>>>I used to be a pretty serious pool player ( when you grew up with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason in your head in The Hustler in a pretty continuous loop that happened. Fortunately, I went to college with a lot of rich kids who had tables in their basement and could beat their coursins so they thought they could play <g> )
>>
>>I hope you didn't get your hands broken as Newman did.
>>
>
>Naw, the worst they would do would be to make fun of your tie <bg> or insult your car.

You wore a tie at college?

>
>>>
>
>>>Very different game - the size of the balls is probably the biggest adjustment.
>>
>>Billiards on a pool table. How so and how many balls in the game?
>
>Nine ball has 9 of course, numbered. You shoot them in rotation ( at least you must hit the next number ball first ) but you win money by sinking the 5, 7 and 9 ( usually twice as much on the 9 ) Balls start racked in a diamond shape. He who sinks the 9 breaks on the next rack.

Billiards (on a billiards/snooker table) comprises only 3 balls: white, white with a spot and red (I seem to recall) and it's all about shooting cannons and stuff. It's been too long for me to remember (I was just a kid) but an interesting and skilful game.

>
>Straight pool, 15 plus the cueball. Shoot anything, anywhere calling ball and pocket. Shoot until you miss. After 14 are sunk the 15th is left in place while the other 14 are reracked and the shooter continues. Usually to 150. Runs of over 30 are not uncommon. Runs of over 100 are not unknown. (this is in professional or big money competition )
>
>>>I've never seen a snooker table in the US though I've been told there's a place in Boston that has a pretty nice setup.
>>>
>>>Of course, I can't stand playing 8 ball or on tables you put coins in either. 9 ball and straight pool are the only games I can take seriously. And I really prefer to play in places where my Balabushka isn't the only one in the house. <s>
>>
>>Ah, there's another difference. I've only ever encountered the coin-op 8-ball tables in British pubs and clubs. I get the impression from TV and film that the professional tables (often in blue baize) seem bigger than these, and I don't know what you mean by 9-ball pool.
>
>Yeah, 8 ball is pretty much a bar/pub game and there the tables are usually smaller. Real pool halls see a lot more 9 ball, straight and one-pocket ( 9 ball being the best money game ) And the tables are regulation - though still not the size of a snooker table.
>
>>
>>"Balabushka" - sounds like something Kate Bush would sing about :-)
>>
>
>Well, she did sing "Rolling the ball" ... <s>

<s> nice one!

>
>( bespoke cue made by George Balabushka )

So it doesn't give you "the kick inside"?


Here's a BBC page with some snooker highlight clips if you're interested:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/default.stm