Pool has been played in various forms throughout history, and the billiards that we play today had its precursor in games favored by the Knights Templar during the Crusades. They used large unwieldy maces to hit the balls. Eventually the Knights Templar were all tortured and killed, so we’ll never know if a thinner cue, like a handcrafted McDermott cue, would have helped their game.

The genesis of billiards can be traced back to lawn games played by the nobility of Europe during the 1300’s. Some say it had its origins further back into earliest Egyptian history. This is due to the fact that there has been hieroglyphics discovered with a small grave, over 5,000 years old. It was excavated with a child’s mummified body, and was found buried with an exquisitely carved ‘Skittles’ set. Skittles is an old English game of nine pins that is played with a disk or balls. Some say the finding of such articles in a child’s grave doesn’t conclusively prove that billiards had its beginnings that far back, due to the lack of a historical record, but it does suggest that some sort of similar game was played by ancient Egyptian children.

What we are fairly certain of is that the word ‘billiards’ comes from the French word ‘billets’ or the stick that was used and ‘billart’ or ball. While billiards, or pocket pool, may not have started in France, the game did become more refined there. Shooting pool was done with a mace-like cue and then progressed to the thinner, more defined cue that we know and love today. Since a mace sized cue is large, probably not a lot of skill was needed to hit a ball, unlike today, where talented pool players know that skill in billiards is a must. If you pair that with excellent equipment, then you can be virtually unstoppable at the table. As a player for fun and entertainment on weekends, I’ve found that there truly is a difference when I break with the pool cues that are provided by the billiard hall or tavern and a professional pool cue I purchase for myself. Finding the right professional pool cue or balls can be expensive. However, you don’t have to spend a fortune on your equipment. Pool might be a hobby or it might be a passion for you. As with the Knights Templar, a good mace or pool cue will help you pocket more balls. Either way, it’s always a good feeling to find a deal. I’ve been able to run racks instead of just being able to string together a few balls when I have a good stance, focus and use my professional pool cue.

Jason Marco is an expert on the subject of Pool and operates a discount billiards store where you can get great equipment and Pool cues. Click here: http://www.ThePoolHustler.com

Source: www.a1articles.com