Billiards and pool are two different games that are often confused by people new to the sport. Both billiards and pool have their own unique set of rules, but if you’re new to these sports, it can be difficult to tell them apart. It helps if you know a little bit about how each game is played.
Both billiards and pool use a cue stick which is similar in design. The only real difference between the games is that pool uses smaller balls while billiards uses larger balls. Other than that, they’re almost identical games with subtle differences in strategy, tactics and technique.
Here’s everything you need to know about the difference between billiards and pool so that you can make an informed decision before trying either one out for the first time:
Are Billiard Balls the Same As Pool Balls?
Despite the similarities, one thing that sets billiards and pool apart is the type of balls they use. The difference can be seen in how the balls are made, where they come from and what they’re made of. Pool balls are smaller and rounder with a cloth cover while billiards balls are larger and heavier with an ivory leather cover.
The difference in ball size means that the pool table will have a smaller playing field than a billiard table.
How Many Types of Billiards Are There?
Billiards can be broken down into two main types: pocket billiards and carom billiards.
Pocket billiards is the most common type of pool available. To play this game, players take turns shooting balls into pockets at the end of a pocketless table. The object of this game is to either pot all 10 balls in a row or to make all 7 shots from one position without missing any shots.
Carom billiards are different from pocket billiards because they are played on a table with pockets, but the balls don’t necessarily have to be shot into these pockets. Instead, the object of carom billiards is to break up clusters of three or more balls by hitting them off the rails, near the corner pockets, or off another ball on the table.
Is Pool Cue Same As Billiard Cue and Snooker Cue?
Pool cues are similar to billiard cues but have a slightly different design. Pool cues have a metal shaft, metal tip, and a wooden or composite handle. Billiard cues have a metal shaft and metal tip while the handle is made out of a rubber-like material. Snooker cues differ from pool cues as they do not have a metal shaft. They also have more curved edges on their tips, use different weighting systems, and usually have smaller pockets than pool cues
The main difference between pool and snooker cues is that the former has three pockets instead of one. For example, an American-style pool cue can contain up to nine pockets (one above the other). In contrast, snooker does not use pockets at all and uses only one straight edge instead of two to hit balls across the table into the pocket.
Whats the Diffrent Between Snooker and Pool?
Snooker is a pool variant that was first introduced in 1922. It’s a game with smaller balls and fewer rules than pool. The object of snooker is to sink all 15 of the red balls on the table with your cue ball before your opponent can do the same.
