Billiards was first developed as a lawn game similar to croquet in the 15th century. The "mace" was a wooden stick that players used to hit the balls. They would turn it around and strike the ball. The mace's head was too heavy to be used near rails. Eventually, players would use chalk to increase friction.
Billiards became popular as a recreation activity following the Industrial Revolution. Billiards was very popular among both women and men. It was very popular with soldiers in both World Wars. It was also enjoyed by all classes, even royalty. In the first century, billiards became an organized sport and tournaments were held frequently.
Michael Phelan, a native of Ireland, is widely considered to be the father and founder of American pool. He established rules and regulations, and also wrote America's first book on billiards. He also created new cushion and table designs. He eventually merged with J.M. 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 first version of the table had flat vertical walls for the rails. This was changed to a more recognizable shape by the early 1900s. It had a hole in the center for the cue ball. It was covered with velvet fabric. This fabric was a softer one, which protected the table.
Billiards evolved also from a lawn game, to a table with six pockets. The main goal of the game wasn't to knock over "the king". Players had the option to return their balls to the original spot or to pot others' balls.
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. These balls can also be made of acrylic or plastic. It was in the 1920s that women had trouble being accepted in the poolroom.
Billiards became more popular among the lower classes in the 1900s. However, the tables and the equipment were prohibitively expensive. It was still predominantly played by European elites. The billiards industry reports that table sales in 2015 were the highest ever.
Billiards is a game that requires players of different skill levels. Billiards may also be slower than other games. Some people argue that the game of billiards originated from croquet. This is not true. Billiards has become an exciting sport that is enjoyed by many people, and has been the basis for many other games.
The game was extremely popular in the late 1800s to early 1900s, particularly among soldiers. The price of the equipment fell and standardization was introduced to the sizes of the tables. One of the first sports to host a global championship was billiards. It continued to be popular with veterans during both World Wars.
In the late 1950s, billiards began to fall out of popularity. Billiards were rediscovered in the early 2000s.