In the 15th century, billiards was a simple lawn game that was similar to croquet. Players used a "mace" to hit balls. The mace was a long wooden stick. However, the head of the mace was inconvenient for use near the rails. The friction would be increased if players used chalk.
After the Industrial Revolution, billiards began to take off as a recreational activity. Both men and females loved this game. It was very popular with soldiers in both World Wars. It was also very popular among all classes, including royalty. Billiards was a popular sport in the 20th century and tournaments were organized regularly.
Michael Phelan is the father of American pool. He emigrated from Ireland. He created rules and regulations for pool and wrote the first American book. He also developed new table and cushion designs. He eventually merged with J.M. Brunswick & Balke, and created the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company. For the next 20 years, the company was the dominant force in the billiards market. They controlled every aspect of the game.
The table's first version had vertical walls to support the rails. In the early 1900s, this design was modified to make it more easily recognisable. It had a hole in the center for the cue ball. It was covered in velvet fabric. This was a lighter fabric that helped protect the table.
The game of billiards also evolved from a lawn game to a more modern table with six pockets. The goal of the game is to avoid knocking over 'the king'. The game allowed players to choose whether to pot their opponents' balls or return them back to their original locations.
In the past they were made of ivory and wood. They can now be made from phenolic and polyester. The ball is also scratch-proof. They can be made of plastic or acrylic. In the 1920s, women were not accepted into the poolroom.
Billiards gained popularity among lower classes in early 1900s. But, the equipment and tables were too expensive. It was still mostly played by the wealthy in Europe. The billiards industry reports that table sales in 2015 were the highest ever.
Billiards requires skill at different levels. Billiards may also be slower than other games. Some believe that croquet is the origin of billiards. However, this is not proven. Billiards has developed into an exciting and popular game, and has served as the basis for many more.
The game was popularized among soldiers in the late 1800s. The cost of equipment became less expensive and the sizes of the tables were standardized. Billiards was the first sport to host a world championship. It was still very popular with veterans after both World Wars.
Billiards lost popularity in the 1950s. But in the early 2000s, billiards became popular once again.