Skip to content
Short answer: No — 8-ball pool and billiards aren’t the same at all. Pool uses pockets, billiards often doesn’t, and they sit in different branches of the wider Pool vs. Billiards family. Keep reading to finally see how they all connect (and why so many people mix them up).
(1/3): The Definitive Relationship: Billiards as the Umbrella Term
Cue sports can look surprisingly alike, which is why many players use the names interchangeably. Understanding the hierarchy makes everything clearer. At the top sits billiards, the wide-ranging category that covers several different games.
(1/4): Billiards — The Term for All Cue Sports
The True Definition — Any game played on a cloth-covered table with balls and a cue stick
Historically, billiards referred to all cue sports.
If a game involves a cue, balls, and a cloth-covered table, it falls under this definition.
This broad meaning is what often causes confusion today.
The Family Tree — How Pool and Snooker Fit Under Billiards
Pool, snooker, and carom billiards all sit within the same family.
They share similar components yet differ in table design, the number of balls used, and how points are earned.
Each game has developed its own identity over time.
Cue Sports — The Modern, All-Encompassing Name
The term “cue sports” is now commonly used in modern contexts.
It groups the various styles—pool, snooker, and carom—under one practical label.
(2/4): Pool’s Place in the Billiards Family
The Formal Name — Why Pool Is Professionally Known as Pocket Billiards
Pool is technically categorised as pocket billiards.
Any game played on a six-pocket table falls into this group.
It includes well-known formats such as 8-ball, 9-ball, and straight pool.
8-Ball’s Status — A Standardised Variation within Pocket Billiards
8-ball is a specific variation within the pocket billiards category.
It uses sixteen balls and follows a structured rule set.
The objective is to clear your assigned group—solids or stripes—and then pot the 8-ball.
(2/3): The Key Distinction — Pocketed Tables vs. Pocketless Tables
The most visual and important difference between 8-ball pool and traditional billiards lies in the table.
Pocket billiards games like 8-ball always use pockets, while carom billiards removes them entirely.
(3/4): Comparing Billiards (Carom) to Pool (8-Ball)
The Pockets — Six Pockets (Pool) vs. Zero Pockets (Carom Billiards)
Pool tables include six pockets positioned around the edges.
Carom tables have no pockets at all, shifting the focus to rebounds and angles.
The Balls — Three Balls (Carom) vs. Sixteen Balls (8-Ball Pool)
Carom billiards uses three balls: two cue balls and one object ball.
8-ball pool uses solids, stripes, a cue ball, and the black 8-ball.
The Objective — Carom/Rebound Scoring vs. Pocketing Balls
Carom players score by rebounding the cue ball off the other balls and cushions.
In 8-ball pool, players must pocket their group of balls and then legally pot the 8-ball to win.
The Table Size — Different Dimensions for Each Style
Carom tables are traditionally 10 ft and pocketless.
Pool tables vary in size, with common lengths being 7 ft, 8 ft, and 9 ft.
(3/3): Beyond 8-Ball — Other Popular Pool and Billiards Variations
The world of cue sports stretches far beyond 8-ball.
Many other popular games sit within the pocket billiards and billiards categories.
(4/4): Pocket Billiard Games Beyond 8-Ball
9-Ball Pool — The Rotation Game Focused on Pocketing the 9-Ball
9-ball uses balls numbered 1–9.
Players must always strike the lowest-numbered ball first.
The game ends when the 9-ball is legally potted.
Straight Pool (14.1 Continuous) — Scoring by Cumulative Points
Players can pot any object ball.
The aim is to reach a set point target through precision and consistency.
Snooker’s Unique Position — Larger Tables, Smaller Balls, and a Colour-Based Scoring System
Snooker uses a larger table and a scoring system based on reds and colours.
It remains one of the most strategic cue sports in the world.