What’s the Difference Between Pool and Snooker?
Similar Origins
Both pool and snooker derive from the game of billiards, which began sometime in the 15th century as a form of indoor croquet. Pool was popularized in America in the early 19th century.
Few people could afford their own pool table, but public betting houses installed tables to entertain bettors between events and thus, the sport became popular despite an unsavory reputation as a game for drunks and carousers.
Conversely, snooker began as a gentleman’s game in the late 19th century. It still enjoys a perceived social stature higher than pocket billiards. The game requires significantly more skill than most pool games mainly because of differences in the table, ball and pocket sizes. The term snooker means to block an opponent from making a legal shot.
Differences in Equipment
The Table
From a pool player’s perspective, the striking thing about snooker is the larger table size. Both tables use a 2-to-1 ratio of length to width, but snooker tables have at least twice the area of a pool table. Pool tables typically come in sizes of 1.07 m by 2.13 m or 1.37 m by 2.74 m (although other sizes do exist). A “12 x 6” snooker table, on the other hand, is 3.57 m by 1.78 m.
Balls, Pockets and Cushions
Standard pool ball are between 5.7 cm and 6.0 cm in diameter. Standard size pockets have a range of 12.7 cm to 13 cm at the mouth with a slightly narrower throat. Some “tight” tables have pocket sizes only a few mm wider than the ball size. These tables require extreme shot accuracy.
Snooker balls are a bit smaller than pool balls at about 5.3 cm, whereas the pocket size is 9 cm, which makes potting a snooker ball more difficult than a pool table in general.
The profile of the cushions and the material from which they are made also differ between snooker and pool. Pool tables use a K-55 profile, while snooker tables utilize an L-shaped K-66 profile. The profiles match the size of the balls and control the rebound on caroms.
Pool versus Snooker Game Play
Straight pool consists of pocketing balls in any sequence. A player gains one point for each pocketed ball. The winner is the first to reach a pre-set threshold such as 100 points. 8-Ball is a popular American pool game in which two players pot the “solids” or “stripes” without prematurely sinking the 8-ball. To win, the 8-ball must be potted, usually as a called shot, after a player’s assigned ball set is finished. There are many other pool game variations.
Snooker has few variants. It uses a cue ball and 22 colored balls of which 15 are red worth 1 point each and the remaining six are each a different color worth between 2 and 7 points each. Basically, the object is to accumulate points by potting a red ball followed by one of the six other colored balls and so on in alternating sequence. Red balls remain off the table after being sunk, while the other colored balls are replaced in designated positions.
Who Wins the Popularity Contest?
In terms of the number of players worldwide, pool certainly is more popular than snooker. There are several reasons why:
- Snooker tables are more expensive
- Snooker tables need a larger room
- Snooker requires more skill to play than a casual game of pool
- Snooker is a game of patience and deliberation. Games are longer than typical pool games, since each shot is carefully planned
Which Game is for You?
Pool accommodates players of all skill levels, which makes it a more family friendly game. It is a game for socializing and plain fun. There are many pool games that demand higher skill, but snooker is for those who enjoy an even greater challenge.
We carry a huge selection of billiards tables. Visit our showroom in Oakville today or give us a call to price out the best option for your games room.
