You don’t have to stick with stock colours on your pool table we can recover the bed and cushions either with two colours or multiple colours , call or email for a quote !

We have had many years learning how to move Snooker and Pool Tables – there is a reason why many removal firms won’t attempt this. The possibility of damage to the structure of the table and those moving it just isn’t worth it!!

A recent innovation has been the use of either tubular heaters or panel type heaters attached to the underside of full size snooker table slate beds, the idea being to prevent dampness in the woollen cloth and warm the rubbers up increasing the speed of the table.

However only a small amount of heat is required. We have recently come across issues where tables go out of level due to excessive heat causing the timber frames to move, especially if the table has been stored for some time. The slate joints can also move.
Low heat on all the time is better and best left off altogether in summer.

You may have heard of steel block matchplay cushions – but what exactly are they?

Normal snooker table cushions are made of a hardwood surround with a softwood block attached, on to which the cushion rubbers are glued.

A steel block table has a 1/2 inch steel plate on to which the softwood block and rubbers are fixed. This is then bolted on to the slate bed, with a separate hardwood surround bolted on to the steel plate.

The idea is that it makes for a faster, more accurate rebound which improves playing quality. Whilst this is true, more significant is the quality of the rubber and the finish of the cloth. It’s also worth remembering the majority of snooker tables are not steel block and most players never notice. This type of table is usually around 20/30% more expensive as they cost more to manufacture.

In this article I will discuss the differences between the two types of coin operation on pub type slate-bed pool tables: Mechanical and Electronic and the advantages and disadvantages of them both.

With the mechanical type, you place coins in the coin slots usually either a £1, £1.50 or nowadays more likely two £1 coins, then push the mechanism in to release the balls.

With the electronic mechanisms, you drop coins into a slot which either releases the balls or you press a button to do so. The benefit of this type of mechanism is that you can put a variety of coins in until the price of play is met – this can mean they take more money over a period of time, usually around 10%.

However, neither are perfect. The electronic ones can suffer from electrical gremlins with circuit boards fuses and motor faults, you also need to replace the battery packs every few months, and repairs can be expensive and time consuming.

The mechanical mechanisms are more reliable but can suffer from wear over time, also they need setting up properly, for instance if the adjustment is wrong it can be possible to retain the coins in the mechanism so giving free games. Once this happens all the players will know but not the owners of the table, reducing valuable income which goes towards running the pub or club or maintaining the table.

Having said all this the next generation is already here with card readers connected to the internet. At the moment these are expensive with many manufacturers taking a percentage of the money. Card readers can only be fitted to the electronic mechanisms. Prices will come down over time.

We are experts in all types of coin mechs our advice is free.

Billiards
Snooker
Pool
Snooker plus
Golf
Find the Lady
Bowls

This is by no means a full list nor have I included all the different games of Pool Nine Ball, Eight Ball etc.

In this article we will concentrate on Snooker and Pool as these are by far the most popular games.

Now without wishing to offend pool players, snooker is the more difficult game to learn, partly due to the larger size of the table. A good snooker player will always play a decent game of pool but not necessarily the other way round. Pool was designed from the off on coin operation for a fast game, unlike on a full size table where you pay for time not individual games.

Pool is generally more rewarding for the first time player. Snooker can seem a little daunting but patience here brings its own rewards. All cue sports games require the correct stance. It is important to study other players and a few lessons can help improve your game no end. However the most important thing is to enjoy playing no matter what your standard. There will be days when you can’t pot a ball, other days when you can’t miss! Don’t get frustrated it’s part of the game. 

Brian