Buy The Right Pool Table
Billiards, pool and snooker are some of the most enjoyable hobbies that you can actually do with your friends. Kids are slowly liking this kind of activity. A lazy afternoon can become lively and more exciting if you can just do fun activities like pool or billiards. In this kind of activity, there are some tools and accessories that you need to have to be able to play well. One of the most important things is a pool table. There are a lot of tables that you will see in the market and they vary in designs, prices and style. One has to choose the best one that he will be able to use in the game. It is very important that you follow some tips for you to be guided on the things that you have to consider in buying the pool table. Try to have full size snooker table too.
LOOK AROUND
One of the best things that you have to do is to look around for some stores that sell pool tables. You will find a lot of stores that sell good looking and high quality pool tables that you can buy. You have to remember that you can also have used pool table for as long as it is not yet heavily damaged. You can save a lot of money if you will do this.
MATERIALS
The materials that are used in the table plays a big part on the quality of the table that you will buy. The better the materials that are used, the higher the quality will be. Oak is one of the most common that is being used. You may also find nuts and bolts in high end pool tables that you will see in stores. Look at snooker accessories.
DETAILS
It is very important that you look into the details of the table as you try to buy the one that you can set up in your house. In order for you to ensure the quality of the table, you have to take a look at the basic parts like the slate and rubber. The slate must not be broken and the rubber must be new and in good condition.
PRICE
You have to make sure that the pool table that you will buy is the one that fits in your budget. You cannot possibly have the one that is beyond the amount that you can afford because it will just lead you to having debts. Set the price of the table that you want and make it as a guide in your choices.
There are simple tips that you have to instill in your mind as you try to buy the best pool table. There are stores near you that can guide you. Online shops are also available for you. It is very important that you only choose the one that really fits your need. The tips mentioned are some of the best that you can follow. You need to consider them for you to be guided on the choices that you will make with regards to the pool table.
Home Pool Tables
The popularity of pool is growing all the time. What with Sky sports now showing pool tournaments live on TV, it is becoming the table game of choice, overtaking the more traditional game of snooker. The attraction is easy to see, it is an easy game to master and it is much quicker than its big brother snooker. This has increased the demand for home pool tables, providing you have the room for them and because they are smaller than snooker tables, more houses can accommodate them. Of all the billiards games, pool is the most played with tables in local pubs and leisure centres.
For the best experience, the slate bed tables are best, the MDF tables are not as responsive. The slate comes in thickness’s of ¾ inch to a full 1 ½ inches depending on the cost of the table. As might be supposed with that much rock on the table they are very heavy compared to their wooden counterparts. The slate itself can come as 1 piece or 2 or 3 separate pieces to save carrying weight when installing the table. Whilst single piece slate tables can be installed easily by the customer providing you have some hefty mates to help you put the slate on, the multi slate tables should always be installed by professionals as they can be tricky to line up right.
The frame of the pool table can be made from wood or metal which are used in the busy clubs. The choice of table really depends on the use it is put to, with the wooden types looking more decorous in the home environment and the steel and aluminium framed tables are made for the clubs. Tables made with metal frames are often painted with flash outlandish colours whereas the domestic tables have more traditional varnishes.
The games played on pool tables vary depending on which country you are in from the French which play on Carom pool tables which don’t have any pockets! They play a form of billiards on these tables where you score points for hitting the object ball or your opponent’s ball or both. Tables that do have pockets are more familiar and the games played are most often 8 ball and 9 ball. Pool tables are part of the larger family of billiard tables which have been around for a few hundred years and include snooker carom and pool tables, and I’m sure they will be around for a few more hundred years as it is a great game that anyone can play and if you get really good at it you can earn a very decent living on the professional playing circuit. So get yourself a pool table or get down to your nearest club and enjoy!
Other Great Cue Games to Play on Your Pool Table
There’s more fun to be had on your pool table than just shooting Straight Pool. Here are some other games you’ll enjoy playing on your new pool table.
Eight Ball. You’ve more than likely played this game when you were younger. This game usually is played by two people. To play Eight Ball you’ll need 15 numbered balls numbered from 1 to 15. One player aims to pocket only solid colored balls (numbers 1-7) while the second player aims for the balls with the stripes (numbers 9-15). Players work to pocket the colored balls, ignoring the black 8 ball. Once a player has pocketed all of their colored or striped balls, they start aiming for the 8 ball. Whichever player pockets the 8 ball first wins the game. However, once aiming for the 8 ball, a player must “call” the pocket in which she plans to hit the ball. If she misses the shot, she waits for her next turn. If she pockets the 8 ball in a pocket she didn’t call, her opponent wins the match.
Snooker. You’ll need to make sure you have 15 red balls, six balls of different colors, and the white cue ball to play this game, which has its roots as a cue game invented by British Army officers stationed in India. You’ll also need a larger table (12 x 6 feet). The game is played by players alternating sinking a red ball and then sinking a colored ball but you also must do so starting with the lowest valued red ball, then the lowest valued colored ball, etc.
Each of the balls also carries different point values. The red balls are worth one point each, while the yellow ball is worth two points, green is three points, brown is four points, blue is five, pink is six and the black ball is worth seven points. The player or team who scores the most points wins the game; win several games (also known as frames) and you win the match.
Cutthroat. This is a great game for three players. You’ll first need to rack up your balls and then have one of the players break them. Then each of you will choose either balls 1-5, 6-10, or 11-15. Unlike, Eight Ball, though, you’ll want to work to keep your balls on the table and away from the pockets. The fun comes because the three of you will be aiming to sink each others’ balls! There is some strategy involved as well — you’ll want to aim to get your balls into “unsinkable” positions on the table while you work to pocket your opponents’ balls.
Nine Ball. As its name implies, Nine Ball is played with pool balls numbered 1-9. Players must have the cue ball hit the lowest numbered ball on the table before it hits any other ball, but you don’t have to send the balls into the pockets numerically. It’s OK if balls end up going into pockets out of numerical order so long as the cue ball hits the lowest-numbered ball first.
The object of Nine Ball (also sometimes referred to as 9-Ball), is to be the first player to pocket the 9 ball. You can pocket the 9 ball at any time (even with the first shot or even at the break), so long as you hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table with the cue ball first.
These additional games should help you get more excitement and intrigue out of your new pool table. With enough practice, you can master each of these games and open the doors to even more fun and excitement.
Pool Table Construction: Hardwoods Vs Mdf
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.
Poolstars Online Pool Game Doesn?t Stop Surprising the Users
Online games are constantly evolving. Each day a new twist or turn is introduced to keep the users guessing and interested. PoolStars.com, an online pool simulation game, recently completed it’s evolution with the introduction of Real Money gaming to the mix. Now users are able to challenge each other over the cyber felt for more than just bragging rights and points. Now cash is the tool that settles the disputes. In addition to Real Money Gaming, PoolStars.com has created a revolution in the online pool world with their introduction of Online Snooker. Now the same world class graphics and physics engine that helped catapult PoolStars.com to the top of the online pool world, has been implemented in the age old game of snooker. Currently only available in play money mode, users are able to hone their skills and learn the complexities of the most challenging pool variation.
PoolStars has recently added some user friendly tools to help the novice players compete with the sharks. Aim Lines have been added to certain areas of the game to help attract new players, enlarging the friendly community.
This Sunday November 30th, PoolStars is running exclusive 0 PoolStars depositors Freeroll. Entry is available for all users that have a successful depositing history. The automatic freeroll ticket is provided under Cashier in the Game.
With a graphics engine supervised by Steve Davis, PoolStars is the most realistic, authentic online pool simulation on the net, and best of all, it’s free.
Don’t get lost in the variety of games. Choose what is real!
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There?s More Than Just Eight-ball to be Played on Pool Tables
My high school years was spent on an Air Force Base in Italy, and many times after school, I would find myself hanging out at the Community Center playing pool with some of the GI’s. I fancied myself a fairly good player because I occasionally got a lucky shot, but in retrospect, I really wasn’t very good at all. At the time, we always played eight-ball, and only associated that game with pool tables, but since then have learned many other games that are a lot of fun to play. So if you are looking for some variety, consider some of the following games:
Nine ball
Three ball
One-pocket
Bank pool
Snooker
Let’s take a closer look at how each of these games are played.
Nine-ball
This game only uses the cue ball and the 1 through 9 balls. The balls are racked in a diamond shape with the one ball in the front and the nine ball in the middle. Though the balls can be pocketed in any order, the cue ball must first make contact with the lowest numbered ball on the pool table. The game is won by sinking the 9 ball, and a match is won by winning a predetermined number of games. When a shot is missed, the next player starts play with the cue ball in the position left by the other player. If a foul was committed, the incoming player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
Three-ball
When there is a lack of numerous pool tables, but many players, this is a good game to play. It just uses the cue ball plus three other balls. The object is to sink all three balls in the fewest number of strokes. One player plays until all 3 balls are pocketed, all strokes counted. Then the next player starts, trying to sink all three balls in fewer strikes. Often this game is played in innings, consisting of three or five rounds.
One-pocket
This is a two player game with each player choosing a pocket. The object is to shoot a majority of the balls (8) into your pocket. Fouls occur if you shoot your ball into the wrong pocket on the pool tables. This game often takes more strategy than other billiard games.
Bank pool
This game can be played with either a full rack (15 balls) for a long game, or with nine balls (lately more popular) for a shorter game. You have to sink a ball by banking it off of one of the sides. Shots are normally called. The first player to bank and sink eight balls is the winner (in the shorter game, five balls must be pocketed).
Snooker
Snooker can be played on average sized pool tables. The game requires 15 red balls, and six balls of various colors (1 each of yellow [2], green [3], brown [4], blue [5], pink [6] and black [7]) and a white cue ball. Each red ball is worth 1 point, the color balls are then worth 2 – 7 points as labeled above. The 15 red balls are racked up in the traditional triangle at the beginning of the game. Each colored ball has a set point on the table. The object of the game is to get the most points. First you have to sink a red ball in a pocket, and then any colored ball (remember the point value of each ball is important ). The red ball remains in the pocket, but any colored ball is replaced to its original starting place on the table after it is sunk. You receive points for each ball you sink. When you miss a shot, it is then the other players turn. Once all the red balls are gone, the color balls then have to be sunk in numerical order. The player with the most points, wins. Points can also be earned through fouls (such as sinking balls out of order – like two red ones in a row).
These are most the of the official games that are played on pool tables, though they all have more detailed rules, and many of them offer variations. So, next time you are looking for something to do, head on down to your local pool hall where they have a lot of pool tables, and try something new when you play pool with your friends.
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Welcome to my Pool Club
PopGameBox is a free multiplayer online billiards game with lively 3D graphics and a friendly worldwide community. This program includes 8 Ball, 9 Ball, 15 Ball, and Snooker, which the operations are the most similar as you do in your real life. You can compete with and chat with many real players around the world.
Game Featues:
— Completely Free.
— A Friendy Community.
— Simple and Easy to Operate.
— Lively 3D Graphic Environment.
— Many Kinds of Bonus Mechanism.
Website: http://www.PopGameBox.com
Controls:
Adjust Aim – Move mouse left and right
Raise View – Move mouse forward and backward
Adjust Ball Point – Press left button and move mouse
Shoot – Press ‘Ctrl’ key and move mouse backward and forward
Zoom in/out – Press right button and move mouse forward and backward
Show Ball Number – Press space bar to get mouse cursor, then move the cursor onto the ball .
Hot Keys:
‘Esc’ – Back to game room
‘Tab’ – Exchange Normal/Tiny adjust cue angle model
‘F1′ – Show / Hide help information
‘F3′ – Part cue (Snooker)
‘Down Arrow’ – Top view
‘Space bar’ – Show mouse cursor
‘Enter’ – Send message
Controls:
Adjust Aim – Move mouse left and right
Raise View – Move mouse forward and backward
Adjust Ball Point – Press left button and move mouse
Shoot – Press ‘Ctrl’ key and move mouse backward and forward
Zoom in/out – Press right button and move mouse forward and backward
Show Ball Number – Press space bar to get mouse cursor, then move the cursor onto the ball .
Hot Keys:
‘Esc’ – Back to game room
‘Tab’ – Exchange Normal/Tiny adjust cue angle model
‘F1′ – Show / Hide help information
‘F3′ – Part cue (Snooker)
‘Down Arrow’ – Top view
‘Space bar’ – Show mouse cursor
‘Enter’ – Send message
Screenshot:
A Brief History of Pool Tables
Many people who don’t play any cue sports would assume that all games tables are the same. But from the fifteenth century which the earliest billiard table dates from, distinct differences in the size and materials manufacturers use, have developed. Should anyone be considering purchasing a games table, it is well worth brushing up on your knowledge of the differences.
Traditionally, all cue sports were called “billiards” but over the years, the term billiards has developed into different meanings around the world. In Britain and Australia for example, “billiards” usually refers exclusively to the game of English billiards but in America and Canada, it refers to cue games generally. In the UK the term “pocket billiards” is rarely used and “Pool” is the name most often heard for this game. Although “Snooker” is really a variation of pocket billiards, it has been formally recognised as a professional sport in its own right and its rules bear little resemblance to those of Pool.
English Pool Tables (also known as Traditional Pool Tables) vary in length from 6 foot long to 9 foot. Snooker tables range from 6 foot to 12 foot and American Pool Tables vary from 6 foot to 9 ½ foot in length. All types of Pool Tables can be purchased these days in a variety of styles from the traditional to contemporary, or even in “futuristic” styles. Where space is limited, many pubs and homes may opt to purchase “combination tables” which can be easily converted from a dining table to Pool Table or from a dining table to a multi-games table.
Copyright © 2009
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Play Online Pool Games
A new site offering online pool and snooker plus exciting tournaments.
Billiard Magic is a brand new site dedicated to online billiard games. Catering for anyone who enjoys a game of pool or snooker, this site has everything you need to know about playing online.
Offering a variety of billiard games, backed up by top of the range software and graphics, Billiard Magic welcomes both experienced players wishing to perfect their technique and newcomers who would like to learn a new game.
Not only can you play fun billiard games at Billiard Magic, but there are lots of exciting opportunities to enter tournaments and win cash prizes. Regular promotions means it’s never dull at BilliardMagic.
Playing online can be a lot of fun, especially when you start to meet the other players. Hundreds of pool and snooker fans from around the globe may be logged on at any one time, giving you access to an amazing choice of opponents. By watching others play, you can learn new techniques and strategies and generally improve your game.
Choose from 8 ball pool, 9 ball pool or snooker. Online pool is played just like real live pool, except players use the mouse to line up the cue and hit the ball. By varying the speed of the mouse, the shot can be varied in strength – as in reality. Accurate technology means that shots work on angles the same way as in live pool, and players must calculate the correct angle for their shot.
Helpful software gives tips for beginners on how to figure out your angle, making this complicated process a little easier for the technically challenged. If you’re serious about improving, you could even watch the pros playing in tournaments to see how they do it.
Players have the choice of playing for fun or for money at Billiard Magic. To play for money, there is a simple deposit process by which players add money to their account. Any winnings can then either be used for further play, or can be withdrawn, according to the terms and conditions.
All games can be played either against the computer, or against other real players. Or better still, get your friends to sign up, and play against each other. Get a head start by practising online before you invite them to a match.
In online pool the same rules apply as in traditional pool, so if you make a foul, the turn passes to your opponent. Foul shots include not hitting any ball on your shot and pocketing the white cue ball. Other shots can cause the player to lose immediately, such as pocketing the black by mistake.
Tournaments are held regularly at Billiard Magic, with sit and go, or freerolls available. Win a tournament and as well as the cash prize, you’ll go into the hall of fame.
Playing pool and snooker online is fun and challenging and the more you play, the more skilled you will become. The thrill of winning real money by playing online pool is a huge adrenalin rush. Start playing today and discover the winner in you!
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Know more about how to play pool online
Things are different now. With the advent of communications and technology, you can already enjoy things and even play sports even if you are not in the actual playing field or sports arena. Nowadays, you can play pool or snooker even if you are resting in your office during lunch break or even if you are just in your study room at home. Technology have made things so amazing you can enjoy doing your favorite things and play your favorite games online. And what’s more, technology has also made it possible for one to earn some dollars while just enjoying some of the most interesting cue sports online.
First you need to know what an online pool game is. An online pool game is just like your ordinary pool played with a pool table, a cue, pool balls, and other pool gadgets but the main difference is that an online pool game is played through the Internet and with the use of a personal computer. Instead of having an actual pool table, you play pool on your computer set. If you haven’t played online snooker or other cue sports online, you will think that it sounds ridiculous to play these games via the Internet. But the makers of online cue sports conducted extensive researches and spent years developing and perfecting their online games to make these games appear and feel as realistic as possible. They have applied the laws of physics and the concepts of geometry to make your online cue sports a realistic online experience.
An online pool game is a hassle-free way to play pool because aside from not going to actual gaming areas or pool bars in your neighborhood, you can play and practice anytime you want to wherever you are so long as there is a computer and an Internet connection. You can just practice on your own or enter into one of the pool rooms to play snooker and other cue sports with other individuals who are also online.
Also, if you are the competitive type, you can enjoy playing snooker online and join weekly tournaments where you have the chance to win cash prizes and join official world pool championship games. Once again, these world pool championship games are just like what you have on actual offline pool games because they are also regulated and monitored by accredited world pool associations and there are also big cash prizes waiting to be won. Online pool games are also regulated in a way that gambling or betting outside of the game in any form is not tolerated. You can only play pool games that are legitimate with legal collection of entry fees and no illegal side betting.
Lastly, an online pool game gives you the opportunity to play pool with other cue sports enthusiasts all over the world without going anywhere, and it can also provide financial opportunities if you would only explore other areas like the affiliate program wherein you can earn something with every person you encourage to join the website and join the weekly tournaments for snooker and other cue sports.