When playing around billiards tables, there is a certain etiquette that should be followed. A person who follows this etiquette will have a friendly, enjoyable experience while playing . However, a person who fails to abide by these rules will be an annoyance to other educated players.

Some of the etiquette that a person should follow includes:

Keep the drinks off the table - This one is for courtesy to other players as well as the owner of the pool table more than anything. Although a pool table can be a tempting place on which a drink can be placed, it tends to get in the way quite a bit. In addition to all of the people walking around a pool table, these drinks could also be knocked over by pool sticks and billiard balls. Spilling a drink on the felt of a pool table can cause some fairly significant damage and is always apt to make the owner of the pool table upset.

Be honest - There are not really a lot of ways that a person can be dishonest at the pool table. After all, everybody can see if a shot falls or not. However, dishonesty can occur when a “junk” shot falls that was not intended. For example, if a person is seeking to hit in a certain ball, and by some miracle he accidentally hits in another ball, the unwritten rules of billiards say that this shot does not count and that it is the next player’s turn. In order to avoid any kind of misunderstanding, it is best for a person to call his or her shot before the ball is struck. This can easily diffuse any potential arguments.

Winner stays - In pool, if a person wins, he stays at the billiards tables at which he wins. This means that if there is a line of people waiting to play, the loser of the previous game goes to the back of the line and the winner stays at the table to face the next challenger, who is at the front of the line. When playing on tables that are coin-operated, the challenger pays for the game.

Be quiet - What goes around comes around. If a person is seriously concentrating on a shot, it is polite to be quiet to allow him to focus. A person who offers this courtesy to others will have the same courtesy offered to him when it is his turn to shoot. However, a person who is not quiet can bet that nobody will be quiet for him either.

Be a sport - There is something about billiards that can sometimes bring out the competitive spirit in people a little too much. Try to be as friendly as possible. If a person is playing a stranger, it is best to introduce himself before a game starts. Likewise, a firm handshake after a game can go a long way.

A person who follows these rules of etiquette will likely find that the time he spends around billiards tables is much more fun and much more pleasant than it would be if these rules were not followed.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and recreation. For more of her useful articles on billiards, please visit Billiard Supplies, supplier of billiard tables, pool tables and more.

Tags: Billiard, Rules, Tips

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