Pool is normally played with aramith resin balls. They keep their shine and shape pretty well, react well to being hit and are a nice weight. Unlike celluloid, they don't explode.

I propose alternative balls that are, in effect, miniature goldfish bowls. They shall be made from very tough, transparent, bullet proof plexiglass. They are to be filled with water and a small fish. There shall be an intricate, flush door that allows for feeding/water changing and letting the fish out. The balls will no doubt be a poor weight, not stand up being hit, and have a centre of gravity closer to Africa than their physical centre - all combining to be great fun.

Appropriate fish would be tiny (maybe hatchlings), robust and must enjoy a 'wee hurl'. They shall be very colourful - corrsponding to the needs of the particular variant of pool.

A game is played as usual, except that any balls moving (not moving) of their own accord, do so legally and are 'part of the game'.

When a ball is potted a mechanical system shall unlock the ball into an aquarium that resides within the table. This gives them a well earned rest, and the chance for onlookers to smirk at the , now very dizzy, fish.

(Def: hurl: scottish slang for a vehicle ride - or a 'go' of something)
-- Jinbish, Mar 04 2003

(?) Hurl http://www.electric.../scots/glossary.htm
To take a wee hurl.. [Jinbish, Oct 04 2004]

Inspiration 1 http://www.halfbake...g_20Goldfish_20Bowl
Discussed that they won't move significantly on their own... [Jinbish, Oct 04 2004]

Inspiration 2 http://www.halfbake...idea/Chinese_20Pool
Pool playing with chimes in the balls - some people don't mind the different inertia invovled [Jinbish, Oct 04 2004]

A more humane version http://www.halfbake...r_20Snooker_20Balls
Same effect, but with plastic goldfish. [dalek, Oct 04 2004]

Man, if they don't like you tapping on the glass now, they're just gonna love this.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 04 2003


Fish, in general, are very prone to damage from shock waves, the energy of which is transmitted very efficiently through water (think fishing with dynamite). So, ironically perhaps, fishbones will be all you are left with if you carry out this scheme.

However, I do think there is room in this world for clear snooker balls. But that is (I believe) a separate idea (q.v.).
-- dalek, Mar 04 2003


I thought hurling was Scottish slang for placing a call on the porcelain telephone.
-- DrCurry, Mar 04 2003


[DrCurry]: I think thats a bit of a newer connotation (a bit of an Americanism?). A more Scottish, onomatopoeic version would be talking to 'hughie'.
-- Jinbish, Mar 04 2003


Ha ha, lets injure some fish.
-- krelnik, Mar 04 2003


So you're fishboning this, then, krel?
-- egbert, Mar 04 2003


Damn - beaten to the punch for the idea
-- thumbwax, Mar 04 2003


I think krelnik could include in the excellent newbie tips which animals (mice, pigeons, hens, hamsters, fish, cats, dogs, monkeys, clowns) can safely be used as guinea pigs in halfbaked ideas and which should be avoided at all costs.
-- FarmerJohn, Mar 05 2003


But what sound will they make? And will you train the fish to avoid their ball hitting the others (assuming, of course, the fish can move its ball)?
-- Worldgineer, Mar 05 2003


While I consider the fish optional, water filled pool balls would do some interesting things. When a pool ball is first hit it's not rolling; it's sliding. As it travels it "slowly" picks up rotational energy as its bottom is dragged across the felt. The mass of the pool ball (and thus intertia) prevents it from picking up angular velocity very quickly.

A water filled pool ball would allow the outer shell to rotate independently of the inner, heavier core, so concievably it would switch from sliding to rolling more rapidly and go farther. However, the water inside would exert its own drag on the inner surface of the plastic shell which would slow the rolling in accordance w/ principles of fluid dynamics which I almost sorta remember. Would be fun to play with at least.
-- ry4an, Mar 05 2003


Could this be played in a disco when the 70's come back? You could BYOF- bring your own fish- by way of fishtank platform shoes...a bun because I like fish and hitting those balls around.
-- Abusementpark, Dec 11 2006



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