Making a good break shot is all about form, concentration, and finesse. Truth be told, this is a great way for a newbie to embarrass themselves for the rest of their pool career. So how does one get the snap, crackle, and pop of a pro billiards player?

The Rack

A pool match starts before the game even begins. In order to rack properly, make sure that all balls are touching each other. If the balls aren’t touching, it will be impossible to make a good break. The space in between the balls will diffuse the energy of the incoming cue ball. This is why it’s important to purchase a quality pool rack that keeps everything close together.
Continue reading →

There are 3 ways that you can level a billiards table and that all depends on the type of table that you have. An uneven billiards table will make it impossible to make the perfect shot. You may notice that the ball rolls too far, too fast, or changes direction as if it has a mind of its own. The velocity of the ball may increase/decrease if heading up/down a sloping table.

Leveling a pool table

Yes, you can let out a sigh of relief. Your cue ball is not under some magic spell! This post will tell you explain some of the causes of an uneven table and show you the proper way to level your billiards table.
Continue reading →

9 Ball Pool is played with 9 balls labeled 1-9 and a cue ball. 9 Ball is a rotation game wherein players try to shoot at the lowest number on the table. Balls do not need to be pocketed in numerical order, however the cue ball must strike the lowest numbered ball on the table first. Are the ideas beginning to flow? In order to win, you must be the first to pocket the 9 ball.

9 Ball – Notice how the 1 ball is at the point and the 9 ball is in the middle of the rack.

This simple list of 9 Ball Rules is brought to you by Game Tables Online. This is where serious billiards players shop!
Continue reading →

Snooker is a popular billiards game that is similar to pool. The object of snooker is to score more points than the opposing player. Sounds simple right? Points are scored by pocketing balls in the correct order using a numerical sequence. Here’s all the Snooker Rules that you need to know!

Pool vs Snooker – What’s the Difference?

Many people confuse the two games or think that they are simply different names of the same game. The truth is, snooker and pool are two very different games. Pool popular in the United States while Snooker is played more commonly in countries where Great Britain historically held colonial control. This includes areas like Europe, Canada, and the Middle East. Here’s the main differences between pool and snooker.
Continue reading →

Having a quality set of billiards balls can significantly affect your performance during a match. The way the ball reacts to impact from your cue stick, its bounce, resilience, and ability to transfer energy can completely change the feel of the game.

Increased friction can slow game speed while an unevenly weighted ball will result in wild shots that seem to have a mind of their own. The best pool table balls are made of phenolic resin and can dramatically improve accuracy, stability, and power.

Materials Used in the Past

Billiards balls have come a long way since their commencement by French Nobility back in the 15th century. Ivory, clay, wood, celluloid, bakelite, crystallite, and steel have all been used to make pool table balls at some point in time during the lengthy history of pool tables.
Continue reading →

Pool or billiards is an indoor game that originated in Europe and spread to England before moving on to the U.S. Billiards is believed to have developed as an indoor version of lawn games such as croquet. At around 1500s French nobility and others began installing billiards tables in their homes. The green cover of the table was meant to imitate the green grass and the borders were simple wooden planks to keep the balls from rolling off.

Continue reading →

Whether you want to play pool competitively or just for relaxation, improving your game is a sterling way of increasing your pleasure. There are many things you can do to improve your game.

Continue reading →

Jumping a pool ball is a stellar way to score at billiards and display your prowess at pool. To properly jump a pool ball you need to know how to position your body, where to hit the cue ball, and how hard to hit it. To do all of these things like a pro you need to practice constantly until you are able to judge the force and angle that are required to jump any ball.

Continue reading →

When playing a game of pool table or billiards, you often come across times when the only shot left to play is a bank shot. You will need to carefully weigh in all the available options, including cushion play and double kisses with the cue ball, and then follow the basic steps to correctly execute a bank shot.