Ask any player about their cue, and you’ll get a story. The first one they bought. The one that warped in a hot car. The one that still smells faintly of bar smoke. Because a cue isn’t just a stick of wood. It’s an extension of your touch, your timing, your trust. And over the years, that touch has evolved — from the warm grain of maple to the space-age precision of carbon fiber. The Maple Era For most of pool’s history, cues were carved from hard rock maple — the gold standard for strength, balance, and feel. From the...

Every few years, the cue world lines up its shot at the Olympics — and so far, it keeps rattling the pocket. Paris 2024 said no. Now all eyes are on Los Angeles 2028. The question isn’t whether players want it. It’s whether pool in the Olympics can check the boxes the IOC cares about and finally land on the sport’s biggest stage. Where Cue Sports Stand Right Now Since 1992, the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) has represented pool, snooker, and carom under one umbrella recognized by the IOC. That’s step one. Step two — getting a discipline...

At the 2022 World 9-Ball final, Shane Van Boening was two racks from the title he'd chased for fifteen years. The arena in Doha was electric. The pressure was biblical. Carlo Biado, across the table, had already proven he could run with anyone. And Shane? He looked like he was running drills on a Tuesday afternoon in Rapid City. That's the thing about Shane. The bigger the moment, the smaller his world gets. Just him, the cloth, and the next shot. Everything else—crowd noise, stakes, history—it's all static he learned to tune out a long time ago. Born Into It...

You’ve fed that coin slot a hundred times. Quarter drops, click echoes, game on. That sound isn’t just habit—it’s belonging. Before coin-ops, pool lived in private halls and gentlemen’s clubs. After them, it became ours. The coin-operated pool table didn’t just make the game accessible—it made it personal, loud, and impossible to ignore. The Day Everything Changed The first coin-operated pool tables appeared in the 1930s, and they flipped billiards culture overnight. No more country clubs. No velvet ropes. All you needed was a quarter and a little pride. Bar owners installed them by the thousands, and players who’d never...

Let’s be honest — some losses don’t just sting. They shake you. You don’t want to talk. You don’t want to hear “good try.” You want to rewind the clock, take that one shot back, and stop the spiral before it started. But there is no rewind. There’s only reset. And the players who figure that out fastest? They’re the ones who rise. Step One: Sit With It (But Not Too Long) Don’t bury it. Don’t pretend it didn’t matter. That sick feeling in your stomach? That’s your brain screaming: “This matters to me.” Good. That means you care. But...

When the World 9-Ball Championship returned to Jeddah this summer, fans got the kind of final you dream about. Carlo Biado, the 2017 champion from the Philippines, faced off against Fedor Gorst, the Russian-born phenom who’s been tearing up the international scene. The match went the distance—15–13 in favor of Biado—and it wasn’t decided by talent alone. Both men can pocket balls at a level few can touch. The difference came down to nerves: how each player handled the pressure of a world title hanging in the balance. Handling the Hot Start Biado jumped out early, feeding off the crowd...

The China Open isn’t just another tournament—it’s one of the toughest proving grounds in pool. This year in Shanghai, two players etched their names into the game’s history: Wojciech Szewczyk (men’s 9-ball, 11–5 over Dang Jinhu) and Chihiro Kawahara (women’s final, 9–6 over Liu Shasha). These finals weren’t just good TV. They were a masterclass in what separates the best from the rest—and what league players can borrow for Tuesday night. Control the Pace—Don’t Let It Control You Both champions kept the same rhythm no matter the layout—walk, chalk, breathe, commit. No rush shots, no panic. League Takeaway: Build a...

For most pool players, the big arenas belong to the pros. The China Open, the World 9-Ball, the Mosconi Cup — those are where the names we all know battle it out. But once a year in Las Vegas, the spotlight shifts. The APA World Pool Championships bring together thousands of league players from across the country, and suddenly the stage isn’t just for the stars. It’s for the everyday shooters who live and breathe league night. Why the APA Championships Matter There’s nothing else like it in amateur sports. You can shoot on a Tuesday night in your local...

League night isn’t just about the score. It’s about showing up with your crew, holding your own, and looking like a team that means business. That’s where the right billiards shirt comes in—not just something to wear, but something that represents. More Than a Shirt—It’s Your Flag Every league team has a vibe. The grinders. The assassins. The underdogs who always pull through. Your team apparel should match that energy. A great billiards shirt doesn’t just fit well—it feels like yours. It shows who you are before the first break, and leaves an impression long after the match is done....

Every pool player knows the shot. The pressure’s real, the stakes are high, and the room’s gone quiet. You take the stroke—and it’s pure. You didn’t flinch. You didn’t overthink. You just trusted your game. That’s confidence. And it's not some gift you're born with. It’s built. Mastering the pool player mindset isn’t about ego. It’s about consistency, resilience, and showing up focused whether it’s league night or the finals of a money match. Confidence isn’t loud. It’s calm. It’s quiet. It’s earned. "The most dangerous player in the room isn’t the flashiest. It’s the one who never blinks after...

There’s a reason they’re always chalking up, always looking for one more rack, always talking about that one shot they almost made. Pool isn’t just a hobby—it’s part of who they are. And when it comes time to buy them a gift? You want to get it right. This guide will help you skip the gimmicks and give with confidence—whether you’re shopping for your league partner, your spouse, or that one friend who never misses a Thursday night at the pool hall. ⚠️ Rule #1: Don’t Buy a Cue It seems logical, but it’s a trap. A cue is a...

There’s a rhythm to a pool hall at night—the echo of the break, the soft thud of a clean pocket, and the casual slang that floats between tables. “Dead stroke.” “Getting shape.” “He’s got serious stick.” To outsiders, it sounds like code. To players, it’s identity. Pool slang isn’t just talk—it’s a language built from tension, triumph, and table time. But like any dialect, it evolves. Use the right terms, and you’re part of the crew. Use the wrong ones, and you’re posting up as a tourist with a cue. “In pool, how you talk tells people how long you’ve...