Pool Billards

Ready, Aim, Fire!

Pool is also known as pool billiards, pocket billiards and billiards, and is a sport that is played with 2 or more players, although it can be played by a single person to improve their skills.
Pool is played on a pool table; a cloth-covered rectangular table surrounded by rails, that has six pockets on the edge of the table.
There are many versions of the pool game, such as 9-ball pool, bank pool and 8-ball pool, 8 ball pool being the most popular.
Most pool games use special balls, made from phenolic resin plastic, that are shot into the pockets with a white cue ball and a stick, called a cue, which is at least 1.016 m (40 inches) long.
Pool tables are normally 1.07 to 1.37 metres (3.5 to 4.5 feet) wide by 2.13 to 2.74 metres (7-9 feet) long and pool balls are generally 57.1 to 60.3 cm (2.25 to 2.375 inches) in diameter, and weigh 156–170 g (5.5 to 6 oz).

The World Pool Billiard Association (WPA), established in 1987, governs official pool, and is a member of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS).
Pool uses coloured balls that are either striped or full colour, depending on the number, and there are 15 in a set, plus the white cue ball.
Cue sports, including pool, have not yet been included in the Olympics, even though they were seriously considered for the 2004 Olympic Games, and there have been many attempts to have them included in the Olympic programme since the 1950s.
It is believed the best pool player of all time was Willie Hoppe, nicknamed ‘The King’, who lived from 1887 to 1959.
The game of pool has its origins in a lawn game, and was first played on a table in the 1400s, probably in France, although most of the modern style table and equipment was not produced until the 1800s.