Baizewick guide
A short history of pool
Pool grew out of billiards. American pool developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and English pub pool followed later on smaller tables.
A billiards family tree
Billiards, snooker and pool all share the same roots: games played with a cue and balls on a cloth-covered table. Pool is the family of pocket games played with a set of object balls.
The table takes shape
Many features of a modern pool table were settled in 19th-century billiards. Slate beds, which stay flat far better than wood, are commonly credited to the London maker John Thurston in the 1820s and 1830s. Rubber cushions followed, and improved greatly once vulcanised rubber became available in the mid-1800s.
The leather cue tip is commonly credited to the French player François Mingaud in the early 1800s. It let players strike the cue ball off-centre and put spin on it, which changed how every cue sport is played.
Where the name comes from
In 19th-century America, billiard tables were often found in “poolrooms”, where people bet on horse races by pooling their stakes. The tables became known as pool tables, and the games played on them as pool.
Eight-ball and nine-ball
Eight-ball, the game most people now think of as pool, developed in the early 20th century. Nine-ball became popular later. Both are played on American tables with larger, numbered balls.
Before them, the leading competitive game in America was straight pool, also called 14.1 continuous, introduced in 1910. Players could keep potting balls in a run that might last for hundreds of balls, which made it a game for specialists.
Pool on the big screen
Films did a lot for pool’s image. The Hustler (1961) and its sequel The Color of Money (1986) are both credited with bringing new players to pool halls. The second film helped fuel a boom in nine-ball.
English pub pool
In Britain, pool took hold in pubs and clubs, especially from the 1960s and 1970s, on small coin-operated tables. English pool uses reds and yellows instead of numbered balls, and smaller balls with tighter pockets.
Different organisations and leagues developed their own rules, which is why English pool rules still vary. Our English pool rules guide explains the main differences.
English pool today
English pool is now played under several rule sets, including international “blackball” rules and the rules of various national associations and local leagues. The table is still most often the 7ft size found in pubs, which is why it is the most popular choice for UK homes. Compare sizes in our pool table sizes guide.
What it means for a home table
The split between English and American pool is why tables, balls and cues come in two families. See English vs American pool before you buy.