Get Inspired: How to get into snooker, billiards and pool

Snooker, billiards and pool all offer different challenges, but from pubs to clubs to competition, they offer an accessible option for anyone hoping to pick up a cue.

It shouldn't be hard to find somewhere to hone your skills. What's more, an official snooker club finder was launched in 2018 to help you find the perfect place to play.

Aspire to be like: Ali Carter

Ali Carter is a two-time World Championship runner-up

Ali Carter has held a career high of world number two, and has been consistently in the top 16, despite being diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2003 and overcoming testicular cancer and lung cancer in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

"Of course I want to win tournaments. But this has opened my eyes a little bit because winning is not the most important thing to me now," Carter said.

Snooker

Whether you choose to play competitively or socially, snooker is sure to get your brain working.

It requires skill and concentration and will improve your focus and hand-eye coordination. Anyone can play regardless of age, gender or ability and it's not an expensive sport to get into.

Snooker is essentially a simple sport, once the rules of the game have been learnt - to do just that click here.

And a great way to start taking part in snooker is through a local snooker club.

English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards provides a club finder to locate your local snooker venue.

To find a club in other areas of the UK please contact the national snooker federations of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Pool

Bigger pockets (in eight ball), shorter cues, fewer balls - pool is certainly an easier sport for beginners to get stuck into than its technical cousins.

However, cue ball control, massive amounts of spin and arm power are all needed to master the sport effectively.

Blackball (without the bigger pockets) is the official competitive version in this country, run by the International Professional Pool Association.

Billiards

Billiards is generally seen as the forefather of all modern cue sports

The term 'billiards' can cover all disciplines played with a cue, but in Britain and many other parts of the world the term billiards is used to describe English Billiards.

Played with only three balls, the object of the game is to accumulate an agreed number of points. Scoring consists of a series of particular strikes such as 'cannons', 'potting' and 'in offs'.

A full set of rules can be found here, or to get involved see your local governing body in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.

Women's cue sports

Reanne Evans won her first Women's World Championship in 2005

As a precision sport with a key emphasis on technique, hard work, discipline and accuracy, snooker is a sport that can place men and women on the same field of play.

Snooker is a mixed gender sport at all levels with women having the same opportunity to progress to the top of the game as men.

To encourage participation there is also a separate World Women's Snooker Tour organised by World Women’s Snooker (WWS).. This tour is open to players of all levels of ability and experience.

Disability cue sports

Cue sports can cater for those with a wide range of disabilities

World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) is an organisation that was formed to open up opportunities for players of all disabilities: physical, intellectual and sensory.

WDBS operates as a subsidiary of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and has held several events in the UK - for more information click here.

Also, the British Wheelchair Pool Players Association (BWPPA) organises domestic events for wheelchair players, and their players attend international tournaments where they compete alongside able-bodied players. Find out more here.

Junior cue sports

Many clubs offer junior sections with sessions in the evening or at the weekend. There are also junior leagues and competitions you can get involved in. In England, junior players can get in touch with their local affiliated club.

Coaching and volunteering

Volunteers may find a role in snooker through refereeing, stewarding or coaching

Whether you have played in the past or just have a keen interest in developing talent, coaching is a great way to become involved in snooker.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association is a good place to start, and take a look at the websites for the different governing bodies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

What's next?

1. Find your local snooker opportunities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2. Share your story and inspire others.

Are you inspired to try snooker? Or maybe you are a keen enthusiast already? Get in touch and tell us your experience of the game by tweeting us on @bbcgetinspired, visiting us on Facebook or email us on [e-mail].

See our full list of activity guides for more inspiration.