The first pool table (also known as “billiards”) of which we have record is a table sold to King Louis XI of France in 1470. It was a game with rules similar to croquet, except that the game was played on a table. The game was would have originally been laid out much the same as croquet would have been on a lawn, except that the game was played inside. Soon, the players came to realize that the same game could be played on a table, rather than on the floor, and the game was moved up.
The name probably comes from the balls that were used (“billes” in French) and the stick or club that was used to hit the ball (“billart” in French). At first, the balls were pushed through a wire gate into a wooden peg, just like croquet, but over time, players began using the sides of the tables to purposefully angle the balls into the gates, and eventually, enterprising gamers used holes or pockets to replace the wire gates.
By the mid-1700s, billiards had taken root as a popular game not only in France, but in England and its American colonies, as well. One can imagine the powdered wigs and long-tailed coats surrounding a billiards table sipping ale and English tea in Boston Harbor just before the famous “tea party.”
Over time, the materials used for the rails on the sides of the tables evolved into highly-uniform substances that would produce a uniform rebound. From cloths stuffed with horsehair and rags to tightly-rolled cloths, technology marched on. Eventually, vulcanized rubber, which kept its shape regardless of temperature changes, was used for the side rails.
Technology and innovation also marked the development of the cue, or stick, that replaced the croquet-style billart used in early years. By the mid-1800s, chalk was used to provide additional friction, and leather tips were applied to the plain wood tips used previously. So Generals Grant and Sherman may have been chalking the tips of their cues as they pondered their next step against the rebels.
Nowadays, pool tables are made with Italian or Brazilian slate, and mahogany or other hard wood is used for a durable finish. The frame is usually made of poplar, which makes a strong and durable structure.
The rules of pool have evolved, just as have the tables, balls, and cues. As players discovered more and more opportunities to make the game more challenging, more convenient, and more fun, they devised new rules and adapted the game to their individual needs. While almost all tables are twice as long as they are wide, one can find a wide range of styles, sizes, colors, and qualities.
Why have pool tables made for such a popular game through the centuries? You’ll probably have to answer that for yourself, but playing pool is a relaxing yet engaging activity. Where some games are based solely on luck, pool is based on both skill and foresight. Much like chess, success in pool depends on an ability to look into the future to project future events that are entirely predictable. Unlike chess, though, the player has to exhibit some physical prowess to send the ball in the exact direction he or she intends. The mixture makes the game enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
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Doug Marks is an avid table game player and loves playing pool and every other table game. He writes for ClickShops Inc., which offers a great selection of pool tables at http://www.pooltable.us.comDoug Marks is an avid table game player and loves playing pool and every other table game. He writes for ClickShops Inc., which offers a great selection of pool tables at http://www.pooltable.us.com
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