Davis started playing billiards at the age of eleven. He was able to reach the table when he first started playing at that age, because the previous owner of the Queen's Hotel had sank the table into the floor by several inches to allow spectators a better view of what was happening in games. The result of this was that the average sized player had to bend over to a greater degree to reach the table. But because the table was lower down, and Davis was short, he was able to play a lot of shots and even did not need to use the rest when the cue ball was close to the cushion rail. Joe learnt to play English billiards.