Billiard History

It is arguable whether billiards history begins in the 14^th century in France or whether billiards game origins go back to an earlier century in china. However, it is agreed that term "billiard" has derived from the French word billiart that referred to the mace, the wooden club with which early billiard games were played.

Early Billiard Games

According to the most common version of billiards history, the game was invented in 14^th France as an indoor variation of a popular lawn game (from the family of croquet). Back then, billiard was played on a wooden, 6-pocketed table covered by a green felt with a hoop on one end (such as in croquet) and an erect stick (like in bowling) at the other hand. The game used to played with a wooden stick and two balls, one for each player and the object of the original billiard game was to guide the balls through the table barriers while avoid falling into the table pockets.

The billiard game kept its popularity mainly in French and England despite its shady reputation. Although it was considered illegal to play billiard in public until mid 1700s, the billiard game continue to develop: billiards equipment has evolved and new game variations were invented. King Louis XI of France was a proud owner of one luxurious billiard table. Mary the Queen of Scots also had one, until her castle was captured by invaders who kept her away from playing billiards and used the table's cloth to wrap her dead body.

Billiards History in America

Since the beginning of the 19^th century, billiard was no longer under European dominance. The first billiard games to arrive in America were preliminary versions of one pocket and a game called 4-ball (similar to English billiards).

By the end of the 19^th century, the most popular billiard games in America were straight rail and 15-ball pool - the former was an American translation of the then popular French game of Carombole, played on table with no pockets while the latter was in fact the forefather of modern pool games, played with 15 numbered balls.

Straight pool (also known as Continuous pool) was the next American contribution to the inventory of billiard games. The game has dominated official tournaments until the mid 20^th century, when 9-ball pool (which was apparently developed in the 1920s) took its place.

The term 'pool' was influenced from the common habit of playing billiard in poolrooms, same venues that hosted horse betting. With the development of pool as an Olympic sport, the name billiard was adapted again by pool associations and governing bodies of the cue sports.