Despite the fact that no one is certain who invented the pool table, there is no denying that it has been around for a very long time. The earliest known records of the pool table date back to Northern Europe in the 1500s. The game gained popularity with all ages. It has remained immensely popular in the United States throughout many years.
The original version of pool was played with grass or a board having a hole at the center. It was played with objects balls, which were numbered 1-15. The game was similar to croquet, in that the player shoved the ball rather than striking it. In the 1600s, the "mace", a wooden stick that was used to strike the ball was invented.
The game was refined with the addition of a cue stick, a wooden hoop, and the balls. The game was very popular in Europe and spread quickly to the United States. However, it was not until the Industrial Revolution that the game became popular worldwide.
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 was also popular in England and became more popular after the Industrial Revolution. The game was also popular among the French nobility.
In the 1840s, the game quickly became a favorite sport and was brought to the United States. Many of the earliest settlers brought the game with them to America, and tournaments were held all over the country. The game gained popularity in finer saloons because it was more affordable than the equipment.
The game's past was further complicated by the introduction of ivory as a material for ball. Ivory was originally made out of elephant tusks. Ivory became increasingly popular in the 17th Century, but it wasn't indestructible.
In the 1920s, Ivory pool balls were replaced with a new ball 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. While the nitrocellulose didn't have great stability, it was a cheaper alternative to ivory. After a while, the stick and hoop were abandoned. A leather tip was added to the cue tip, which made it easier to hit balls.
It continued to evolve and, in the late 1800s it became a popular game in the United States. John Wesley Hyatt was a billiards player who invented a ball of camphor and nitrogencellulose in the late 1870s. This ball material was unstable, and it could explode if hit with extreme force.
Another significant figure in the game's development was Michael Phelan, a successful pool player. Phelan was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States with his father. Michael then entered the pool hall business. He eventually wrote a book about pool that inspired a new generation to abandon ivory balls.