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Pool Table
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How Should I Care For My Pool Table?
Author: Andrew Preston -
If you just bought your first pool table, you are probably somewhat concerned about its longevity. Whether you purchased a recreational pool table on the cheap or you went all out and bought a tournament quality table, you want it to last forever and look good too. There are many things you can do to protect your pool table from excessive wear and tear, not to mention keeping the felt in pristine condition.

The first thing to remember is to keep your pool table clean. Sounds pretty elementary, but you would be surprised to learn how many people let their table get dusty. If you have a natural wood table, it is best to dust frequently with a regular feather duster and give it a good cleaning once a week. To clean or to restore luster to your wood table, it is good to use a non-residue producing cleaner, such as lemon oil or orange oil. You can also use a light wax on the wood--just be sure to really buff it out otherwise the trim on your table could get sticky. As with just about everything else, the more natural the cleaner, the better off you and your table will be.

Many people do not realize that they need to clean all the parts of their pool table for durability and of course, optimal play. Most pool table owners (unless they are professionals) tend to overlook the ball pockets during their cleaning. You should always keep the pockets as clean as possible because any dirt or debris that collects in the pocket can damage your balls. Any scratch or knick on your billiard balls can dramatically affect your play. So, keep the pockets clear and keep them supple to avoid cracking. If you have leather pockets, use a mild saddle soap or a leather oil to keep your pockets looking good and staying strong. Another thing to look for when you are cleaning your pockets is to make sure no tacks or staples have loosened. Remember, anything sharp in the pockets will damage your balls and affect your play.

So, how do you keep your pool table felt in good condition? Well, the felt is obviously the part of the pool table that is most abused. From dust and stains to cue scrapes and cloth tears, what is one to do? One of the first things you should do after buying a pool table is to go buy a pool table cover. You may think it is unnecessary, but it can really extend the life of your pool felt just by covering it up when not in use. Just think about all of the dust that forms on the rest of your furniture. You know that after awhile dust can become ingrained in fabrics, which eventually leads to the fabric getting weaker and weaker until it just disintegrates. If you play on a dusty pool table, not only is your game effected, but every time a ball rolls over the dust it becomes more and more ingrained in the fabric. So, save yourself some money and frustration (replacing pool table felts can be trying) and buy yourself a pool table cover. Get one that protects against UV light and that is moisture resistant to really protect your table.

Of course, there are several other things you can do to keep your pool table felt in excellent condition. When you purchase a new table or a new felt, the fabric will be somewhat thick and coarse, which will affect how the balls roll. You can help break in the fabric by brushing it frequently. When you brush your pool felt, be sure to brush in one direction toward the same end of the table. Do NOT brush in a circular motion as it can cause undue damage to the fibers in the felt. You can also vacuum the table--just use the upholstery attachment and vacuum in one direction only. Other than keeping your table clean, you can also control the amount of wear and tear of the felt by altering your playing just a bit. Try to alternate racking and breaking from one side to the other to evenly distribute the stress on the cloth. Also, try to rack the balls in as few rolls as possible. Excessive rolling while racking can bend the cloth's fibers into very strange directions and angles, which will undoubtedly affect how the balls roll. You can take a look at http://www.gameroompimps.com/Custom-Sports-Pool-Felts.html for some brand new pool table felts.

If you can institute some policies to your friends and family when they play on your table, here are a couple of recommended "rules". First, do not use your chalk over the pool table. When chalk becomes dust, it also becomes a grinding agent which can do a lot of damage to your felt. Secondly, institute a no sitting policy. Do not allow anyone to sit on the pool table, as it can cause undue stress to the rails and cushions. If the cushions go, you might as well purchase a new pool table. The cushions allow the billiard balls to rebound from the sides of the table. Without that, you really do not have a game. Going along with the no sitting policy is the no standing policy. If you place excessive weight on the table, you can throw the balance off and your table will no longer be level. Also, if there is enough weight on the table, you can crack the slate bed underneath.

Also try to keep your guests from bringing food or drinks near the table. You never know when an accident will strike and trust me, stains not only look bad but they damage the felt--which in turn affects your play. You can get a small pub table to have nearby, so you will not have to worry about spills. If you have your pool table in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, you may want to think about either keeping the table covered unless you are playing or getting some UV blocking blinds. UV light waves can do some serious damage not only to the pool table felt, but to the wood of the table itself.

One of the biggest things you can do to avoid damaging your pool table is not to move it once it is assembled. Even changing the position of the table in the room can cause excessive stress to bear down on the slate, the rails, the legs--just about every part of your pool table can easily be damaged or destroyed by moving the table. If you absolutely must move it, call in a professional in to keep the damage to a minimum. Along that line, do not trust a mover who says they can move the table with absolutely no damage. Like other large items, just the shift of weight when you pick up the table will throw off the overall balance. It can be fixed with some adjustments, of course, but the less work you do on your table, the better off you will be.

Now, when it comes to the accessories like billiard balls and cues, you want to take really good care of them. Pool cues are very susceptible to warping, so always store them upright away from cold, heat and moisture. It is ok to lean your cues against the wall or lay them on the table, but do not leave them there for long. Once a cue warps, it is essentially useless. Warping decreases accuracy, power, and spin, so put the cues where they belong--in a cue rack. To keep your cue clean, just wipe it down with mild soapy water and polish it with a light wax or lemon oil. Billiard balls should be cleaned in the same manner, but just remember NOT to use any abrasive cleaners. They will cause imperfections on the surface of the ball, which will lead to uncontrollable rolling. If you can't control the way the ball rolls, your game will definitely be affected.

Now you have some fundamental knowledge in keeping your pool table clean. Make sure you keep up with the maintenance cleaning and your pool table will last as long as you do.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Andrew Preston is an avid sports enthusiast who writes advice articles on interesting topics. You can read more his articles at Game Room Pimps .

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billiards8

Billiards
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Insert Quarter, Improve Billiards Stroke
Author: Reg Hardy

A lot of players are plagued with a "Chicken Wing" stroke that ruins their shot making ability by thrusting the elbow of their grip hand out awayfrom their body.

The result is coming through the cue ball out of alignment with the target line and as a result, to sink the ball, they train themselves to correct for having shoulder and elbow out of precise alignment.

I recently read an article about Vijay Singh's Record Breaking golf season that credited his Routine practrice routine that among other things involves the placement of a golf glove in his armpit. This way he maintains proper arm/body connection throughout the swing.

There are a lot of similarities between golf and billiards and Vijay's routine got me to thinking about a proper billiards stroke.

To be in alignment, the upper arm, at least just below the armpit, needs to be immediately adjacent to the upper chest. That puts the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist on a plane with the back leg and the target line. Here's a use for that billiards glove I discarded months ago.

Doesn't work, a glove in this instance will not fall because in a deffective billiards stroke, even with a chicken wing, doesn't allow enough clearance for the glove to slip out of place.

How about a chalk cube? Same thing, only it is a little more irritating.

A quarter? Works fine and if you get your upper arm a little out of alignment, you'll be tracking the quarter across the floor.

But I wanted to be sure. No one told me the skin of the upper arm should be touching the upper chest to deliver a good stroke, but I did have a test bed for such a theory.

Doug Carter's Stroke Trainer, when used properly, will train the muscle memory in your stroke arm, hand and wrist all at one time.

So I set up the Stroke Trainer, just to test the feeling. Sure enough, there is a tightness between the upper arm and chest when I am properly set up with the Stroke Trainer.

If you can hold a quarter in your armpit throughout the stroke (backswing through follow through) you will be amazed at your increased accuracy on long shots.

Feels awkward. Damn right, but if you use this little gem while you are practicing and do it repeatedly, you will groove your stroke.

Reg Hardy is chief cook and bottle washer at Billiards Crossing, the web's only exclusive members only site devoted to the fine art of billiards improvement. This site now featues over 120 articles, e-books and other resources specifically for casual pool players who want to better their game. Check out the trail membership, log onto the Headspot forum and book a session in the Cross Talk chat room. Stop by http://www.billiardscrossing.com " http://www.billiardscrossing.com , Where Good Players Get Better!

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billiards7

Billiards
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Setting up the Perfect Billiards Room: Create the Ideal Space for your Pool Table
Author: Reno Charlton
If you enjoy relaxing over a game of billiards at the local bar, then what could be better than having your very own billiards table at home? Your home is the place in which you want to relax and enjoy life without having to think about work and other hassles, and if billiards is your thing then it makes sense to have your own table, which you can enjoy whenever you like. With your own billiards table at home, you can invite friends around for a few beers and a few games, or you can simply brush up on your billiards skills in the comfort of your own home.

If you are thinking of getting your own billiards table, the first thing you need to decide is where your table is going to go. The perfect solution is to create a billiards room, where you can create the perfect look, atmosphere, and ambience to complement your billiards table. Of course, having a large home and a room going spare would be ideal, but not many people have this luxury, so the next best thing is to make room. Depending on the size of your home – and your family – you could relegate another room, such as a little-used dining room or even a large basement. A few changes in décor, colour, lighting and furnishings can make this into a perfect billiards room environment.

If you don't have a room that you can convert, you may want to think about building on your property. A proper games room such as a billiard room can make a fantastic addition to the home, and not only will you get hours of enjoyment and delight from this addition but it could also add value to your home. You can get some excellent prices these days when it comes to extending your property, and if you have building skills you may want to have a go at it yourself. Even a large conservatory can make an excellent place to have your billiards room.

Wherever you decide to have your billiards room, you need to ensure that it will serve the purpose. You need to have room for your pool table and for necessary accessories that will give your billiards room the right ambience and look. You also need to have room to freely move around, so don't be tempted to go for a room that can just about squeeze in your pool table with very little room for anything else, including the players!

Accessorize, furnish and light it up

The key to the perfect billiards room is to have the right billiards accessories, furniture and lighting as well as a suitable space. You can get some fantastic accessories these days, so you can make your billiards room really individual and unique. You will need to look at the more fundamental accessories as well, such as:

• Cue sticks
• Pool cue racks
• Pool table covers
• Pool table lights
• Other pool table accessories

Other pool table accessories include essentials such as ball racks, table felt, table hooks, chalk and brushes.

In addition to the essential products, you will find a range of really cool furnishings and accessories that are perfect for your billiards room. You can get billiards clocks, framed posters of famous pool players, pool coat racks, billiard room signs, beer signs (to add to the authentic setting), ashtrays, mugs, towels – just about anything you can think of.

Furniture and décor for your billiards room will largely be a matter of personal taste. However, your room will look so much cooler if you can stick to the billiards room theme. You can get an excellent range of furniture to select from these days, and you can enjoy giving your room a great look with:

• Wooden or metal bar stools
• Spectator chairs or stools
• Pedestal table and chair sets

Coupled with accessories such as billiard prints, neon signs, cue racks, and the other fantastic items available these days, this can give your billiards room just the right appearance to make it the perfect place to relax and hang out.

Lighting is another very important consideration, and this can make all of the difference to the look and atmosphere of your billiards room. You can select from a wide choice of billiard room lighting, such as swag & bar lights or stained glass lights. Again, the choice is your and should depend upon the rest of your décor. It is important to also consider wall lighting as well as lighting for above your billiards table. In addition to the wall and table lights, you can add neon signs to the walls, which will add a really great touch and authentic atmosphere to your billiards room.

Why have a billiards room?

There are many ways in which a billiards room could enhance your home and your life. If you enjoy a game of pool down at the local bar, then having access to your very own billiards room will be a dream come true. You can invite your friends round to play a game or two, and make your billiards room in to a real entertainment center for the whole family. Some great reasons for having your own billiards room include:

• Spending more time with the family: It's not always easy to get quality time with the family, and there aren't all that many places in which the whole family can get together and enjoy themselves without paying a fortune. Your new billiards room will provide the perfect environment, where you, your partner, the kids, and even granny can relax and enjoy the atmosphere, fun and relaxing ambience that will surround you.

• Giving the kids access to some fun: Most kids live to play games like pool, but generally can't get into bars and play like adults can! If you want to give your kids something to do, and you would rather they were at home in the evenings rather than wandering the streets, your billiards room is the perfect solutions. Your kids can invite their friends around from time to time, and they will all be thrilled to spend time in your cool billiards room.

• Enjoying being the host and entertainer: If you like to have friends around, then the billiard room will be a fantastic addition to your home. Having dinner parties will never be the same again, and you can all retire to the billiards room for a few games, a couple of drinks, and to listen to some music. You can even enjoy a few pre-dinner games – and even if you're not inviting friends around for dinner, they will be delighted to come around simply for a game of pool and a couple of beers.

• Increase the value of your property: A well designed games room could really add value to your property, as these rooms are becoming more and more popular. People like nothing more than having a space in which they can relax and enjoy themselves, forgetting about everyday hassles, and this is what you will be giving them with a billiards room.

Enjoy your new billiard room

Once you have got your billiard room fully kitted out and decorated, you will be ready to reap the rewards with years of fun and relaxation with family, friends, even alone. You can use your new billiards room to entertain, enjoy quality time with others, brush up on your billiards skills, enable the kids to learn how to play, and to have a great time with the important people in your life.

Billiards is a universally popular game, and people won't fail to be impressed with your fantastic new billiards room. This will be a place where you can get away from it all – no more having to slope off to the local bar for a couple of beers and a game or two; you can simply go to your billiard room and enjoy a game whenever you want to. You could even have a well-stocked mini-fridge in your billiard room filled with beers or soft drinks, so you can enjoy a cold drink as you play a relaxing game of pool.

About The Author

Reno Charlton is an experienced freelance copywriter and an award-winning children's author from the United Kingdom. You can read more of her informative articles on pool tables and billiard accessories at http://www.pool-and-billiards.com " target=new>http://www.pool-and-billiards.com . ...