Three cushion pool is a game of billiards that can be played on a 5-by-10 foot table. The object is to have the cueball contact three rails, before it contacts the second object. One point is awarded for each successful carom. If the shooter pockets any of the object balls, the opponent does not receive a point. The frame is won by whoever has the most objects.
The table is bigger than the standard pool table to allow three players to play cushion billiards. A cueball is placed on one side of the table while a red marker is used on the opposite. To line up their shot, players use silver dots at the table. This requires accurate calculations of angles and distances. The object ball is then pocketed after the shot has been completed.
Three cushion pool is an evolved version straight rail billiards. Although it can be traced back to 1870s, Wayman Crow McCreery popularized it. McCreery, an Internal Revenue Collector from Port Saint Louis in Missouri, was the inventor of this game. McCreery played the game to his own pleasure and eventually patent the idea. Three-cushion billiards became a favourite of many players during the 1950s.
The object of a shot in three cushion billiards is for the object ball to contact three rails before it reaches the cue ball. It can be done any way you want, but in most cases it is important to hit both cushions.
Before hitting an object ball, the shooter needs to call for the bank shot. There are several options available for this shot. However, the most commonly used bank shot is the single-rail shot.
A 3-rail shot refers to another type or bank shot. Many different methods can be used, such as the Magic Spot. It is when the ball hits one corner of the table's rail and the cushion the other. Other options include a multi-rail bank shot or a distant point.
When shooting bank shots, the object ball must contact the cushion first. There are exceptions to this rule. It is possible to hit the object ball after it bounces on the rail or after the cushion. For example, if you take a single shot from the rail bank, the object balls would bounce off the rail to get into the pocket.
This game is based on the Standard World Rules. To pocket any object balls, however, the bank shot may be used by the player. Once the object ball is taken, the shooter can move on to the next innings.
The inning ends when the object ball gets pocketed outside of the shooter’s called shot. All fouls and illegal breaks are also highlighted in italics. The opponent may also take their turn.
Bank shot is the most common method to take possession of objects in pool. Unlike in nine-ball or eight-ball, the object of Bank Pool is to outscore the opponent(s) in pocketing the balls by using bank shots.