The pool table has been around since the beginning, even though no one knows the inventor. The earliest written records about the game date back at least to the 1500s in Northern Europe. It became very popular among men and women of all ages. It has also remained popular in the United States for many years.
The original game of pool was played on grass, or a board with holes in the middle. It was played on object balls that were numbered between one and fifteen. In that the player was able to push the ball, rather than strike it, the game was very similar to croquet. The "mace," a wooden stick used to strike the ball, was introduced in the 1600s.
The game was enhanced with the additions of a cuestick, wooden hoop, as well the balls. The game was very popular in Europe and spread quickly to the United States. The game was popularized worldwide only after the Industrial Revolution.
While the history of the game isn't clear, it has been developed by many people. First, the indoor billiard was invented by King Louis XI in France. The game also developed into a popular pastime in England, which grew in popularity after the Industrial Revolution. The French nobility also enjoyed the game.
In the 1840s, the game quickly became a favorite sport and was brought to the United States. Many of the first settlers brought billiards to the United States. Tournaments were held across the country. The game became more popular in better saloons. However, the equipment was costly and prohibitive for lower income people.
The introduction of ivory as a ball matter made the history of the game even more complex. Ivory was originally made out of elephant tusks. Although Ivory was more popular in 17th-century Europe, it was not indestructible. It also tends to crack when hit with too much force.
In the 1920s, pool balls made from ivory were replaced with a new material. The new ball material, which was a mixture of camphor and nitrocellulose, could explode if struck with extreme force.
This new ball material was called composite balls. The nitrocellulose wasn't very stable, but it was a more inexpensive replacement for ivory. After a while the stick and hoop had to be abandoned. The cue tip was also changed to a leather tip, which improved ball hitting.
It continued to evolve and, in the late 1800s it became a popular game in the United States. John Wesley Hyatt, an American billiards player, created a ball from camphor and nitrocellulose in the 1870s. This ball material was unstable, and it could explode if hit with extreme force.
Michael Phelan - a successful pool player - was another significant figure in the evolution of the game. Phelan's dad immigrated from Ireland in 1883 to the United States. Michael followed him into the pool hall industry. Eventually, he wrote a book on pool, which inspired a new generation of players to move away from ivory balls.