Artistic Billiards

Artistic billiards is a shot-making game of carom billiards. In artistic billiards, players compete by each executing 76 different predetermined carom shots. These shots have different levels of difficulty, with various point values given for these varying level of billiard shots.

Artistic billiards is played on a regulation carom billiards table. Players might hear the game called fantasy billiards, because the French term for artistic billiards is fantaisie classique. The French-based Confederation International de Billiard Artistique, or CIBA, is the governing body of artistic billiards.

Point Values in Artistic Billiards

Each of the 76 shots in artistic billiards is given a maximum point value. The easiest shots are worth a maximum of 4 points, while the most difficult shots are worth 11 points maximum. When a shot is made, that player's shot is graded according to the execution of the shot. There are rigid rules for how each shot should be executed.

If the player makes a perfect score on each of the shots, that player's final score will be 500. The player receives three opportunities to execute each shot, with the highest rated attempt being the shot of record.

76 Artistic Shots

The 76 different shots in artistic billiards are meant to be a full test of a player's shot-making ability. In amateur or private competitions, the number of shots might be limited to less than 76.

The types of shots attempted in artistic billiards are jumps, masses, force draws, force follows, multiple rail kicking shots and many other shots which require liberal use of "english".

Some shots require the use of props. An example of an artistic billiards prop is a small pin. One or more of these pins might be placed around the table, requiring the player to shoot around the pin to make a shot.

Artistic Billiards Equipment

Artistic billiards players can have a variety of cue sticks to use, much like a golfer has an entire bag of clubs from which to make shots. In artistic billiards, players may use up to 20 different cues.

These cue sticks might have specialized cue tips or may be relatively heavier or lighter.

Artistic Pool

Artistic pool is a trick shot competition played professionally in the United States since the year 2000. This game was started sometime around 1993 and gained a small following. In artistic pool, players play on a pocket billiards table and attempt 56 shots instead of 76.