BCA Equiptment Specifications
BCA Recommended Room Dimensions

The Pool Table
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The equipment involved in playing pool is: pool table, pool cue, lighting, and balls. Pool tables come in many sizes like 7, 8, 9, and 10 footers and then there are snooker tables which are a standard 12 feet. In most homes, you will find the 4x8 pool table which is smaller and allows for more playing room. In bars the most common table is the 7 foot table with coin operated mechanisms. Professional competition sized tables or the 4 1/2x9 foot tables are what you will find in most billiards clubs. No matter what size the table is, it must be a slate bed table. The slate table is tough and provides a smooth solid playing surface that will last forever. The pool table prices range from $4000 for 9 footers to $900 for 7 foot models.

Lighting

Florescent lighting that extends the length of the table is the best source of pool lighting, mainly because it helps to eliminate any shadows that might be formed around the balls under incandescent lighting. Incandescent lighting will work but is harder on your eyes than florescent lighting and the bulbs burn out much more quickly. Ceiling lights that are sunk in are also a bad source of lighting

Good source of lighting!
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Bad source of lighting!

Balls

Pool balls come in a standard size of 2 1/4 inches in diameter and weigh six ounces. The only ball that you will find that is a different size is the cue ball on coin operated tables. These cue balls are normally larger and heavier so that when you scratch the table will release the ball for further play rather than locking it up with the other balls. That way you don't have to deposit more money to continue playing. The balls on the bottom right are used when playing carom billiards.

Racks

Racks are used to place the balls in their correct positions acording to the game being played. There are different variations and styles of racks. Here are a few of them.

  Eight Ball Racks Nine Ball Racks

Cues

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The pool cue comes in a wide variety of styles and prices. There are many aspects of the pool cue that you will need to take into consideration when choosing your cue and they are: length, weight, balance, tips, joints, and furrows.

Length- The lengths of pool cues are between 56-62 inches with a 58 inch stick being standard. The shorter sticks are generally used by players with shorter arms because the longer sticks tend to feel unbalanced to a player with short arms. This is the same for a player with longer arms. The shorter sticks make the player with longer arms have to hold the cue too far back to get a  proper stroke.

Weight- The weight of an individual's cue stick is really all the player's preference. Cues vary in weights between 18-21 ounces with the standard being around 19 ounces. Most players use break cues that are around the same weight as their playing cues. Players that break with a heavier stick generally think that the added weight puts more power into their break, but players who use a lighter break stick believe that less weight adds more speed and power to their break.

There is a whole lot more to a good cue, however, I prefer feel over anything else. The balance, straightness, what the cue is made of etc. all matters, but if you like the feel and can shoot good with the cue, throw all that other stuff out the window!

Pool cue cases- Pool cue cases are used to protect your pool cues form nicks and scratches, while taking them from place to place. They are fairly inexpensive, and a very good investment if you have a good cue.

Balance- The balance of a pool cue is measured by where the center of the cue is in relation to weight. To find the balance of a cue, hold the cue in the palm of your hand and move it around until it doesn't lean to either side. The balance point on most cues is 18 inches from the butt of the stick.

Tips- Tips come in sizes between 10mm and 14mm. The most common size tip is 13mm. Cue tips come in leather and in a synthetic material which holds its shape better than leather. Most old school players use leather tips. A tip that is too small can result in loss of control, a larger tip will not allow you to put as much spin on the cue ball.

So if you would like to have better control of the cue ball, use a larger tip. If you play shots with spin or english more often, go with the smaller tip.

Chalk
Chalk is used on the tips of pool cues. This is so there are no miscues, or bad contact between the tip and the cue ball.