Let’s dive into the fascinating world of cue sports, namely pool, snooker, and billiards to answer that often asked question…

“What’s the Difference between Pool, Snooker and Billiards?”

Ball Differences:
- Snooker: Employs 22 balls, including one white ‘striker’ ball, 15 reds, and six colored balls (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black), each 2 1/16 inches in diameter.
- Billiards: Uses three balls (white, yellow, red), with both the white and yellow functioning as the striker ball. The balls have a diameter of 2 7/16 inches.
- Pool: The number of balls varies by game variant, but a full set includes 16 balls, each 2 1/4 inches in diameter: one white cue ball, eight solid-colored balls (numbered one to eight), and seven striped balls (numbered nine to fifteen).
Table Differences:
- Carom Billiards and Pool: Played on tables that can be 7, 8, or 9 feet long. Pool tables have pockets, while carom billiard tables do not.
- Snooker: Utilizes pocketed tables, with American tables typically being 10 feet and English tables a massive 12 feet.
Rule Differences:
- Carom Billiards: Focuses on scoring points by bouncing the cue ball off the other two balls.
- Snooker: Played in frames where points are scored by pocketing red and colored balls in a specific order.
- Pool (e.g., Straight Pool): Players score by pocketing balls, aiming to reach a predetermined number of points.

Historical Origins and Evolution

Billiards:
- Originated as a lawn game in 15th-century Northern Europe, resembling croquet.
- Evolved to an indoor game on wooden tables with green cloth, using wooden sticks (maces) to shove balls.
- The term “billiard” is French, derived either from “billart” (the wooden stick) or “bille” (a ball).
- Cue sticks were developed in the late 1600s, replacing maces for precision.
- Rapid advancements in equipment occurred post-1800 due to the Industrial Revolution, like the introduction of chalk, leather cue tips, and vulcanized rubber for cushions.
Snooker:
- Evolved from English Billiards, dominant in Britain from the 1770s to the 1920s.
- A complex game, snooker is a colorful amalgamation of offensive and defensive play.
- Played on the same tables as English Billiards but employs 22 balls instead of three.
Pool:
- The term “pool” refers to a collective bet, originating from betting parlors where pool tables were installed.
- The dominant American billiard game until the 1870s was American Four-Ball Billiards.
- Fifteen-Ball Pool (or “61-Pool”) became popular in the late 19th century.
- Modern variants like Eight-Ball and Nine-Ball emerged in the early 20th century.

Current Standing and Popular Professionals

Pool:
- Renowned players include Chinese prodigy Wu Jia-qing, Austrian ace Ouschan Albin, and American talent Tyler Styler, each known for their remarkable records and Mosconi Cup victories.
Snooker:
- Leading figures in 2023 include Ronnie O’Sullivan (England), Luca Brecel (Belgium), Judd Trump (England), and others, each bringing a unique flair to the snooker table.

Conclusion

The worlds of billiards, pool, and snooker are as diverse as they are rich in history. From their aristocratic origins to the modern era, where they’ve become a canvas for some of the most skilled cue sports athletes, these games continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Whether it’s the strategic complexity of snooker, the precision of billiards, or the dynamic play of pool, each game offers a unique glimpse into the fascinating world of cue sports.

Peter Tesh – Senior Writer – The Snooker Site

All referenced links sources cited in the article: