Different Types of Cue Sports

Cue sports are among the Philippines’ beloved sports. This is another field where we are successful, where several billiard artists like Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante made their names known across the globe. But do you know that cue sports have different types? In this article, we will discuss the variants of cue sports that you can use in several pool betting games on different online casino platforms.

What is Cue Sports

Cue sports, a group of games with origins dating back to the 15th century, have various engaging equipment involving cues (sticks), balls, and tables. Among the long list of cue sports, the most widely recognized is pool, often referred to as billiards, which has a historical legacy tracing back at least to 1893.

In these games, the specifics can vary depending on the particular game being played. For instance, bumper pool has a distinct variation that employs an octagonal table as opposed to the typical rectangular one that is used in billiards. Each cue sport generally involves the objective of pocketing designated balls before one’s opponent can accomplish the same.

Different Type of Cue Sports

Artistic Billiards – Artistic billiards is a variant of carom billiards where multiple players engage in a competitive display of skill by executing 76 predefined shots of varying and unpredictable levels of difficulty. Each shot attempted by a player carries a specific maximum point value, which is only awarded when the execution is flawless. The point values for these shots range from 4 to 11, determined by the nature of the shot itself.

In this sport, the total available points sum up to 500, representing the cumulative outcome of successfully performing the 76 designated shots. The oversight of this sport falls under the purview of the Confederation International of Billiards and Artistic Billiards (CIBA). Players participating in this game are tasked with executing shots from diverse positions on the table to accumulate points. Each player is afforded three attempts to complete each shot.

Succeeding in artistic billiards demands an elevated proficiency level, as players must exhibit finesse in executing a variety of shots, including force draws, compound rail jerking, jumps, sidespin, and force follows, among others.

Balkline and Straight Rail – Artistic billiards is a variant of carom billiards where multiple players engage in a competitive display of skill by executing 76 predefined shots of varying and unpredictable levels of difficulty. A player can only receive the maximum point value for each shot they attempt if they execute it perfectly. The point values for these shots range from 4 to 11, depending on the shot itself.

Bank Pool – Bank pool represents a type of cue sport with a central rule dictating that all scored shots involve banking a designated ball off a cushion and into a specific pocket. Although the game has numerous iterations, the prevalent historical version utilized a complete set of fifteen balls. In this setup, the victor had to lawfully pocket eight balls. A condensed variation of the game, known as “nine-ball banks,” emerged in popularity during the 1990s and 2000s. In this version, nine balls were utilized, and players needed to legally pocket five balls to secure victory. This form of the game gained international professional recognition, leading to televised competitions.

Bar Billiards – The bar billiards table resembles a compact billiards setup, measuring 33.5 inches in width and 56.5 inches from one corner to the spot at the far end. Instead of traditional pockets, this table features sunken holes. There are five holes arranged in a row across the table’s end, each with designated point values of 30, 20, 10, 20, and 30.

Towards the rear half of the table, there are four holes arranged in a diamond pattern, closer to the players. These holes offer higher point values: the nearest hole grants 200 points, while the two holes closer to the sides award 50 points each, and the final hole gives 100 points.

Adjacent to each group of four diamond-pattern holes are four skittles. Typically, this includes one black skittle, two white skittles, and one red skittle. However, in some variations, there may be one black skittle and three red skittles. These skittles are usually slender pins with a horizontal bar across the top to prevent them from falling into the holes, or they may have a mushroom-like shape.

The game employs a set of eight balls: seven white balls and one red ball. The white balls serve as scoring elements.

Baseball Pocket Billiards – Baseball pocket billiards, also known as baseball pool, is a multiplayer pocket billiards game that incorporates terminology and elements from the sport of baseball. Despite being played on a standard pool table, certain aspects are borrowed: the 9 ball is referred to as the “pitcher,” the table’s foot spot becomes “home plate,” and participants are granted “nine innings” to accumulate as many “runs” as possible.

Conclusion

Cue Sports has a rich variety of games that have captured the hearts of enthusiasts and professionals alike. From the widely recognized game of pool to more intricate variations like artistic billiards and bank pool, each type offers its own unique challenges and strategies. Whether it’s the precision of carom billiards or the strategic intricacies of pocketing balls, cue sports continue to thrive, providing entertainment and excitement for players and spectators alike. It also gave rise to a variety of pool betting games that are very popular.