Cue Sport Group

Posts Tagged ‘pool table’

What if after several weeks, you discover a stain or a rip off in your brand new pool table? This could be way prevented if you have managed to invest on a quality pool table cover.

The pool table cover plays a crucial role in adding protection to your table. This is especially true if there are other people who would use your pool table for playing. Of course, they won’t understand that much how much you value the table.

There is a great chance that some person will use it as some coaster for their drink or just horse around it by sitting on it which could really bring too much damage to your table, especially to the table’s felt. So with the use of the pool table cover, you can always cover it for added protection.

If possible, grab the waterproof type if you would find something in the market or over the Net. This would surely protect your pool table from all types of spills, scratches and abuse. The pool table cover is a worthy investment.

Photo via dazadi.com

When you come to compete for an eight ball challenge with a table that is open, you must spot an amazing opportunity. Do not ever be tempted to just take the easiest shot that you think is being offered to you.

You must look over the table keenly so that you would know if it is the solids or the stripes which will make an easier run. It is important to have a general plan for any 8-ball competition before you even start taking shots.

One of the most basic things for you to do is identify a key ball which you would have to target instantly before the 8-ball, which would eventually lead you to an easy shot for the win.

Try to work it out backwards from that very ball and search for a sequence that won’t need you to create any heroic shots. Once you find yourself out of the position, you would have to re-assess and try to know whatever is the next sequence made available for your game.

Photo via sodahead.com

Pool table bed material affects the shots during games especially in masses and jumps. Slate, wood and medium-density fiberboard materials are commonly used for the playing surface. Among the three, slate is the most expensive and durable one. It is known to withstand extreme temperatures and humidity. The only disadvantage is the weight and installation. An inch slate is the standard thickness though not all manufacturers tend to obey this because of cost and weight. Italian and Brazilian slates are the most recommended in the market for their top quality.

Other pool bed material alternatives are wood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Though a lot cheaper, they usually warp as time passes by. Moisture and temperature are the factors that affect these materials’ durability. Moreover, it is also less effective to make shots like jumps on these kinds of pool table materials for it blocks energy.

Rails are usually made up of rubber to be able to make ball rebounds during bank or kick shots. High quality rubber and proper installation are essential for the rail to be much of use.

You may want to ask yourself these questions first before going out and getting one.
1. Do you have enough room for a pool table. Pool tables range in size from 3 X6, 3 ½ X 7, 4 X 8 home, 4 X 8 Commercial, 4 1/2X 9, 5 X 10 and 6 X 12. Pool table manufactures make pool tables in different sizes to accommodate various size rooms. The most popular size pool table today is the 4 X 8 with a play field of 44 X 88. The 7’ pool table is the bar room size and the 9’ is considered the tournament size.
2. In the East most pool tables go into basements. In the West most pool tables are found in either the den or a converted garage. In the past 10 years we have installed a large number of pool tables in living rooms. Several pool tables turn into dining tables and are found in dinning rooms. These convertible tables can also be used in offices as conference tables. Which ever room you choose make sure you have enough room around the table. It’s better to have a smaller table and be able to use regulation cues than to have a larger table and use shorter cues. 5’ around a pool table is ideal.
3. If stairs are involved make sure the pool table you are about to buy comes apart. Some pool tables do NOT disassemble and you will not be able to get your table in either the basement or up stairs.
4. Who will be using the pool table? Will the pool table receive normal ware and tear or will it receive hard play? Kids or adults? These are questions to ask yourself before you purchase a
5. pool table. Make sure the pool table you buy does not move when you lean up against it. The cloth you put on the pool table will make a different in how long your billiard fabric will last.
6. Solid wood, plywood, or pressboard – what are you interested in? Solid wood is preferred and will last the longest. Plywood is better than pressboard. Solid wood tables will be the antiques of the future. Solid wood tables can to refinished to there original color and finish where pressboard and plywood tables cannot. Rubberwood from China is NOT a hardwood. Oak, Maple, Alder, Mahogany, and Cherry are great woods that are used in the production of quality pool tables manufactured in the United States today.
7. Playability is one of the most important items in purchasing a quality pool table. Slate tables play the best. Imitation slate tables leave a lot to be desired. Tables with Slatetron, Slateine, or Slateite should be avoided. These are tables that have a phony pressboard bed in the pool table that is sprayed gray to make it look like slate.

Both the US and UK pool tables obey the general rule of 1:2 playing area ratio. However, there are lots of significant differences between the two. First, the American or US pool tables are normally termed as 7, 8, oversized 8 and 9 foot where the 7 foot has 3.5 x 7 ft size while on UK pool tables, they measure the exterior dimensions that allows 4 x 7 ft or 3 x 6 ft sizes and even 6 x 12 ft sizes. The typical 7 foot US pool table is also commonly known as the bar box.

Furthermore, on UK pool tables, the rail edges are not straight before going in to the pockets that has a rattling outward effect when comes in contact with the balls. Last but not the least, the UK pool tables has less diamonds in it. Diamonds are used as a guide for alignments when making difficult shots.

An exciting billiard or pool game can’t be started without the proper equipments. Basic essentials include pool tables that are famously manufactured by Brunswick, Olhausen, Diamond and Gabriels among others. These, however, come in different sizes, quality and materials that would highly affect the performance of the players especially in illustrating some difficult trick shots. Specific pool table rules guide leagues and tournaments during plays whereas any kind would be sufficient enough for personal use.

Regardless of what country they would call the game, the general rule for the playing area has 1:2 ratio. The playing area covers all the surfaces between cushion noses. Most trick shots can be performed on 6, 7, 8, oversized 8 or 9 foot pool table but of course, one needs certain adjustment when shifting from one size to another.