6 myths about Pool

A mixture of urban legends, bar culture, word of mouth and Hollywood films has fostered that the billiard lives surrounded by myths. Some of them supported by half-truths and others directly, in complete falsehoods. In this article, we dismantle six topics on the most practices and known billiards mode, American Pool.

1 Pool is only played in bars
In a way, it is the best known because in many bars there is at least a pool table. But that does not mean that it is only played in that environment or in rude situations. There are also social clubs or pool clubs that operate outside of mixed drinks or smoke. However, these initiatives are still a minority in our country, since it is much easier to make a pool business profitable with a bar than without it.

2 If you make a fault, I’ll have two shots.
Instead of ball in hand, two shots. This is how an opponent’s fault is rewarded in the informal pool, although official 8 Ball, 9 Ball and 10 Ball regulations say otherwise. Probably this unwritten rule of two shots was adopted from English Pool 51, which regulation provides that after each fault, the opponent has a free shot and then his normal turn.

3 Black ball on the last pocket
Another typically unwritten bar rule that supports variations: you must pocket the black ball in the same pocket that you pocketed your last colored ball (solid or striped) or in the opposite pocket. I have not found the origins of this rule nor a solid scientific explanation. If you know it, please get us out of doubt with a comment. The only thing I can think is that two players invented it trying to extend his game to the maximum in order to repay the euros lost

4 If I shoot powerfully and I pocket some ball, it is also valid
Head for adventure and let’s see if something good happens. In the bar rules, if you pocket one of your balls (solid or striped) without having announced it before, actually you will continue shooting. The official rules only allow this lucky shots in 9-Ball, provided that you first touched the ball with lower number. Announcing balls and pockets, when the shots can lead to doubt, is good so that nobody can make excuses.

5 You won because you were lucky
The excuse of the loser for every situation. In pool it makes little sense, because rarely fortune (pocket ball 9 in the Ball 9 opening break shot, for example) is the decisive factor and trigger for the game. Who usually wins is who better plans the game, properly executes the shoots and has the cue ball under good control. What really influences are the dynamics of each player. Whoever has the positive one probably will get the bit of luck, while the other one will run into unexpected retruques or bad locations.

6 Having aim is paramount
It is basic, but there are other aspects of the game as or more necessary than having aim. It is of little use for a billiard player to have a great skill when pointing the balls if he cannot stand with the pressure with important shots or cannot be controlled when it fails. The head is the most important thing for one reason: it has the amazing ability to override the best of aims.

Can you think of a seventh myth about American billiard? Please write it in the comments section.