Billiards, a sport that combines elegance and intelligence, has evolved into a rich variety of types worldwide. Different countries favor unique playing styles, and even the sizes of billiard tables and balls vary significantly.
English snooker is widely regarded as a classic representative of the billiards world, popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, India, and other Commonwealth countries, as well as in Hong Kong, China. Its table is relatively large, with an inner length of 3569 mm, a width of 1778 mm, and a height from the ground to the top of the cushion of approximately 850 mm. This larger table presents greater challenges to players, requiring precise calculation of shot paths and force. The balls also have unique specifications: a diameter of 52.5 mm and a weight ranging from 145 to 147 grams. The lighter weight of the balls allows players to achieve precise control during long-distance shots and delicate position plays, enabling them to execute various complex shot paths and tactical arrangements. A snooker game uses a total of 22 balls, including 1 white cue ball, 15 red balls, and 6 colored balls with different point values (yellow: 2 points, green: 3 points, brown: 4 points, blue: 5 points, pink: 6 points, black: 7 points). The shooting order strictly follows the rule of “one red followed by one colored ball”. After all red balls are pocketed, the colored balls are hit in the order of yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black. The player with the highest score ultimately wins. With its complex rules and highly difficult techniques, snooker is recognized as one of the most challenging sports in the world.
American billiards is widely popular in the Western Hemisphere and eastern Asia, mainly including games like American eight-ball and nine-ball. The American table is smaller than the English snooker table, with an inner length of 2540 mm, a width of 1270 mm, and a height of 800 mm. The pockets are relatively larger, which reduces the difficulty of potting and speeds up the game. American billiard balls have a diameter of 57.15 mm and a weight of 170 grams, making them larger and heavier than snooker balls. American eight-ball uses 1 white cue ball and 15 colored balls. After a player selects their suit (solid or striped), they can hit their designated balls in any order. The player wins by potting the 8-ball after all their suit balls are pocketed. As the name suggests, American nine-ball uses only 9 colored balls on the table. Players must hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table each time, and the first player to pot the nine-ball wins. This rule greatly increases the fun and uncertainty of the game—even if one player pots the first eight balls, the victory still belongs to the opponent if they pot the crucial nine-ball at the end.
Chinese billiards, a unique billiards sport in China, is the most widely practiced and participated-in event in the country. It uses a table similar to a small snooker table, usually with green cloth. The inner dimensions are 2540×1270 mm (with an allowable error of ±9 mm), and the height from the ground to the top of the cushion is 800-850 mm. Chinese billiard balls also have a diameter of 57.15 mm (with an allowable error of ±0.05 mm) and a weight of 156-170 grams. The ball configuration is similar to that of American eight-ball, with 1 white cue ball and 15 colored balls. The 15 colored balls are divided into 1-7 solid-colored balls, 9-15 striped balls, and 1 all-black 8-ball. After a player selects their suit, they can hit their designated balls freely. The player wins by potting the 8-ball after all their suit balls are pocketed.
Billiards showcases unique charm worldwide through different types and sizes. Whether it’s the pursuit of extreme precision in English snooker, the fun and speed of American billiards, the technique-oriented French carom, or the widely popular Chinese billiards, all offer rich and varied experiences for enthusiasts. As a source manufacturer of billiard tables,SPKI has been deeply engaged in the billiards industry for 23 years. The billiard tables produced meet international standards and deliver tournament-level playing feel. With direct sales from the source factory and no price differences,SPKI has cooperated with tens of thousands of billiard halls offline and won consistent praise from customers.