How many balls does an English pool table have?

Each style of pool also has some further unique sets of balls. Let's cover each game in turn. English pool is played with a set of 16 balls of four different colours.

How many balls are on a English pool table?

A set of pool balls consists of one white cue ball and 15 colour-coded numbered balls. The balls numbered 1 through 8 have solid colours and the balls numbered 9 through 15 are white with a centre band of colour.

What is the difference between UK and American pool table?

The Size. One of the most noticeable differences between British and American tables is their sizes. While British tables are almost exclusively either 6ft or 7ft in length, American pool tables are either 8ft or 9ft (the official size used in professional games and tournaments).

Is English pool an 8 ball?

The game is played on a rectangular six pocket table with 15 balls (seven yellows, seven reds and one black 8-ball.) To win, a player or team must pocket all their group of object balls in any order, and then legally pocket the 8 ball.

Is English pool harder than American?

With the larger pockets and balls, American pool is an easier game to pick up and learn, especially good if you have children you're looking to get into the game. The game is also a good deal faster with the smoother cloth.

The Rules of 8 Ball Pool (Eight Ball Pool) - EXPLAINED!

What cue is best for English pool?

Most adult players will be best suited to a standard-length 57-inch cue, although a 48-inch cue is also perfectly good for most adults and older children. If they travel to play, then a 2-piece or 3-piece cue might be ideal. But if they play at home, a 1-piece could be the best.

Can you play English pool with an American cue?

Using an American Cue for English Pool

For general play, a player would struggle using an American pool cue due to the difficulty in precise ball control. The cue tip is so large compared to the English cue ball that striking a specific point on it accurately is very difficult.

What do British people call 8 ball pool?

Blackball pool (sometimes written black ball), also known as English pool, English eight-ball or simply reds and yellows, is a pool game originating in the United Kingdom and popularized across Europe and The Commonwealth, such as Australia and South Africa.

What is the difference between an American pool and an English pool?

The simplest answer is that the American pool tables are generally larger than English pool tables with the standard American pool table being an 7ft, 8ft or 9ft and the standard English pool table being a 6ft, 7ft or 8ft. The official tournament or professional sizes being 9ft for American, and 7ft for English.

What is the 2 shot rule in English pool?

In the event of a foul, the opposing player receives two shots and these shots carry (i.e. if a ball is potted on the first shot, the player still has two shots). When a player gets two shots, they can pick up the white ball and place it anywhere behind the line.

What do they call pool in England?

pool, also called life pool, British billiards game in which each player uses a cue ball of a different colour and tries to pocket the ball of a particular opponent, thus taking a “life.” Players have three lives and pay into a betting pool at the start of the game. The last player with a life wins the pool.

What is a pool table called in England?

A table designed for the games snooker and English billiards is usually called a snooker table or a plane.

Why are English pool tables smaller?

This is because they fit into buildings easier and require less room. This being said, the smaller American pool sized tables are still perfectly able to play an excellent game of American Pool. English Pool is played using smaller balls and smaller pockets, hence competition tables are only 6ft.

Do you get 2 shots on the black in English pool?

If a player is on the black, they only get one shot, however this is free. b. A free shot: A player must hit a ball. Failing to do this results in the loss of the subsequent shot and the opponent having two shots.

What size pool table do most pubs have?

Standard sizes

The average size of a UK pool table is 7ft, but many pubs and clubs opt for the smaller, 6ft size. In America, the standard pool table size for homes and private residences is 8ft, but their professional tournaments are played with the full-sized, 9ft tables.

Why is it called English in pool?

Here's the most common story: An Englishman visited the US soon after leather tips were invented. He gave exhibitions showing spin shots previously not possible. People were impressed with these new “English” shots. The name “english” stuck (for any shot using spin on the CB, especially sidespin).

What is the Old English name for pool?

The word natatorium was borrowed from Late Latin "place for swimming" into English in New England in 1890.

What is the most popular pool game in the US?

Eight-ball, the most commonly played form of pool (as distinct from blackball, a.k.a. British eightball pool)

What is the first shot in pool called?

break: the first shot of a pool game where the CB is hit from behind the head string (i.e., in the “kitchen”) into the racked balls; or, in snooker, a series of pots in a single inning.

What is a golden duck in pool?

Golden Break – Similar to American 9-ball Pool, a player can win the frame off the break. They must pot the 8-ball from the break and win it outright. This rule was formerly used in the Taom Shootouts. Golden Duck – Undesirably, if the breaking player pockets the 8-ball and cueball they lose the frame outright.

What are pool players called?

Most billiard players are called exactly that - “billiard players”, or sometimes “pool players” or even “players” when the context is understood. A really good pool player, however, is often referred to as a “pool shark”.

Do you have to call a pocket in English pool?

In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the opponent's right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. Bank shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, and care should be taken in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket.

Do you have to pick a pocket in English pool?

Failure of the player to nominate a pocket under any circumstances is Game Away. Two players cannot nominate the same pocket. If a player pots their last ball, and in doing so commits a foul stroke, they must then nominate their pocket for black, prior to their opponent taking their shot.

Can you move the ball in English pool?

Moving the White Ball

As per the 8 ball pool rules, the white ball can be moved freely anywhere on the table (behind the headstring) during the break shot. After playing the break shot, the players cannot move the cue ball at their convenience, except in some instances.

What cue did Tom Cruise use?

The famous scene in the 1986 sequel to The Hustler, The Color of Money where Tom Cruise is given a beautiful cue by Paul Newman and told, “It's a Balabushka,” made the name Balabushka synonymous with top quality pool cues.