During the 15th century, billiards began as a lawn game like croquet. A "mace", a wooden stick used by players to hit the ball, was turned around to hit it. The mace's head was too heavy to be used near rails. To increase friction, players eventually turned to chalk.
Billiards became a popular recreational activity after the Industrial Revolution. Both men and women loved the game. It was also popular among soldiers during both World Wars. It was also very popular among all classes, including royalty. In the early 20th-century, billiards became popular and tournaments began to be held.
Michael Phelan, a native of Ireland, is widely considered to be the father and founder of American pool. He set the rules and regulations. Also, he wrote the first American book regarding billiards. He also invented new cushion and table designs. J.M. was eventually his partner. Brunswick & Balke, and created the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company. The company was a dominant player in the billiards world for the next two decades. They controlled every aspect.
The original version of the table featured flat vertical walls that served as rails. This shape was later changed to something more recognizable by the early 1900s. It also contained a hole at the top for the cueball. It was covered with 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 game's main objective was to not knock over the 'king'. You could also decide to either pot your opponents' balls or return them to their original positions.
In the past, the balls were made of ivory or wood. They are now made from polyester or phenolic resin. The ball is also scratchproof. They can be made of plastic or acrylic. It was in the 1920s that women had trouble being accepted in the poolroom.
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 industry statistics, 2015 saw the highest table sales ever.
Billiards can be a challenging game. Billiards may also be slower than other games. Some claim that the croquet game is what spawned the game of billiards. However, this is not proven. Billiards has evolved into an exciting game that many people enjoy and is the basis for many others.
It was very popular among soldiers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After the Industrial Revolution, the cost of the equipment was reduced, and standardization of the table sizes began. Billiards was the first sport to host a world championship. It was still popular among veterans of both World Wars.
In the 1950s, billiards was losing popularity. In the early 2000s, though, billiards returned to popularity.