Playing the Game of Bumper Pool

Bumper pool is a great game that can bring hours of daily
entertainment to players. A bumper pool table differs from a
standard pool table in that a bumper pool table only has two
pockets (holes) whereas the standard pool table has six pockets.
Furthermore, a bumper pool table contains 12 bumpers, two each
that sit beside the hole at the far end of each side of the
table, while the remaining 8 bumpers are situated around the
middle of the table. These bumpers are used by players trying to
bank their ball into the opposition's hole. While the standard
pool game has 15 balls in solid and stripe form, in bumper pool
each player has five balls -- red versus white. Bumper pool
tables come in a variety of sizes but the regulation size is
roughly 54 inches (1.37 meters) by 30 inches (0.76 meters). These
tables typically have a green felt fabric covering a slate or
wood base.


To begin play in bumper pool, each player lines up their five
balls at opposite ends of the table. Each player will have one
ball with a dot on it. This ball will be placed just in front of
the pocket and must be shot, using a cue stick, into the
opponent's pocket before a player can shoot at any of the other
balls. The goal of bumper pool is to be the first player to shoot
his five balls into the opponent's hole. This game is usually
played one on one or by teams of two. At the start of the game,
both players will shoot the dotted ball at the same time, banking
it off the side rail toward the opponent's hole. The player who
sinks the ball continues to shoot. If no ball falls into the hole
off the first shot, the player with a ball closest to the
opponent's hole shoots again.


In bumper pool, a good defense is just as important as a good
offense. If an opposing player has a ball close to a hole, the
other player can use his shot to knock that player's ball away
from the hole, sending the ball to the other end of the table if
possible. The best bumper pool players are masters with the cue
stick. They can bank balls softly off the side rail or bumper
when needed to drop a ball into the pocket, and they can also
knock their opponent's ball away from the hole when it appears
their opponent has an upcoming easy score.


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