What is Artistic Pool?
If you are new to billiards, or pool, you may not be familiar with this term. It has a long and colorful history, however, and is a great form of family entertainment. This sport is fun both to learn and practice together, no matter how humble our abilities, Trick shots are fascinating to watch, and very satisfying to perform to delight and surprise friends and family at gatherings.
Believe it or not artistic pool has been around since the beginning of the 19th century. The same person who invented the cue tip during that period authored the first book on trick shots. His original presentation of forty shots became the same forty shot format used in many contests and exhibitions of professional artistic pool today.
This sport has developed into eight distinct disciplines today:
- Trick or fancy shots, which may be what first comes to people’s minds. These are shots that are set up beforehand with difficult configurations. Usually the cue ball sets off a chain reaction to make the final ball in a seemingly impossible pattern.
- Prop, novelty and special shots that use additional items like bridges, coins, or cues on the table to make shots. This also includes showmanship like several shots made at one time or shots made behind the back or under the leg.
- Draw and Follow which are specialized shots with the cue ball more than a half inch away from the first ball it strikes.
- Bank or Kick shots where the target billiard ball is not struck directly, but the
cushion or other balls are hit first at an angle to create a beautiful geometric shot
with hard to believe angles.
- Stroke where the shot starts with the cue ball directly touching another ball.
- Jump means the ball leaves the table, sometimes ‘jumping’ over other balls to make a shot
- Masse, which is a term that means the cue is held at an angle greater than 10 degrees from the table.
Clearly trick shot shows can include untold variety and opportunities for entertainment.
