Why is pool called billiards?

The term billiards comes from the French. The root words are either 'billart' which is one of the sticks or 'bille,' which means ball. The sport had its beginnings way back in the 15th century in Northern Europe. The evolution to what we in America know as Pool has been long and drawn out.

Is pool and billiards the same thing?

Billiards is played on a table without pockets. The game only has three balls, which are red, white (with a spot), and another white one (without a spot). Pool involves a table with six pockets. You need 15 balls, but some people play with just nine.

Where did billiards pool originate?

Billiards evolved from a lawn game similar to croquet played sometime during the 15th century in Northern Europe (probably in France). The term “poolroom” now means a place where billiards is played, but in the 19th century a poolroom was a betting parlor for horse racing.

Which came first pool or billiards?

The easiest way to think of snooker and pool is that they all ultimately originated from the same place through centuries of development and refinement. If someone asked you which came first, just say billiards.

What is a pool table without pockets called?

Carom billiard is played on a billiard table without pockets and with a set of 3 balls: one red and two white of which one is marked. The player must use the cue ball to make contact with the other two balls on the table in order to score 1 point.

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

Do Americans say pool or billiards?

American pool is a term used in the United Kingdom, and sometimes more broadly outside North America, to refer to pool (pocket billiards) cue sports that make use of formerly American-style and now professionally world-standardised numbered billiard balls that have a standard diameter of 57 mm (21⁄4 in), as opposed to ...

What is the white ball called in pool?

The name is a reference to how many balls need to be pocketed to win the game, but all 15 balls are used. All of the striped and colored balls are referred to as object balls, and the solid white ball is the cue ball.

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”.

What are pool guys called?

A swimming pool service technician is a person who services major pool equipment such as pumps, motors, and filters of swimming pools.

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 are the holes in pool called?

The table has six holes along the sides which are also called as receptacles or pockets. The main goal of the sport is to strike the balls into the receptacles.

What's the black ball in pool called?

The balls are racked with the black (the 8 ball) on the foot spot (or "black spot"), in contrast with US-style eight-ball, nine-ball and most other pool games, in which the apex ball is placed on the foot spot. A "fair break" is one in which an object ball is potted, and/or at least 4 object balls contact the cushion.

What is the square thing in pool called?

A cue stick (or simply cue, more specifically billiards cue, pool cue, or snooker cue) is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of pool, snooker and carom billiards.

What do British people call pool?

English billiards, called simply billiards in the United Kingdom and in many former British colonies, is a cue sport that combines the aspects of carom billiards and pool. Two cue balls (one white and one yellow) and a red object ball are used.

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.

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.

Is there a black ball in pool?

Black ball is played with 15 colored object balls and the cue ball. The object balls are two groups of seven and the black ball. The player or team pocketing their group of object balls and legally pocketing the black ball wins the game.

Why do pool players aim at the bottom of the cue ball?

“Bottom-of-the-ball” aiming is a way to visualize the required contact point (CP) on the object ball (assuming no throw).

Do you sink balls in pool?

The object of the game is to sink all seven of your balls into the different pockets on the pool table before the opposing player. You will be solids or stripes, and your opponent will have the other set of balls. For example, if you are solids, your opponent will be stripes or vice versa.

Do you lose if you sink the white ball?

Potting the White Ball

The phenomenon of sinking a cue ball is called a Scratch and results in a penalty, and you lose the turn to the opponent.

What are 8-ball pool balls called?

The game of 8-ball pool consists of playing with 1 white cue ball and 15 numbered balls called object balls. The balls numbered 1 through 7 are called solids. The balls numbered 9 through 15 are called stripes.

What happens if you sink the white ball before the black?

Rarely are people aware of this rule, but it can be invoked surprisingly often. Sinking the cue ball while you're trying to sink the black is also an automatic loss. Also known as scratching, this rule can cause plenty of heartache for the almost triumphant pool player.

What is a Viking pool?

Viking combines premium raw materials and a unique ten-stage manufacturing process, known as A.C.P. ® (Advanced Composite Pool), to create a pool of unsurpassed appearance and performance. Viking's pools withstand drastic temperature changes and resist freeze-thaw climates.

What's the top of a pool table called?

Top Rails – The top surface of the table, no covered by cloth, from which the cushions protrude toward the playing surface. The head and foot rails are the short rails on those ends of the table; the right and the left rails are the long rails, dictated by standing at the head of the table and facing the foot end.