Pool Cues, More Than Just a Pretty Stick
Pool cue cases come in 2 variations, cheap and expensive, and as usual, you get what you pay for. The cheap ones are basically soft or fabric cases, which are ok for keeping your bits together, but only offer minimal protection for your cues. The expensive option (relatively) is to go for one of the American style cue cases which are brilliant, or a hard case of some other sort.
Other differences between the two codes of pool, is the type of wood favoured by the 2 types of players. English pool cues tend to be made of ash and American players prefer maple. There is no playing difference it is just a matter of preference. Also the buts are decorated differently, the American pool cues tend to have linen wraps around the but and English pool cues more often have spliced but ends. Again it makes no difference to the playing quality, just a matter of style.
Proper pool tables are the slate tables, no wooden topped table will equal the response and accuracy of roll of a slate bed pool table. The slate comes in thickness’s of 3/4 inch to a full 1 1/2 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.
There have been some notable pool cue makers down the years, perhaps the most famous of which is probably, Balabushka, who produced what are considered the best pool cues ever. He came to the US from Russia and set up shop in New York and the legendary Minnesota Fats of the Hustler movie used a Balabushka cue. There are few of them left now and collectors will pay thousands of dollars for an original, one story says one changed hands for a staggering $150,000. Even today, Balabushka replica cues fetch a premium price, over $400 depending on the model, and they certainly look the business, all shiny and covered in an expensive linen wrap.
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. The more common tables do have pockets and the games on these are 8 ball which perversely is played with 15 balls with the object being to pocket the number 8 ball and 9 ball pool which IS played with 9 balls formed up into a diamond shape for break off.
Want to find out more about used pool tables, then visit the site on how to choose the best mini pool table for your needs. Don’t forget to visit George Pennwood’s articles on www.ezinearticles.com
No related posts.