History of 9 Ball Pool

The game of 9 ball Nine-ball (9 ball) is a contemporary form of pool, with historical beginnings rooted in the United States and traceable to the 1920s.

The game may be played in social and recreational settings by any number of players (generally one-on-one) and subject to whatever rules are agreed upon beforehand, or in league and tournament settings in which the number of players and the rules are set by the sponsors.

During much of its history, 9 ball was known as a “money game” in both professional and recreational settings, but has since been established as a legitimate alternative to eight ball, straight pool, and other variations.

In recent years, 9 ball has become the game of choice in championship tournament matches in the United States; matches proceed quickly, suitable for the time constraints of television coverage, and games tend to keep the audience engaged. The sports network ESPN has been, for several years, a major catalyst for the popularity of 9 ball and a major sponsor of championship play.

Title: History of 9 Ball Pool
Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
Published: 9/23/2016 9:21:52 PM
Last Updated: 9/23/2016 10:36:37 PM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum

History of 9 Ball Pool Comments

Mark Whit from Dallas, TX on 6/7/2019 11:50:51 AM
When did 9-Ball go from two-foul ball-in-hand to single foul ball-in-hand?

billiardsforum from Halifax, NS on 6/24/2019 2:38:17 PM
According to a blurb on Wikipedia, it became popular in the 1970s (emphasis ours):

[...] If the player shooting the resulting shot fouled, the other player would have ball-in-hand; hence this manner of play was called the "two-foul" version. "One-foul" became popular in the 1970s, as play turned more aggressive for the early televised matches.

I've been unable to find a source for this.

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