In the 15th Century, billiards started as a game of croquet on the lawn. Players would hit balls with a wooden stick called a "mace", turning it around to strike the ball. However, the head of the mace was inconvenient for use near the rails. To increase friction, players eventually turned to chalk.
Billiards became popular as a recreation activity following the Industrial Revolution. The game was very popular among both men and women. It was very popular with soldiers in both World Wars. It was enjoyed by all classes of society, even royalty. In the early twentieth century, billiards became a sport, and tournaments were held regularly.
Michael Phelan, an Irish immigrant, is known as the father of American pool. He was instrumental in establishing rules and regulations. He also wrote the first American book about billiards. He also created new cushion and table designs. Eventually, he merged with J.M. Brunswick & Balke, and created the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company. They dominated the billiards sector for the next twenty years. They controlled every aspect.
The first table was made with flat vertical walls for rails. This shape was later changed to something more recognizable by the early 1900s. It also featured a central hole to hold the cueball. It was covered in a velvet fabric. It was covered in a soft fabric that protected the table.
Billiards evolved from a lawn game into a modern game with six pockets. The primary purpose of the game was not to knock over the "king". Players had the option to return their balls to the original spot or to pot others' balls.
The balls were made from wood or ivory in the past. They are now made from phenolic resin or polyester. The ball can also be scratch-proof. They are now also made from acrylic or plastic. In the 1920s, it was hard for women to get into the pool room.
Billiards was popularized in the early 1900s by the lower classes. The tables and equipment were expensive. It was still predominantly played by European elites. According to the billiards industry, table sales for 2015 were their highest ever.
Billiards can be a challenging game. It can also take longer than other games. Some claim that the croquet game is what spawned the game of billiards. But this isn't true. Billiards is a popular sport that has been enjoyed by many and has also served as the foundation for many other games.
It was very popular among soldiers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The price of the equipment fell and standardization was introduced to the sizes of the tables. Billiards was the first sport to host a world championship. It was still popular among veterans of both World Wars.
Billiards started to lose popularity in the 1950s. Billiards were rediscovered in the early 2000s.