Pool and snooker are popular cue sports that are enjoyed by millions of people around the world. There are even two different types of pool, American and 8 ball. While the games share some similarities, they are different in many ways, including the equipment used, the number of balls, and the rules of play. In this blog post, we will explore the key differences between the two types of pool and snooker.

American Pool and Snooker Equipment

The equipment used in the games is quite different. American pool is typically played on a table 9’ in length. 8 ball pool is played on a table 7 ‘, and snooker is on a 12’ table. The balls used are different sizes too. American pool balls, sometimes referred to as spots and stripes are 2 ¼” in diameter, snooker balls are 2 1/16” and 8 ball pool balls are 2” in diameter. The cues used in American pool are 58” long with tip sizes generally between 11.5mm and 13mm. These cues are mainly centre jointed with a maple shaft. There are also specialised cues for breaking the pack and for jump shots.

Professional snooker cues are 58” long, although many club players cues are manufactured to 57” long and generally have a 9-9.5mm tip size. Most enjoy an ash shaft, but some players prefer a maple shaft. Snooker cues are available in 1 piece, ¾ jointed and centre jointed construction.

8 ball pool cues are generally 57” in length with an 8-8.5mm tip, although some players prefer an even smaller tip. Like snooker cues, most have an ash shaft., Again like snooker cues, they are produced in 1 piece, ¾ jointed and centre jointed options. Many players use a specialist break cue to prevent damaging their playing cue. Breaking the pack with the small tip on the playing cue risks major damage to the tip and shaft.

American pool is played with 9 balls, numbered 1-9 racked in a diamond. The 1 ball is racked at the front of the diamond with the 9 ball in the middle of the rack.

Snooker is played with 21 object balls, 15 reds and 6 colours.

8 ball pool is played with 15 object balls, 7 red, 7 yellow and the 8 black ball.

Snooker and American Pool Rules of Play:

In American pool if the player breaking the rack pots a ball from the break they continue at the table and have to pot the balls in order 1-9, if they pot all the balls in order from the break this is known as a ‘break and run’. If a player fails to pot a ball their opponent comes to the table to attempt to pot the balls in sequence. This is repeated until all the balls are potted. The player potting the nine ball wins the rack, even if their opponent has potted balls 1-8. If a player pots the 9 ball from the break, known as a golden break, that player wins the rack immediately. If a player completely misses the sequenced object ball, foul is called and their opponent takes over with ‘ball in hand’, this means they can place the cue ball anywhere on the table so they can attempt to pot the next ball.

In snooker, with the red balls racked in a triangle a player will break the pack of reds. Unlike American pool it is quite rare for a ball to be potted from the break, most players favour safety by returning the cue ball to the baulk end of the table. Players must first pot a red ball, worth 1 point, and then a coloured ball of their choice, this sequence continues until that player either fails to pot a ball or plays a foul shot. This red, colour, red colour sequence is known as a break. The coloured balls have different values, from 2 points for the yellow to 7 for the black. If a player fails to pot a ball play passes to their opponent. If a player misses the object ball, or plays the cueball into a wrong coloured ball a foul and called and a penalty of between 4 and 7 points is given to their opponent. Play then passes to their opponent. Similarly, if the cue ball is potted, foul is called, again with a penalty of between 4 and 7 points and their opponent restarts play with the cueball inside the ‘D’. The game continues until all the balls have been potted, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

For 8 ball pool the red, yellow and black balls are racked in a triangle, with the black ball in the centre. One player breaks the pack. If they pot one or more balls from the break they continue at the table. If they only pot one ball, red or yellow that is the colour balls they must pot before attempting the back ball. If they pot one, or more, of both red and yellow balls they can choose to play red or yellow. If the black is potted, except as the final shot of the frame, the player potting the black loses the frame. If a player fails to pot a ball play passes to their opponent, this sequence continues until one player has potted all their, either red or yellow, balls, and then the black is attempted. The frame is won by the player potting the black. Actual rules on play and fouls vary depending on which pool tour you are playing on it’s a good idea to find out which rules apply in your area.