The term 'pool' suggests a number of games played on a billiards table. Games like '8-ball' and 'straight pool' were played in rooms called 'poolrooms', because this was also a place where people gambled and money was 'pooled in' to decide on the odds. Pool sticks are also called cues. There are two main types of cues; the ones that are made of one long tapered stick and the ones that are two pieces screwed together in the middle. The more expensive cues are those that are made of hardwoods like maple and are usually two pieces. The thicker end of the cue stick is the area where the player grips the stick while making a shot. The shaft is the lower end where it slowly tapers to a circumference of around 13mm and this end is called the ferrule. Here a leather tip is fixed to the tip, cushioning the contact with the ball. Chalk is applied onto the leather tip when the player wishes to afford spin on to the ball. The cues that are made of one piece are generally cheaper and the quality of the wood is inferior as compared to the more expensive ones. Besides leather, the tips may also be made of plastic. There are other cues that are made of high quality wood, and can have beautiful carvings inland. Some even have a graphite or fiberglass bonding. These are purely cosmetic additions and are far more expensive, usually used by the pros.