Maybe you've never wrapped your hand around a cue stick but have always been fascinated by what you've seen in the movies and on TV. Maybe you've dabbled at the pool table on a Friday night with a bunch of friends with absolutely no idea how to stand, grip the cue stick, or even aim at the cue ball. Maybe you need an indoor hobby that will allow you to meet new people, or maybe you are looking for a good way to bond with your kids.

One way or another, you're about to discover a game that more and more people have come to love over the years — centuries, for that matter. You'll also discover that pool can be as competitive as any other sport. In fact, if you turn on ESPN, you will periodically find the pros in action.

Sport or game? That depends on what skill level you decide to achieve. You may think right now that you'll never be a professional, but if you practice enough, anything is possible. Your level of skill depends on practice and, ultimately, on how much you enjoy the game. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become. You'll find that confidence is the key to being a good player. After all, it is a game that is played with others, and in front of others, and that can be a little intimidating at first.

As you learn how to play, you may find a new competitive edge to yourself that you never knew you had, or you may just find a new hobby to enjoy in your spare time. But playing the game well is not a gift with which you are born; it takes practice — and lots of it — to be good at the game. Even if you never become a great competitor, you may just enjoy the challenge.