Billiards – More Than 8-ball Pool
Josephine Thunder asked:
8-ball is the most popular billiard game in the world. It is so popular, that 8-ball pool is almost a synonym for billiards. However, 8-ball is only a part of a one big happy family of billiard games.
8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, one pocket, balkline are all cue sports games. They all share a rectangular cloth-covered table, a long cue stick, a set of balls and an ambition to score, but they differ in their rules, objects, and even their terminology.
Generally, billiard games divide into two types: pocket billiard games and carom billiard games. Pocket billiard games, usually referred to as pool games, are the type of billiard played on a table that has six pockets. In pocket billiard games, the players aspire to sink the balls into the table pockets, according to specific games rules.
Carom billiard games, on the other hand, are played on pocketless tables. Only three billiard balls are involved in the carom games. The purpose of the players in most carom games is to maneuver their cue ball so it will carom off the other two balls, again, according to the specific requirements of the game.
8-ball pool is a pocket billiard game. Other popular pocket billiard games include 9-ball pool, 14.1 continuous (formerly known as straight pool) and even snooker. Snooker is the most popular cue sports in the UK. Even though snooker is played on a pocketed pool table, it is not governed by the same association that administrates pocket billiard rules. Therefore, pocket billiard general rules do not apply to snooker.
The equipment used in snooker games is also different from the one used in pocket billiard tournaments. For example, the snooker table is a bit larger than the standard pool table plus its pockets are narrower. The terminology used in both billiard games is different as well. While pool players’ goal is to “pocket” the “object balls”, snooker players aim to “pot” the “red” or the “on-ball”.
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8-ball is the most popular billiard game in the world. It is so popular, that 8-ball pool is almost a synonym for billiards. However, 8-ball is only a part of a one big happy family of billiard games.
8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, one pocket, balkline are all cue sports games. They all share a rectangular cloth-covered table, a long cue stick, a set of balls and an ambition to score, but they differ in their rules, objects, and even their terminology.
Generally, billiard games divide into two types: pocket billiard games and carom billiard games. Pocket billiard games, usually referred to as pool games, are the type of billiard played on a table that has six pockets. In pocket billiard games, the players aspire to sink the balls into the table pockets, according to specific games rules.
Carom billiard games, on the other hand, are played on pocketless tables. Only three billiard balls are involved in the carom games. The purpose of the players in most carom games is to maneuver their cue ball so it will carom off the other two balls, again, according to the specific requirements of the game.
8-ball pool is a pocket billiard game. Other popular pocket billiard games include 9-ball pool, 14.1 continuous (formerly known as straight pool) and even snooker. Snooker is the most popular cue sports in the UK. Even though snooker is played on a pocketed pool table, it is not governed by the same association that administrates pocket billiard rules. Therefore, pocket billiard general rules do not apply to snooker.
The equipment used in snooker games is also different from the one used in pocket billiard tournaments. For example, the snooker table is a bit larger than the standard pool table plus its pockets are narrower. The terminology used in both billiard games is different as well. While pool players’ goal is to “pocket” the “object balls”, snooker players aim to “pot” the “red” or the “on-ball”.
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7 ft Pool/Snooker Table Package A Complete Home Recreation Package
Bob asked:
Spending an afternoon with your friends, playing a game of pool or snooker is great fun. And if you haven’t done it yet, don’t wait any longer. Get a pool tableand experience it firsthand. You will never get bored and will spend hours with your friends or family playing pool or snooker on this table. It is one of the best ways to relax and spend some quality time.
Once you have decided to buy a pool table, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. You have to think about the size, design, felt color and obviously the cost of the snooker table.
To make your job easy, I have the perfect solution for you. At BIGshop.com.au you can find some of the best pool tables, and that too, at an affordable price. I recently bought a 7 ft table for my home for just AU$599.95. And guess what, I also got $350 worth of accessories FREE along with this pool/snooker table! I still can’t believe that I’ve struck such a good bargain. (You can also pick an 8 ft table, if you want a slightly bigger one).
This snooker table has a deep green playing surface on a wood grain finish. With its ultra modern chrome corners, the finish is as good as any high-end furniture and it goes well with the décor of our home. Not just homes, the 7 ft pool table can be placed anywhere, even in bars, clubs, or garages.
The icing on the cake is the bonus accessories that you’ll get with these tables. You have everything you need in this bonus set, including 1 pool ball set, 1 snooker ball set, 2 pool cues, 2 bridge sticks, and more. Take home a 7 ft pool/snooker table today and your kids will just love it.
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Spending an afternoon with your friends, playing a game of pool or snooker is great fun. And if you haven’t done it yet, don’t wait any longer. Get a pool tableand experience it firsthand. You will never get bored and will spend hours with your friends or family playing pool or snooker on this table. It is one of the best ways to relax and spend some quality time.
Once you have decided to buy a pool table, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. You have to think about the size, design, felt color and obviously the cost of the snooker table.
To make your job easy, I have the perfect solution for you. At BIGshop.com.au you can find some of the best pool tables, and that too, at an affordable price. I recently bought a 7 ft table for my home for just AU$599.95. And guess what, I also got $350 worth of accessories FREE along with this pool/snooker table! I still can’t believe that I’ve struck such a good bargain. (You can also pick an 8 ft table, if you want a slightly bigger one).
This snooker table has a deep green playing surface on a wood grain finish. With its ultra modern chrome corners, the finish is as good as any high-end furniture and it goes well with the décor of our home. Not just homes, the 7 ft pool table can be placed anywhere, even in bars, clubs, or garages.
The icing on the cake is the bonus accessories that you’ll get with these tables. You have everything you need in this bonus set, including 1 pool ball set, 1 snooker ball set, 2 pool cues, 2 bridge sticks, and more. Take home a 7 ft pool/snooker table today and your kids will just love it.
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Coin Operated Pool Tables – a Good Earner?
SP Turner asked:
One thing that plays on the minds of pub and bar owners the world over is how to keep customers in.
Drinks offers have always been a popular choice, but with an increasing awareness of the dangers of drinking irresponsibly, and the legal responsibility of proprietors to ensure this does not happen, other options will undoubtedly become more popular.
One classic way to add revenue to a pub, club or bar is having coin operated pool tables. These pool tables can either be bought outright, or leased from a manufacturer. There are two main types of coin mechanism, traditional ‘mechanical’ mechs and electronic mechs. Both can be set to whatever price the owner sees fit, and accept most denominations of UK currency.
In some bars and clubs, free play tables are installed, and are ‘rented’ by the hour to patrons. This business model is used in actual pool and snooker clubs, however most pool/snooker clubs require you to become a member. The lack of mandatory membership can make a bar running this model more lucrative than the traditional pool club. Both however are guaranteed to add an extra revenue stream to your pub, bar or club and should you purchase the pool tables, you will likely see a return on your investment within 12-18 months at the most. An example of a successful UK bar chain to run this model is The Elbow Room, an American style pool bar which have SAM Billiards pool tables for rental by the hour.
The added bonus of having pool tables in your establishment is that you have to option to begin or join a pool league. This means you will host games, and send your team out to other pubs/bars. This raises the profile of your business, and also brings in more customers if your team performs well in the league. Your players may also play in national competitions, which could open up sponsorship opportunities as well.
The only additional cost you may incur is the maintenance of your pool tables. As long as you cover them when not in use, and make sure no one sits on them, rests drinks on them etc they will last a long time. One piece club cues, chalk and other accessories can be bought in bulk at a discount, and most manufacturers have cheaper versions specifically for commercial environments where they may get damaged/broken.
If you are leasing your tables you can usually arrange a maintenance contract with the supplier to repair any table damage, and change the cloth where required. Should you have purchased your tables, it is worth trying to find a local fitter who you may be able to set up a contract with. This will ensure that your pool tables are kept in the best condition, and your customers see the benefit.
Maintaining your tables is important; a shoddy pool table is no fun to play on, and will not make you any money. Well cared for tables however, will get your business recommended to other pool players, and casual fans alike.
So from the basic premise of adding a pool table to your bar or club, you can see a wealth of opportunities to bring in new customers and keep them in. You can always trial the idea with one or two to start with, and if you have the room buy in more pool tables at a later date. So go give it a go – you don’t know what you’re missing out on!
Create a video blog…instantly.
One thing that plays on the minds of pub and bar owners the world over is how to keep customers in.
Drinks offers have always been a popular choice, but with an increasing awareness of the dangers of drinking irresponsibly, and the legal responsibility of proprietors to ensure this does not happen, other options will undoubtedly become more popular.
One classic way to add revenue to a pub, club or bar is having coin operated pool tables. These pool tables can either be bought outright, or leased from a manufacturer. There are two main types of coin mechanism, traditional ‘mechanical’ mechs and electronic mechs. Both can be set to whatever price the owner sees fit, and accept most denominations of UK currency.
In some bars and clubs, free play tables are installed, and are ‘rented’ by the hour to patrons. This business model is used in actual pool and snooker clubs, however most pool/snooker clubs require you to become a member. The lack of mandatory membership can make a bar running this model more lucrative than the traditional pool club. Both however are guaranteed to add an extra revenue stream to your pub, bar or club and should you purchase the pool tables, you will likely see a return on your investment within 12-18 months at the most. An example of a successful UK bar chain to run this model is The Elbow Room, an American style pool bar which have SAM Billiards pool tables for rental by the hour.
The added bonus of having pool tables in your establishment is that you have to option to begin or join a pool league. This means you will host games, and send your team out to other pubs/bars. This raises the profile of your business, and also brings in more customers if your team performs well in the league. Your players may also play in national competitions, which could open up sponsorship opportunities as well.
The only additional cost you may incur is the maintenance of your pool tables. As long as you cover them when not in use, and make sure no one sits on them, rests drinks on them etc they will last a long time. One piece club cues, chalk and other accessories can be bought in bulk at a discount, and most manufacturers have cheaper versions specifically for commercial environments where they may get damaged/broken.
If you are leasing your tables you can usually arrange a maintenance contract with the supplier to repair any table damage, and change the cloth where required. Should you have purchased your tables, it is worth trying to find a local fitter who you may be able to set up a contract with. This will ensure that your pool tables are kept in the best condition, and your customers see the benefit.
Maintaining your tables is important; a shoddy pool table is no fun to play on, and will not make you any money. Well cared for tables however, will get your business recommended to other pool players, and casual fans alike.
So from the basic premise of adding a pool table to your bar or club, you can see a wealth of opportunities to bring in new customers and keep them in. You can always trial the idea with one or two to start with, and if you have the room buy in more pool tables at a later date. So go give it a go – you don’t know what you’re missing out on!
Create a video blog…instantly.
There’s More Than Just Eight-ball to be Played on Pool Tables
MJ Marks asked:
My high school years was spent on an Air Force Base in Italy, and many times after school, I would find myself hanging out at the Community Center playing pool with some of the GI’s. I fancied myself a fairly good player because I occasionally got a lucky shot, but in retrospect, I really wasn’t very good at all. At the time, we always played eight-ball, and only associated that game with pool tables, but since then have learned many other games that are a lot of fun to play. So if you are looking for some variety, consider some of the following games:
Nine ball
Three ball
One-pocket
Bank pool
Snooker
Let’s take a closer look at how each of these games are played.
Nine-ball
This game only uses the cue ball and the 1 through 9 balls. The balls are racked in a diamond shape with the one ball in the front and the nine ball in the middle. Though the balls can be pocketed in any order, the cue ball must first make contact with the lowest numbered ball on the pool table. The game is won by sinking the 9 ball, and a match is won by winning a predetermined number of games. When a shot is missed, the next player starts play with the cue ball in the position left by the other player. If a foul was committed, the incoming player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
Three-ball
When there is a lack of numerous pool tables, but many players, this is a good game to play. It just uses the cue ball plus three other balls. The object is to sink all three balls in the fewest number of strokes. One player plays until all 3 balls are pocketed, all strokes counted. Then the next player starts, trying to sink all three balls in fewer strikes. Often this game is played in innings, consisting of three or five rounds.
One-pocket
This is a two player game with each player choosing a pocket. The object is to shoot a majority of the balls (8) into your pocket. Fouls occur if you shoot your ball into the wrong pocket on the pool tables. This game often takes more strategy than other billiard games.
Bank pool
This game can be played with either a full rack (15 balls) for a long game, or with nine balls (lately more popular) for a shorter game. You have to sink a ball by banking it off of one of the sides. Shots are normally called. The first player to bank and sink eight balls is the winner (in the shorter game, five balls must be pocketed).
Snooker
Snooker can be played on average sized pool tables. The game requires 15 red balls, and six balls of various colors (1 each of yellow [2], green [3], brown [4], blue [5], pink [6] and black [7]) and a white cue ball. Each red ball is worth 1 point, the color balls are then worth 2 – 7 points as labeled above. The 15 red balls are racked up in the traditional triangle at the beginning of the game. Each colored ball has a set point on the table. The object of the game is to get the most points. First you have to sink a red ball in a pocket, and then any colored ball (remember the point value of each ball is important ). The red ball remains in the pocket, but any colored ball is replaced to its original starting place on the table after it is sunk. You receive points for each ball you sink. When you miss a shot, it is then the other players turn. Once all the red balls are gone, the color balls then have to be sunk in numerical order. The player with the most points, wins. Points can also be earned through fouls (such as sinking balls out of order – like two red ones in a row).
These are most the of the official games that are played on pool tables, though they all have more detailed rules, and many of them offer variations. So, next time you are looking for something to do, head on down to your local pool hall where they have a lot of pool tables, and try something new when you play pool with your friends.
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My high school years was spent on an Air Force Base in Italy, and many times after school, I would find myself hanging out at the Community Center playing pool with some of the GI’s. I fancied myself a fairly good player because I occasionally got a lucky shot, but in retrospect, I really wasn’t very good at all. At the time, we always played eight-ball, and only associated that game with pool tables, but since then have learned many other games that are a lot of fun to play. So if you are looking for some variety, consider some of the following games:
Nine ball
Three ball
One-pocket
Bank pool
Snooker
Let’s take a closer look at how each of these games are played.
Nine-ball
This game only uses the cue ball and the 1 through 9 balls. The balls are racked in a diamond shape with the one ball in the front and the nine ball in the middle. Though the balls can be pocketed in any order, the cue ball must first make contact with the lowest numbered ball on the pool table. The game is won by sinking the 9 ball, and a match is won by winning a predetermined number of games. When a shot is missed, the next player starts play with the cue ball in the position left by the other player. If a foul was committed, the incoming player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
Three-ball
When there is a lack of numerous pool tables, but many players, this is a good game to play. It just uses the cue ball plus three other balls. The object is to sink all three balls in the fewest number of strokes. One player plays until all 3 balls are pocketed, all strokes counted. Then the next player starts, trying to sink all three balls in fewer strikes. Often this game is played in innings, consisting of three or five rounds.
One-pocket
This is a two player game with each player choosing a pocket. The object is to shoot a majority of the balls (8) into your pocket. Fouls occur if you shoot your ball into the wrong pocket on the pool tables. This game often takes more strategy than other billiard games.
Bank pool
This game can be played with either a full rack (15 balls) for a long game, or with nine balls (lately more popular) for a shorter game. You have to sink a ball by banking it off of one of the sides. Shots are normally called. The first player to bank and sink eight balls is the winner (in the shorter game, five balls must be pocketed).
Snooker
Snooker can be played on average sized pool tables. The game requires 15 red balls, and six balls of various colors (1 each of yellow [2], green [3], brown [4], blue [5], pink [6] and black [7]) and a white cue ball. Each red ball is worth 1 point, the color balls are then worth 2 – 7 points as labeled above. The 15 red balls are racked up in the traditional triangle at the beginning of the game. Each colored ball has a set point on the table. The object of the game is to get the most points. First you have to sink a red ball in a pocket, and then any colored ball (remember the point value of each ball is important ). The red ball remains in the pocket, but any colored ball is replaced to its original starting place on the table after it is sunk. You receive points for each ball you sink. When you miss a shot, it is then the other players turn. Once all the red balls are gone, the color balls then have to be sunk in numerical order. The player with the most points, wins. Points can also be earned through fouls (such as sinking balls out of order – like two red ones in a row).
These are most the of the official games that are played on pool tables, though they all have more detailed rules, and many of them offer variations. So, next time you are looking for something to do, head on down to your local pool hall where they have a lot of pool tables, and try something new when you play pool with your friends.
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