straight rail
In straight billiards, a player scores a point and may continue shooting each time his cue ball makes contact with both other balls.
Although a difficult and subtle game, some of the best players of straight billiards developed the skill to drive both balls into a corner and from that position were able to score a seemingly limitless number of points.
The first straight billiards professional tournament was held in 1879 where Jacob Schaefer, Sr. scored 690 points in a single turn, Specific page reference needs to be filled in! (also the reference should be added to indicate what the origin of green originally was) (that is, 690 separate strokes without a miss). With the balls barely moving and repetitively hit, there was little for the fans to watch.
Balkline
In light of these phenomenal skill developments in straight rail, the game of balkline soon developed to make it impossible for a player to keep balls in a corner for an interminable period. A balkine is a line parallel to one end of a billiard table. In the games of balkline--balkline 18.1 and 18.2--the players have to drive either one ball or two balls (respectively) past a balkine set at 18 inches from the rail after a fixed number of shots.
Three cushion billiards
:Main article: three cushion billiards
A more elegant solution was three cushion billiards, which requires a player to make contact with the other two balls on the table and contact three rail cushions in the process. This is difficult enough that even the best players can only manage to average one to two points a turn.
Eight ball
In the United States, the most commonly played game is 8-ball played on tables that are 7 feet long. In the United Kingdom the game is commonly played in pubs and it is competitively played in leagues. It is also played as a world championship tournament run by the International Pool Association
Nine ball
9-Ball is a rotation game where the 1-9 balls are used. The player at the table must make a legal shot on the lowest numbered ball on the table or forfeit his/her turn. The game is won by legally pocketing the nine ball. 9-Ball is the predominant professional game. There are many local and regional tours and tournaments that are contested with 9-Ball. There is no particular governing body of 9-ball. Most places play with a version of "Texas Express" or WPA (World Pool Association) rules. The largest 9-ball tournaments are the independent US Open and the World 9-Ball Championships for men and women. Male professionals have a rather fragmented schedule of professional 9-Ball tournaments at this time (2005). Female professionals have a steady professional circuit that is governed by the Women's Professional Billiard Association.
One pocket
One pocket is a strategic game for two players. Each player is assigned one of the corner pockets on the table. This is the only pocket into which he can legally pocket balls. The first player to pocket the majority of the balls (8) in his pocket wins the game. The game requires far more defensive strategy than offensive strategy, much unlike 8-ball, 9-ball, or straight pool. It has been said that if 8-ball is checkers, one-pocket is chess.
Bank pool
Bank pool has been gaining popularity in recent years. Bank pool can be played with a full rack, but is more typically played with nine balls (sometimes called "9-ball bank") — the balls are racked in 9-ball formation, but in no particular order. The object of the game is simple: to be the first player to bank 5 balls in any order. Bank pool is one of the "cleanest" (no "slop") billiards games — no "kick" shots (you must hit the object ball directly without hitting the rail first); no caroms (you must hit the object ball directly without hitting another ball first); no combinations (cue ball to the object ball then object ball to the called pocket); the object ball can't hit another ball on the way (no "kisses"). Any ball pocketed on a foul, or in the wrong pocket, is spotted. If the cue ball is sunk (or knocked off the table), you must spot (place on or as nearly behind the head spot as possible) any balls that were sunk on that shot, and you "owe" a ball which you must spot as well. If you scratch and you haven't made a ball, you will owe the next one you sink. After a scratch, the cue ball must be shot from behind the headstring. Any ball sunk other that the object ball is spotted after your turn. Technically, fouling during three successive turns means a loss of game, but that rule is largely ignored (players are advised to make sure the rules are clear and agreed-upon before play begins).
Snooker
A pocket billiards game originated by British Officers stationed in India during the 19th century. The name of the game became generalized to also describe of one of its prime strategies; to 'snooker'. That is, when necessary, one will attempt to 'snooker' the opposing player, to cause that player to foul or leave an opening to be exploited (see Glossary of pool and billiards terms - "Snooker) .
In the United Kingdom, Snooker is by far the most popular form of billiards at the competitive level. It is played in many other countries as well. Snooker is far rarer in the U.S., where pocket billiards games such as eight ball and nine ball dominate.
Billiards Pool Table
Northwoods Billiards Red Cedar Ponderosa Pool Table
Sale Price: $5,912.99*
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(Mercantila)
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