Cue sports (sometimes spelled cuesports) refers to a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber cushions.

Historically the unbrella term for the sport as a whole was billiards. While that familiar name is still employed variably as a generic name for all games, the word's usage has splintered into more inclusive competing meanings among certain groups and geographic regions. For example, in the United Kingdom, billiards refers exclusively to English Billiards, while in the United States it is sometimes used to refer only to carom games and by a minority to eight-ball (being the only cue game known to many players).

There are three general subdivisions of games within the sport: 1) carom billiards, referring to games played on tables without pockets, including among others balkline and straight rail, cushion caroms, three cushion billiards and artistic billiards; 2) pocket billiards generally played on a table with six pockets, including among others 8-ball (the world's most widely played cue sport), 9-ball, straight pool, one-pocket and bank pool; and 3) snooker, which while technically a pocket billiards game, is generally classified separately based on its historic divergence from other games, as well as a separate culture and terminology that characterize its play.

Billiards has a long and rich history stretching from its inception in the 15th century; to the wrapping of Mary, Queen of Scots body in her billiard table cover in 1586; through its many mentions in the works of Shakespeare, including the the famous line "let us to billiards" in Antony and Cleopatra (1606-07); to the dome on Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello, which conceals a billiard room he hid as billiards was illegal in Virginia; and through the many famous enthusiasts of the sport including, Mozart, Abraham Lincoln, King Louis XIV of France, Marie Antoinette, Mark Twain, George Custer, George Washington, Napoleon, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, W.C. Fields, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Babe Ruth and many others.

As a sport

At least the games with regulated international professional competition have been referred to as "sports" or "sporting" events, not simply "games", since 1893 at the latest.[3] Quite a variety of particular games (i.e. sets of rules and equipment) are the subject of present-day competition, including many of those already mentioned, with competition being especially broad in three-cushion, nine-ball and snooker.

Snooker, though technically a pocket billiards variant and closely related in its equipment and origin to the game of English billiards, is a professional sport organized at the international level, and its rules bear little resemblance to those of pool games.

A "Billiards" category encompassing pool, snooker and carom was featured in the 2005 World Games, held in Duisburg, Germany, and the 2006 Asian Games also saw the introduction of a "Cue sports" category. Efforts have also been underway for many years to have cue sports become Olympic competitions.

Equipment

Billiard balls

Pool ballsBilliard balls vary from game to game, in size, design and number. Carom billiards balls are larger than pool balls, and come as a set of two cue balls (one colored or marked) and an object ball (or two object balls in the case of the game four-ball also known as yotsudama). American-style pool balls, used in any pool game and found throughout the world, come in sets of two suits of object balls, seven solids and seven stripes, an 8 ball and a cue ball; the balls are racked differently for different games (some of which do not use the entire ball set). Blackball (English-style eight-ball) sets are similar, but have unmarked groups of red (or blue) and yellow balls instead of solids and stripes, and are smaller than the American-style; they are used principally in the UK, Ireland, and some British Commonwealth countries, though not exclusively, since they are unsuited for playing nine-ball. Snooker balls are also smaller than American-style pool balls, and come in sets of 22 (fifteen reds, 6 "colours", and a cue ball). Other games also have custom ball sets, such as Russian pyramid and bumper pool.

Billiard balls have been made from many different materials since the start of the game, including clay, bakelite, celluloid, crystalite, ivory, plastic, steel and wood. The dominant material from 1627 until the early to mid 1900s was ivory. The search for a substitute for ivory use was not for environmental concerns but based on economic motivation and fear of danger for elephant hunters. It was in part spurred on by a New York billiard table manufacturer who annnounced a prize of $10,000 for a substitute material. The first viable substitute was celluloid, invented by John Wesley Hyatt in 1868, but the material was volatile, sometimes exploding during manufacture and was highly flammable.

Tables

There are many sizes and styles of pool and billiard tables. Generally, tables are 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. Full-size 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. Pubs 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 pool halls from time to time. Ten-foot tables remain the standard size for carom billiard games. The slates on modern carom tables are usually heated to stave off moisture and provide a consistent playing surface.

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 4.5 by 9 ft. (interior dimensions), 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).

Cloth

Women playing on an elaborately decorated green-covered table in an early 1880s advertising posterAll types of tables are covered with billiard cloth (often called "felt", but actually a woven wool or wool/nylon blend called baize). Cloth has been used to cover billiards tables since the 15th century. In fact, the predecessor company of the most famous maker of billiard cloth, Iwan Simonis, was formed in 1453.

Bar or tavern tables, which get a lot of play, use "slower", more durable cloth. The cloth used in upscale billiard parlours and home billiard rooms is "faster" (i.e. provides less friction, allowing the balls to roll farther across the table bed), and competition-quality pool cloth is made from 100% worsted wool. Snooker cloth traditionally has a nap (consistent fiber directionality) and balls behave differently when rolling against versus along with the nap.

The cloth of the billiard table has traditionally been green, reflecting its origin (originally the grass of ancestral lawn games), and has been so colored since the 16th century.[6] (And thus the name of the pool novel and movie The Color of Money, echoing the color of American currency notes). However, the color also serves a useful function, as humans have a lower light sensitivity to green than to any other color, allowing play for longer periods of time without eye strain.

Rack

Rack (billiards)

A rack is the name given to a frame (usually wood or plastic) used to organize billiard balls at the beginning of a game. This is traditionally triangular in shape, but varies with the type of billiards played. There are two main types of racks; the more common triangular shape which is used for eight-ball and straight pool and the diamond shaped rack used for nine-ball.

Cues

Cue stick

Billiards games are mostly 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 0.4 to 0.55 inch (11-14 mm) 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 "the ladies aid", "rake", "bridge stick" 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 most professionals employ the bridge whenever the intended shot so requires. Some players, especially current or former snooker players, use a screw-on cue butt extension instead of or in addition to the mechanical bridge. Bridge head design is varied, and not all designs (especially those with cue shaft-enclosing rings, or wheels on the bottom of the head), are broadly tournament-approved. In Italy a longer, thicker cue is available for this kind of tricky shots.

Chalk

Billiard chalkChalk is applied to the tip of the cue stick, ideally before 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. Cue tip chalk is not actually the substance typically referred to as "chalk" (generally calcium carbonate, also known as calcite or carbonate of lime), but any of several proprietary compounds, with a silicate base. "Chalk" may also refer to a cone of fine, white hand chalk; like talc (talcum powder) it can be used to reduce friction between the cue and bridge hand during shooting, for a smoother stroke. Some brands of hand chalk actually are made of compressed talc. (Tip chalk is not used for this purpose because it is abrasive, hand-staining and difficult to apply.) Many players prefer a slick pool glove over hand chalk or talc because of the messiness of these powders; buildup of particles on the cloth will affect ball behavior and necessitate more-frequent cloth cleaning.

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 8-ball, 9-ball, one-pocket, bank pool, snooker and, among the old guard, straight pool. In 8-ball and 9-ball the object is to sink object balls until one can legally pocket the winning eponymous ball. Well-known but waning in popularity is straight pool, in which players seek to continue sinking balls, rack after rack if they can, to reach a pre-determined winning score (typically 150). Another game is rotation, where the lowest number object ball on the table must be struck first, although any object ball may be sunk (i.e., combination shot). Each pocketed ball is worth its number, and the player with the highest score at the end of the rack is the winner. Since there are only 120 points available (1+2+3+4...+15 = 120), scoring 61 points leaves no opportunity for the opponent to catch up. In both one-pocket and bank pool, the players must sink a set number of balls; respectively, all in a particular pocket, or all by banking. In snooker, players score points by alternately pocketing red balls and special balls of different colours.

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 (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 balkline (not to be confused with baulk line, which pertains the game of English billiards) is a line parallel to one end of a billiard table. In the games of balkline - 18.1 and 18.2 (pronounced "eighteen-point-two") balkline, among other more obscure variations - the players have to drive at least one object ball past a balkline set at 18 inches from each rail, after one or two points have been scored, repectively.

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 per turn.

Eight-ball

Eight-ball rackIn the United States, the most commonly-played game is eight-ball. On the professional scene, eight-ball players who are on the International Pool Tour (IPT) are the highest paid players in the world[citation needed]. In the United Kingdom the game is commonly played in pubs, and it is competitively played in leagues on both sides of the Atlantic. The most prestigious tournaments including the World Open are sponsored and sanctioned by the International Pool Tour. Rules vary widely from place to place. Pool halls in North America are increasingly settling upon the International Standardized Rules. But tavern eight-ball, typically played on smaller, coin-operated tables and in a "winner controls the table" manner, can differ significantly even between two venues in the same city. The growth of local, regional and national amateur leagues may alleviate this confusion eventually. The goal of eight-ball, which is played with a full rack of fifteen balls and the cue ball, is to claim a suit (commonly stripes or solids in the US, and reds or yellows in the UK), pocket all of them, then legally pocket the 8 ball, while denying one's opponent opportunities to do the same with their suit, and without sinking the 8 ball early by accident.

Nine-ball

Nine-Ball is a rotation game where only the 1 through 9 balls and cue ball are used. The player at the table must make a legal shot on the lowest numbered ball on the table or a foul is called. The game is won by legally pocketing the nine ball (which can be done by striking the lowest numbered ball first and then driving the 9 into a pocket). Nine-ball is the predominant professional game. There are many local and regional tours and tournaments that are contested with nine-ball. There is no particular governing body of Nine-ball. Most places play with a version of "Texas Express", BCA (Billiard Congress of America) or WPA (World Pool-Billiard Association) rules. The largest Nine-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 Nine-ball tournaments. The UPA (United States Pool Players Association) has been the most dominant association for the last few years but the IPT (International Pool Tour) is taking over the top spot in men's billiards. Female professionals have a steady professional circuit that is governed by the WPBA (Women's Professional Billiard Association).

Three-ball

A variant using only three balls, generally played such that the player at turn continues shooting until all the balls are pocketed, and the player to do so in the fewest shots wins. The game can be played by two or more players. Dispenses with some fouls common to both nine- and eight-ball.

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. This statement can be verified by watching a game of one pocket. Most times, accomplished players choose to position balls near their pocket instead of trying to actually pocket them. This allows them to control the game by forcing their opponent to be on defense instead of taking a low percentage shot that could result in a loss of game. These low percentage shots are known as "flyers" by one pocket aficionados.

Bank pool

Bank pool has been gaining popularity in recent years. Bank pool can be played with a full rack (can be a LONG game), but is more typically played with nine balls (frequently 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 (8 balls when played with a full rack). Penalties and fouls are similar to one pocket in that the player committing the foul must spot a ball for each foul. This must be done before the incoming player shoots.

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 one of its prime strategies: to "snooker" the opposing player by causing that player to foul or leave an opening to be exploited (see Glossary of cue sports terms - "Snooker").

In the United Kingdom, snooker is by far the most popular cue sport at the competitive level. It is played in many other countries as well. Snooker is far rarer in the U.S., where pool games such as eight-ball and nine-ball dominate.

List of cue sports

Carom billiards games

Artistic billiards Balkline games (18.1, 18.2, etc.) Cowboy pool (a hybrid carom/pocket game) English billiards (a hybrid carom/pocket game) Five-pins Four-ball (yotsudama) Straight-rail Three-cushion billiards

Pocket billiards games

Bank pool (banks, nine-ball banks)
Baseball pocket billiards
Bottle pool
Bowliards
Chicago
Chinese eight-ball
Cowboy pool (a hybrid carom/pocket game)
Cribbage pool
Cutthroat
Eight-ball (stripes-and-solids, highs-and-lows, blackball)
English billiards (a hybrid carom/pocket game)
Equal offense
Golf pool
Irish standard pool
Kelly pool (pill/pea pool)
Nine-ball
One-pocket
Rotation
Russian pyramid
Seven-ball
Skittle pool variants (pin pool)
Snooker (generally regarded as its own sport, not a pool variant)
Speed Pool
Straight pool (also called "14.1 continuous")
Ten-ball
Three-ball

Obstacle billiards games

Bagatelle
Bar billiards
Bumper pool
Bottle pool, skittle pool (pin pool), and five-pins are vestigially classifiable here as well.

Cueless and/or ball-less developments

Finger pool (no cues)

Crud
Novuss (cued, but uses small pucks instead of balls)
The puck boardgame carrom (no cues, either) is probably related to novuss, and derived from it or vice versa.

External Links

Organizations

World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) — the International Olympic Committee-recognized promulgator of international rules for a variety of cue sports.
Billiard Congress of America (BCA) — the US national WPA affiliate and self-described "governing body of pool" in the United States (but also covers carom games and snooker)
American Poolplayers Association — the self-described world's largest pool league (site also provides pool-related news and articles); see also the affiliated
Canadian Poolplayers Association

News and community

''Inside Pool'' magazine — Pool news & articles
''Billiards Digest'' magazine — Pool (and occasionally carom billiards) news & articles
AzBilliards.com — A web site for billiards news
Billiards Forum — Online community site, technical details, glossary, etc.
Billiards Basement - Self-described "one-stop billiards portal", with history, technical details, links, etc.
CueTable Public Library - Online Archive For All Billiard Shot Layouts and Videos

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