Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Buying a Billiards Table

Buying the right billiards table is not difficult; however, you must consider a few things before and after you make the purchase. The price, its size and space, who will own the table and how it will be used, are all factors when you choose the table. Once you have the table in your house, you must take care of it so it stays new and strong over the years.

There a many types of billiards tables in stores, so when you go out and shop for one, you must be sure your home is ready for the table's arrival. To do this, you must choose the best room in your home for the table, generally a room with plenty of space. It does not matter if you or our friends plan to play games on it, space is everything, you do not want the table near a corner; the table should be in the center of the room. You must also know the room's door size because if the table is already assembled when it arrives, you are going to have trouble squeezing it through a narrow door. No matter what kind of table you get, if you want one similar to the pros, you should get a table with BCA on it.

You can buy your billiard table in a few ways; you can use a newspaper, billiards store, classifieds ads, or eBay. All of these methods are great to use, but if you plan to use eBay, you should consider a few thing before placing a bid. On eBay, you cannot actually see the table up close to examine it, you just have to trust the picture and the information the seller typed in the description. This is not a problem with newspapers, stores and classifieds ads because you can get the address and visit the table on location. You can, however, search eBay based on your location and only get results for sellers that live nearby. Once you found a local auction, email the person, ask if you can stop by and see the table yourself and if you are happy with the table, you can place the bid.

Billiards table prices vary; the most expensive tables are antiques, which cost $15,000 or more; general tables are much cheaper with prices from $500 to $5000. Before you choose a table, you should consider a few important things to help you get the most out of the purchase without spending a lot of money. If the table is for your kids, you really do not need an expensive high quality table because they will not play on it a lot. For kids, you should visit a retail store to find tables to suit them; the best kind is the type of table that is sold in a box that you must assemble yourself. An actual billiard table can also be purchased from a retail store; however, you should visit stores that have knowledgeable retailers to help you pick the right table. If you are a serious billiards player and you want a table to improve your skills, you are going to have to spend a bit more money; however, you can get a good used table to save cash. To find a used table, you could run a classified ad about 7" in the newspaper, or even better, you can ask around to find someone that inherited a table. Some people may have inherited a billiard table and may not want it due to its size and the space it takes up. If you find someone in your area that inherited a table, do not buy it until you hire a billiards mechanic to inspect the table; the mechanic will also help you move it. Finally, if you only want to buy one table that will last forever which will also decorate your home, the best type to buy is a hardwood table.

If you want to buy a billiards table, plan who will own the table and how it will be used before you start searching.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Billiards

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Billiards Table-Cheap or Expensive

Choosing the right billiards table is all about price and quality, however, you generally do not have to buy the one with the most expensive price tag. Each type of table such as a cheap table, an economy table, a popular brand table and a top quality table have advantages and disadvantages, so choose wisely. The price range might be your deciding factor, so if you have some extra cash, try to get the table that suits you and you will enjoy your purchase a whole lot more.

Cheap billiards tables are found in many department stores, however most of them are designed for kids. These types of tables do not use real slate, because if they did, the cost of the actual slate would raise the overall price. Instead of real slate, these tables use perma slate or sometimes honeycomb as the table's surface; these tables would not please an experienced billiards player. When you purchase a cheap table, it is generally boxed unassembled and you must assemble it yourself; actual billiards tables have to be assemble by a billiards mechanic. These tables do not last long, they generally last a few years and their price range from $700 to $800 without installation and if you hire someone it assemble it, its $1000 to $1200.

Economy tables cost $1200 to $2000 and they use actual state on the surface, however they have a few minor problems. This type of table is made in garage type workshops, so if you visit one of these places and someone tries to convince you that one-piece slate is better than three piece slate do not believe it. In addition, some economy tables do not use oversize sized slate, which is a term for slate that extends below the rails. This is important because some people may like to sit on a billiards table, so if a table does not have oversize slate, it could be a problem. When a person sits on a table that has oversize slate, the table will support the weight; however, a table without it will start to wobble over time. Billiards tables that wobbles will make the rails miss align; this unbalances the table, which makes it impossible to play.

Popular brand tables offer great style and they last a longer time, but some brands may have cheap materials somewhere on or in the table. While this may not seem like a problem, these materials can indeed make your table weaker depending on where you put it. The basement is not a good place for a table that has artificial materials because the change in temperature may make the table deform. The cost of the popular brand tables range from $2000 to $3000.

The final table you can buy is a top quality table; these tables cost $3000 or more and you generally get the best materials and styles along with a long-term warranty. A high price tag does not always mean you are getting the best table, so shop around and compare prices before you make your purchase.

Each type of billiard tables has features to suit every type of player. No matter if you choose a cheap table or an expensive one, always shop around for a better price.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Billiards

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Monday, February 25, 2008

Billiards - Learning How to Play

The game of billiards is not difficult to understand and with practice, you can win your first match within a few hours. There are different types of billiards games; however, there are simple ways to learn each one so you can join in while you are at the billiards hall. You need advance training if you want to play like a pro player and once you have all the skills, you will be able to win a billiards championship.

Reading a how-to book is a simple way to learn the game of billiards. Bookstores have many types of these books; however, some authors may write the steps in a way that is tough for beginners to understand. If you want to read through a billiards help book without being confused, you have to choose the right one. To find the right type of book, you have to research before you go to the bookstore and the best way to do this is to ask some billiard players for their options.

A billiards forum is a great place to get options. Just get a username and start a topic that asks everyone about the best billiards beginner's self-help books. After you have posted your message, you should get plenty of responses; after you read their suggestions, research the book titles in a search engine and choose the one you prefer. You can also visit a billiards hall to ask some of the players about books they read as well.

There is another way to learn the game of billiards without actually reading a book. Besides, some of the techniques you read in a book may not be clear unless you see someone actually doing them. To get a better understanding of the different types of billiards techniques, you should watch a billiards how-to video. A video is an excellent guide and you should buy one along with a book if you want to really increase your billiards knowledge. If you don't prefer reading how-to books, that's ok, you will still get some good advice watching the videos.

If you want to be a pro player, you need to hire a qualified BCA trainer to teach you. An instructor will tell you exactly how to stand, how to hit the ball and how to improve your skill level. If you are not a fast learner and you don't want to give the instructor a hard time during your training, you should practice beforehand. You can ask a friend from a local billiards hall to visit your home and show you the basics if you own a billiards table in your house.

If a BCA instructor has trained your friend, you will know exactly what to expect when your personal trainer arrives. This will make things much easier for you and your instructor, and you can finish your training a lot faster. If you do not want to hire someone to teach you, you can always go to the billiards hall and watch other people play and take notes. If you keep returning with a pen and paper, someone will notice you are trying to learn the game and might offer to teach you.

Billiards can be learned in a few ways; you can buy a book or video that other players recommend, hire an instructor, or watch a few games and take note at the billiard hall.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Billiards

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Billiards - More Than 8-Ball Pool

8-ball is the most popular billiard game in the world. It is so popular, that 8-ball pool is almost a synonym for billiards. However, 8-ball is only a part of a one big happy family of billiard games.

8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, one pocket, balkline are all cue sports games. They all share a rectangular cloth-covered table, a long cue stick, a set of balls and an ambition to score, but they differ in their rules, objects, and even their terminology.

Generally, billiard games divide into two types: pocket billiard games and carom billiard games. Pocket billiard games, usually referred to as pool games, are the type of billiard played on a table that has six pockets. In pocket billiard games, the players aspire to sink the balls into the table pockets, according to specific games rules.

Carom billiard games, on the other hand, are played on pocketless tables. Only three billiard balls are involved in the carom games. The purpose of the players in most carom games is to maneuver their cue ball so it will carom off the other two balls, again, according to the specific requirements of the game.

8-ball pool is a pocket billiard game. Other popular pocket billiard games include 9-ball pool, 14.1 continuous (formerly known as straight pool) and even snooker. Snooker is the most popular cue sports in the UK. Even though snooker is played on a pocketed pool table, it is not governed by the same association that administrates pocket billiard rules. Therefore, pocket billiard general rules do not apply to snooker.

The equipment used in snooker games is also different from the one used in pocket billiard tournaments. For example, the snooker table is a bit larger than the standard pool table plus its pockets are narrower. The terminology used in both billiard games is different as well. While pool players' goal is to "pocket" the "object balls," snooker players aim to "pot" the "red" or the "on-ball."

Josephine Thunder is a professional writer who focuses on the online gaming industry including online billiards, online backgammon, chess and other games. Josephine commonly writes reviews of online gaming sites (including pool sites such as http://www.play89.com for example), articles on history of games and more.

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Billiards Chalk

Billiards chalk is one of the most important accessories in billiards. Billiards players apply chalk to the tip of the cue stick between every shot. This is done in order to increase the friction coefficient of the cue tip, which, in turn, prevents the slippage between the ball and the cue tip. As billiards chalk forms a good coating to avoid miscues, it offers players a secure feeling when attempting critical shots. Billiards chalk can provide the right friction, spin and grip - factors that contribute to a satisfactory playing experience.

During the late 1800s, carbonate of lime, better known as blackboard chalk, was used on the cue tips. The problem with blackboard chalk was that it made stains on the billiard fabric. Therefore some proprietary compounds having a silicate base are used for manufacturing billiards chalk nowadays. These ingredients include silica, aloxite, and color pigments. Carbonate of lime is not used anymore. These ingredients are mixed in the right proportion and converted to round or square cakes using a hydraulic press that can apply a pressure of 15 tons. After this process, the cakes are placed on racks to dry. Compared to softer pieces, harder chalks function better.

Billiards chalk is usually green in color. Now this is available in a variety of colors including brown, charcoal, purple, plum, navy, copper, and in colors to match the pool table felt. Only a thin sheet of chalk should remain on the cue tip when applied.

There are many popular brands of billiards chalk available on the market. The features of this chalk differ greatly from brand to brand. A problem with low-quality chalk is that it can have an adverse effect on both cue tips and hands, if used continuously. High humidity might damage the billiards chalk and make it less effective.

Billiards provides detailed information on Billiards, History of Billiards, Rules of Billiards, Billiards Supplies and more. Billiards is affiliated with Pool Tables for Sale .

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Billiards Chalkboards

Billiards chalkboards are one of the accessories used to keep track of the scores of a billiard game. The names of the players are entered along with their scores on this chalkboard. Any other comments can also be displayed on this board. As electronic scoreboards are fast replacing billiards chalkboards nowadays, the chalkboards are now mainly used for wall decoration in game rooms.

There are a number of manufacturers who produce and sell a wide variety of billiards chalkboards. You can select the appropriate chalkboard that suits your poolroom. Billiard chalkboards come in unique handcrafted models that are valuable additions to the overall room decor. Most of them come with mounting options and wooden frames with resin designs. Custom designed chalkboards made according to the client's specifications are also available in a variety of finishes.

Today, billiards chalkboards and quaint chalkboard signs are commonly seen in restaurants, bars, business establishments, and pool halls or any place where beer drinkers and pool players gather. For this reason, handcrafted billiards chalkboards have great demand in the market. For antique lovers, this is an excellent investment. A painted wooden chalkboard will look great on any wall. Chalkboard signs are now used for menu display in restaurants and kitchens. They are also used to display messages and information in offices and homes. Often these are sold with complimentary color chalk.

Many of the online services offer high quality art works at competitive prices as well as price match guarantees and discounts. Online deals will help you to compare different patterns and styles offered by various shops.

Billiards provides detailed information on Billiards, History of Billiards, Rules of Billiards, Billiards Supplies and more. Billiards is affiliated with Pool Tables for Sale .

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Billiards FAQs

Billiards is a fast growing leisure sport played on a billiard table, with a stick known as cue stick, usually 58 inches in length, and weighing 18 to 21 ounces. The cue stick is used to hit the balls, moving around the table.

1. What are the benefits of playing billiards? Billiards is a game that increases eye-hand coordination, focus and concentration, and even practical application of physics and geometry.

2. What are the essential equipment required for billiards? Balls, rack, table, cues, mechanical bridge, scoreboard, mirror lights, dart boards, and chalk.

3. What is the standard size of a billiard table? Billiard tables are available in four basic sizes. They are 7 foot (39 inches by 78 inches), 8 foot (44 inches by 88 inches), oversized 8 foot (46 inches by 92 inches) and 9 foot tables (50 inches by 100 inches). These names refer to the interior playfield dimensions.

4. What are cue balls? In billiards, cue balls are the balls that a player strikes with the cue stick. These are made from ivory, wood, and various synthetic materials. Today, phenolic resin is also used for manufacturing these balls.

5. What is Billiards chalk? Billiards chalk is one of the most important accessories in billiards used to reduce the friction between the cue shaft and the bridge hand caused by perspiration.

6. What are the essentials needed to decorate the billiards room? Billiard clocks, posters, billiard signs, CD holders, movie stills, sports figurines, wall art, decorative furniture and cabinets, chalkboards, and pool table lights.

7. What is the difference between pool and billiards? In pool, there are 16 balls including one black, one white, seven red, and seven yellow. Billiards involves only three balls: one red, one black, and one white.

8. What is the Billiard Congress of America (BCA)? Billiard Congress of America is a national nonprofit organization located in Colorado. It is the governing body that controls the billiard industry.

Billiards provides detailed information on Billiards, History of Billiards, Rules of Billiards, Billiards Supplies and more. Billiards is affiliated with Pool Tables for Sale .

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Monday, February 11, 2008

Billiards Leagues

Billiards leagues are billiards related organizations which are formed to support specific groups within the billiards industry. Most of them are player-oriented, but a number of them exist to support specific vendor and manufacturer organizations. The activity of each league contributes to the overall popularity of billiards not only in the United States but throughout the world.

Billiards leagues hold billiards events in which amateurs get an opportunity to play for huge prize funds. Leagues can be formed by anyone including a pool table vending company, a billiard club owner, or a group of players who want to construct a business by providing league services to the players. The aim of these leagues is to enhance the success of members and to promote the game of billiards. Most of them provide programs for people of all ages. Junior programs focus on America?s youth to create a new generation of players.

Billiards leagues are a good starting point for anyone with professional objectives. These offer a strong foundation in the game, before a player goes on to local, regional, and finally national tournaments. The schedules for billiards leagues can start at any time of the year and can be of any duration. The most common leagues are summer leagues (June to August) - which run for 8-12 weeks and winter leagues - September to March. Some of them run round the year in three or four sessions of 10-14 weeks each.

Billiard Congress of America, United States Billiard Association, Lone star Pool League, Panther Pool League, American Pool players Association, and Valley National 8-Ball League Association are some of the popular Billiards leagues in the United States. Local Pool League (LPL) is a Handicap league in Oklahoma City.

Billiards provides detailed information on Billiards, History of Billiards, Rules of Billiards, Billiards Supplies and more. Billiards is affiliated with Pool Tables for Sale .

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Bumper Billiards

Do you love billiards but aren't sure you can fit a full-size billiard table in your home? Bumper billiards isn't quite the same game, but it is similar. Bumper billiards includes some obstacles that make getting the ball in the pocket a little more challenging. Furthermore, the tables are smaller.

If you need to purchase a bumper billiards table but aren't sure where to get one, you can either search online or in a billiards supply store or other recreational outlet. They vary in price, and some companies may send you the bumper billiards table in pieces that you'll need to assemble. If you don't know quite what you want, try to look at some tables in a show room before you make a purchase. That way, if you purchase it online, you can know what to expect when the box arrives.

If you do decide to get a bumper billiards table, you will need to understand the rules and the physics. Spend some time playing a few games by yourself before you start playing with people. Get familiar with the nuances of the bumper billiards table. Understand how the physics of the game changes with the addition of the bumper.

It is interesting to note that some bumper billiards tables may be able to change into a poker table. This is convenient, especially if you enjoy hosting games and poker nights with your friends. You can spend one part of the evening playing bumper billiards and the other playing cards. It is also a real space saver and eliminates the need for a bigger room.

If you love billiards but don't have the space for a full-size table, consider getting into bumper billiards. Even though the rules are slightly different, it is still a challenging game. After you buy a table, make sure you spend some time getting used to the nuances of the new game before you play with friends.

Billiards provides detailed information on Billiards, History of Billiards, Rules of Billiards, Billiards Supplies and more. Billiards is affiliated with Pool Tables for Sale .

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Bumper Billiards

Do you love billiards but aren't sure you can fit a full-size billiard table in your home? Bumper billiards isn't quite the same game, but it is similar. Bumper billiards includes some obstacles that make getting the ball in the pocket a little more challenging. Furthermore, the tables are smaller.

If you need to purchase a bumper billiards table but aren't sure where to get one, you can either search online or in a billiards supply store or other recreational outlet. They vary in price, and some companies may send you the bumper billiards table in pieces that you'll need to assemble. If you don't know quite what you want, try to look at some tables in a show room before you make a purchase. That way, if you purchase it online, you can know what to expect when the box arrives.

If you do decide to get a bumper billiards table, you will need to understand the rules and the physics. Spend some time playing a few games by yourself before you start playing with people. Get familiar with the nuances of the bumper billiards table. Understand how the physics of the game changes with the addition of the bumper.

It is interesting to note that some bumper billiards tables may be able to change into a poker table. This is convenient, especially if you enjoy hosting games and poker nights with your friends. You can spend one part of the evening playing bumper billiards and the other playing cards. It is also a real space saver and eliminates the need for a bigger room.

If you love billiards but don't have the space for a full-size table, consider getting into bumper billiards. Even though the rules are slightly different, it is still a challenging game. After you buy a table, make sure you spend some time getting used to the nuances of the new game before you play with friends.

Billiards provides detailed information on Billiards, History of Billiards, Rules of Billiards, Billiards Supplies and more. Billiards is affiliated with Pool Tables for Sale .

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Saturday, February 9, 2008

Discount Billiards Supplies

You want to buy a pool table and pool supplies of your own. You have a new game room space and want the billiard table to be the focal point. The problem is, your budget is limited. You need to find discount billiard supplies that are still high quality so you can enjoy your new game room without spending too much money.

Well the first step in searching for discount billiards supplies is to make a list as to what you need. If you want to outfit a game room with a new billiards set up, you will need a billiards table, sticks, balls, chalk, and other accessories. Go to your favorite pool hall and make a note of everything they have so you can be sure you didn't miss anything. Make sure you have extra sticks. If you have a party, you'll want at least six pool sticks so your friends can play on teams.

After you have your list, you can begin comparison shopping. Look for discount billiards supply shops in your area. Ask the manager at your favorite pool hall where they get their supplies. You can also shop online. Just understand that if you buy the table online, you may need to put it together yourself, and if you need to return it, that isn't always easy. You can also shop for supplies in catalogs and from other sports suppliers. If you have a lot of choices, keep track of everything with a spreadsheet and make your purchases when you find the best prices.

After you find the discount billiards supplies that you need and you make a purchase, make sure you spend some time setting up your new game room. Don't just set up the table, create an atmosphere. Install lighting, play some music, paint the walls, etc. If you put your own personality into the room, your friends will respond to this.

Finding discount billiards supplies is simple as long as you know where to look. Take the time to research your supplies and where to get them. Then, set up your new game room to reflect your personal style. Now you have a room where you can entertain friends and have billiards parties!

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Thursday, February 7, 2008

Electronic Billiards Scoreboards

At competitive levels of billiards, a scoreboard is essential for displaying the scores of each player. Electronic billiards scoreboards are the latest trend for displaying the scores in billiards. It is a fast, easy, and reliable way of displaying how much time the player has left for the shot or for pre-match warming up. The commendable feature of electronic billiards scoreboards is the accuracy of the displayed information.

Electronic billiards scoreboards have a housing comprising a scorekeeping display adapted for billiards. Digits are generally composed of seven-segment displays, large dot-matrix made of LEDs, incandescent bulbs, or other electromechanical flip segments. The display can add or subtract from scores automatically. There is a power switch for activating and deactivating the scoreboard display.

Electronic billiards scoreboards are mounted on the wall as they are the focal point throughout tournaments for players as well as viewers. The scorekeeping display gives you information such as player statistics, updated scores, average time, average score, winning percentage, important tournament information, and sponsor messages. It also gives information about the current game, and a list of all played games.

Most of these scoreboards come with voice announcer, game clock, control box, wall mounting devices, and laser sound effects. Automatic player change and handicapping options are other advantages. For accuracy and reliability, some of them use infrared puck sensors. Fixed and portable electronic billiards scoreboards are available. There are many companies that manufacture and sell the best scoreboard devices. Most companies offer warranties for their product. Online shopping is an ideal alternative to get quality electronic billiards scoreboards.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Online Billiards

Now you can play live billiard games with your friends and other users online. This is a computerized version of the billiard game which lets you play in a multiplayer 3D realistic environment. These games are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is also an opportunity for you to chat online with people who share your passion and interests.

Like the real game, online billiards demands discipline, skill, and a great eye for all potential outcomes. There are many sites with a variety of billiards games which feature beautiful graphics, animation, and fun. With the development of web based graphic technologies such as Flash and Java, online billiards has become very popular. Carom 3D is an online multi-user billiard game created with special 3D graphic effects. It has interesting features such as straight pool, 6 balls, 9 balls, 8 balls, and exotic pyramid games. These are available in both single player and multiplayer modes.

Online billiards simulates billiard physics including side ball spin, realistic ball movements, back spin, forward spin, lights playing on ivory and bronze, exact cue shots, environmental effects, and curve ball trajectories. Some of these sites allow the user to play freely whereas some others who offer more sophisticated games demand a registration fee. Online billiard websites also provide tutorials on the game, which is a great help to the beginner.

There are certain online billiard sites where you can buy billiard and game room accessories at reasonable prices. Cue sticks, billiard tables, paintings of great billiard players are among the items you can buy. Online stores accept almost all credit cards.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The History Of Billiards

The modern incarnation of billiards may look something like this: Walking through a smoke-filled bar to reach a room crammed with pool tables and filled with even denser smoke. The rather unsavory crowd barely acknowledges your presence, and you wonder once again why billiards has for so long been called the "noble game?"

Although your local billiards hall may not look like a gathering of royalty, the
billiards games of yesteryear did. As long ago as the 1600s there are records of billiards being played by British royalty, though the game barely resembled what is played today. Billiards, which moved from a popular lawn game to its final indoor model, was mentioned in William Shakespeare?s play Antony and Cleopatra.

After the industrial revolution provided better game equipment in the 1800s, billiards began to make its way into the USA. The term ?English? that is used in reference to the spin put on a ball was a term used by the Americans at the time who observed the way the English shot the ball and mastered the game. There are a few reports of the game being played in the USA long before the 1800s. Some reports indicate St. Augustine brought the game in 1580 and others state that George Washington won a game around 1748. However it was not until the 1800s that parlors opened with billiards being the central activity.

The popularity of billiards in the United States was perhaps enhanced most by Michael Phelan. He created a standardized set of rules, and through his long beloved newspaper column, he created the demand for the new sport. Phelan and his colleagues eventually formed the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company which controlled the form, design, and expansion of the game of billiards in the USA.

So, the next time you descend into your local pool hall or the latest billiards tournament in the local bowling alley, don?t forget to honor the noble history of billiards. Remember that the game you just won has added to the illustrious history of billiards, or that the game you just lost was similarly lost by much more accomplished people than you--in a different era. Kings and Presidents have similarly won and lost at billiards, though they probably were able to drown their sorrows with something better than cheap beer and mozzarella sticks. Have a swig in memory of the royal history of the "noble game."

William Jones contributes to several web magazines, on recreation and sport and home and garden issues.

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Monday, February 4, 2008

One Pocket Billiards Game

One pocket billiards is the billiards answer to soccer, while 14.1 continuous billiards is the billiards answer to basketball?s horse. Requiring to shooter to specialize in specific types of shots, in on pocket billiards the table is cut from six pockets for shots to two open pockets. You don?t have to call what ball will go into that pocket but, you must call the desired pocket for your shot in one pocket billiards.

The desired pocket on every shot is the opponent?s target goal, and that is the similarity for one pocket billiards to soccer. Requiring somewhat of a defensive strategy in addition to the usual offensive strategies of billiards, each play is essentially defending a target pocket. If a player shoots a ball into one of the four other pockets instead of making a ball into the opponent?s target pocket, then the shot is declared something like "illegally pocketed ball".

The opponent receive a winning point total if a shooter accidentally pockets a ball in their own goal pocket, and then, they do indeed lose the game. The shooter would have pocketed over half of the total billiards ball into the opponent?s pocket only if they reach the object. The object is to get to eight balls pocketed in the target or opponent?s goal pocket. The shooter loses only if the shooter has six pocketed balls and his or her opponent has seven total and the shooter accidentally pockets a ball in his or her own goal.

Before starting the game, the two shooters should choose which pocket they wish to use as a target pocket. The breaking shooter is required to make at least one ball into the targeted pocket, and the balls are set up in the racking triangle at random. Also, is required that the shooter makes a contacted ball hit a cushion, to continue his/her turn as the shooter. The game is over if the target pocket is scored on eight or more times.

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including elliptical trainers and blog site. If you want to read more about billiards, click over to George billiards site.

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

The Billiards Games Of Rotation Pool

Many of the billiards games get their basic principles of game play is the billiards game of rotation. The actual game of rotation is as challenging as any billiards game can be, even if seven ball, nine ball, and ten ball come from the basic idea of rotation. The player is required to hit the lowest numbered ball first in an effort to make more difficult shots, but, he isn?t required to call the shot that they wish to hit.

The rack is displayed like this: the number one ball on the tip, the two and three balls at the back corners, the fifteen ball being directly in the center of the rack. Based on the point value for each individual ball, scoring in rotation billiards requires that the point value is the number on the ball. A legally pocketed ball is a ball that is pocketed after a shot hits the lowest numbered ball on the table first, so the shooter gets credited for every legally pocketed ball on each shot.

Until the shooter does not legally pocket a ball, the player is entitled to continue shooting, every time a shooter pockets a ball legally. To accrue more points by pocketing high numbered balls than it?s opponent, is the player?s goal. Any shooter who gets 61 point at any time during the game, is declared the winner of the game, because there are 120 points available when totaling all 15 balls. To win in the rotation billiards there is no final shot needed, the only purpose of the game is to score more total points than the opponent.

Very similar to many other sports, rotation billiards is required of you to simply outscore your worthy adversary. Is easier to understand for newcomers to the game, but also, it does demand skill for dreaming up shots that can first hit the lowest numbered ball on the table before pocketing a ball.

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including cycling and blog site. If you want to read more about billiards, click over to George billiards site.

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Friday, February 1, 2008

Billiards Equipment

Athletes in every sport seem to have their little quirks.

Basketball players massage the basketball before a game. Batters on deck at a baseball game wait patiently, swinging the bat over and over. While these may look like nervous habits, attention grabbing tactics or ways to entertain the fans, the athletes are really getting in tune with their equipment. By knowing the equipment they use, the athletes are able to play the game to their full potential.

It is no different in the game of billiards. Whether you are a seasoned expert in the game, or a first-time billiards player, you need to know the equipment in order to play the game.

True regulation-size billiard tables are about 4 1/2 feet off the ground, and the length of the table is approximately double that distance. The playing surface of regulation tables measure about 50 by 100 inches. Billiards tables do not share the same dimensions as regular pool tables, so billiards players who like to practice their technique at home or at a pub or community center need to remember these numbers. Some stores that offer billiards tables to rent or purchase might let you come in and pay to play billiards, but even those tables may not be regulation size.

Billiards is a very technical game involving many angles and a great deal of discipline. It's important to know the dimensions of the pockets you're aiming for. The angles of the corner pockets are roughly 142 degrees, give or take a few, and the side pocket angles sit at about 103 degrees. These numbers may seem completely meaningless, but in the game of billiards, understanding the geometry is as important as having the proper cue.

When it comes to the cue, the use of regulation billiards equipment is in the hands of the user. Billiards cues should have a 14mm wide tip, 40 inches long and weigh 25 ounces. The billiards ball should be around 5.5 to 6 ounces in weight and be 2 1/4" in diameter. The playing surface of the billiards table must flat, slightly raised (between .20 and .40 inches), and lightly cushioned to give the ball a little "English" when it's hit just right.

Like any game, billiards can be quite enjoyable when played by the casual observer, but it is serious business to the professional player. Billiards players who know and understand their equipment will surpass all others who play the game. Great billiards players are not created of raw talent, but developed from a true knowledge of regulation equipment.

While you may not see championship players swinging their cues, you can bet that they are perfectly in tune with their billiards equipment.

Dorothy Williams is a writer for several web sites, on recreation and family hobbies themes.

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