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 written records about the game date back at least to the 1500s in Northern Europe. 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 on object balls that were numbered between one and fifteen. It was similar in nature to croquet except that the player would shove the ball rather then strike it. People started using a wooden stick, called a "mace", to strike the ball in the 1600s.
The game was improved with the addition of a cuestick, a wooden hoops, and the balls. It became very popular in Europe, and the game spread to the United States. However, the game didn't become very popular until after the Industrial Revolution.
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 of France is credited with the invention of the indoor billiard table. It was also a popular pastime after the Industrial Revolution, and grew in popularity in England. 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. It became very popular in finer saloons. The equipment was too expensive for the poorer classes.
The history of the game was complicated further when ivory was used as a ball material. Original ivory was 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.
The 1920s saw the introduction of a new ball material that replaced ivory pool balls. This ball material was made of a mixture nitrocellulose and camphor. It could explode if it was struck with extreme force.
The composite ball was the new name for this ball material. Although the nitrocellulose was not very stable, it was an inexpensive alternative to ivory. After some time, the stick was abandoned along with the hoop. The cue tip also became a leather tip to improve ball hitting.
It continued to evolve and, in the late 1800s it became a popular game in the United States. In the late 1870s, John Wesley Hyatt, a billiards player, invented a ball made of camphor and nitrocellulose. The ball was unstable and could explode if struck with extreme force.
Michael Phelan was another important figure in the development of the game. He is a well-known pool player. Phelan was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States with his father. Michael then entered the pool hall business. He wrote a book on the subject of pool that inspired new generations to leave behind ivory balls and moved to the table.