Pool
Play Pool Online on Mela App

The history of Pool is interesting and rich. Though the words ‘billiards’ or ‘pool’ are used indistinctly, the two are quite different. The game has been loved by the royals and commoners alike. The game moved indoors to a wooden table and a green cloth to imitate grass along with a border. The balls were tossed on the table and hit with wooden sticks known as “maces”.

Pool is a categorization of cue sports played on a table consisting of six pockets in which the balls are struck. Every pool game has a distinct name, some of the most popular games include eight-ball, nine-ball, ten-ball, seven-ball, black ball, one-pocket, and bank pool.

The early term pocket billiards is used interchangeably and preferred by some pool authorities around the world but it includes a variety of games like billiards, snooker, Russian pyramid, and kaisa which are not exactly the same as pool games.

What we call Pool today, originated from two prolific English games that came to the United States in the 19th century. English billiards was the first game and the second more popular game was pyramid pool. In the 20th century, new games came into play and some of these older games had to give way to the most happening Pool games that we play now.

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Rules to Play Pool Online on Mela App

The World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) has established a set of rules for Pool that you need to follow.

  • Before you begin, the object balls should be placed in a triangular rack at the lower end of the table. The order of the balls can be arbitrary apart from the black 8-ball which should be positioned in the middle of the third row.
  • For the first game, a coin should be tossed to decide who will break the balls after which the players take turns.
  • A player must hit the balls and make sure that four balls hit cushions and the cue ball doesn’t find its place in a pocket.
  • If the 8-ball goes in the pocket during the break, the player can request for a re-rack.
  • The first player to score an object ball will then continue to pocket the same category (stripes or solids).
  • A player can take shots until there is a foul, or they fail to pocket an object ball.
  • If and when a player incurs a foul, the opponent can position the cue ball anywhere on the table.
  • After all the player’s balls have been pocketed, they must go for the black 8 ball. The player has to decide which pocket they want to pot the black ball and follow accordingly. If the player fails to do so, the opponent gets a chance. If they pot the 8 ball in any other pocket than the one they decided, the game is lost.
Tips & Tricks

We will illustrate some important tips and tricks for beginners and intermediate Pool players. Let’s begin.

  • Strong Stance - Ensure that you have a formidable pool stance so that you don’t fall over if there is a slight push. You need a strong foundation and the cue and back arm in a pendulum position.
  • Aim Properly - There are tw o critical aiming systems in Pool. One is the Shot line where you aim the cue to play a shot. The second is the Point of Contact where you hit the ball.
  • Ghost Ball Technique - The ghost ball is a strategy to aim where you think your cue ball would need to be to pot your object ball. It helps in better visualization to identify where to shoot.
  • Improve your Pool Stroke - Your stroke will eventually limit or enable you to go far in the game. The ideal pool stroke is known as the pendulum stroke as you allow your elbow to act as a hinge and your forearm as a pendulum.
  • Follow Through - This tip is linked to the pool stroke. Whenever you play a shot, you must have a seamless follow-through. It boosts your stroke and applies the pressure that you are trying to put on the cue ball.
  • Manage your Grip - Except you are using a particular stroke where you need a tight grip, great players will advise you to use a soft grip to cradle the cue.
  • Long Shots - As beginners, a lot of players have issues with a long shot due to the increased distance. You can get rid of this by building a good stroke, ensuring that you are aiming true center and practicing a lot of long shot drills.
  • Hit the Center - Most beginners think that they are hitting the center of the cue ball but it might be slightly left or right. This minute deviation will affect your shot quality. Even the smallest spin will shift to the object ball and it will spin away from the pocket.
FAQs
The idea of Pool is to pot all the designated balls (stripes or solids) followed by the black 8 ball to win the game. It is mostly played in a best of 3, 5 or 7 game format where you need to win more games to be a winner.
In Pool, one-pocket has to be the most difficult yet innovative game which needs strong analytical skills along with having all the shots in the book. Having said that, it is just a harder version of the 9-ball and 10-ball pool.
The “break” is known as the start of the game when an opponent breaks up the fifteen pool balls. It is the first shot in the game and breaks the rack of balls, hence it is called the “break”.
The word Billiards originated from France. Pool and Billiards are completely different when it comes to the rules of the game. However, in some parts of the world, these terms are used interchangeably.
The only way you can improve your game is to practice hard. Try all the above tips and tricks when you practice to become an improved player.
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