Archive for September, 2008

Trouble Shooter Cues: Why They Are Useful

Friday, September 19th, 2008

There are a number of reasons why trouble shooter pool cues are useful.  It should be easy to see why you will want to add one to your own collection, as well as thinking of someone who would like one for a gift.

If you love the game of pool, you have probably had the experience of having difficulty playing due to the size of the room or other obstacles.  This is a good reason for needing a trouble shooter cue.  These ,pool cues, which are shorter in length than standard pool cues, can make your game easier and more comfortable in nearly any location.  As trouble shooter cues are available in a variety of shorter lengths, you can have the one or more best suited to your playing needs.

With a trouble shooter cue, you can play pool in smaller rooms, or in rooms where your game playing may have been interfered with by furniture or other objects being in the way.  The shorter stick will make playing easier, and prevent such obstacles from affecting your game.  You will have much more fun when nothing stands between you and your favorite game.

A trouble shooter cue is also an excellent choice for a youngster’s first pool cue.  Rather than dealing with the frustration of using a pool cue that is too long or too heavy, your child can enjoy learning and playing the game much more when he has a cue that is the right size and weight for him.

A short trouble shooter cue has other practical benefits.  If you like to play pool in a variety of locations, or be prepared for any pool-playing opportunity that may arise on the spur of the moment, one of these shorter cues is easily portable, and also easy to store when it is not in use.

You will have many more opportunities to play the game when you keep a trouble shooter cue readily accessible–  it will always be there whenever you need it.

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Pool Table Cloth or Felt

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Pool table cloth, also known as felt, has been around since the beginning of pool in the 1500 or 1600s.  The cloth used during that time was a woven wool cloth.  The green color was chosen at the time to imitate the green of the lawn.  They didn’t know it back then, but the human eye has a higher sensitivity to the color green.  This prevents eyestrain when looking at it for extended periods of time.  This is the reason green is the favorite color of pool tables.  Iwan Simonis Company began making cloth for pool tables 200 years ago.  Today they are the most famous pool cloth maker in the industry.

The worsted wool or a blend of wool and nylon pool table cloth is used on the majority of pool tables.  The maker of this cloth is Iwan Simonis Company.  Usually it is well known the faster the cloth the faster it will wear out.

The small 7 foot or bar size pool tables usually are covered in a durable and slower cloth.  The favorite choice for this is the Championship Mercury Ultra Table Cloth.  This is the same cloth used at the majority of the national amateur tournaments, which includes the APA, VNEA and BCA.

The cloth you might want for your home pool table of 8 or 9 feet is the Velocity Pro Worsted Billiard Cloth.  This cloth is made with very high wool content and is considered to be a faster cloth, but will no fuzzy or pilling of the fabric.

A professional installer can install the cloth on your pool table or you can save yourself some money by doing the job yourself.  You can find kits on the market, which will help you, install the cloth yourself.

After you have replaced the cloth of your pool table, sooner or later you will see some white marks appearing on the new cloth.  You might wonder if you purchased a less than quality material.  That is not the case.

It is normal for the cloth on your pool table to show evidence of the wear and tear from normal use.  It is the friction of the cue ball, which actually causes the marks on your pool cloth.  They are more likely to be seen after an excellent break shot.  During a really good break shot the cue balls reach an average speed of 25-30 mph.  The friction of the cue ball created as it travels across the cloth can reach temperatures of 250 degrees Celsius.  When the cue strikes, the ball can reach up to 450 degrees from the momentary friction.  It is the friction, which causes the burn marks on the pool cloth.

The burn marks in the billiard cloth will soon look like track lines, especially from the commonly used break spot.  You’ll probably see three break spots one in center, one to the left and one to the right because these are the most common break spots.  Breaking from the side rail will force a player to shoot downward to hit the ball.  This will push the ball into the cloth more, which will produce a mark.  With several hundred shots made from the same spot the cloth will be severely worn.

The marks are actually burn marks caused by the friction of the cue ball on the billiard cloth.   Some types of cloth will show wear more than others.  If these marks are showing with every shot you make, you could be hitting the ball too hard or with your stick at too high of an angle.   You might need to reevaluate the how you are shooting and make the correct adjustments.

Posted in Billard Accessories | 3 Comments »

Buying Guide for Billiard Accessories

Friday, September 19th, 2008

If you have purchases a pool table, a pool cue and pool balls, so what else do you need?  The list of accessories can be short or long depending on your skill level, and your budget.  Some billiard accessories are optional, but some accessories are very important.  You will be able to find many kinds of billiard accessories online.  There are two different categories of accessories you will need to look at.  One is the billiard cue accessories and the billiard table accessories.

First look at the accessories for the pool cue.

Chalk- Using pool chalk will prevent the tip from slipping when it strikes the ball.  You need to make sure you are buy a chalk made by a well-known manufacturer.  Low-quality chalk can ruin the tip on your billiard cue.

Bridge Head and Sticks – These are used to steady your shot.  You can find bridge heads made from plastic and aluminum or brass and wood.

Pool Cue Rack – Pool cue racks are wall mounted or floor racks to hold the pool cues while not in use.  They are made of solid oak, mahogany, walnut or maple.  The more expensive models may also provide a storage area for your billiard balls, billiard rack, and other accessories.

Cue case – A cue case will give you an easy way to carry your pool cue with you and will protect your pool cue from moisture, temperatures, accidental dings and dents, scratches, and bending.  Soft cases will provide the least amount of protection.

Joint Protectors – These will protect the joint of your pool cue to prevent moisture and rust and dirt build up.  They can also protect your cue should it accidentally get dropped.

Tips – All cue tips will eventually wear out and need replacing.  You can also get repair and maintenance kits for your cue tips.

Accessories for the Pool Table

Billiard Racks – Billiard racks are available in triangles for games like eight ball or diamonds for three ball or nine ball games.  These are essential for racking the balls before you play a game of pool.

Brush – These are horsehair brushes to help keep the felt in good condition.  It will also help remove dust and the dust from chalk to keep your table looking good.

Pool Table Covers – A pool table cover is a necessity for a pool table.  It will protect your table from the humidity, fading, and dust when it is not in use.

Billiard Cloth – Billiard cloth is also called felt.  The felt on your pool table will eventually wear out and need to be recovered.  You can have this done professionally or you can buy a kit, which will take you step by step to recover your own table.

Rail Rubbers – The rail is the edge of your pool table’s playing surface.  You can replace them yourself.  If you choose to replace them yourself you must be sure to order the cushion, which will fit your table.

Some of the billiard supplies listed are essential to your game room, while some are not..  If you don’t have extra pool cues for guests, you will not have any need for a pool rack.  You should be able to look at this list and decide whether or not the accessory is essential for your needs to complete your poolroom at home.

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Posted in Billard Accessories | 5 Comments »