METHOD OF PLAYING BILLIARDS

Abstract

A method of playing billiards is provided. The method includes positioning numbered billiard balls in a predetermined pattern on a billiards table and placing a cue ball at any desired location on the billiards table. The cue ball strikes the numbered billiard balls in sequential numerical order. A score determined from the numbered billiard balls sunk in billiards table pockets is then recorded.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of playing a game and, more particularly, to a method of playing a billiards game.

Pocket billiards is an exacting and complicated game that requires much time and dedication, in fact a level of devotion, in order to learn to play well enough to compete. Amateur players often find the nature of colliding spheres, target zones of object balls, and cue ball control after taking a shot difficult to grasp. Because of the inherent difficulties in the game, the amateur is often dissuaded from further pursuit of the sport. Moreover, in all previous billiard games, object balls generally land randomly on the table such that essentially no two table layouts have been the same in the five hundred years pocket billiards has been played. Therefore, each player does not have an equal opportunity to score points in a scored billiards game.

As can be seen, there is a need for a method of playing billiards that allows an amateur player to build his or her skill level without being dissuaded from further play.

The present invention simplifies the approach of learning skills necessary to play billiards well, thereby solving the problem of retaining new players to the sport of traditional pocket billiard games. New players keep playing longer, allowing them to continuously learn aspects of the game. The inventive method provides a gateway approach to learning to play all other billiard games. The method provides expanded contact zone on an object ball for player and encourages continued play by successfully scoring points.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of playing billiards includes positioning numbered billiard balls in a predetermined pattern on a billiards table; placing a cue ball at any desired location on the billiards table; urging the cue ball to strike the numbered billiard balls in sequential numerical order; and recording a score determined from the numbered billiard balls sunk in billiards table pockets.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of billiard balls set up on billiards table according to an embodiment of the inventive method;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a score card for scoring a billiards game according to an embodiment of the inventive method;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of play according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a method of playing billiards wherein each player begins with an identical ball layout and earns points for sunk billiard balls. The inventive game method generally provides an initial layout identical for all players. The unique positioning of the balls at the beginning of the game and the subsequent placement of the balls for each inning that all players have equal opportunities to score. For the player to be successful at this game (i.e., achieve a high score), absolute mastery of positioning the cue ball after pocketing the object ball is essential, more so than the ability to pocket the intended object ball.

In some embodiments, additional numbered balls are added to the initial layout. For example, in one embodiment, balls 10-15 may be placed on the table positioned at each diamond on the top rail. These balls may serve as additional obstacles to challenge more advanced players, without adding points. In another embodiment, balls 10-15 may be placed at specific locations and may carry a one-point value after calling each shot.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a billiards game according to the present invention generally begins with a predetermined set up of the numbered (“1” to “9”) billiard balls 16, also described as object balls 16, on a playing surface 14 of a billiards table 10 having six pockets, as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the base of each ball 16 numbered “1” through “6” is placed about 1 inch from the edge of the billiards table 10 slate against the edge of a pocket 12. This base placement may range from one-half to one and one-half inches, which is sometimes referred to “about” or “approximately” one inch. The placement may be reversed for a left-handed player. Balls 16 identified with numbers “7” through “9” are preferably placed equidistant lengthwise across the center of the billiards table 10. As illustrated in the flowchart of FIGS. 3 and 4, the player may place a cue ball at any desired location on the billiards table 10 playing surface 14. This may be referred to as “BALL IN HAND”.

A series of ten innings may be played. Each inning includes each player pocketing the balls 16 in sequential numerical order from “1” to “9”. The balls 16 are generally pocketed by striking the cue ball against the numbered ball 16 such that the numbered ball 16 moves towards a pocket 12. Beginning with ball “7” 16, the player may “call” the “shot”; i.e., the player identifies the billiards table pocket 12 in which he or she intends to sink each ball 16. Preferably, the player avoids any masse shots (wherein the cue ball spins around an intervening ball before hitting the object ball) or jump shots (wherein the cue ball is “jumped” into the air to clear an intervening ball). The player's inning generally ends when the player misses a shot or the cue ball contacts a ball 16 out of sequential numerical order. In that case, the balls may be reset on the playing surface 14 for a subsequent player's (or players') turn, according to the predetermined pattern shown in FIG. 1.

After all players have finished an inning, play may advance to the next inning. Each player's performance may receive a score. Points may be awarded for each ball 16 consecutively pocketed in numerical order and the sum of the points may be recorded. The points may be based on the face value of the ball. However, fouls and scratches (i.e., wherein the cue ball is pocketed) are generally not awarded points and do not increase the player's score. Fouls are determined in accordance with known billiards rules and include “double hits”, “first ball hits”, frozen cue ball shots”, “kiss-back shots”, “miscues”, “push shots”, “scoop jump shots”, and sinking a ball out of numerical order. Preferably, a score sheet as shown in FIG. 2 may be used to document awarded points.

Once all innings have been completed, each player's points are totaled across innings. Generally, a maximum total of 45 points may be awarded to a player per inning for a maximum of 450 points per player per game.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing billiards, comprising: a. positioning numbered billiard balls in a predetermined pattern on a billiards table;b. placing a cue ball at any desired location on the billiards table;c. urging the cue ball to individually strike the numbered billiard balls in sequential numerical face value order at its position in the predetermined pattern; andd. recording a score on a scorecard having a grid comprising: a player name column, ten inning score columns, and a total score column, with at least two rows including a column label row and a fillable row; said score determined from the face value of each of the numbered billiard balls sunk in its adjacent billiards table pocket according to the predetermined pattern; wherein the predetermined pattern comprises placing a single billiard ball with a face value of “1” adjacent to a first billiards table pocket, a single billiard ball with a face value of “2” adjacent to a second billiards table pocket diagonally across the billiards table from the first billiards table pocket, a single billiard ball with a face value of “3” adjacent to a third billiards table pocket, a single billiard ball with a face value of “4” adjacent to a fourth billiards table pocket diagonally across the billiards table from the third billiards table pocket, a single billiard ball with a face value of “5” adjacent to a fifth billiards table pocket, and a single billiard ball with a face value of “6” adjacent to a sixth billiards table pocket directly opposite the fifth billiards table pocket, such that the billiard balls with the odd-numbered face values “1” and “3” are each positioned along a first end of the table, the billiard balls with the even-numbered face values “4” and “2” are each positioned along a second end of the table, and the billiard balls with the face values “6” and “5” are each positioned midway along a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, respectively.

2. (canceled)

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern further comprises placement of the numbered billiards balls with face values “7”, “9”, and “8” equidistant longitudinally across the center of the billiards table with the billiard ball with the face value “9” positioned at a center of the billiards table, and wherein a player calls a shot prior to urging the cue ball to strike the numbered billiard balls identified with the face value numbers “7”, “8”, and “9”.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a player's turn ends if the player fails to sink a ball or if the cue ball contacts one of the numbered billiard balls out of sequential numerical order.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when the player's turn ends, the numbered billiard balls are repositioned in the predetermined pattern for each subsequent player.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an inning is identified when the player and all subsequent players have completed a turn.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein ten innings are completed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each player's score is totaled across the ten innings.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in the predetermined pattern, the sixth billiards table pocket is positioned between the first billiards table pocket and the fourth billiards table pocket on the first longitudinal side of the billiards table; and wherein the fifth billiards table pocket is positioned between the second billiards table pocket and the third billiards table pocket on a second longitudinal side of the billiards table.