Billiards – More Than 8-ball Pool
Josephine Thunder asked:
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”.
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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”.
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In Praise of Snooker Tables
Steve Porter asked:
Snooker is one of the great games, relaxing, requiring some skill but not too strenuous. Having a snooker room in your home is something to aspire to, at least for men. However you do need a large room for the 12-foot full-blown version. The good news is you can get smaller tables too, starting at 7 foot. They still have the same slate bed and leather pockets so they last forever and still have that classic wood frame. The 7 foot and 8 foot versions only have 10 reds on the table so the table doesn’t get overcrowded with balls, but apart from that its almost as good as the real thing.
If you are thinking of buying a snooker table, first check the room size required. As a general rule of thumb, add 10 feet to each dimension to find out what room size you need. The 12-foot table for example requires a room size of 22 feet by 16 feet to allow for a clean cue action all around the table. The cues are normally 57 inches in length. So for a 7-foot table you need a room of 17 feet by 10 foot 6 inches. (A snooker table is always twice as long as it is wide)
When it comes to which one to buy, bear in mind that the actual playing surface is virtually the same on all snooker tables. The price you pay for a table is largely determined by the leg design and wood chosen. The tables can be made either in solid wood like mahogany or ash or made from boxwood covered in a veneer. The tables made from the solid wood are stained to give it the colour you want whilst the veneered type have the correct colour of veneer applied and are less expensive. Also the leg design is also a factor in the cost. A complicated design is more difficult to make and so more expensive.
The larger tables have 8 legs and the smaller tables have 4 legs and the medium size tables have 6 legs. The weight of a big 12-foot table is almost 1 ton and generally the weight of a snooker table is the equivalent weight of 2 men per leg. So a 4-leg table is half a ton up to the full ton for an 8 leg table.
Most of the weight of a snooker table is in the slate of course. The thickness of the slate is usually 1 inch up to 1-¾ inches for the tournament tables. The smaller tables usually have a single piece of slate for tables up to 8 feet. That requires 3 men at least to lift it, so for the bigger tables the slate is cut into separate pieces and then aligned when it is assembled on site. This is why snooker tables should be professionally installed.
When the snooker table is put together, the frame is assembled first and that has large wooden cross members to put the slate on. The slate is the put onto the frame and if the slate is in separate pieces they are aligned to provide a perfectly flat surface so the gap between the individual pieces is virtually non-existent. The cloth is then stretched over the slate and stapled to the frame to keep the cloth taught. The cushions which already have the rubber and cloth prepared, are then bolted to the frame. The pockets are made from metal and leather are screwed into the side rails last of all.
So if you are thinking of buying a snooker table, first determine what size table will fit in your room and then decide what colour wood would be best in your room from light coloured ash to the dark mahogany. The weight of the table is spread between lots of legs and a standard floor type is usually quite sufficient. Then think of what it would be like to have your own snooker table, the look and feel of it, and enjoy.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Snooker is one of the great games, relaxing, requiring some skill but not too strenuous. Having a snooker room in your home is something to aspire to, at least for men. However you do need a large room for the 12-foot full-blown version. The good news is you can get smaller tables too, starting at 7 foot. They still have the same slate bed and leather pockets so they last forever and still have that classic wood frame. The 7 foot and 8 foot versions only have 10 reds on the table so the table doesn’t get overcrowded with balls, but apart from that its almost as good as the real thing.
If you are thinking of buying a snooker table, first check the room size required. As a general rule of thumb, add 10 feet to each dimension to find out what room size you need. The 12-foot table for example requires a room size of 22 feet by 16 feet to allow for a clean cue action all around the table. The cues are normally 57 inches in length. So for a 7-foot table you need a room of 17 feet by 10 foot 6 inches. (A snooker table is always twice as long as it is wide)
When it comes to which one to buy, bear in mind that the actual playing surface is virtually the same on all snooker tables. The price you pay for a table is largely determined by the leg design and wood chosen. The tables can be made either in solid wood like mahogany or ash or made from boxwood covered in a veneer. The tables made from the solid wood are stained to give it the colour you want whilst the veneered type have the correct colour of veneer applied and are less expensive. Also the leg design is also a factor in the cost. A complicated design is more difficult to make and so more expensive.
The larger tables have 8 legs and the smaller tables have 4 legs and the medium size tables have 6 legs. The weight of a big 12-foot table is almost 1 ton and generally the weight of a snooker table is the equivalent weight of 2 men per leg. So a 4-leg table is half a ton up to the full ton for an 8 leg table.
Most of the weight of a snooker table is in the slate of course. The thickness of the slate is usually 1 inch up to 1-¾ inches for the tournament tables. The smaller tables usually have a single piece of slate for tables up to 8 feet. That requires 3 men at least to lift it, so for the bigger tables the slate is cut into separate pieces and then aligned when it is assembled on site. This is why snooker tables should be professionally installed.
When the snooker table is put together, the frame is assembled first and that has large wooden cross members to put the slate on. The slate is the put onto the frame and if the slate is in separate pieces they are aligned to provide a perfectly flat surface so the gap between the individual pieces is virtually non-existent. The cloth is then stretched over the slate and stapled to the frame to keep the cloth taught. The cushions which already have the rubber and cloth prepared, are then bolted to the frame. The pockets are made from metal and leather are screwed into the side rails last of all.
So if you are thinking of buying a snooker table, first determine what size table will fit in your room and then decide what colour wood would be best in your room from light coloured ash to the dark mahogany. The weight of the table is spread between lots of legs and a standard floor type is usually quite sufficient. Then think of what it would be like to have your own snooker table, the look and feel of it, and enjoy.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Make the Space for the Lifestyle you Want
Graham Baylis asked:
Lifestyle decisions are a lot easier when you have space to expand your ideas. An extra room in your garden may be just the thing you need to get started with a new hobby or even an exciting new business. Whatever your reasons a garden room could allow you to take your interests further and allow you to achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Just imagine how you would feel if you had the space to lay out your lovely art materials in a proper studio. Think about the incentive to get in shape in your very own state of the art fitness suite; just imagine long lazy afternoons resting, reading and talking in a beautifully fitted garden room. Idyllic – I’m sure you agree?
You might want a well equipped home workshop for jewellery making or silversmithing, Natural light, custom made benches and space to put an enamelling kiln. Perhaps you need a specially designed space for leatherwork or wood turning. Maybe a flower arranger’s workroom with deep sinks; shelves full of vases and a huge table to create your dream displays.
The idea of a room that is part garden and part living room is definitely especially if your idea of a fun activity is bird watching or wildlife photography. Could you enjoy sitting in your favourite armchair and encouraging the wildlife come to you? Of course you could and why not?
But the great outdoors doesn’t need to intrude on your leisure time if you don’t want it to. What about a stylish den – the ultimate garden shed if you will – equipped with all mod cons? Think about an LCD projector built into the ceiling, big leather sofas, phenomenal sound system and a massive drop down screen for watching films or the big game.
If your taste is a little more conservative then maybe think about creating your very own snooker hall. Snooker enthusiasts can often find it hard to fit a full size snooker table into a modern house. The rooms are simply not big enough. No problem with a custom built garden room because you can choose exactly what you need down to specialist lighting, fitted bar area and even a slick Italian coffee machine. How cool is that?
Enough of leisure time – now think about work. How much could your lifestyle change if you were able to work from home? Do you fancy a gentle walk down the garden to your very own customised office space complete with all the comforts of home? No more commuting, traffic jams and frayed tempers. A custom built garden work place could make it all possible and it needn’t cost the earth.
There are plenty of very tangible benefits. More time at home with your family for a start. Unlike your office-bound colleagues you could watch your children grow up and see them playing in the garden every day without leaving your desk. For any family person that has to be the ultimate reward.
For many people, building a home office is the first step towards financial independence. Improved technology now makes it possible for many people to work remotely no matter where they are in the world. A decent phone system and a good computer are all you need to leave the office behind – so what are you waiting for?
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Lifestyle decisions are a lot easier when you have space to expand your ideas. An extra room in your garden may be just the thing you need to get started with a new hobby or even an exciting new business. Whatever your reasons a garden room could allow you to take your interests further and allow you to achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Just imagine how you would feel if you had the space to lay out your lovely art materials in a proper studio. Think about the incentive to get in shape in your very own state of the art fitness suite; just imagine long lazy afternoons resting, reading and talking in a beautifully fitted garden room. Idyllic – I’m sure you agree?
You might want a well equipped home workshop for jewellery making or silversmithing, Natural light, custom made benches and space to put an enamelling kiln. Perhaps you need a specially designed space for leatherwork or wood turning. Maybe a flower arranger’s workroom with deep sinks; shelves full of vases and a huge table to create your dream displays.
The idea of a room that is part garden and part living room is definitely especially if your idea of a fun activity is bird watching or wildlife photography. Could you enjoy sitting in your favourite armchair and encouraging the wildlife come to you? Of course you could and why not?
But the great outdoors doesn’t need to intrude on your leisure time if you don’t want it to. What about a stylish den – the ultimate garden shed if you will – equipped with all mod cons? Think about an LCD projector built into the ceiling, big leather sofas, phenomenal sound system and a massive drop down screen for watching films or the big game.
If your taste is a little more conservative then maybe think about creating your very own snooker hall. Snooker enthusiasts can often find it hard to fit a full size snooker table into a modern house. The rooms are simply not big enough. No problem with a custom built garden room because you can choose exactly what you need down to specialist lighting, fitted bar area and even a slick Italian coffee machine. How cool is that?
Enough of leisure time – now think about work. How much could your lifestyle change if you were able to work from home? Do you fancy a gentle walk down the garden to your very own customised office space complete with all the comforts of home? No more commuting, traffic jams and frayed tempers. A custom built garden work place could make it all possible and it needn’t cost the earth.
There are plenty of very tangible benefits. More time at home with your family for a start. Unlike your office-bound colleagues you could watch your children grow up and see them playing in the garden every day without leaving your desk. For any family person that has to be the ultimate reward.
For many people, building a home office is the first step towards financial independence. Improved technology now makes it possible for many people to work remotely no matter where they are in the world. A decent phone system and a good computer are all you need to leave the office behind – so what are you waiting for?
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7 ft Pool/Snooker Table Package A Complete Home Recreation Package
Bob asked:
Spending an afternoon with your friends, playing a game of pool or snooker is great fun. And if you haven’t done it yet, don’t wait any longer. Get a pool tableand experience it firsthand. You will never get bored and will spend hours with your friends or family playing pool or snooker on this table. It is one of the best ways to relax and spend some quality time.
Once you have decided to buy a pool table, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. You have to think about the size, design, felt color and obviously the cost of the snooker table.
To make your job easy, I have the perfect solution for you. At BIGshop.com.au you can find some of the best pool tables, and that too, at an affordable price. I recently bought a 7 ft table for my home for just AU$599.95. And guess what, I also got $350 worth of accessories FREE along with this pool/snooker table! I still can’t believe that I’ve struck such a good bargain. (You can also pick an 8 ft table, if you want a slightly bigger one).
This snooker table has a deep green playing surface on a wood grain finish. With its ultra modern chrome corners, the finish is as good as any high-end furniture and it goes well with the décor of our home. Not just homes, the 7 ft pool table can be placed anywhere, even in bars, clubs, or garages.
The icing on the cake is the bonus accessories that you’ll get with these tables. You have everything you need in this bonus set, including 1 pool ball set, 1 snooker ball set, 2 pool cues, 2 bridge sticks, and more. Take home a 7 ft pool/snooker table today and your kids will just love it.
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Spending an afternoon with your friends, playing a game of pool or snooker is great fun. And if you haven’t done it yet, don’t wait any longer. Get a pool tableand experience it firsthand. You will never get bored and will spend hours with your friends or family playing pool or snooker on this table. It is one of the best ways to relax and spend some quality time.
Once you have decided to buy a pool table, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. You have to think about the size, design, felt color and obviously the cost of the snooker table.
To make your job easy, I have the perfect solution for you. At BIGshop.com.au you can find some of the best pool tables, and that too, at an affordable price. I recently bought a 7 ft table for my home for just AU$599.95. And guess what, I also got $350 worth of accessories FREE along with this pool/snooker table! I still can’t believe that I’ve struck such a good bargain. (You can also pick an 8 ft table, if you want a slightly bigger one).
This snooker table has a deep green playing surface on a wood grain finish. With its ultra modern chrome corners, the finish is as good as any high-end furniture and it goes well with the décor of our home. Not just homes, the 7 ft pool table can be placed anywhere, even in bars, clubs, or garages.
The icing on the cake is the bonus accessories that you’ll get with these tables. You have everything you need in this bonus set, including 1 pool ball set, 1 snooker ball set, 2 pool cues, 2 bridge sticks, and more. Take home a 7 ft pool/snooker table today and your kids will just love it.
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