WORLD OF BILLIARDS

CAROM

Perhaps the next most common family of billiard games in our part of the world, and often the most perplexing at first glance, since the tables have no pockets! Instead, players earn points by imparting a high degree of spin on the cue ball in order to curve, or, "carom" it into a certain number and combination of balls and rails. In fact, spin is so important to the game of carom, that most carom table surfaces are heated from the bottom which makes for more curve-able shots.

SNOOKER

More popular in the United Kingdom and western Europe, but still findable in Milwaukee, many pool players are surprised when they first see a snooker table because of their size. Whereas standard pool tables are 8 or 9 feet long, snooker tables are 10 or 12 feet long! It may not sound like much, but seeing a full sized snooker table in person for a pool player can be shocking! If you ever get the chance to play snooker you'll certainly be getting more steps in than pool!

For a pool player, it can be quite a challenge when first trying snooker. The tables may be larger, but the balls and the pockets are smaller! Besides the challenges of adapting to snooker's proportions, it's premise is relatively simple to understand. Snooker is played with 22 balls: 15 red, a yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black, and of course, a cue ball. The reds are racked in a diamond like we're used to in pool, while the remaining colored balls each have their own "home" spot on the table. Every red ball is worth one point whereas the colored balls are worth more depending on their color. Players must first pocket a red ball, in order to be allowed to pocket one of another color. When a red ball is pocketed it stays pocketed, but all other colored balls are returned to their home spot until every red ball is gone from the table.

ENGLISH POOL

Also called Blackball, it's Eight Ball Pool's closest relative. It's premise is the same with some variation in equipment and rule specifics. The most obvious difference is the ball set. In lieu of solids and stripes, an English pool ball set includes seven reds and seven yellows with a black, sometimes striped, Eight Ball. Though you may have never seen them before, this style actually finds its roots here in the United States. This style of balls used to be referred to as a "casino" ball set, as its purpose was originally to make the state of active games quicker for spectators to read in casino pool halls and eight ball pool games and tournaments where betting was common. This style may have mostly died out in the states, but it found a home in the UK where it lives on in its own way!

ARTISTIC POOL

Not a game per say, but a fun world onto it's own that anyone can try with standard pool equipment! Artistic pool consists of players setting up and demonstrating impressive trick shots which vary in complexity and creativity. Regardless of one's skill level it takes practice to perfect each shot! Once mastered however, adding artistic pool shots to your repertoire makes for great party tricks!