About Pool Tables

trprobegt asked:


I have several small ‘nicks’ in the felt of my new pool table, and was told they could be removed with a brush. So far, I haven’t had any luck removing them. Is there any other way to remove these small nicks to get the table looking like new again without having to re-felt it?

Bryan

Gerald Njuguna asked:


Nobody really knows the origins of billiards. The common belief is that the game originated as a game that was played outdoors which was a bit different from croquet that was played early in the 14th century in France. Its said it became quite popular and when the cold weather did not allow the game to be enjoyed outside, it moved indoors and was played on a table that was covered with green felt.

Do you know that when Mary, Queen of Scots, died, she was wrapped in a billiard cloth? Did you also know that pool was the first sport to have a world championship game in 1873? Interesting huh

There are well know historical figures that loved the billiard game. These include King Louise X1V and wife Marie Antoinette, Mozart, Abe Lincoln, Napoleon and George Washington among others.

Back then, billiard balls were made from ivory and were usually carved out from the center of an elephant’s tusk. The elephant tusks could only give you three to 4 billiard balls.

The pool game is said to have the highest average age among its players at about 35 yrs and also said to be one of the safest game in the world

“Billiard” was coined from the French word “billart” that means mace. The mace was a stick with a handle that started to be used with the game called croquet.

It was illegal

In its earliest history, the pool game was outlawed in certain. Its funny that the church in France considered pool as immoral. In the nineteenth century in America, the word “pool” room was used to mean a parlor room for horse race betting and was banned in a number of states in America.

Its said that Thomas Jefferson had a pool table that he hid in his home in Virginia. Nowadays, the terms pool room and billiard room mean the same thing.



Ruby

Pete Williams asked:


In snooker or pool, the grip is where every stroke starts, get this wrong and you will find that more and more of your shots are being missed.

The first thing that players tend to do (especially those new to the game) is grip the cue too tight. Why is this a problem? This causes a problem as the muscles in the arm will tighten through the shot, this can cause a lot of unwanted sidespin or cause us to miss the right spot on the cue ball entirely.

To be a successful player your grip needs to be relaxed and maintain a constant pressure throughout every shot, whether it be a delicate cut or a powerful draw stroke. Every time, where possible, the grip pressure has to be constant.

If the grip is too loose then the opposite can happen, the cue can be dropped whilst attempting a pot or literally get thrown out of the hand.

As with most things there is never a definitive right or wrong answer and it is about finding a position on the cue that is comfortable for you. Here are some helpful hints:

Find the balance point of your cue by balancing it on your index finger until it stops wobbling

Your grip should be behind this point so that the weight of the cue goes through the ball

Experiment with your hand in different positions and find something comfortable

6-10 inches behind the balance point is a good start

Grip the cue with index and middle finger and the thumb on top (creates a “V” between thumb and index finger)

Palm should be touching the cue and then move away when going through your stroke

Remember the key thing is to keep the grip relaxed, just feel for yourself the tension in your arm if you grip the cue too tightly. Tension in the arm will mean you miss more shots.

If you follow all these tips you’ll find that your snooker or pool will improve, remember get a grip…



Victoria

Arvind asked:


 

Prior to the introduction of MDF into the industry, pool tables (as well as snooker tables and billiards tables) had always been made from hardwoods.

 

The term ‘hardwood’ designates trees usually from the deciduous family, and typically broadleaved. As the name suggests the wood from these trees is harder and more durable than that from their softwood relations.

 

The most common hardwoods used in the construction of pool tables are mahogany, oak, birch and rosewood. The durability of these woods makes them ideal for holding the weight of a slate playing surface, without the risk of warping over time. Not only are these woods extremely hard wearing but the grain and finish of the wood adds to the character of the finished pool table.

 

Mahogany was particularly prevalent in the pool and snooker industry up until the early 19th century. When polished it displays a deep red brown finish which darkens over time, and straight grain. While it is still regarded as one of the best choices for larger pool tables, intensive deforestation has increased the cost immensely. The same is true to a lesser extent of other hardwoods, and this has led to the introduction of MDF as a cheaper alternative.

 

The introduction of MDF to the pool table industry created a wealth of cheaper, less durable models which, for the first time, made pool tables affordable to almost anybody. The main reason for the introduction of cheaper, smaller pool tables was for the domestic consumer market. These tables are not hand crafted/finished as their predecessors were, but machine made.

 

The main benefit of the wider availability of pool tables, which had once been the privilege of the very wealthy, was that the game of pool was brought to a much wider audience. Whereas before you had to join a club, or be old enough to go to a pub to play, people could now enjoy the game in their own home.

 

The major disadvantages of using a cheaper, manmade composite like MDF are that it is not as durable as a natural hardwood, and must more susceptible to variations in humidity and temperature. In order to maintain the appearance of a ‘real’ pool table, these MDF bed tables are usually finished with a wood effect veneer (typically of mahogany, rosewood or oak) and domestic quality cloth/rubber.

 

The use of MDF has also extended to some slate bed pool tables. In a similar fashion to MDF only pool tables, the cabinet and legs of the table are finished in re-enforced MDF. A wood effect veneer is then applied to the MDF to finish the pool table off. The two main benefits of finishing a pool table like this are:

 

1. Production costs are kept down, as MDF is much cheaper (not to mention environmentally kinder) to produce

 

2. A much wider variety of finishes can be applied to the table, rather than just a traditional polished hardwood as before

 

It is a shame that traditional methods of pool table construction have dwindled as the need for cheaper consumer goods to be produced, however as we have seen above it is not all bad news. While reducing the use of hardwoods in pool tables may offend some, it has the advantage of reducing deforestation and preserving the shrinking supplies of hardwoods.



Ruth

Hendrix asked:


How big is standard size professional billiards pool table, the ones the pros use on tv?

Curtis

Christy asked:


I’ve never had a pool table delivered, so I am unsure of what to do in this situation. Thanks!

Jacqueline

Nathaniel Jacobson asked:


So it’s Friday night, and you’re out on the town with your mates. You’re well dressed and you’ve had a few drinks. Isn’t life grand? You puff away on your cigarette, sipping a pint, and round the pool table considering your next shot. You are keenly aware of the gorgeous woman sitting at the bar, watching your every move. Follow these pool rules, and show her that you are as slick as your slicked-back hair!

Now you may be wondering who gets to break? The traditional way of determining who gets to break is a method called “lagging”. Both players line up their ball at the head string (the line on the table). Shoot your ball to the far rail, and bank it straight back towards yourself without touching the rail you are standing closest to. Have your opponent do the same. Whoever has the ball closest to the rail, without touching it, gets to break. Hitting a side rail is an immediate disqualification.

When you are racking the balls, they should be frozen or touching slightly. The lead ball must be on the foot spot (the dot on the felt). The “8″ ball must be in the center of the racked balls. The white or “cue” ball must be located behind the head string. When breaking, you want to use enough power to split the balls. Ideally you want to sink a couple balls, preferably one of either “solids” or “stripes”. This way you have the option of shooting for any ball on the table during your next shot. If you “scratch”, or sink the white ball off the break, it automatically becomes your opponents turn.

The object of the game is to sink all of your balls before your opponent, and then sink the “8″ ball in the pocket you have indicated. Take your time and line up your shots properly. Try not to use too much power when shooting. Yeah…..it looks cool to hit them hard, but it’s not exactly cool to miss your shot. Try to take your easiest shots first, and try not to leave your opponent with clear shots. Try to use a proper stance when shooting, and bow your head to be in line with the cue. Your best bet is to simply practice on your own, before you go out and play competitively. Be careful playing in bars too, as you might get hustled. Now be a good sport, go introduce yourself to that babe at the bar!



Margaret

here_4_1_day asked:


It is going to be an 8ft pool table.

Sam

qimaster2002 asked:


My bumper pool table has a third hole in the center and I can’t seem to find official rules on what that means. Also, Each color has two marked cue balls, one with a solid dot of the opposite color and the other with an outlined dot of the opposite color. What does this mean for the game play?

Debbie

Lump asked:


I’m selling a pool table that belonged to my son. I think it’s a Gandy, but I can’t find any markings on it. He thinks it’s worth $900. What’s the easy’s and fastest way to sell this? It’s 9 ft long. Simple lines, looks like it might have come out of a pool hall. He bought it used about 15 years ago. I’m in Atlanta 30341.

Jean