Wanna be the next Ronnie O'Sullivan? (Snooker Equipment in general)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Snooker Equipment in general
Date:	17/06/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun game

Disadvantages: expensive

When it comes to snooker equipment you need 4 things: a table, cues, balls and chalk.

The table: professional snooker tables are 6ft wide and 12ft long. They have a slate bed, and are as solid as a house. The slate bed gives you the ability to control the cue ball, and therefore aids professional play. Not many of us have the space or money (a couple of grand even second hand) to store these beasts, so we end up buying smaller tables.

A word of warning: a 6ft by 3ft table is going to be very small to play a full game of snooker on. Unlike pool, there are a lot more balls, and the positional play from reds to colours are much tougher to navigate around with such a small playing surface. My advice is to use the money to join a snooker club, and get some play on a real full size table.

If you insist on buying a smaller table, press your thumb against the cushion to check it is bouncy. This will allow you to play positional shots.

THE CUE
Cheap snooker cues are nothing but light wood with plastic ends. You won't be able to play good positional shots with these. Ideally, buy a £30 cheapest cue that has a lot of weight behind it, and detachable tips. This will allow you to master the art of cueing. Generally, a small tipped cue (as in the size of a pea) will be better than a big one (the size of a penny).

THE BALLS
Cheap tables come with cheap balls. Look on Ebay for good heavy balls, the make Reilly being excellent.

THE CHALK
You rub the chalk on the end of your cue to give you grip and ball control. Pick them up at snooker clubs or online, and pay no more than £1 for them.

A CLOTH
A dusting cloth and polish should be used to shine up your cue, to make sure it runs through your hand easily and smoothly.

All in all, getting set up for snooker is a mine-field, but one that you can hopefully traverse with these tips.

Summary: do it