Article by Mark Addison
Billiards is considered to be a slam bang sport. Players come to the table, pick up the cue and simply smash all the balls they are entitled to. Observers have often said that the lack of application in the sport does not make it interesting. The fact of the matter remains that it is meant for entertainment and entertains everyone in equal measures, the players and the audience. But interest is a virtue that many have been quite hesitant in associating with the sport. Chess is interesting for the tactics involved and the way players concentrate, checkers is interesting with the tactical moves that the players are forced to think of, but how can a sport like billiards be interesting where in shot selection is the only criteria to score well? Let us try and find out.
Billiards is a game where players need to have a fetish for strike. The cue has to be positioned properly and with an impeccable aim, the cue ball has to be hit forcefully towards the coloured ball to pot the latter. The interest lies in the way the balls get hit and the angle at which the cue ball is struck. The game becomes interesting when players have to take a bank shot to get the ball into the cushion and have to score chap shots to finish them off. The interest in the game lies in the fact that it has to be played very vigilantly and not with aggression or belligerence. The player has to strike the appropriate ball and not any ball lying around that seems to be an easy strike. One wrong hit and the whole course can go for a toss, which implies that just like chess, every move on the pool table also ought to be a calculated one.
There is a sequence that o ne ought to follow while striking these balls around. Following the sequence ensures that the player gets a chance to finish of his quota of balls n the first attempt itself finishing off the need to give the adversary a second chance. This is very interesting, as there is no other table or board game where you can finish it off in your first chance itself without the foe being given strike.
These small facets do make billiards a very interesting game. They add a lot of spice and jazz to the game and make the audience wait for it to culminate. Skilled players who have their plans in place and boast of an impeccable shot selection in their armour make it look so effortless and interesting at the same time. The interest is arisen when multiple rounds go by and the player who starts off by breaking the frame goes on finishing off the balls until the last ball is potted. This leaves the adversary expressionless and offers nothing except for desperation. Ultimately, you can safely say that the game is interesting if you see it that way.
About the Author
Both English Pool Tables and Slate Bed Pool Tables are offered by IQ Pool Tables.
A draw shot in billiards occurs when the cue ball draws backwards after hitting the object ball due to its spin. Follow through and hit the ball low to perform the draw shot with tips from an experienced pool player in this free video on billiards. Expert: Joe Nichols Contact: www.breaktimetenpin.com Bio: Joe Nichols has been playing the game of billiards for approximately 43 years. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC
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