You might be playing billiard — snooker and pool — for a long time, but have you ever given it a thought? What are parts of a pool table called? Or maybe, when you went out to buy a new part for your billiard table, the shopkeeper asked you which part you need but you couldn’t name it.
As a billiard enthusiast, people expect you to know all about billiard. Not just the rule but also part names of the table. Today, I’m going to walk you through one by one each part of your pool table. So the next time, you don’t have to face this embarrassment.
Snooker and Pool tables have the same components/parts. So whatever I’m highlighting below, will remain the same for both.
You’ll find them inside the rails where the balls bounce off of. These are cloth-covered bumpers that can impact your game if they are dead.
You’ll find different types of cushions upon researching online.
Combined with rails, these cushions are also called bumpers.
Normally, it’s determined by your cushions in your table what cushions would fit in it. You can’t switch to any other form.
This means, if your table is made for k55 cushions, then only k55 cushions can be used in it.
Rails are an integral part of the table as they are attached with cushions all around the edges of the table. Actually they are a piece of wood with whom we attach our cushions.
Different Names of Rails
Each of the rails has different names.
Rail’s Interior
Each rail has some type of interior which combines with the cushion and the table.
There are six holes or pockets all around the table. Four at each corner and two in the middle.
The pocket size can vary in English and American pool tables.
Similarly, there are drop pockets and a return system.
In simple words, you can call it a bed of the Pool table. Over which we place the felt. It is made of heavy, finely milled rock.
There are three kind of slates:
The difference is an obvious one. If you have a one-piece slate, it can be difficult to maneuver.
Whereas, if your slate is a three-piece one, you can move each slate in turns, hence, finding it easier to move around the slates at times of repairing, service, etc.
However, in terms of getting the slate leveled so the playability on the table is even, one-piece slates are considered better.
Three-piece slates are hard to get leveled as each part has to be neatly aligned in order to make sure there is no uneven surface where the slates connect.
Parts Under The Slate
Slate is not the end if you go deep. You’ll find lots of more important parts of a table underneath it.
All snooker/pool tables have four legs. And the quality of the material they are made of determines how long your pool table is going to last. Because if legs are fragile, they might wear out soon.
Different Types of Billiard Table Legs
There are three main types of billiards table legs:
Over the slate, a felt/cloth is laid out on the table which serves as the playing field.
Normally this felt is of green color. However, in recent years, we have seen blue table felts becoming popular.
Cabinet is the large wooden rectangular frame you’ll find on the table. It is made of thick planks of hardwood. This basically goes right over the legs, and most of the weight supported by the legs come off this cabinet.
Therefore, these cabinets must be durable enough to withstand such weights.
Diamonds and white markings on tables are quite common on American tables. They are used to give you a geometrical look of the table so you can perform calculations and reach precision while taking a shot.
In American pool tables, they are considered an integral part.
This is the place where the play begins. It’s where the center ball is placed in the rack.
The triangle rack has a top, which is called the triangle apex.
That’s all your precious billiard table consists of. From top to bottom, left to right, and from head to foot, all parts of your snooker/pool tables have been covered in this detailed article.
Hopefully, now you know all the names of different parts of your billiards table and can easily talk about them without having to refer to their position but by taking their names!
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