Pool Trick Shot - Billiards - Chopsticks

By: toni4ball, August 23, 2007

"Chewy" - Mike Chewakin from Fargo, ND showed us this trick @ the MN ACS State Championships in March, 2007. Very impressive!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Billiards Accessories-How To Find The Top Pool Equipment

There are a ton of billiards accessories for you to choose from today, and therefore it can be difficult to find the right ones. Very simply, when choosing pool and billiards equipment, you have your choice of which billiard chairs to pick from, billiard tables, billiards cues, balls, gloves, etc.

Therefore, it can be very easy to get lost in the clutter and end up purchasing the wrong accessories, or simply overpaying for ones you could have found much more cheaply elsewhere.

First of all, before you even begin looking for the right accessories, here is an important tip: try to find all the billiards supplies you purchase used, to save some money. Yes, you can still find very high quality pre owned equipment that comes minus the newer equipment price tag. Here is some important information to help you locate these bargains and great deals quickly.

First of all, billiard chairs are a very important piece of your billiard equipment. They play a very important role in determining how your billiard room will look. Since the chairs is such a vital part of the room, they will really add or diminish the appearance of the overall room look and feel. You don't spend a lot of money getting the perfect billiard room and then simply having the chairs take away from the look of it. It is important the chairs match the overall decor of the room to give it the look you want.

Keep in mind, these chairs are manufactured both with and without handles and cushions, and which one you decide to purchase is simply matter of how much you are willing to pay. They also come in two different heights; the first site is the counter height and bar height. These are the two most popular kind of billiard chairs purchased, and generally come in about 23 to 25 inches tall.

The ones that come taller than these are known as spectator chairs, and these usually come with a wide seat cushion, arched back, and also beverage holder. Of course, these are more expensive than the regular billiard chairs, but if you do have the money for these top-of-the-line chairs, paying the money it is probably worth it.

Keep in mind, these chairs are generally manufactured from either wood or iron. You can also get them cost designed to match your individual needs. Therefore, if the particular story you are shopping at doesn't have exactly what you want, you can order the chairs to be manufactured specifically for your rooms appearance.

You can generally have a choice between cherry, mahogany, maple, and just about any type of what that you want to chairs to be made of. The bottom line is, if the store doesn't have what your looking for, you don't need to settle for second best; when you pre-order what you want, you can still get the exact chair you want quickly and affordably.

Also, the billiards tables you purchase will certainly be a very crucial part of your equipment as well. When you are searching for billiards tables, there are a lot of different places you can shop as well.

You can find these at cheaper stores such as Kmart, Wal-Mart, and other discount stores. Also, you might try looking in the Internet in places such as the Billiard Zone, Billiard Warehouse, etc. These are two of the most popular billiards websites on the Internet today, and if you do plan shopping online come you should certainly start looking at these sources.

On the Internet there are many different companies that sell billiards tables directly from cheaper countries such as China or other third world countries, you can purchase them for a much more affordable price and if you confine your research to the United States. Also, when looking online, you can generally purchase these a wholesale prices, and sometimes below them. When you look at the store, you will generally full retail price.

Also, you might try looking in magazines for information about the right billiard accessories as well. There are many difficulties that publish these magazines, and therefore finding them really isn't all that difficult.

Here, you can find reviews on things such as McDermott, Predator, HRUSA, etc. Therefore, when you do your research and know what to look for, finding the right billiard accessories really is not that difficult at all. The most important thing is to know is what to look for beforehand, so you don't end up paying higher price than you really have to.

By: James Randolph

Fun Ways To Enjoy Pool & Billiards

Billiards is a term used to describe a family of games that are played on a table and with a cue stick. Commonly, the stick is used to strike billiard balls and move them around the table. Billiard games are played indoors and the most popular, which many people enjoy, is the game of pool.

Common pool games include 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and one-pocket. Pool tables are large square units that feature pockets for players to attempt sending the balls into. Previously exclusive to pool rooms, the game of pool has now become a popular household addition to many homes. Pool enthusiasts often include a pool room in their own home, which features a table, cue sticks and billiard balls. This is a terrific game for entertaining and is one of the most enjoyable games of competition that can be played indoors.

Because the game of pool is so very popular, it is used to entertain on many occasions. This article will attempt to provide a few ideas for hosting a pool tournament or competition in the comfort of your own home.

$ Pool is a terrific pastime to enjoy in the company of friends and family. Perhaps a family game of men against women or friends playing on teams against one another would make for a fun evening.

$ If you are having a family reunion or other social event, consider inviting everyone into your home for a friendly game of pool.

$ What if boys night out transformed into boys night in with a game of pool? This is a terrific way for him to have fun with his friends, but still enjoy the comforts of home.

$ If you are entering a professional pool tournament with the opportunity to win cash or other prizes, you will need to be on top of your game. Having a pool table in your home or basement may just provide you with the additional practice time and edge that you need to win out over the competition. If practice makes perfect, then you will be glad to have a pool table within your reach at any given moment.

$ Pool doesn’t have to be a competition. In fact, there is nothing wrong with practicing alone and just mastering some of your best pool moves.

Pool tables are available in a variety of sizes and are designed to fit an array of budgets. Large tables are designed for adults, but even the kiddies often love to play. For the youngsters, small pool tables are designed of sturdy plastic and feature small cue sticks and billiard balls for their enjoyment. Large tables range in price from several hundred dollars and up depending on the quality and type of table that you purchase. Children’s pool tables, on the other hand, are very inexpensive and can be found for less than $50.00. Thanks to the creative minds of toy manufacturers, pool really can be a family sport.

By: Dennis Conner

Eight Ball Billiards

The game that began as a nobleman's sport has evolved into a barroom staple. But make no mistake the game of billiards, and each of its offspring, still retains that noble spirit.

While proper billiards is rarely found in average clubs, a number of game variations have become popular with the pub and club set. One of the most popular tournament-style billiards games is "eight ball". In eight ball billiards, one set of numbered balls is split between two players. One players shoots for balls 1-7 (also called "solids" or "low balls") and the other plays balls 9-15 ("stripes" or "high balls"). The first player to pocket all of his or her balls, and then legally pocket the eight (black) ball, is declared the winner.

Eight ball is an easy game with very few regulations. There are however, a few rules to keep in mind:

* When calling shots in this eight ball billiards, it is not necessary to indicate the pocket and ball when the shot is clear. If attempting a bank or combination shot however, you must declare your intention before proceeding to shoot.

* If the ball you are shooting jumps off the table, the shot is considered foul. At this time you can choose to accept the table and take a shot, or shoot again with the cue ball placed behind the head string.

* On your turn, your shot is only legal if it hits a group of your own billiard balls and either pocket a numbered ball, or cause a numbered ball or the cue ball to end up in a pocket. This does not apply to shots declared "open", or to break shots.

* After a break shot, if no ball was pocketed and no group of balls determined, the table is still considered to be open. In other words, if a player breaks and sunk neither stripes nor solids, the table remains open.

* A game may be acknowledged as a stalemate when six turns (three for each player) are taken consecutively and the next shot will result in the loss of the game. At this point, the game is re-racked, and the original breaker takes the break shot again.

Consult an official rulebook for a more concise description of all the rules to eight ball. To play a successful game you must be willing to learn and follow the rules, and retain the noble spirit of billiards.

By: Jennifer Brown

Billiards Equipment

Athletes in every sport seem to have their little quirks.

Basketball players massage the basketball before a game. Batters on deck at a baseball game wait patiently, swinging the bat over and over. While these may look like nervous habits, attention grabbing tactics or ways to entertain the fans, the athletes are really getting in tune with their equipment. By knowing the equipment they use, the athletes are able to play the game to their full potential.

It is no different in the game of billiards. Whether you are a seasoned expert in the game, or a first-time billiards player, you need to know the equipment in order to play the game.

True regulation-size billiard tables are about 4 1/2 feet off the ground, and the length of the table is approximately double that distance. The playing surface of regulation tables measure about 50 by 100 inches. Billiards tables do not share the same dimensions as regular pool tables, so billiards players who like to practice their technique at home or at a pub or community center need to remember these numbers. Some stores that offer billiards tables to rent or purchase might let you come in and pay to play billiards, but even those tables may not be regulation size.

Billiards is a very technical game involving many angles and a great deal of discipline. It's important to know the dimensions of the pockets you're aiming for. The angles of the corner pockets are roughly 142 degrees, give or take a few, and the side pocket angles sit at about 103 degrees. These numbers may seem completely meaningless, but in the game of billiards, understanding the geometry is as important as having the proper cue.

When it comes to the cue, the use of regulation billiards equipment is in the hands of the user. Billiards cues should have a 14mm wide tip, 40 inches long and weigh 25 ounces. The billiards ball should be around 5.5 to 6 ounces in weight and be 2 1/4" in diameter. The playing surface of the billiards table must flat, slightly raised (between .20 and .40 inches), and lightly cushioned to give the ball a little "English" when it's hit just right.

Like any game, billiards can be quite enjoyable when played by the casual observer, but it is serious business to the professional player. Billiards players who know and understand their equipment will surpass all others who play the game. Great billiards players are not created of raw talent, but developed from a true knowledge of regulation equipment.

While you may not see championship players swinging their cues, you can bet that they are perfectly in tune with their billiards equipment.

By: Dorothy Williams