Why is pool more popular than snooker?
Billiards and snooker are two very similar games. Both involve the use of pool cues to drive different colored pool balls onto the table. Both require different billiard supplies, they are two player games that involve shooting free throws and require skill in aim and focus. However, they are completely different when it comes to the details.
Snooker is a thoughtful and slow game that requires patience. A painting can last an average of one hour. The table is much larger than the pool table: two meters wide and one meter long. Due to the size of the table, the construction of breaks (ie an uninterrupted series of pocketing shots) is very difficult. It requires a great deal of planning. Snooker players must be adept at using the spin of pool balls so that they can play the shot in such a way that they end up positioning the cue ball for the next shot. Billiard balls are generally struck softly and do not hit the table. Scoring is based on the balls, each of which has a different value.
Pool tables, on the other hand, are smaller: a meter long and less than a meter wide. The pockets are larger and the pool table felt used is much thicker (and therefore requires more force while playing). Here the rules are less strict and the pace is faster. You also don’t need gadgets like the spider, which allows for shots that are too far away for the average human to reach. There is no punctuation as such; the person who finishes and pockets the black ball first wins.
In a friendly, non-competitive environment, it’s easy to see why pool has become more popular than snooker. For one thing, it takes much longer to play pool than billiards. Two good pool players can clean a pool table in 5-10 minutes. That is not the case with billiards.
Snooker is also more difficult and thus never caught on with its popularity among general players. In terms of excitement, billiards also gets an edge here. Due to the length of the game, players tend to enjoy it much more. Pool is also a good spectator sport for this reason.
Pool halls and bars also play a big role in this. At various times, pool halls have sprung up in various places around the world. They proved to be profitable businesses for entrepreneurs and people frequented these places as they had a fun sport involved in the social process. Remember: pool was originally a gambling game, and got its name because players and bettors ‘pooled’ their money at the table.
Ultimately, both games have their pros and cons in their respective fields. However, it is clear why billiards has gained popularity.