How To Play Family Fun Poke Ball

When they were little, my children would always stop outside a snooker center in a nearby mall and watch in amazement at people playing snooker. They didn’t know what the game was called, but it looked like the Uncles were using a stick to poke at balls, so the name stuck - Poke Ball.

Now that Sara’s seven and tall enough to reach pool table, the U-Bowl Bowling and Snooker Center has become a favorite stop for us whenever we’re at One Utama (which is about every weekend). The snooker cue sticks are too long for Sara, but that doesn’t stop my chili padi from enjoying herself. We DO have to make up our own rules to accomodate the little one though :

Rule #1 : It’s supposed to be fun so we don’t follow snooker or pool rules. It already takes about an hour for four of us to finish a game, so if we really followed the rules, we’d be playing forever trying to get all the balls in!

Just look at that concentration as she tries to poke a ball

Rule #2 : Sara gets a second chance if she can’t get a ball in with her first hit. And if her second hit still doesn’t go in, she gets to place the cue ball anywhere she likes. She usually misses but she sure looks like a pro - the way she picks out her cue stick, walks and stands with it and prepares for her shot. Oh… she also chalks her stick like a pro. She says it’s all part of the game - to look like a professional.

Sam snooker skills are…

Rule #3 : Sam only gets a second chance if the first hit doesn’t get a ball in. No he doesn’t get to move the cue ball. Being our resident genius and walking encyclopaedia, Sam can tell you everything you want to know about anything (including snooker or pool), but he can’t shoot straight. We console him by saying the cue sticks must be crooked… or the balls are… or the table isn’t flat… The teasing’s all in good fun.

You gotta chalk your stick like a pro if you wanna be a pro

Rule #4 : My role is to miss my shots so they have more chances of pocketing the balls. . Sigh… the sacrifices of a Dad. Oh… I also have to lend my hand to Sara when it’s her turn - literally. I have to place my hand palm up on the table, making an “O” with my index finger and thumb and her cue stick rests in this “O” so she can take aim.

Frustration leads Sam to try and kill the balls

I like playing Poke Ball with my family. I hope my kids never grow up. Sigh…

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