United Township Physical Education

United Township Physical Education

Study Guide

“BILLIARD’S”

History:

The origin of the game of billiards is unclear and much mythologized. There are dozens of fables that claim different times, different places and different reasons for the invention of the game, and there simply aren't enough reliable records to determine which comes closest to the truth. But, most likely, billiards grew out of the fifteeth century tradition of lawn bowling games, in which players rolled balls across lawns towards a target. Obstacles and hoops were added to create a game comparable to croquet. When this game was translated to the indoors, it developed sticks with which to drive the balls, a raised table surface covered in green cloth to emulate the color of the lawn, and edges around the table to prevent the balls from dropping to the floor. The hoops disappeared, the targets became a series of pockets lined along the edges of the table, and the object became to use one ball to knock the other, or others, into the pockets. This was the game of billiards as it was popularized in the years of the fifteenth century and beyond, primarily in France and England.

Skills: Hold the cue toward the back with the 4 fingers from your strongest hand on one side and thumb on the other side. The cue is then cradled in the weakest hand toward the front. The cue can either slide between the thumb and first finger on top or between the thumb and first and second fingers. You should stand in a comfortable balanced stance. A wider stance is most often used.

Helpful Tips

Chalk before each shot

Concentrate each shot, set up and don’t rush the easy shots

Think ahead, and always look to set up your next shot

Consider the angles, there are many options each play

8-Ball

All 15 balls are racked with the 8 ball in the middle

Once you pocket a stripe or solid, you are that ball the remainder of the game.

The 8 ball is the last ball pocketed to win and you must call its pocket.

You win if the 8 ball goes in on the break

You lose if the cue ball goes in with the 8 ball

You lose if you sink the 8 ball in a pocket other than the one you called.

9-Ball

The first 9 ball are racked in a diamond shape. (#1 in front & #9 in the middle)

The shooter must contact the lowest ball on the table.

Any ball that goes in after the lowest ball is contacted stays in and the same player continues shooting.

You win if the 9 ball goes in on the break.

You win if the 9 ball goes in on a combination where you hit the lowest ball on the table first.

You lose if the cue ball goes in with the 9 ball.

Ball-in-Hand

Ball in hand means that the next shooter may put the cue ball anywhere on the table they choose. This occurs during play when…..

The cue ball leaves the table.

The cue ball goes into any pocket on a shot.

The object ball does not touch a rail.

You strike or pocket your opponent’s ball.