Showing posts with label pool table. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pool table. Show all posts

Monday, 28 June 2010

The Amazing New World Of Billiards Supplies

Billiards is a game of wonder. A simple table with pockets in it that you need to shoot down in to - sounds quite simple, doesn't it? Yet it is never that easy. In fact, with the actual table and supplies in front of you, you may realise just how difficult it might to be to get the balls into the correct slots. This is why you need to master it well and what a better way to do it than to get one billiards table and supplies for your home?

A game of the mighty and royal people, this has today come to be the affair of every common man. A game of billiards helps you to sharpen your skills and concentrate more as well. This new kind of sports without the usual noise and clamor is a whole new world in itself. Becoming a billiards expert will help you to gain a place in the social gatherings like none other.

Usually men love to boast about their skill in this case but today even women are excelling quite well at it. This is due to the fact that this game that does not require much physical effort. Rather it is the correct technicalities and concentration that can help you fare well at it. Also too much of hurry or too much of delay could make you lose a lot. Hence proper timing of your shot and correct push is also necessary to master the game of billiards.

Getting a whole setup of billiards at your home is not impossible at all. In fact today you can easily get good quality billiards supplies at quite affordable prices. The billiards table is the most costly thing of the whole affair. Yet today you can find cheaper quality material that will act as good as the solid wood tables. Even the billiard supplies come quite cheap.

There are a lot of things that you need to get right about the billiards table and its supplies. You can consult an expert with regard to proper billiards supplies. Also getting pool table lights will help you to create the correct aura as well as excel your shots due to better vision as well. There are today a large variety of pool lights available that can help you to liven up your pool room. You can hang these down from the ceiling on a chain or bar. There are also the specialty pool table lights for that special effect in your own game room!

Getting not only the proper billiards supplies but also playing it with the best pool table lights can actually help you to become a professional at playing billiards.



Monday, 8 March 2010

Tips For Cleaning Your Pool Table

Many people who buy a new pool table wonder how they will ever be able to keep it in such great condition. Here are some good tips from billiard experts on how to keep your pool table rolling true, and looking new.
What is the favorite move of every amateur pool player? No, it's not sinking the 8 ball in the corner pocket for the win, or getting a lucky bounce while rolling in two of your balls on one shot.

It is picking up the pool stick and twisting the chalk until your fingers go blue. But how does this seemingly common tradition effect your table? Few people know that the chalk causes irritation to the cloth, and can ultimately lead to it's demise. The question is not whether or not to chalk up before your next big shot, but rather how to clean your table as to not let the chalk effect it. In the opinion of Joe Marra of Excel Billiards, the only solution is to use a small vacuum to suck up the chalk. There are others who insist that brushing the table frequently is sufficient. The main point is to be sure that you are aware of the effects chalk has on the fabric of a billiards table. It is something that few people know, but once you do it is something you can control.

Another problem that can have an effect on a pool table is heat. It is important not to place your table in a place condusive to light. Light can have many effects on a billiards table. First of all, it will fade out the fabric, not to mention the wood. Table designer Andee Atkisson recommends keeping your table in a place where humidity levels are from 40 to 60 percent. He also advised that, "you need humidity conducive to fine furniture".

Another often overlooked tip at keeping your table fresh is the use fluorescent instead of incandescent bulbs. The use of incandescent bulbs above your table can dry out the fabric.

The next piece of advice at keeping your table in good condition is to avoid sitting on it, laying down on it, or even bumping it. Though this is portrayed all the time in movies and television shows as being harmless, this is far from the truth. If too much weight is applied to the table, it starts to weaken. Think of a man with another man on his back-though he may be able to support them both for a while, eventually the man who is supporting the other will break down. The same can be said of you brand new table. Remember that it is not a piece of furniture. Too much weight will make the normally sturdy table start to weaken gradually. Just like the man, it too will eventually break.

A common problem is the effects liquids can have on your pool table. Do all in your power to keep liquids away. This includes drinks, moisture from the carpet or wood below, and even pet urine. All these can lead to the deterioration of even the most beautiful table. Of course, sometimes a stain is inevitable. In that case it is best to follow the advice of Mike Hynes, director of quality and customer service for Brunswick Billiards, who says to apply a fabric sealant such as Scotch Guard to your felt.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of keeping a billiards table clean is the cleanliness of the game balls. Through the natural course of the game, pool balls are like magnets for dust and chalk. They not only get dirty, but also redistribute the dust and chalk to different parts of the table. The best way to control this issue is to clean the balls after each session, and to consider cleaning the cue ball after each game with a microfiber cloth.

Just as good, smooth ice is important to hockey, and nicely-trimmed fairways and good-rolling greens are important to golf, a good pool table is absolutely essential to billiards. As a table owner, it is your responsibility to do all you can to keep your table as close to mint condition as possible.

Thursday, 11 February 2010

American Pool Tables Vs English Pool Tables

There are two main types of pool table, upon which are played two quite different versions of the game.

Table Size

English pool tables range in size from 6ft to 8ft, though the official tournament size is 7ft. These sizes refer to the overall length of the table from 'rail to rail'. The playing surface of the competition size table is 6ft by 3ft.
American pool tables are usually 8ft or 9ft, with the official competition size being the 9ft table. Again the size refers to the total length of the table, and the playing surface on the 9ft competition table is 8ft x 4.5ft. In bars and clubs you do sometimes find 7ft American pool tables, referred to as 'bar boxes' because of their small size.

Pool Balls & Pocket Size

The ball sets used on English pool tables comprise 7 red, 7 yellow and 1 black balls. On modern tables the reds and yellows are solid colour, with the black having an '8' in a white circle upon it. The standard size for a 6ft, 7ft or 8ft English pool table is 2", with pockets usually being around an inch larger to accommodate the balls.

The ball sets used on American pool tables are numbered 1-15, which are split into 'solids' and 'stripes. Numbers 1-7 make up the solids, 8 is the black ball, and 9-15 the stripes. The set as standard is:

1. Yellow
2. Blue
3. Red
4. Purple (pink in some ball sets)
5. Orange
6. Green
7. Brown or burgundy (tan in some ball sets)
8. Black
9. Yellow and white
10. Blue and white
11. Red and white
12. Purple and white (pink and white in some ball sets)
13. Orange and white
14. Green and white
15. Brown (or burgundy) and white (tan and white in some ball sets)

The standard size for American pool balls is 2" ¼ with the pockets finished to a larger size than those on an English pool table.

Both English and American pool ball sets have a white cue ball as standard, which can feature red 'target' spots (though these are more typically seen on practice cue balls). In both English and American pool balls, Aramith (a Belgian manufacturer) are recognised as the industry leader in pool balls.

Cloth

English pool tables all have napped cloth, and the current official choice is Strachan West of England wool. The cloth is available in various weights which affect the speed of play and ball behaviour.
American pool tables feature 'speedball' worsted cloth, which has not nap. This makes the cloth much faster, and combined with the larger, heavier balls changes the character of the game significantly from English pool.

Play

The difference in table and ball size means that play on an American pool table is much faster, and potentially more technical than English pool. The larger balls mean the use of masse (high speed spin/side shots normally used in Carom billiards) is more prevalent, and in recent years it has become much more popular than the English version.

The popularity of '9 Ball' has contributed here, which is a faster version of pool played with just the balls numbered 1-9. The balls are racked in a diamond in ascending order from baulk to the bottom of the table. The aim of the game is to pot the 9, but the balls must be potted in ascending numerical order. Cannons and trick shots are allowed however, and you could get lucky and have a 'golden break'. This quick version of pool has become extremely popular in bars and club.

The author is associated with Top of The cue, supplier of pool tables.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Choosing a Pool Table

Pool tables come in 7-, 8-, or 9-foot lengths. The size you choose is a matter of available space, but keep in mind that tournament length is 9 feet. If you’re a stickler for authenticity, go for the tournament length.

The pool table is comprised of a body, a bed, side cushions, a felt-covered surface, and pockets. The body can be made of wood, laminates, wood veneer, plastics, and sometimes metal. It can be simple and mass-produced, or it can be luxurious and ornately decorated. Some models will blow your mind with their unconventional styles!

The pool table bed is usually made of one piece of slate; this is the only type of surface that serious pool players will accept. Cheaper beds are available if you aren’t a stickler for sure lines and straight shots.

Cloth or felt color can come in a variety of colors. Sometimes a manufacturer or dealer will let you customize the color of your table when you buy it.

Sunday, 7 February 2010

Glass Pool Table

The most advanced pool table in the world, the G-1 features a glass and resin playing structure and striking modern design.

The patented transparent playing surface replaces the traditional felt but allows the balls to roll at the same speed.

Bumpers, pockets and playing area are built to international standards, so you can play your game the same, with more style.

The minimalist modern frame features integrated ball return allowing pocketed balls to be seen through the transparent top.

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

The Pub Pool Table Has Finally Come of Age

Pub pool tables are the smaller version of the American pool table. Basically the English don't have the room available in the pubs and bars for the big American table. The compromise was the smaller 7 ft pool table found in most pubs and games areas around the UK. They nearly all have coin operated mechanisms in them and are there to generate extra income for the pub and to draw in more people. But what began as a purely commercial decision has led to a whole new division of the game of pool.

The English game has now got to such a level that tv companies are televising the tournaments now, like Eurosport and Sky. And the small table version has also spread into Europe and the commonwealth countries so there is a cosmopolitan feel to the small table tournaments now and the prize money on offer has crept up as well with the bigger tournaments now offering many thousands to the winner.

So what we know as English pool tables are more commonly known as pub pool tables because that was their genesis. The official tournament size of an English table is 7 ft by 4 ft and that is their external dimensions, the actual playing area is 6 ft by 3 ft. The game most often and almost exclusively played on English tables is 8 ball pool. The game has 7 red balls and 7 yellow balls and a black number 8 ball, after which the game is called. The object is to simply pocket all 7 of one of the colours either reds or yellows and then pocket the number 8 ball, after which you have won the game.

Pretty simple eh! But that is the beauty of the game, it is very simple to play but hard to get really good at and there are lots of people playing the game now, it is really competitive in those tournaments around the country. So from dodgy beginnings the pub pool table is here to stay and has finally come of age.

Author: George Pennwood, click this link for some examples of the pub pool table

Friday, 27 November 2009

Mightymast Leisure 20-In-1 Multiplay Games Table

Fantastic fun for the whole family. 20 great games in one unit. Sturdy construction in light oak wood finish. All games pack inside the table when not in use. The market leader in multigames tables - includes more games in one than any other. Includes all accessories & instructions needed to play: Table Football, Pool, Glide Hockey, Chess, Chequers, Backgammon, Shuffleboard, Skittles, Playing Cards, Table Tennis, Magnetic Darts, Knock Hockey, Horseshoe, Pickup Sticks, Poker Dice, Dominoes, Ring Toss, Magnetic American Football, Marbles, Tic-Tac-Toe.