Parker Evans
Cover Art
Ever since the beginning of sports, people have been hitting balls with sticks. There are dozens of sports who utilize both balls and sticks, ranging from baseball/softball to badminton, hockey, and lacrosse. Although, nothing is quite like Pool. It isn’t just a game you find in bars or basements; it’s a game built on focus and skill. Whether or not you’re playing with your friends, or against a true professional, there’s never a dull moment in a sport like this.
What is Pool?
Pool is a cue sport. At first, it may seem incredibly simple; You grab a cue stick, line up a shot, and try to hit a ball into one of six pockets on a special table. In reality, however, it’s not that simple. Pool is really all about angles, speed, focus, and precision. You have to think ahead and plan your next move. This isn’t checkers; it’s chess.
A Brief History
Pool didn’t start in bars, or a basement, but in 15th Century Europe. That’s right, it actually began as a lawn game for royalty and nobles. Over time, people moved it indoors and covered their billiard tables in a material other than grass. Oh, right… the billiard table. It’s a table covered in green felt and surrounded by rails with six holes total, all around.
Anyway, the player’s usual mallets became cue sticks, and suddenly, a royal’s game became… well, just an everybody game. By early 20th Century, pool halls (venues/buildings dedicated to just the sport itself) were everywhere. People of all kinds of backgrounds played frequently, and it became a regular activity in everyday life. Pool has been around for centuries, and it’s pretty clear that it’s going to stay
Different Ways to Play
There are many ways to play pool. From Eight-Ball to Bank Pool, the rules vary to make it all more interesting and more fun.
Eight-Ball is probably the one that you’re familiar with. It’s a full rack of fifteen balls, seven striped, eight solids. The main objective is to be the first to get the eight-ball into one of the six holes after you get the rest in. One player has stripes, while the other player has solids. It is the most commonly played pool game. Then, there’s Nine-Ball. Being a much faster game, you have to hit the balls in order, from one through nine, and whoever gets the nine-ball in first, wins. This isn’t as common as Eight-Ball, but a lot of people prefer it because it moves along faster and more straight-forward.
Oh, and Straight Pool. This one’s simple: you can hit any ball, but you have to call your shots (out loud). It’s slower and takes more focus. There are other ways to play, too, like Bank Pool or One-Pocket. That’s another thing that makes pool fun; the rules might change, but the goal is always the same… make the shot.
The Leagues
Pool isn’t just a casual game, for many, it’s a sport. There are real leagues and tournaments all over the country– and the world! In the U.S., the APA (American Poolplayers Association) and the BCA (Billiard Congress of America) host games and tournaments for pros to play in. When it comes to the rest of the world, events like the World Pool Championship and the Mosconi Cup bring together top players from different countries. People like Effren Reyes, Jeanette Lee, and Earl Strickland are known for their amazing skills and impressive shots. Watching them play is shockingly satisfying and exhilarating.
It’s truly a unique sport! Or it’s just a fun game, depending on how you look at it. It isn’t just a game you find in bars or basements; it’s a game built on focus and skill. Whether or not you’re playing with your friends, or against a true professional, there’s never a dull moment in a sport like pool.