[HomeBrewer]

Hey All,

For anyone interested, I thought I'd post some pictures of the table I've been playing on for the last 10 days or so while staying at a friend's place in Italy because it's unlike any table I've seen before.

Basically it's 9 feet long (though I'm sure you could get it in a 10) and heated, but with tiny pockets. Tiny pockets as in, well, even pocketing a ball is kinda tough - I've never played Russian Billiards but I bet this is what it would feel like. Table quality is subpar compared to a Verhoeven/Gabriel/Soregard, etc., but still nice to have in your house. The rails are great and give rebound/action like you'd expect, but the cheap, coarse cloth changes everything and it took me a few days to adjust (always been a slow learner). I somehow ran a 7 and a 6 on it, but I'm sure that was only because of the shorter length (is it just me or is the relationship between shorter tables and higher points earned not exactly linear?).

Anyway, just wanted to post something different for y'all. I asked my friend why he bought a table with pockets and he indicated this was the way he thought billiards in Italy was moving, but he's not really an onsessed fan of the game (like AZers!) so who knows. Some Google translating of Italian billiard club web forums seems to concur, though.

P.S. The images aren't showing up for me so I'm also listing links to them for anyone interested in clicking. Don't know why it's not working...















http://img14.imageshack.us/i/s7305197.jpg/

http://img198.imageshack.us/i/s7305203.jpg/

http://img26.imageshack.us/i/s7305206.jpg/

http://img24.imageshack.us/i/s7305207.jpg/

http://img24.imageshack.us/i/s7305208.jpg/

http://img32.imageshack.us/i/s7305209.jpg/

http://img9.imageshack.us/i/s7305211.jpg/

[mbvl]

HomeBrewer,

Many years ago I saw an Italian movie "Io, Chiara e lo scuro" with the English title "The Pool Hustlers". It was about pin billiards and they used tables such as this one. My understanding was that the pockets were hazards -- at least potting the cue ball was a foul.

Mark

[Dean_H]

Is this the movie? Usually youtube has a lot of clips from old movies.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUTUf...eature=related

[mbvl]

Originally Posted by Dean_H

Is this the movie? Usually youtube has a lot of clips from old movies.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUTUf...eature=related

Yes, that's it. I found several clips Googling the original Italian title.

Mark

[Snookered007]

Looks fun, I would like to try it someday if I ever get the chance.

[mnorwood]

Originally Posted by Snookered007

Looks fun, I would like to try it someday if I ever get the chance.

Any tables in the states?

[billiardshot]

HomeBrewer, Check these posts out http://forums.azbilliards.com/showth...t=keglebillard or http://forums.azbilliards.com/showth...t=keglebillard

[HomeBrewer]

Thanks to everone for the video links. Very interesting stuff.

[Loontjens]

It seems that you have played the italian game cinco birilli (5 pins)
A game which is common in just a couple of countries; as a sport it is dominated by italian and argentinian players.

In scandinavia and (the eastern part) of Germany, they play Kegelbilliard, as far as I know the basics are the same.

However, I know that in Germany the matches are played on really small (6ft) carom tables. I do not know about the playing material in Italy and South America.

Normally this game should be played on a carom table...