

By comparison, "Carom Billiards" cues are generally shorter with larger tips, while "Snooker" cues are longer with smaller tips.Ĭarom Billiards a.k.a. Prior to the eighties, the common cue length was 57.5 inches. Note that "Pool/Pocket Billiards" cues have become slightly longer over time. The Cues - "Pool" or "Pocket Billiards" cue sticks are generally 58.5 inches long, although many players will have custom cue sticks made in various lengths depending on their purpose i.e. "Carom Billiards" is played with only 3 balls, two white balls, and one red ball. There are 7 solid colored balls (1-7), and 7 striped balls (9-15), the 8 ball and the cue ball. The Balls - "Pool"/"Pocket Billiards" is played with 15 balls. Pool tables or "Pocket Billiards" tables as the name implies, have pockets, whereas Carom Billiards tables are pocketless. This works out to an official pool table size measuring 9 feet by 4.5 feet. The length of the table is twice the width. The official pool table size or a regulation table size is based on a 2:1 formula. Table Size -The first thing to take note of is that true "Pool" and "Billiards" tables are noticeably different from each other. Take a look at the differences that separate "Pool" from the other two games. Now add to this, that unless you've been to Europe, there's an even better chance that you've never even heard of the game of "Snooker". This other game of "Billiards" is officially known as "Carom Billiards", "French Billiards", "Carabole Billiards" or simply "Carabole". There is another game that also includes the word "Billiards".

What the majority of players consider to be the game of "Pool" is also known as "Pocket Billiards". The confusion stems from the fact that there are actually two entirely different games, both of which are known as "Billiards". If you are new to the game, or even an intermediate player, there's a more than a good chance that until now you didn't even know that there was a difference, but there is. Most people tend to use the words "Pool" and "Billiards" interchangeably even though they are separate games. But what about the rest of the pool playing universe?
#Pool vs billiards professional#
Did you know that there is a difference between pool and billiards? How about snooker, ever heard of that? Professional players undoubtedly know the difference.
