Ever heard of bumper pool?

Ever heard of bumper pool? No, it\'s not some new fad or urban dictionary entry - it\'s fun! Usually played on an octagonal table with a pocket centered on each end, bumper pool is a refreshing take on the classic billiards game we all know and love. Even though the game is most often played in France, it\'s catching on fast in America and the rest of the world.

In order to get a grasp on bumper pool, it is important to take everything you know about regular pool and throw it out the window. First, you are no longer dealing with many different colored balls; there are five white and five red, with each set containing one marked ball. Generally, the size of the table is also much smaller than that of a regulation pool table. The majority of bumper pool tables contain 12 bumpers that surround the centered pocket on each end.

The best thing about bumper pool is that it couldn\'t be simpler to learn how to play. Each set of balls is set up next to it\'s corresponding pocket with the marked ball directly in front of the pocket. The idea is for each player to shoot the marked ball with the goal of ending it up in the opponent\'s pocket while banking it off of the right-hand cushion. Once the marked ball is sunk, the player moves on to the next in line. The object is to sink each and every ball in the opponent\'s pocket; the first one to do so wins. What makes the game difficult is that the marked ball has to be sunk before he or she can move on to another ball. Many players have a hard time with this, especially if they get themselves in a hard spot with the marked ball.

As with regular pool, there are a few fouls to take note of. For instance, if your last ball is sunk in your opponent\'s pocket, you will have to forfeit. The idea, however, is to have fun! It doesn\'t matter in the end who wins as long as everyone has a good time.

The best thing about bumper pool is that it couldn\'t be simpler to learn how to play. Each set of balls is set up next to it\'s corresponding pocket with the marked ball directly in front of the pocket.