Where to buy? What size? Books? Specialty sets?

blackflagsailor

blackflagsailor

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello everyone! I just found and signed up for this site so hopefully I can learn a few things here.

I have a one piece slate, coin-op, 8ft Valley table that I bought used from a music vend supplier. Love the table. My dad had one just like it when I was a kid.
To start off here, I'm familiar with two games; 8-Ball and Cutthroat. As it turns out, there are many Billiard games to enjoy. A lot can be played using a standard Billiard ball set. But some like Snooker, use special ball sets of their own. I want to find some of these unique ball sets, however there are lots of complicating factors. I love Aramith sets, but they are way out of my budget. Also, there are different sizes for each set.

So... A few of the games I am interested in playing are: Snooker, Casino, Poker, and Russian Pyramid. Can these be played on an 8ft table?

For an 8ft table, should I use 2 1/4" or 2 1/8" size?

There are other games I've seen; Carom, Yotsudama, Bocetta... Are these games that would work on a standard 8ft pool table?

Can anyone recommend any complete rule books? Are there any out there? I seem to only find books on technique or "how to" guides. I'd like to find a nice thick book containing tons of rules for Billiard and pool table games to keep on the book shelf in the game room. I have Hoyle's Games and Willie Mosconi on Pocket Billiards, but that's all I can find other then the internet.

Finally, the numbered Snooker, Casino, Poker, and Russian Pyramid balls set... Does anyone know where I can find them online for a good price? Aramith sets are nice, but if I can find a less expensive quality brand, I'd be happy till I can afford those expensive Aramith sets. I'd prefer Phenolic resin sets that are not painted or silkscreened but inlaid instead if I can find them.
 
well first off snooker is played on 12 ft tables and the balls are a lot smaller than pool balls. if in carom your talking about 3 cushion...thats played on a 10ft table with NO pockets and is played with a white cue ball and i think a yellow cue ball and a neutral red ball. and ive never played any of the other games
 
Having a Coin-op table, you'll need to buy a special coin-op cue ball in addition to your new ball set. Depending on the cue ball return mechanism, its either going to be an oversized cueball or magnetic. Regardless, the standard ball set will be 2 1/4, weighing in between 5.6-6 ounces apiece. You can check Valley's website, or one of the distributors below.

BCA has rule books to cover many standard games (8-ball, 14.1, 9-ball). They're online as PDF files you can print out. Also available for purchase directly from BCA, or one of the vendors listed below.

Here are a couple of recommendations
Joe Nielsen Billiards. Give his shop a call (217) 585-1660, he should be able help out.
www.joerackem.com

Seyberts,
They're the sponsors of AZ Billiards
 
did discover Neilsen's through ebay and they have pretty fair prices.

Yup, I know Snooker and Russian are traditionally played on a 12ft table however I don't have the money or space to buy a 12ft table.

My table actually uses oversized cue balls, but as far as standard object ball size I'm looking at 2 1/4"? The only set I haven't seen in that size is Russian billiards. Though honestly I can even find a set of Russian billiards.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
The neat thing about the Valley is you can use it as a piggy-bank. Welcome to the forum. :smile:
Click to expand...

Thank you! Glad I signed up!! lol That's a great idea if only I had as many quarters as I play on it! But hey, you gave me an idea; I can use that money to add to my 7 month old daughter's future rund of some kind. I love Valley tables. The sound of the ball running through the tracks in the table after you pocket it never gets old!
 
blackflagsailor said:
Thank you! Glad I signed up!! lol That's a great idea if only I had as many quarters as I play on it! But hey, you gave me an idea; I can use that money to add to my 7 month old daughter's future rund of some kind. I love Valley tables. The sound of the ball running through the tracks in the table after you pocket it never gets old!
Click to expand...

That's what I like about pool players. Allways thinking.
By-the-way. The ball return under the table is called a subway. :smile:
 
Tramp Steamer said:
That's what I like about pool players. Allways thinking.
By-the-way. The ball return under the table is called a subway. :smile:
Click to expand...

There's a fun fact I didn't know. Well, when I was a kid I used to get my hotwheels stuck in my dad's table that way. lol When I got older and started playing pool I found about 20 vintage hotwheels and a few spare balls inside the table.

I am working on a complete rule book for billiard games. I got tired of having to load up the internet to learn new games so I'm typing them into an office doc and who knows maybe it'll go from there.

It's like owning a deck of cards and only playing poker. And I appreciate games of all sorts, not just pool, so I love learning different variations of the game.
 
So as it turns out BCA has a rule book. I feel kinda dumb. I found a 1985 copy and it has a lot of the games I am interested in, including Snooker... well, American Snooker. Does anyone know if the current edition has Cake pool, Convergence 8-Ball, Crossover Pool, One Fifteen Ball, Poker, and Honolulu? It might be work getting a newer copy. Much easier and cheaper then putting together my own rule book.
 
Lol should have paid more attention to "ctyhntr" about BCA's rule book. Also, Joe Nielsen is the man! So far he's given me the BEST price on new items.
 
Valley table

Depending on the age of your table it can use an oversized cue ball PLUS a magnetic ball.
Check out this valley site below under parts and product descriptions, everything is there.

http://www.valley-dynamoparts.com/


I have a ZD5, which is a mid 90's table that can use either an oversized CB or a magnetic one. If you are able to see the ball return mechanism (with the slate off) you will see a silver piece of 1 inch wide by about 1/8 inch thick metal. The center contact point of the CB rides on the edge of this metal and takes a turn to the CB return because of the bigger diameter. A metalic CB will also work if it's this type.

If your table will work with a metalic CB, get an Aramith magnetic CB. They have a metalic layer just inside the perimeter of the CB. Play just like a regular CB. The other CB used have a metal ball in the center of the CB and don't perform as they should with english. These sell everywhere, check around as low as $12.00http://http://www.pooldawg.com/product/aramith-magnetic-cue-ball
 
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