Pool is a game that has been enjoyed by many for over 500 years. Though it has experienced changes both in the "field" of play and in the equipment used, it retains many of the basic principles established at this game's creation. The term pool is a modernized derivative of billiards. Billiards was a predecessor of the modern game of pool. Often these terms are used interchangeably. The game of billiards derived from a game that showed up in the early 15th century as a lawn game similar to croquet. This game was moved indoors and played on a table with green cloth that was supposed to simulate grass. It was centered for the most part in Northern Europe and France. The name “billiard” is derived from the French, either from the word “billart”, a term for the wooden sticks used, or “bille”, which means ball. This game grew much acclaim in England, where the cue stick was first introduced in the late 1600s.

The table upon which the game of billiards was first played consisted of a flat surface with four vertical walls. These four walls were the equivalent of modern day “bumpers” but their original purpose was to keep the balls on the table. These walls eventually became known as banks because they resembled river banks. Players soon discovered that they could deliberately play off the wall on a shot, and hence named them "bank" shots. The Industrial Revolution in England brought about many advances in the game of billiards. The idea of using chalk to increase friction between the ball and the cue stick was first developed in England. The English also introduced the leather tip for the cue which was perfected in 1823, which helped to give the ball spin when struck off-center. The English perfected this technique and showed it to American visitors. The Americans then called it "English", a term used only in America to describe the spin on the ball. In England, for example, the spin on the ball is called "side". The billiard table had evolved into the current perfected model around 1850.