Why Is Billiards Often Called Pool?

“Billiards” can be an umbrella term for cue sports, while “pool” usually means pocket billiards. In some contexts people use “billiards” specifically for carom games. The meaning depends on the game and region; calling a pool table a billiard table is not inherently a mistake.

The Origins: Where It All Began

Billiards developed from European lawn games and moved indoors. The Billiard Congress of America’s history describes early equipment with pockets, a hoop and an upright target; it was not universally pocketless. Early players used maces before the cue developed. Read more in our history of pool blog.

The BCA connects the name “pool” to pooled stakes and nineteenth-century betting rooms, where billiard tables provided another activity. The association helped the name attach to pocket billiards; it does not mean that all cue games originated as gambling games. See our related history of betting and billiards.

What Is Billiards?

Carom billiards uses a pocketless table. In three-ball games, each player uses an assigned cue ball and scores a carom by contacting the other two balls, subject to the variant’s requirements. Three-cushion adds its cushion-contact condition. But “billiards” is broader: English billiards uses a pocketed table and includes cannons as well as pocketing scores.

For carom billiards, useful distinctions include:

No Pockets: Since the game focuses on caroms rather than pocketing balls, the table is pocketless.
Cloth Type: Fast worsted cloth is used for modern three-cushion play; Simonis 300 Rapide is a documented high-speed carom example. Thicker and slower is not a general carom specification.
Skill Focus: The game requires mastery over angles, strategic planning, and careful control of ball speed.

What Is Pool?

Pool, or pocket billiards, normally uses six pockets: four corners and two side pockets. Common American table size labels include 7, 8 and 9 feet, but the actual playing dimensions depend on the model. Eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool have different objectives and scoring rules.

Here are some key features of pool tables:

Pockets: Pool tables have six pockets, making pocketing the main objective of the game.
Cloth Type: Pool cloth varies by game, table and product. Both pool and carom can use fast worsted cloth, so speed alone does not distinguish them.
Game Variations: There are many variations of pool, such as Eight-Ball, Nine-Ball, and Straight Pool, each with different rules and challenges.

Why the Terms Billiards and Pool Are Often Interchanged

The terminology overlaps because pool is a form of billiards. When precision matters, name the game—eight-ball, three-cushion, English billiards or snooker—rather than assuming “billiards” always describes a pocketless table.

A venue may reasonably label its pool equipment “billiard tables.” Ask which game and table specification it means; the broad label by itself does not establish size, pockets or rules.

Key Differences Summarized

Use the named game to interpret these equipment differences:

Table Design: Carom tables are pocketless; standard pool tables have six pockets. English billiards also uses pockets.
Game Focus: Carom games require ball contacts under their rules; pool games generally score or win through pocketing. English billiards combines cannons and pocketing scores.
Table Size: Size depends on the named game and model. Compare actual playing dimensions rather than treating “billiard” as one table size.
Cloth Type: Choose cloth specified for the game and table. Modern three-cushion cloth can be very fast; carom is not defined by thick, slow cloth.

Conclusion: Clarifying Why Billiards Are Often Called Pool

Pool belongs to the billiards family. Carom billiards, English billiards and snooker add other equipment and rule traditions. Naming the game gives a clearer comparison than ranking one as precise and another as dynamic: all require speed control, angles and strategy.