Differences between pool and billiard balls
There are a variety of cue styles to fit the variety of billiard table games. For example, since billiard balls are heavier than pool balls, billiard cues need to be stiffer than pool cues. The weight of the cue is in large part determined by the type of wood used in its construction, with some players having a preference for heavy cues while others prefer light ones.
Marquetry, which is the art of making pictures or designs on a thin piece of wood or shell, is one reason behind the beauty and quality of billiard cues. We can see evidence of this art at work in the construction of pool cues almost since their inception. Billiard tables and cues have an enhanced beauty due to the inlaid patterns that this art is able to create. Sometimes this art will include the use of precious gems and metals. Another art used in the production of cues and tables is “finishing,” which is the same process Stradavari used for his violins.
The beauty of the game elements is one of the main reasons why these games became and stay so popular.