Pool balls have both colors and numbers. They also have variations in the colors in the form of solids and stripes. Not every billiard game has numbered balls. Snooker balls, for instance, don’t have any numbers. So when you really think about it, you could get away with playing many games without the numbers. So why do pool balls have numbers?
Essentially, pool balls have numbers to make the wide variety of different games possible. In concert with the color variations, the numbers make many billiard games easy to play where they would otherwise be frustrating. In games where call-shots are required, numbers make everything that much easier.What if Pool Balls Didn’t Have Numbers?
What if Pool Balls Didn’t Have Numbers?
A fun way to kill some time is to think about playing your favorite pool games on balls that didn’t have numbers. If you really wanted to, you could tape over your pool balls and play a few games like this. The tape would affect how the balls moved and probably wouldn’t be much fun. So maybe it’s best as a mental exercise.
8-Ball Without Numbers
8-Ball Without Numbers
But what if you were playing a call-shot game, much like many pro tournaments require? You would have to keep saying “this ball, corner pocket,” or “the yellow striped ball, corner pocket,” instead of “the 1-ball, corner pocket.” Granted, it wouldn’t be all that difficult to do, but there would likely be some confusion at some point during play.
9-Ball
And that’s not even considering players who are color-blind. They benefit from the numbers, too.
9-Ball
Cutthroat
Either that or the players would have to memorize which ball was which so they could know where to shoot.
Without numbered balls, we might not even have 9-ball. We’d probably have some strange variation of it, but it relies so much on being able to see the numbers, it probably wouldn’t have been invented.
When Did Pool Balls Get Numbers?
Cutthroat
Cutthroat is probably the most popular three-person pool game there is. At least in America. Each player gets assigned five balls, 1-5, 6-10, and 11-15. The object of the game is to be the only player with any balls left on the table. In cutthroat, you’re trying to sink the other players’ balls and protect your own, if you can.
In Conclusion
It’s a game that relies almost entirely on the balls being numbered. Without those numbers, it would be really easy to start mixing balls up, which would make the game pretty frustrating and chaotic.
Like 9-ball, it would technically be possible to play Cutthroat with balls lacking numbers, but it would be tough. And also like 9-ball, Cutthroat would likely have never been invented if balls didn’t have numbers.
Other Articles You May Be Interested In
When Did Pool Balls Get Numbers?
Many different kinds of billiard games are still played today with balls that are only colored and not numbered. Snooker balls are all of solid color, and none are numbered.
Carom is only played with three balls, none of which are numbered.
English blackball is played with 15 object balls, but only one of them, the black 8-ball, is numbered.
But the rules of these games don’t really require them to have numbered balls the way that games like 9-ball do. So why did pool balls get numbers? And when did it happen?
The reason balls got numbers in the first place was likely so there could be more games invented. As I said above, the combination of colors, numbers, stripes, along with solids allows for a wide variety of games that can all be played with the same set.
Worth checking out: The gold standard in pool balls, take a look at the Aramith Pure Phenolic Pool Balls on Amazon.
Related Articles
For more on this topic, check out how to play pool, pool table reviews, pool cue reviews, billiard game types, and best cues for beginners.
Check out our top-rated gear picks — selected and reviewed by billiards enthusiasts.