In Billiards Stop Looking For The System

The idea of a Billiards Nirvana, or the perfect aiming system is almost as extinct as the Dodo bird and thats a good thing. This article is excerpted from Billiards Basic Blueprint, an e-Book I authored to provide casual billiards players with a thorough grounding in this game.
There is no practical aiming system that will take you to the top other than feel. Systems slow you down. They take you out of rhythm and this can cause more problems than just missing the shot.

It is just as important to know where the cue ball goes after impact. You must have a second shot you can make.

Aiming systems are used as a crutch to help newer players learn where to aim on the OB, eventually developing feel. They can, however, hurt a player more than they help.

Watch billiards on TV. You will see that no top player uses an aiming system, they use feel. Years of experience do the aiming for them.

The best aiming system: LEARN TO SHOOT STRAIGHT. Shooting a straight on shot is the same as shooting a cut shot. Shoot straight at where you are aiming to, and if you are a somewhat decent player, the ball will drop.

The straight shot is your most important tool. You will rely on it over and over. It is what it takes to get a center ball hit on the cue ball. And that is what gets you to the impact point on a cut shot.

Once you can consistently hit a straight, you will find aiming is suddenly easier.

Feeling is not Guessing

Feeling only develops after consistent practice. It comes from shooting shots over and over again to provide you with an instinctive pattern and stroke.

I have been guilty of guessing for months and telling myself it was feeling. But even a good guess will not offset months of practice.

IMPORTANT! Set up a practice schedule to can maintain. It is nice to say Ill practice two hours a day, but if you cant keep that schedule, even if you settle on 10 hours a week, make it something that fits your schedule. Five hours a week is a lot better than shunting your practice aside.

We do this by letting things get in the way, like a good nights sleep, a special program on television, even too long writing and doing computer work.

Set a specific time for your appointment with the table and keep it. Make it a part of your daily schedule like brushing your teeth. It is that important to the future of your game.

Take the guessing out of your game, start developing feel. A Mantra to Repeat

While addressing the ball, separate your warm-up into three parts.

1. Survey the table and decide what you are going to do and get yourself into position.

2. Begin to address the ball by thinking aim, aim, aim. Really think about your aim.

Then pause and start the next phase stroke, stroke--actually change from thinking about your aim to thinking about your stroke.

3. Follow through as you strike the ball.

Separating thoughts of aiming from those related to your stroke will make your stroke smoother and more direct without last second adjustments.

Of course the follow through is the key to all shots.

Doing this little chant--aim, aim, aim, and stroke, Stroke, stroke as you prepare will make you focus on each aspect before striking the ball.

Half a ball better than none

The half ball follow angle is one of the most important tools for position play. Any time you have a close to half ball cut shot and the cue ball is rolling smoothly on the cloth when it hits the object ball, the angle at which the cue ball is deflected is very nearly constant. Knowing that single angle takes a lot of the guesswork out of such shots. Learn this angle through practice.

Physics too late at trigger time

Physics and systems may be useful for understanding and planning shots, but when it comes time to pull the trigger, trust your instincts. During practice, a careful, analytical approach will help you sort out what does and doesn't work for you, once you're in a match, the intense analysis must be put aside. Feel the shot and then make it happen.

Nix the Grazing

When playing a combination shot on a hanger, and that hanger is any ball but the nine-ball, try to keep the first object ball from grazing the rail on the way in. it greatly increases your chances of leaving the first shot in front of the same pocket, and enhances cue ball control.

For more help on aiming refer to Aiming Secrets of The Pros (Addendum III to Billiards Basics Blueprint).

About the author:
Reg Hardy, The Monks Apprentice, writes mostly on billiards topics, primarily for http://www.billiardscrossing.comWhere Good Players Get Better .. His Billiards Crossing website features over 160 billiards resources.
A 7-day Trial Membership is $4.95. Click Here ==> to set up a trial

Billiards Basics Blueprint is his latest e-Book. It will help you establish your game on a firm foundation.



Pot Odds Your Secret Poker Weaponian mcintoshPot odds is one of the most neglected aspects of Texas Holdem poker, especially by the beginner and intermediate player. Some poker beginners have heard the term and a few even have a basic concept of what pot odds are, but very few of these players know how to put them to good use in a poker game.

However knowing how to calculate and use pot odds is one of the crucial weapons that serious poker players have in their armory, one that most definitely separates them from the amateur.

Poker pot odds are often associated with complex mathematical calculations and the less serious player can feel overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling such a subject, but dont fret, do you really think that to be a serious poker player you need to be a genius at mathematics? Do you think all the poker pros are?

Well of course the answer is that they are most definitely not all geniuses, but what they do have is a method of calculating the odds quickly and easily to see if they are in their favor in any given situation. So lets look at a simple, basic way of calculating the odds, remember it needs to be quick and easy so that it can be worked out quickly and accurately in the heat and pressure of a poker game.

Poker pot odds can be broken down to this simple one liner:

If the odds of you getting the card you need to make your hand are less than the pot odds, you should bet.

There are two sides to this equation which I will try and explain, odds of you getting the card you need and pot odds. Firstly odds of you getting the card you need, this one is fairly easy to understand. Its best explained using the example of a flush or straight draw, so well use a straight draw to illustrate it.

Youre in a Texas Holdem game and your pocket cards are Q T, the flop is J 4 9. In order to make a straight you need to get either a King or 8 on the turn or river so you have eight possible cards that can make your hand, four Kings and four 8s. These are known as your out cards.

Youve seen five cards out of the deck, your own two pocket cards and the three flop cards. That means theres 47 cards you havent seen. So the odds of you getting the card you need are:

Cards that wont help you : Cards that will help you

Out of the 47 remaining cards, eight of them will help you and 35 wont, so the odds of you getting the card you need are 35:8 or 4.375:1. Now for the pot odds.

The basic formula is:

The size of the pot : Amount you need to put into the pot.

So if the pot is sitting at $100 and you need to bet $20 to call, your pot odds are 100:20 or 5:1.

In this case the pot odds (5:1) are bigger than the odds of you getting the card you need (4.375:1) so you should call the bet. This is known as getting "value" for your bet. If you are doing these sums quickly you can think of 35:8 as being about four and a half to one, its good enough for a quick calculation.

This is a simplification of pot odds and there are other considerations like will the players after you in the round of betting add to the pot? This would make your bet an even better proposition as it would increase the pot odds but it is of course an unknown factor.

Understand pot odds and you will take your game forward to the next stage and prepare yourself for the poker big league.

Article by Ian McIntosh of www.Love-Texas-Holdem.comCheck out the site for the latest information on Texas Holdem tournaments and freerolls as well as fresh weekly articles you can use for your site.
Please feel free to use this article on your website, newsletter or blog as long as this resource box is left intact and there's a live link to the site.

Snooker Tables And Pool Tables Which One Should You Get?

So you fancy yourself as a Ronnie O'Sullivan. You have room for a snooker or pool table. Which one do you choose?

Remember a billiard, pool or snooker table is a piece of furniture. If you opt for a fold away table it doesn't much matter, which you choose, as it folds away after use. In that case go for a functional table with as many features as you can afford, such as ball return etc. For a permanent table look for the same things you would look for in any piece of furniture as you are going to have to look at it all the time. Then consider the quality of playing the game on the table. Make sure it fits your idea of fine decor, as a good table will last for many years. Generally speaking for a good permanent table look for quality construction viz: a slate bed and responsive cushions. As usual you get what you pay for, so get the best you can afford.

The colour of the cloth, which is made of wool, is up to you, generally the cloth comes in red, green and blue. The only thing to worry about here is whether the balls show up against the colour. Green is the traditional and safest colour to choose. The cloth should be kept clean and you can get treatments to extend its life.

UK Pool tables come in various sizes; a full size English pool table is generally thought of as a 7 ft table, whereas a full size snooker table is a 12 ft beast for which you need a considerable amount of room. We have a room size guide on the site to enable you to gauge which size of table you can fit into your games room.

American pool tables are generally larger at 9 foot, also they have larger balls than snooker as well as larger pockets and require the larger tipped cues to play the game with. The American game is getting more popular in the UK.

How about an outdoor pool table or snooker table? These tables are pressure treated wood for weatherproofing, or fibre glass frames with specially treated waterproof cloth. The wooden tables are coloured to match your decking, either green or brown, and all outdoor pool tables come with a cover for the winter, so you could leave it outdoors in the winter. The wooden outdoor tables can be marked out for Snooker or Pool, and we have tables in various sizes from 6 foot to 8 ft. Just imagine, having a barbecue and pool tournament outside on your decking in the summer, sounds great to me Did you know we supplied the pool table for Russell on Big Brothers Little Brother?

Contact Steve Porter for more insights into this topic. Direct line: (44) 1562-777000 Email: steve@snookerbilliardspool.co.uk Other helpful information regarding snooker and pool tables can be found at: http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.uk.

Contact Information: Steve Porter

Phone : 01562 777000 Fax : 01562 777001 http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.uk

Pool Tables American Vs. English

Pool tables, which type is the best, American pool tables or English? The main difference as you might expect is size. The English pool tables have 2 in balls, which are smaller than the American pool balls, which are 2 ? inches. Also the table sizes are different, the English pool tables are typically 6 foot or 7 foot, whereas the American pool tables are 8 foot or 9 foot long. The pockets on American tables are also bigger to allow for the bigger balls.

Basically English pool tables are smaller versions of their American cousins. English pool tables were introduced to British pubs in the 60 ? s as a pub game so they had to be smaller to fit into the lounges. The English game has taken off and it even has its own regulatory body the EPA or English Pool Association. There are tournaments in the UK, using the regulation English pool table size of 7 foot and 2 inch balls, which are very popular and there are even professional players around.

The cues are slightly different for the 2 games as well, English pool cues have smaller cue tips typically 8-9 mm, whereas American pool players use pool cues with 12 or 13 mm cue tips. English pool players have also taken to using break off cues to break off with, which typically have larger cue tips of 11 mm.

However the American version of pool is also growing in popularity in the UK due to the growth of pool clubs like Riley?s. There are now some magnificent American tables around built in Europe like the famous K-Steel tables in the riley clubs. There are different types of pool games around, namely 8-ball pool and nine-ball pool.

Eight ball Pool is played with 15 Colours, a colour being a group of seven red balls (or balls numbered 1-7) and a group of seven yellow balls (or balls numbered 9-15). The "Eight-Ball" is a black ball marked with a number "8 To win the game a player has to pot all of his coloured balls either reds or yellows and then pocket the number 8 ball. Nine-ball pool is played with 9 balls and the balls are racked in a diamond shape, the 1 ball is always at the front of the pack and must be struck first, the number nine ball is always in the centre of the pack. The object of the game being to pocket all the balls in any order until someone pockets the 9 ball. To win in nine-ball you have to pocket the 9 ball at any time in the game legally, either by hitting it in with the cue ball or with another ball in a combination shot. Be aware there are lots of variations of these billiards games, games like 14.1 continuous etc. For a full explanation of the rules see the Billiards Congress of America website and the English pool association website. So the answer to American v English pool, which is best, comes down to how much room you have. If you have the room, go for the American version, as that is the best form of the game in my opinion. It?s the same with snooker; the bigger table gives a much better game.

Contact Information: Steve Porte

Phone : 01562 777000 Fax : 01562 777001 http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.uk

Snooker Tables And Pool Tables Which One Should You Get

So you fancy yourself as a Ronnie O'Sullivan. You have room for a snooker or pool table. Which one do you choose?

Remember a billiard, pool or snooker table is a piece of furniture. If you opt for a fold away table it doesn't much matter, which you choose, as it folds away after use. In that case go for a functional table with as many features as you can afford, such as ball return etc. For a permanent table look for the same things you would look for in any piece of furniture as you are going to have to look at it all the time. Then consider the quality of playing the game on the table. Make sure it fits your idea of fine decor, as a good table will last for many years. Generally speaking for a good permanent table look for quality construction viz: a slate bed and responsive cushions. As usual you get what you pay for, so get the best you can afford.

The colour of the cloth, which is made of wool, is up to you, generally the cloth comes in red, green and blue. The only thing to worry about here is whether the balls show up against the colour. Green is the traditional and safest colour to choose. The cloth should be kept clean and you can get treatments to extend its life.

UK Pool tables come in various sizes; a full size English pool table is generally thought of as a 7 ft table, whereas a full size snooker table is a 12 ft beast for which you need a considerable amount of room. We have a room size guide on the site to enable you to gauge which size of table you can fit into your games room.

American pool tables are generally larger at 9 foot, also they have larger balls than snooker as well as larger pockets and require the larger tipped cues to play the game with. The American game is getting more popular in the UK.

How about an outdoor pool table or snooker table? These tables are pressure treated wood for weatherproofing, or fibre glass frames with specially treated waterproof cloth. The wooden tables are coloured to match your decking, either green or brown, and all outdoor pool tables come with a cover for the winter, so you could leave it outdoors in the winter. The wooden outdoor tables can be marked out for Snooker or Pool, and we have tables in various sizes from 6 foot to 8 ft. Just imagine, having a barbecue and pool tournament outside on your decking in the summer, sounds great to me Did you know we supplied the pool table for Russell on Big Brothers Little Brother?

Contact Steve Porter for more insights into this topic. Direct line: (44) 1562-777000 Email: steve@snookerbilliardspool.co.uk Other helpful information regarding snooker and pool tables can be found at: http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.uk.

Contact Information: Steve Porter

Phone : 01562 777000 Fax : 01562 777001 http://www.snookerbilliardspool.co.uk

How I Got Snookered By An Antique Pool Table

When I inherited an antique Brunswick pool table from my great uncle Ivan, I did not know what to do. You see, I have a limited amount of space. My condo is not small, but it is not huge either. If I had wanted to, I would be able to keep the antique pool table, but I certainly could not store it.

I wondered if I should sell the antique pool table, or if I should play on it. It was in good condition, and I had always wanted to have a billiard table of my own. An antique billiard table seemed like such a classy thing to have. I knew that my uncle used to play on it from time to time, and antique pool tables seemed to withstand wear pretty well.

The problem was, my uncle Ivan was not much of a drinker. If he had been, the antique pool table would not have lasted in the condition that it was in. I have seen my friends play pool at bars. They get drunk and ram their cues into the felt. I shuddered to think about what that would do to the antique pool table. It would be a shame to damage such a beautiful antique!

The antique pool table really was beautiful. It was made of a dark wood, well finished and heavy. The pockets had their original webbing, the table was finished with the original felt, and everything was balanced perfectly. It even came with a set of fairly well preserved antique pool cues. Although they were slightly warped from age, they were still serviceable. Don't get me wrong ? I would rather use my own cue on that antique pool table. Even so, it was nice to have the whole set together.

In the end, I decided to keep the antique pool table. I would simply have to watch it carefully. From then on, I did not drink with my friends in my house. I knew that once the drinks started flowing, I could not stop something from happening to the antique pool table. I would, however, invite my friends over to my house in the afternoon sometimes for a game or two of 8-ball. They thought that I was being unreasonable by refusing to play host for evening soir?es, but I knew that I had to do what I had to do. It was the only way for me to take care of that antique pool table.

Ian Botham runs his own online sports goods mail order business as well as several sports related websites. If you are looking for sports Gear then check out this great Sports Equipment resource or here for more general Sports info and articles.

http://sports-info-and-stories.blogspot.com/

Pool Table Manufacturers

Pool tables and snooker tables or billiard tables have for long been associated with high fashion of the rich and the famous. In recent years though, the trend has been changing. What was earlier restricted to the posh and the world uptown, has been slowly finding its way to the downtown alleys. Most pubs and gaming zones around the country are now equipped with not one but a multiple number of pool tables. Enthusiasts of the game are no longer limited to the high-class clubs, but have found their way to the local high school and even middle school.

Manufacturers of pool tables too have had to change their business strategies for the same reason. The pool tables available now are no longer very expensive. They are in fact quite affordable. This is not to say that designer pool tables, which reek of sophistication and class, have disappeared altogether. They are still very much there, as exquisite as ever.

Different kinds of pool tables are manufactured to meet different requirements. Manufacturers of pool tables have come up with different sizes and varieties of pool tables made of different materials. A number of pool table manufacturers now supply family sized pool table. These are portable and are usually imported from China. The standard size of a pool table is seven feet and most of these tables are manufactured in Taiwan. Mini pool tables of a number of other sizes are also manufactured along with other accessories.

If you are planning to buy a pool table for your home, office, fast food joint, pub or club, you will be able to find a number of valuable resources online. There are web directories of manufacturers of pool tables available online, which can help you make your selection with great convenience. Along with the addresses of the manufacturers, the web directories will also provide you with the list of products supplied by these companies. The price range and pictures of the products are also available.

Manufacturers provides detailed information on Manufacturers, Product Manufacturers, Equipment Manufacturer Suppliers, Furniture Manufacturers and more. Manufacturers is affiliated with Medical Contract Manufacturing.

Antique Pool Tables

Antique pool tables offer extraordinary durability and playing qualities. They are highly durable compared to modern pool tables. The most important attraction of antique pool tables is its craftsmanship, which adds extra beauty to the game room.

Antique pool tables with heavy inlay of satinwood, three piece slate, six legs, remarkable 8 feet, 9 feet and 10 feet size and finest space allows excellent playability. Antique pool tables with multiple beams along the sides provide a simple look. These tables can be furnished with custom changeable rail set. Extensive inlay pattern uses seven different types of wood.

There are antique pool tables with sliding cabinet drawer to hold cues and balls. Oak wood surroundings with exceptional design give an excellent look. Some of the antique pool tables are constructed with satinwood, ebony and other fine woods. There are antique pool tables with Victorian design features with a remarkable light oak finish. Decorative moldings are used as accents on cabinet panels. Ivory and diamonds are used as sights in rails. Antique pool tables made with rosewood, mahogany and other wood finishes are also available.

Pool table prices fluctuate between $600 and $10,000. Some antique pool tables cost as much as $15,000 or even more. Supply of antique pool tables is low compared to other pool tables.

You can buy antique pool tables directly from the shops or can order online.

Sometimes a new table is about two-thirds the cost of an antique pool table.

Antique pool tables have a strong body and solid legs. The cabinet and legs of many pool tables are made of solid hardwood such as oak, maple, or walnut but some have particleboard construction with veneers or laminates.

Antique pool tables can be reproduced with new marquetry and veneers. But its dependability and collectible value is questionable. A lot of antique pool tables have remanufactured parts. Most of them are restored to original condition. People demand pool tables with minimum restoration. Antique pool tables are now highly in demand.

Pool Tables provides detailed information on Pool Tables, Pool Table Lights, Pool Tables for Sale, Used Pool Tables and more. Pool Tables is affiliated with Rules of Billiards.

Bumper Pool Tables

Bumper Pool Tables are used for playing bumper pool, a daily entertainment game played by two to four players. These tables are half the size of a standard pool table and they are rectangular or octagonal in shape.

A bumper pool table has only two pockets or holes where as a standard pool table holds around six holes. The table has 12 bumpers on the table and hence the name. Four of them are situated near the pocket with two each, at the extreme end of the table. The remaining eight bumpers are situated around the middle portion of the table. The bumpers act as a defense mechanism for the player while the opponent tries to bank the ball into the pocket. Bumper pool table has five balls, red and white, for each player,

Bumper Pool Tables are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 48 inches to 54 inches, the most commonly available size is 54 inches by 30 inches. These tables are often made from a combination of solids and veneers, or from fine hardwood. The top playing surface is often covered with green felt fabric over a wood or slate base. Most bumper pool tables have elegantly carved legs, aprons and base.

The bumper pool table serves as a great substitute for a billiard table and can be accommodated even in limited space. They are available as multi-functional bumper pool tables that can be converted into a dining table or card table. The tables come along with balls, brush, chalk and two cues.

Today, the toughest and the most durable bumper pool tables are made by Game Craft. Some tables have leg levelers which enables the player to adjust the height from 26 to 30 inches. Imperial Non-Slate Bumper Pool Table is considered as the most inexpensive one. You may have to pay at least $500 for a good quality versatile bumper pool table and for a multi-purpose table the price can go up to $2500.

Pool Tables provides detailed information on Pool Tables, Pool Table Lights, Pool Tables for Sale, Used Pool Tables and more. Pool Tables is affiliated with Rules of Billiards.

Custom Pool Tables

Custom design brings flexibility and individual innovation. Custom pool tables can be produced with wide variety of woods, inlays, felts, and pocket styles. Custom pool tables are engineered and designed. Some custom pool tables are centuries old and still fine, sound and beautiful.

Custom pool tables are available in a variety of styles, in good finishes and different sizes. There are more than 30 felt colors, several fabrics, and more than 10 pocket styles and leg styles. Custom pool tables are guaranteed to be elegant, reliable and competitively priced. Custom pool tables can be created with smooth, tapered designs, computer generated artwork and custom airbrushed graphics, polished to a mirrored finish.

Mahogany, black or carbon and beech finished custom tables are also available. Each table frame is made from carefully selected wood. Inlays of these tables are cut from a variety of materials including veneer, mother-of-pearl and metals. You can buy 9 foot wave custom pool tables made of mahogany. 9 foot arch custom pool tables made of woods like Cherry and rosewood with pearl inlays are also available. Ovoid trestle custom pool tables are 8 foot long, made of Cocobolo, Maple, Cherry and silver oval inlays. Custom pool tables are available in solid fiberglass construction, carefully designed and custom painted beautifully with customers in mind. Sometimes sleek powder coated steel, precision-ground slates and championship billiard fabrics are used to create custom pool tables. These pool tables and accessories mostly appear in star hotels and celebrity homes.

Custom made quality pool tables are hand crafted with special attention to workmanship. Custom pool tables use only the highest standards of craftsmanship, quality and aesthetics. Most manufacturers of pool tables supply table cloth for custom pool tables with high definition patterns permanently laser printed. They are available in a variety of colors.

Pool Tables provides detailed information on Pool Tables, Pool Table Lights, Pool Tables for Sale, Used Pool Tables and more. Pool Tables is affiliated with Rules of Billiards.

Elegant Pool Tables

Elegant pool tables change the mood of your billiard room along with your personality. Elegant pool tables are well designed and the handicrafts are excellent. Pool table accessories and pool cues have a major role in giving pool tables an elegant look.

Woods used for pool tables are mahogany, oak, honey, cherry, wood finish, caramel wood finish etc. Elegant pool tables are produced with superior and patented systems. Most of the elegant pool tables are not only beautiful but also very strong. Some pool tables look elegant while the durability is questionable. There are leather covered pool tables. There are coin operated pool tables which are available in a variety of styles and designs. There are handmade pool tables also.

Elegant pool tables are made of beautiful wood and weigh approx 800lbs.Costs of elegant pool tables vary because of the elaborate designs and custom hand carving which requires more man hours. Body finish of elegant pool table is excellent. Eight feet elegant pool tables are also available. There is a high demand for traditionally designed pool tables these days. There are outdoor pool tables too. People need outdoor pool tables which give an elegant look. Every component is hand selected for quality, then cut, machined, carved, sanded and finished by expert cabinetmakers

The selection of pool table requires research and careful thought. There are many variations of pool tables to choose from. Elegant pool tables are available in the sizes of 7ft, 8ft and 9ft. Hardwood wide-profile top rails provide an elegant furniture appearance standard to all models. A little care makes sure of the finest performance and appearance for a lifetime. Use good furniture oil or polish on lacquered surfaces. This can help your pool table to become a family treasure for generations to come.

Pool Tables provides detailed information on Pool Tables, Pool Table Lights, Pool Tables for Sale, Used Pool Tables and more. Pool Tables is affiliated with Rules of Billiards.

The Pool Table

Bars and recreation venues in rural or urban areas offer to their visitors the excitement and the sportsmanship of a famous table-played game, called pool or billiard. On the billiards table's totally flat surface, pool game fans strike, with the use of a specially designed long wooden stick known as "cue stick," colorful balls moving them around the table's area. Pool games attract a variety of publics from around the world, who enjoy the exhilaration of calculating angles and estimating how many strikes it will take them to accomplish their winning goal.

Pool tables are mainly separated into two categories, called carom and pocket tables. In fact, the word "billiards" when standing alone refers to the carom games played on a table without pockets, as opposed to games played on pocket billiards which people recognize as "pools" or also known as "snooker" tables. In Britain and Ireland though, the word "billiards" denotes the "English billiard" exclusively, which is the version of the table with the ball pockets. The difference between the two types is that carom billiards tables do not have six openings -four at each table corner and two at the middle of each of the table's largest sides- in which the pool player is called to direct the colorful balls on the surface of the table by striking each one of them, or more than one at a time, with a white ball. The white ball acts as the "mediator" between the cue stick's point and the round surface of the colored ball the striker aims to hit. If the striker manages to hit the white ball with the right speed and from the right angle then it will in turn hit the colored one which will be directed to fall into one of the tables' holes. Pool table fans generally refer to pocket billiard games, such as 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and one-pocket.

Found in many sizes and styles, billiards or pools are tables in a rectangular shape and are generally twice as long as they are wide. When someone refers to the number of a pool table's foots this actually denotes its longer sides' length. Mainly a function of space, the pool table's length varies. English billiard tables, for example, are 12 feet long, while bars typically offer 7-foot tables. Pool halls tend to have 9-foot tables for more professional players, whereas the once commonly found 10-foot tables are now considered collectible items. Finally, the "felt" or "baize" is the cloth that covers the pool table's exposed surface and he higher its quality the faster the balls run on its completely flat surface.

While the word "billiard" has presumably originated from the French word "billart," which means "mace"-an implement that was the predecessor of the modern cue-the game did not remain constricted in Europe. Evolving from an outdoor to an indoor game, billiard became known as "pool," which originates from "poolrooms" where people gambled off their money betting on horse races. Since billiard tables were commonly found in this type of venue, pools became a synonym of billiards and gained fanatic supporters in every continent.

John Gibb is the owner of pool table resources , For more information on pool tables check out http://www.pool-tables-resources2k.info

Your Table Is A Pool Table

Pocket Billiards tables, sometimes simply called pool tables, are great for an evening out with friends and an exciting new hobby for amateur fans. If you have long been searching for your next sophisticated game and chess is not an option anymore, perhaps you should consider playing a game of pool and check out yourself how strategy, creativity and determination can be combined. Owning or renting one for a few hours, the pool table can indeed be one of those addictions nobody will advise you to drop.

If your basement or living room is spacious enough to accommodate a 7-feet, 8-feet, or 9-feet pool you will soon be able to admire how ingenious such an investment can be. Since it can be easily hidden under flat hardwood table-top surfaces, a pool table can become a multidimensional, exciting dinner table, which you can first use to entertain people by displaying some of your best cooking recipes and later enhance their evening by inviting them to a friendly straight pool competition. If the cost of a pool table exceeds your current financial budget, or if space is not an option either, then initiating a pool game night out with friends, once a month, can be your fun and creative get-together experience. For what its worth, holding a cue, using a chalk to sharpen its end, and most importantly, strike a ball, can certainly get you into a much better mood than sitting around the house watching television or surfing the Net boring yourself to death.

Your selection of a pool table depends on your choice of billiard game. If you prefer the carom instead from the pocket type of game, then your table will not have the six holes found in a pocket type of pool. But if you are an 8-ball, 9-ball, one-pocket, bank pool, or snooker fun, then the pocket pool table seems like an obvious choice. Whichever the table you will purchase or rent, the fact still remains that pool or billiard, is a totally unique experience you have to try at least once in your life.

If, and when, you will select to go with the privately owned pool table option, be sure to get the longest possible service guarantee from your prospective pool table's manufacturer and do not forget to buy pool cues (sticks). Offered in a great selection, for beginners to professional players, cues are one of those necessary accessories you will need to "pull it off" with a pool game. In addition, pool balls, a rack to organize the billiard balls on the table's surface, some specially designed rectangular-shaped blue chalks, a mechanical bridge -used to extend a player's reach on a shot where the cue ball is too far away for normal hand bridging- are some of the things you will need to experience a pool game in full extent. John Gibb is the owner of pool table resources , For more information on pool tables check out http://www.pool-tables-resources2k.info

Pool Tables

Top of the Cue supplies a great range of UK games tables such as pool tables, snooker tables, table football, cue accessories and air hockey tables. We continue to increase our UK products offering and are committed to offering you the best quality in snooker tables, pool tables, games tables and accessories and the best online prices. The more savings we are able to negotiate with our UK suppliers, the greater the savings we are able to pass onto you, the customer. If you are looking for the best online price for a UK snooker tables, pool tables or billiard tables then you've come to the right place. We also stock a comprehensive range of quality UK pool cues and snooker cues. Top of the Cue can look after all your requirements for pool tables whether that is non slate pool tables or slate pool tables that you need. We supply branded pool tables and have various pool leagues supplied with pool tables. Shipping pool tables abroad is also something we specialise in. We stock pool tables accessories and pool tables equipment supplies and can offer the most competitive pool tables prices around. Top of the Cue offers choices of 4ft 6" - 5,6,7,8 and 9 ft pool tables in a wide range of styles and prices and very often with a choice of cloth colours as well. Slate or MDF beds, coin operated or free play. A Top of the Cue quality pool table typically comes complete with free accessories. We offer you UK pool tables of quality and distinction which is often equally suitable for home or commercial use. If you want quality pool tables for your home, office or club feel free to browse our comprehensive selection of pool tables. For further details, browse http://www.topofthecue.com/categories/55/pool-tables-uk-pool-cues-UK.htmseo consultant

Things To Consider When Buying A Pool Table Light

What should you look for when purchasing a pool table light? This article will give you all the information you need in order to purchase a billiard light. Pool table lights come in many shapes and sizes, colors and styles. Assuming you already have the pool table, next you will need to figure out what length of light you will need.

As a general rule of thumb you will need 5 inches of light for every foot of pool table. For example a 7 foot pool table will need a billiard light with a minimum of 35 inches in length preferably 40 inches or more. You do not want to choose a short billiard light that will leave darkness around the edges of the pool table.

Another thing to consider is how high is the ceiling in relation to the pool table? The higher the ceiling, the larger the area the pool table light will cover. How much chain will you need to hang the light? Does the light come hard wired or soft wired? Hardwired means you cut the light on with a wall switch and soft wired means the light must be plugged into a wall outlet and turned on via an inline switch.

Something else you will need to keep in mind is what style of light bulbs will you choose? Florescent or standard? Many pool table light manufacturers can build your billiard light with either or. So be sure to ask when purchasing your pool table light fixture.

If you really want to get creative with your billiard lighting you don?t have to use a traditional pool table light at all. You could use two or three pendant lights that have multiple light bulbs in each pendant to light the pool table adequately. When you think about it that way your lighting options are unlimited. Imagine 2, 3 or even 4 pendant lights hanging all in a row above your billiard table. Each can be wired to turn all of them on with the flip of a single switch or even multiple switches.

For more pool table lights and game room decorating ideas visit us on the web at http://www.BlueRidgeLighting.com