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ABC's of Pool (Revised)
ABC's of Pool (Revised)
ABC's of Pool (Revised)
By Thomas V. Dayao
I. Preface
This work is dedicated to my pool idol - Jasmin Ouschan, Patricio (Isyo) “El
Maestro” Ibañez and to all Filipino pool enthusiasts.
II. Introduction
Billiards (or Cue Sport, in general) is defined as any of several games played
on a table in which balls are driven against one another or into pockets by means
of a cue.
a. Snooker
b. English Billiards
c. Pocket Billiards (or Pool):
A. Billiard Table
1. Dimensions
For an 8’ x 4’ “bed”:
3. Pockets
a. Types:
1) Drop Pockets:
a) Leather ($ 60 - $ 199/set of 6)
b) Heavy duty plastic ($ 48/set of 6)
c) Plastic ($ 20 - $ 40/set of 6)
b. Sizes:
Gabriel’s ($ xxxx)
Connelly ($ xxxx)
Brunswick:
a. Material: Slate
b. Dimension:
Pocket opening:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) is the international governing body of
pool-billiard sport.
V W
K Q
O H
D
I C
B
E L T U
P P
F A
N G
J Q
R S
4. Well-known Brands
175
Aramith Saluc phenolic resin $ 60 - $
Frenzy Frenzy Sports Duralec® $ xxxx
1. Material
a. 3/8 x 8 c. 5/16 x 14
b. 3/8 x 10 d. 5/16 x 16
B C
D
A E
J
G K F
H
L
I
N
Q
O P
McDermott
Predator
Poison ($ 170-$ 467)
Fury ($ 115-$ 515)
5280 Cues ($ 108-$ 316)
Elite ($ 108-$ 143.20) Aska ($ 39.20-$ 99.92)
Adam ($ 100-$,800) Minnesota Fats ($ 24-$ 110)
McFarland ($ 100-$ 40)
Mayhem ($ 92)
Griffin ($ 84)
Schmelke ($ 19.95-$ 450)
Sterling ($ 25)
Meucci – ($ 240)
Viking – ($ 240)
McDermott – ($ 239)
Schmelke – ($ 95 - $ 169)
Cuetec – ($ 69)
Blizzard – ($ 35)
Action – ($ 32 - $ 39.20)
Brunswick ($ 0.50/piece)
E. Cue Tip
a. Material:
b. Types:
e. Well-known Brands
Brand Type Material Classification Price/tip
Moori
Diamondback* -do-
-do-
boar
pig
m
m $ 15.95
$ 14.95
Tiger “5280 Red Line” -do- pig m $ 14.95
Tiger “Sniper” -do- boar m $ 13.75
Tiger “Everest” -do- pig m $ 11.41
Tiger -do- cow/pig s/m/h $ 10.33
Talisman Pro -do- pig/boar s/m/h/eh $ 7.95
Tiger “Dynamite” -do- pig h/m $ 5.63
Elite 11 -do- pig m $ 3.95
“Blue Diamond®”
Triangle
-do-
-do-
carabao
(1)* h
s/m/h
$
$ 0.82
0.82
Triumph -do- (2)* s/m/h $ 0.80
Sterling -do- cow m $ 0.68
Le Pro -do- (3)* m/h $ 0.40
Elk Master -do- (2)* s $ 0.40
b. Capacity
3) Deluxe leather:
G. Ferrule
1) Material:
Ivory ($ 40.00)
PVC [Polyvinyl Chloride] - ($ 34.95)
Saber-T® ($ 6.95)
Ivorine III® by McDermott ($ 4.95)
Phenolic ($ 3.95)
Plastic ($ 1.99)
Screw-On ($ 0.42)
2) Sizes: 11 - 14 millimeters
M. Ball Rack
N. Chalk Holder
1. Predator:
2. McDermott:
A. Basic Shots
C
A B C
-----
-----
B. Special Shots
75°-90°
CB Obstruction OB
30°-74°
Jump Shot
30°-45°
Straight-in Shot
θ
Combination Shots:
“Cannon” Shot
15°
30° 49°
Ball
(CB) must be, at contact with the Object Ball (OB),
to make a shot.
Aiming Line
Ghost Ball
Target Spot
Line of Centers
CB
E. Ninety Degree (90°) Rule:
OB
OB
A. The Organization
B. The Players
Division)
Division)
A. Standard Fouls
Full rack (all 15 balls) with the “1” ball on the racker’s right and
the “5” ball on the racker’s left. Any other OB’s are placed in
random.
May hit any OB; no numerical order.
Call-shot (meaning: The object ball to be sunk and the intended
pocket must be called.)
Legal break: at least two OBs and the CB must hit the rail.
1 ball = 1 point; 1 foul = 1 point deduction
Three consecutive fouls = 15 points deduction.
Illegal break = 2 points deduction.
Pocketed OB as a result of a foul is spotted.
Multi-rack game. After pocketing the fourteen balls, the fourteen
balls are re-racked with the apex vacant. The player then has to
sink the fifteenth ball while breaking the newly racked 14 balls to
continue play.
2. Bank Pool
3. One Pocket
First player to score eight (8) points for a full rack and five (5)
points for a 9 ball rack wins.
OB’s are racked at random.
Before the break, first player will choose either one of the foot
corner pockets as his hole.
Legal break: At least one OB must hit a rail.
May hit any OB; no numerical order.
Not a call-shot.
Jump shot and safety are allowed.
Any OB sunk in a neutral pocket is spotted. No penalty.
Ball sunk on the opponent’s pocket will be counted for the opponent.
1 ball = 1 point; 1 foul = 1 point deduction.
Three consecutive fouls is loss of the game.
Balls pocketed as a result of a foul will be spotted.
In case of a “Scratch” or “Off the Table” foul, the opponent will
take the shot in the “kitchen”. No penalty.
It is legal for a player to sink a ball in an opponent’s pocket or a
neutral pocket, if on the same stroke; he sinks a ball in his own
pocket.
4. Blackball
5. Eight-Ball (8-Ball)
6. Ten-Ball (10-Ball)
The “1” ball at the apex and on the foot spot, “10” ball in the
middle, and any other OB’s are placed at random.
The first player to pocket the “10” ball by first sinking all OB’s in
numerical order, wins.
Lowest ball first.
A call-shot game.
Only one OB can be called on each shot.
Sinking of the “10” ball on a break results in a win.
If the wrong OB is pocketed, it stays down. The opponent then has
“Ball in-hand” or can hand it back.
“Push out” play.
7. Nine-Ball (9-Ball)
“1” ball on the foot spot, “9” ball in the middle, and any other OB’s
are placed at random.
First player to sink the “9” ball, either by pocketing all the OB’s in
numerical order or by a combination shot, wins.
Lowest ball first.
Not a call-shot game.
Legal break: Must pocket an OB or at least two OB’s hit any rails.
If the “9” ball is pocketed from a legal break, player wins the game.
If the “9” ball is pocketed from a foul break, the balls are re-
racked with the opposing player breaking.
If the “9” ball is pocketed after failing to hit the lowest ball first,
the player loses the game.
A player making three consecutive fouls loses the game.
A foul shot will give the opponent a “Ball in-hand” (except on a
break) or hand it back to the offending player.
8. Rotation
racker’s right, “3” ball on the racker’s left, “15” ball in the middle,
and any other OB’s are placed at random.
Lowest ball first.
Point is equal to the number on the ball.
“Scratch” or foul gives the opponent an option to “spot”.
Masse, curve and jump shots are allowed.
R.P.) is legal.
Not a call-shot game.
If tied (ex. 60-all), last player who made the shot wins.
A player making three consecutive fouls loses the game.
After a “Scratch”, if the bottom part of the OB touching the cloth
lies on the head string or outside the “kitchen”, the player takes
the shot from the “kitchen”. If the OB lies inside the “kitchen”, it
is spotted.
VII. References
www.engr.colostate.edu.com
www.bca-pool.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.wpba.com
www.wpa-pool.com
www.azbilliards.com
www.insidepool.com
www.pooldawg.com
www.billiardwarehouse.com
www.ozonebilliards.com
www.poolcuedepot.com
www.poolandbilliards.com
www.poolndarts.com
www.onepocket.org
edition,
3rd