Blackball/English 8-ball table in North America?

Celtic

Celtic

AZB's own 8-ball jihadist
Silver Member
Hello, I have been trying to search this on Google for a long time now and have come up dry. I have a few questions, the most important being...

Does anyone know if there is anyone in North America that sells English 8-ball tables?

I know they are small but what is the regulation size that they play the major blackball events on? is it the 6 or 7 foot table?

Who are the best brands when it comes to a blackball table? Which table is the Brunswick Gold Crown of Blackball, which is the Diamond Pro Am?

If they cannot be found in America (the best of the blackball tables) then is there anyone shipping these things over? Which companies would be the best to deal with?

How many pieces of slate are they? Would it be possible for a single person to set one up with difficulty?

What type of cloth is normally used on one? Is it snooker table cloth or something different?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
Celtic said:
Hello, I have been trying to search this on Google for a long time now and have come up dry. I have a few questions, the most important being...

Does anyone know if there is anyone in North America that sells English 8-ball tables?

I know they are small but what is the regulation size that they play the major blackball events on? is it the 6 or 7 foot table?

Who are the best brands when it comes to a blackball table? Which table is the Brunswick Gold Crown of Blackball, which is the Diamond Pro Am?

If they cannot be found in America (the best of the blackball tables) then is there anyone shipping these things over? Which companies would be the best to deal with?

How many pieces of slate are they? Would it be possible for a single person to set one up with difficulty?

What type of cloth is normally used on one? Is it snooker table cloth or something different?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Click to expand...

I feel your pain. About 3 years ago after watching many Black Ball streams from the UK I got the bug to get one. As most on here know I've been a BB player for years. I searched everywhere and called table sellers, both new and used and searched the Internet W/O any luck. When I couldn't find one I had Jerry at Ridgeback rails make a set of extended rails giving me 4" pockets for my 7' Valley ...all 6 pockets. The table played very hard but didn't have the snooker type pockets. I'm going to call Jerry in the morning and ask if he can make me Black Ball rails for my new Valley. Johnnyt
 
Know nothing about Blackball.
FWIW
Canada Billiards produces the Black Crown II as a 3 1/2 X 7 snooker table.
http://www.canadabillard.com/black_crown_ii/p2018.aspx

In the UK
http://www.fcsnooker.co.uk/english_pool_tables/pool_table_intro.htm
I've ordered stuff from them - know nothing about the tables they sell.

From this site
http://www.wepf.org/menu.php?option=12
I get to
http://www.supremepool.co.uk/
confirming what is in message 5.
and
Cloth
http://www.wsptextiles.com/strachan-english-pool-cloths
 
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Celtic said:
Hello, I have been trying to search this on Google for a long time now and have come up dry. I have a few questions, the most important being...

Does anyone know if there is anyone in North America that sells English 8-ball tables?

I know they are small but what is the regulation size that they play the major blackball events on? is it the 6 or 7 foot table?

Who are the best brands when it comes to a blackball table? Which table is the Brunswick Gold Crown of Blackball, which is the Diamond Pro Am?

If they cannot be found in America (the best of the blackball tables) then is there anyone shipping these things over? Which companies would be the best to deal with?

How many pieces of slate are they? Would it be possible for a single person to set one up with difficulty?

What type of cloth is normally used on one? Is it snooker table cloth or something different?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Click to expand...

Good luck on your search, you already have had more responses then I had when I asked this question on the English pool sub-forum.:o
 
I needed a break from what I was working on, and ran into this thread.

So having put me on to this game, I have questions for you turkeys:

None of the rules I have seen specify;
the size of the table
the size of the balls
the size or shape of the pockets

What do you consider the specifications for each?

The most incomprehensible find:

"Most tables I've played on are 7x4 with a playing surface of 6x3 but my league pub recently got an 8x4 (7x3.5) and I've even had to play on smaller than 7x4 with pockets that are set so far back they might as well be in a different room. Shocking to play on."

Translate, please.
 
Johnnyt said:
Doesn't English 8 ball tables have snooker type pockets? Johnynt
Click to expand...

Compared to American pool tables yes

I would say they are tighter than American pool tables.

Also difference in cloth.

You can choose what type of table cloth
 
Scaramouche said:
I needed a break from what I was working on, and ran into this thread.

So having put me on to this game, I have questions for you turkeys:

None of the rules I have seen specify;
the size of the table
the size of the balls
the size or shape of the pockets

What do you consider the specifications for each?

The most incomprehensible find:

"Most tables I've played on are 7x4 with a playing surface of 6x3 but my league pub recently got an 8x4 (7x3.5) and I've even had to play on smaller than 7x4 with pockets that are set so far back they might as well be in a different room. Shocking to play on."

Translate, please.
Click to expand...




spec from the World Eightball Pool Federation:

ANNEXE A
Table and Equipment Specifications

Accepted as World Eight-ball Pool Championship specifications, by the member countries of the WEPF
a) Object balls shall be, 2 inches (50.8 mm) diameter and weight of 116 grams, + 2 grams.
b) Cue ball shall be, 1 & 7/8 inches (47.6 mm) diameter and a weight of 94 grams.
c) Maximum playing surface to be, 7 feet x 3 feet 6 inches (213.36cm x 106.68cm)
(playing surface being the flat slate area between the cushion faces)
(the cushion faces being the part of the cushion that the ball(s) contact).

d) Minimum playing surface must be, 6 feet x 3 feet (182.88cm x 91.44cm)
(playing surface being the flat slate area between the cushion faces)
(the cushion faces being those parts of the cushion that the ball(s) contact).
e) Cushion faces to have a narrow flat face.
f) Table height to be between, 31½ inches & 33½ inches (80cm & 85cm).
g) The playing surface and cushion cloth must be a ‘nap’ cloth, 30 oz. The nap to run from baulk to pyramid.
h) Pocket size and cut to be as per WEPF agreed templates.
Depth of pockets to be,
85mm (3.35 inches /approx. 3 & 11/32“) corners and 95mm (3.74 inches / approx. 3 & 3/8“) centres,
minimum measurement.
i) Lighting to be three shades, one over the centre of the table and one shade 20 inches (50.8cm) either side of centre. The height to be 32½ inches (82.55 cm) from the playing surface of the level table to the bottom of the shade.
j) The baulk line to be positioned 1/5th (20%) of the length between the face of the end cushions.
k) The pyramid spot to be in the centre of the top half of the table.

Source: http://www.wepf.org/admin.php?option=3
 
DGilb147 said:
spec from the World Eightball Pool Federation:

ANNEXE A
Table and Equipment Specifications

Accepted as World Eight-ball Pool Championship specifications, by the member countries of the WEPF
a) Object balls shall be, 2 inches (50.8 mm) diameter and weight of 116 grams, + 2 grams.
b) Cue ball shall be, 1 & 7/8 inches (47.6 mm) diameter and a weight of 94 grams.
c) Maximum playing surface to be, 7 feet x 3 feet 6 inches (213.36cm x 106.68cm)
(playing surface being the flat slate area between the cushion faces)
(the cushion faces being the part of the cushion that the ball(s) contact).

d) Minimum playing surface must be, 6 feet x 3 feet (182.88cm x 91.44cm)
(playing surface being the flat slate area between the cushion faces)
(the cushion faces being those parts of the cushion that the ball(s) contact).
e) Cushion faces to have a narrow flat face.
f) Table height to be between, 31½ inches & 33½ inches (80cm & 85cm).
g) The playing surface and cushion cloth must be a ‘nap’ cloth, 30 oz. The nap to run from baulk to pyramid.
h) Pocket size and cut to be as per WEPF agreed templates.
Depth of pockets to be,
85mm (3.35 inches /approx. 3 & 11/32“) corners and 95mm (3.74 inches / approx. 3 & 3/8“) centres,
minimum measurement.
i) Lighting to be three shades, one over the centre of the table and one shade 20 inches (50.8cm) either side of centre. The height to be 32½ inches (82.55 cm) from the playing surface of the level table to the bottom of the shade.
j) The baulk line to be positioned 1/5th (20%) of the length between the face of the end cushions.
k) The pyramid spot to be in the centre of the top half of the table.

Source: http://www.wepf.org/admin.php?option=3
Click to expand...

Thanks.
I was on that site, but only looked in the rules - not the byelaws :(

So it is a dwarf snooker table with the baulk line where the D would be. :D
The OP can order himself a Black Crown II :D:D:D
Problem solved. :D :D :D
 
Scaramouche said:
So it is a dwarf snooker table with the baulk line where the D would be. :D
The OP can order himself a Black Crown II :D:D:D
Problem solved. :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Not quite. The balls are slightly smaller then snooker balls and the size of the pockets is also smaller then a normal snooker table.

I have played on a lot of smaller tables with snooker cut pockets, we have tons of those up here in Canada. A blackball or two shot table plays quite a lot differently then those.

For those interested this is the game. The finals of the Blackball World Championships from 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbmWg-tKG38
 
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I've never seen one that is not single slate.... very hard to put together without 2 people.

The cloth is standard snooker napped cloth, though I wish they'd adopt napless cloth as it's a pain ironing the table each time before play.

The standard in Oz is 7'x3.5', though I think some events are played on 6'x3' in the UK.

Our preferred table type is net or rail pockets, rather than the coin op tables.

Pockets are like reduced snooker table pockets (rounded).

I've got one in my garage, beside my 9' US table.

btw: In recent years they've increased the weight and I suspect size of the cue ball to make follow shots more playable. The standard CB that I recently purchased is 96.5 grams, not the 94 as specified above. I've a feeling the size is now closer to 1' 15/16ths". The object balls are 2" and weigh about 116 grams.
 
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Colin Colenso said:
I've never seen one that is not single slate.... very hard to put together without 2 people.

The cloth is standard snooker napped cloth, though I wish they'd adopt napless cloth as it's a pain ironing the table each time before play.

The standard in Oz is 7'x3.5', though I think some events are played on 6'x3' in the UK.

Our preferred table type is net or rail pockets, rather than the coin op tables.

Pockets are like reduced snooker table pockets (rounded).

I've got one in my garage, beside my 9' US table.

btw: In recent years they've increased the weight and I suspect size of the cue ball to make follow shots more playable. The standard CB that I recently purchased is 96.5 grams, not the 94 as specified above. I've a feeling the size is now closer to 1' 15/16ths". The object balls are 2" and weigh about 116 grams.
Click to expand...

Bearing in mind most snooker ball sets have a tolerance of 3 grams between the balls.

The professionals will play with 1 gram tolerance balls.


Most of the clubs I play at use premier balls that weigh 124 grams
whereas the Tournament champion balls, be it with a 3 gram or 1 gram
tolerance, weigh 143 grams.
 
Celtic said:
I know they are small but what is the regulation size that they play the major blackball events on? is it the 6 or 7 foot table?
Click to expand...

Most top level events are played on Supreme Winner tables 7 foot

Who are the best brands when it comes to a blackball table? Which table is the Brunswick Gold Crown of Blackball, which is the Diamond Pro Am?
Click to expand...

That is subjective. The "best" are probably Simply pool, however, the top tournaments are played on Supremes so as all manufacturers tables are cut and play differently, that is the table you should get if you are serious about it.

How many pieces of slate are they? Would it be possible for a single person to set one up with difficulty?
Click to expand...

Single slate. One person could do it with a "labourer"

What type of cloth is normally used on one? Is it snooker table cloth or something different?
Click to expand...

It is generally speaking a napped cloth. The quality varies. A good bet for combination of quality and longetivity would be hainsworth smart, though to top tournaments, for example the upcoming professional world championships will be Strachan 6811 gold.
 
Table sizes vary when it comes to pubs/clubs and bars because not all pubs can take a "proper" size table. My own local pub has a small table for example.

Small tables (6x3) are a right bugger to play on because they are "crowded" and as that affects the way you approach the game, you should not get one for home.
 
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