In our church family’s monthly pool outing I have learned one thing that translates well into all levels of billiards competition—this is one sport where women are equal to men.
Here is some advice on the subject from a billiards forum writer.
There is no reason to assume that men have an edge, beyond sheer numbers. I don't even agree that men have an edge on the break when one considers that 30 mph seems to be the upper limit for break speed. Technique and accuracy are far more important than power to a good break.
Yes, there are good and not so good players among the female members of our group, but there seems to be the same spread among the male counterparts.
When you look at the bigger billiards picture, regionally, nationally and worldwide, you see more and more women entering the sport. The gap that seems to exist now will close even more. In the future, women and men will participate in the same tournaments, and women will eventually win their share. No one has been able to give me any evidence that pool requires anything physical that women can't accomplish as well as men.
I have learned that billiards is a game or precise aiming and ball control. Men may be able to muster more power with their break, but that ability is of no value for the rest of the game. I know of no shots requiring more than the maximum power the typical woman can deliver.
I have heard arguments to the effect that men have an edge mentally. Don’t go there. You will find there is nothing more intense than a woman with a purpose. In fact, I give the edge to women where mental control is concerned. They know how to focus, and as soon as they discover their superiority in this area, they will use it with a vengeance.
One place I will give men the edge is thinking outside the box, the creative part of billiards. Men do seem to think more creatively. Women, as in other aspects of their life, tend to be more serious and mature. Maturity is not necessarily an asset in the creative field.
Creativity is enhanced by the ability to be child-like, which men seem to relish. There is always a little boy inside every man, while the little girl in most women is overcome by the inequities of life. Women simply have to work harder, and take life more seriously to overcome years of discrimination. Creativity suffers when the mind is imprisoned. But thankfully, that too is changing
People tend to achieve what they believe they can achieve. It is called confidence, and men are simply more confident as a gender than women. That is not to say all women lack confidence, or that all men have it. It is a question of numbers, and in pool male players overwhelmingly out number women. If it can be assumed that a given percentage of men from the total male pool will surface as top players, and the same percentage from among all women will also surface, the total number of top players will heavily favor men. It is academic.
I don't believe equality is close at hand. We will probably need a couple more generations before the gals close the gap, but close it they will. Walk into a typical pool parlor, and you will see increasing numbers of women playing pool, and playing seriously. They are becoming more confident and more creative.
So, for those men who can't handle being bettered by women, you better get adjusted to it, because they definitely are.