While no one knows who invented the pool table or how it was created, there's no doubt that it's been around for a long time. The earliest records of the game date back to the 1500s in Northern Europe. The game was popular among all ages. It is still very popular in the United States, where it has been for many years.
Pool was originally played on grass or a board that had a hole in its middle. It was played with object balls that were numbered from one to fifteen. The game was similar to croquet, in that the player shoved the ball rather than striking it. In the 1600s, people began using a wooden stick called a "mace" to strike the ball.
The game was further refined by adding a cue stick, wooden hoop and balls. The game became extremely popular in Europe, and it spread to America. It wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that this game became very popular around the world.
The game's history is a little hazy, but there are a number of people who have contributed to its development. First, King Louis XI from France is credited for inventing indoor billiard tables. 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.
After the game was introduced to the United States, it developed into a very popular sport in the 1840s. Many of the earliest settlers brought the game with them to America, and tournaments were held all over the country. The game became popular in nicer saloons, and the cost of the equipment was prohibitive to the lower classes.
The game's past was further complicated by the introduction of ivory as a material for ball. Ivory was originally made from elephant tusks. Ivory became more popular in the 17th century, but it was not indestructible and tended to crack when struck with excessive force.
In the 1920s, pool balls made from ivory were replaced with a new material. This new ball material was made from a mixture of nitrocellulose and camphor, and it could explode when 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 were abandoned. The cue tip was also made from leather, which allowed for better ball hitting.
The game continued to grow and flourished in America during the 1800s. John Wesley Hyatt, an American billiards player, created a ball from camphor and nitrocellulose in the 1870s. This ball material was not stable and could explode when hit with extreme force.
Michael Phelan was another important figure in the development of the game. He is a well-known pool player. Phelan's father immigrated from Ireland to America in 1883. Michael followed him into pool hall. Eventually, he wrote a book on pool, which inspired a new generation of players to move away from ivory balls.