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

The Making of a Billiards Champion (Series III of V)

The Angel" Broadhurst

Stun Strokes
Once your fundamentals are correct and you are shooting with a straight and level cue, you need to master the stun stroke. This shot is the most important shot because it gives you a reference for cue ball positioning.

Straight-In Stun Stroke
When you hit a stun stroke on a straight in shot, it will produce a stop shot. In other words, the ball stops as soon as it makes contact with the object ball. Factors that influence this are a blend of the following; cue tip location, force, follow through, and quickness (the amount of time it takes the cue tip to accelerate through the ball).
There are an infinite number of blends of these variables that produce a stop shot. For example, you can use 4of follow through with a small force OR only 1of follow through with a large force to produce a stop shot. Play with these variables until you can manipulate each one and still get the same cue ball position. Measure your follow through by placing a ruler beside your cue tip. Then, vary the distance between the balls. Once youve mastered a stop shot with 1 diamond or 12 of distance, keep increasing it by another 12. The more distance you have, the more forward rotation or high english the ball picks up before it strikes the object ball. So the greater the distance, the lower you must hit the cue ball to produce a stun/stop shot.

Stun Stroke at an Angle
Once again, place the object ball 12 away from the cue ball. But this time, put the cue ball at a 30 degree angle, so that you are aiming at half the ball to pocket it. Use the same stun stroke, and the cue ball will travel straight down the tangent line. This is the line that is perpendicular to the object ball at 90 degrees. The harder or quicker you hit the ball, the further it will travel down the line.

This is the first step in predicting cue ball position. DO NOT move on to the next article until you are comfortable shooting Straight-In Stun Shots and Stun Strokes at an Angle at different distances. Be able to alter the variables (cue tip location, force and quickness) and get the same cue ball position.

(Jackie The Angel Broadhurst, National 8-Ball and Trick Shot Champion, invites everyone, of any gender or background, to play and learn about this great game together. Visit her website at www.TheAngelofBilliards.com.)

National 8-Ball and Trick Shot Champion, invites everyone, of any gender or background, to play and learn about this great game together. Visit her website at www.TheAngelofBilliards.com

The Appeal of Pool Tables

Pool tables can be found in lounges, restaurants and sport clubs worldwide. Their appeal seems to be universal; people of all ages, races and countries will agree that playing pool is a fun way to pass the time. For some, playing pool is even more than that. If a person if really good at pool, they may turn it into a lucrative side job by betting. So, it's easy to understand why the business of selling pool tables can be very lucrative. Both individuals and businesses buy pool tables often, whether it's for a home or a bar.

When you go to purchase pool tables from a seller, you will be faced with many choices. The tables come in a few different sizes and colors and vary in price range. The nicer the table, the nicer the fabric and the higher the price. Some people like to match the fabric on the pool table to the colors in their home, but that costs extra. There are many different brands of pool tables to choose from as well. Make sure that you check around and find out which has the best reputation before you buy. The salesperson will be glad to help recommend a brand and will let you know the prices on the tables you're considering.

Once you've decided on your pool tables, you can either load them up that day or have a professional bring them to you. If you don't have the space or the desire to set it up yourself, why not just let someone bring it to you? It's much more convenient and you won't have to deal with the hassle of getting it to your home or business. It's customary to tip the person that brings it to you, especially if they did a good job. Now that you have your pool table, invite people over and have a great time.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at www.best-pool-tables.info