THE 8 BALL

CAUSE AND EFFECT - BILLIARDS

The aim in the game of billiards...pool is to be the first person to pocket the 8 Ball after sinking all your other balls first.

This is like life, we know what we are trying to achieve and set about doing just that.

Like pool, there are rules that must be followed in order to achieve our life goals.

However, in achieving pocketing the 8 Ball, or being what we individually think of as being successful, it is not always straight forward.

This article draws an analogy between billiards and life.

Billiards, snooker and pool is a game of cause and effect.

Life is also dominated by cause and effect.

We cause things to happen and it has an effect.

I demonstrate:

In Billiard games, because we want to win the game we have to follow the process and rules of play. 

As mentioned above, in order to win one must be the first to pot the 8 Ball after all your other balls.  However, in doing this one has to avoid accidentally sinking the white ball (cue ball) and/or the 8 Ball as well as your opponent’s balls.  This in itself is a challenge.

However, during the game it is a matter of course that other balls are hit and ricochet off others.  The balls roll around the table and may or may not roll into difficult positions.  Such as touching other players balls or end up against the table cushions.  Therefore, you can be placed in a difficult position which may not be easy to recover.  Following, you have to adjust your game strategy and use differing techniques to accommodate the new ball layout.  That is, with each shot both you and your opponent make, the game alters.

Billiards is a game of cause and effect. Because balls move around the table, either intentionally or otherwise this has an effect on the game.  Cause and effect.

This is like all life challenges...nothing stays regular and constant and one is constantly adjusting to get the advantage and win the game. Meaning, to sink the metaphorical 8 Ball of life.

As you may have gathered, I have recently taken up the sport of Billiards...pool, so much so that I have bought my own cue etc.  I am very lucky that I have ready access to a billiard table.

Being rather new to the game I am still very much a novice at technique and strategy but I am learning.

I enjoy thinking about billiards and pool, what is involved and strategies one may use in order to be the first in the game to pot the 8 ball and win.  

During the quiet hours between midnight and dawn I think a lot about billiards.  This is when I came to realise that the game of billiards is a graphic metaphor for life and all the challenges and obstacles we encounter in order to overcome challenges.

So to explain it better, below are the corresponding elements that are needed for Billiards and Life

BILLIARDS =	LIFE
Billiard Table =	One’s Life
Long skinny stick (Cue) =	Intention
Billiard...Pool Balls =	Skills
Table Pockets =	Target
Potting the 8 Ball =	Goal (Achievement)

The game of billiards, pool is an analogy for life and the above table shows the parallels.

It does not matter if one is playing against another person or against oneself, is not the potting of balls into pockets the same as achieving things in life?

I see this wonderful sport of billiards, pool or snooker that involves no running, jumping, pulling, pushing or lifting heavy weights to be a wonderful visual and physical exercise in understanding the process of living.  

Life, as billiards...pool, does not have to be struggle, both are a game in which we all are trying to achieve a happy and positive outcome.

We make life what it is.  

Everyone can play pool.  Everyone has a different physical stature, mental attitude, health and experience.  Take the cue from me.

A player with a positive attitude regardless of their inexperience can win a game over a very good player.  As a beginner I learnt this lesson the other night when I beat a very experienced and excellent player.  

During my life I have only played pool about five or six times and that was over a period of 15-40 years ago.  Yet, there I was the other night playing about the fourth game since that time. I have never had lessons, I was mis-hitting balls, had one or two air shots but at least the way I was playing, I won the game.

How did I win?

In all honesty I think it was because I was taking my time and properly lining up my shots, covered (blocked) two pockets...not really deliberately...but almost and most importantly, I made sure that I took my time approaching the table and was careful that my stance and bridge (hand aiming the cue) was correct.  (I have lots more to learn about and practice this). But the thing is, this is what we do in life.

Life, as a game of billiards, have obstacles such as rules, penalties and challenges, that is the way things are.

As you can see, achieving goals or becoming successful is not necessarily determined by who or what one is up against.  It is more about our personal attitudes and other attributes in which we play the game of life and living.

Well...that is what I have learnt about the game of Billiards.

Cheers,

Verde