Snooker Table Brand opinions
- Thread starter Crash
- Start date
I suppose there are four brands that might be considered - and nothing here should be considered knowledgeable comment :grin:
Brunswick - most likely to be available used in North America
Riley - Fatboy bought one
Star - Chinese, being used for several major tournaments in the UK, perhaps because China has come up with two major tournaments, centre pockets considered tighter than the Riley
Black Crown - commercial table made by Canada Billiards
Mika played on a Black Crown pool table for his instructional video.
Brunswick - most likely to be available used in North America
Riley - Fatboy bought one
Star - Chinese, being used for several major tournaments in the UK, perhaps because China has come up with two major tournaments, centre pockets considered tighter than the Riley
Black Crown - commercial table made by Canada Billiards
Mika played on a Black Crown pool table for his instructional video.
I have a BCE and I love it. Definitely go 12 foot if you have the room.
The problem with Brunswick is that you might get a really large pool table with rounded pockets instead of an actual snooker table.
Depending on where you are, check craigslist. Perhaps a pool hall is trying to get rid of one, so you can get it on the cheap. Importing a new Riley from the UK is about 12k including everything. I do have a quotation for that somewhere.
The problem with Brunswick is that you might get a really large pool table with rounded pockets instead of an actual snooker table.
Depending on where you are, check craigslist. Perhaps a pool hall is trying to get rid of one, so you can get it on the cheap. Importing a new Riley from the UK is about 12k including everything. I do have a quotation for that somewhere.
I think if you are really serious then you should get a Riley steel block table, it does not have to be the ones with the silbver legs as seen on TV.
Riley pockets are less forgiving than the other brands especially Brunswick.
If you are able to, try get the template so you can set up the pockets like the way they have it on TV.
You need to check the drop of the pocket as with some tables a ball placed on the lip of the pocket would drop automatically while on a tournament standard table it should not.
There are some snooker tables for sale from time to time in Canada, some BCE, Brunswick, old B&W, Thurston, and even Rileys sometimes. Brunswick would be my last choice.
If you can afford it, get yourself some decent snooker cloth, such as West of England 6811 or No.10.
Even if you cannot get a very nice table, get some nice cushion rubber (Northern), steel block rail, no.10 cloth, and pockets that confirme to the template, you will have a decent table to play on.
Do not use pool table cloth as it is just not the same.
Riley pockets are less forgiving than the other brands especially Brunswick.
If you are able to, try get the template so you can set up the pockets like the way they have it on TV.
You need to check the drop of the pocket as with some tables a ball placed on the lip of the pocket would drop automatically while on a tournament standard table it should not.
There are some snooker tables for sale from time to time in Canada, some BCE, Brunswick, old B&W, Thurston, and even Rileys sometimes. Brunswick would be my last choice.
If you can afford it, get yourself some decent snooker cloth, such as West of England 6811 or No.10.
Even if you cannot get a very nice table, get some nice cushion rubber (Northern), steel block rail, no.10 cloth, and pockets that confirme to the template, you will have a decent table to play on.
Do not use pool table cloth as it is just not the same.
Just a bit of clarification.
The 'large pool table' you describe is an American Snooker table - as
opposed to an English Billiard table, the table used in the UK and
international version of Snooker.
American Snooker pockets are about 2x as demanding as English tables
when you factor in larger balls, severely rounded cushions and, not least,
the much more difficult 'angle' of the 7<black> ball spot. And that's
just for a 5 x 10.
Snooker on an American 6 x 12 is a chilling experience to say the least.
Dale
If you are after a Riley, my friend has two for sale.
One is nearly new Aristocrat steel back $8500.00 this came off the tournament floor at a ranking event. The other is an older Riley steel back $2000.00 all plus crating, packing, handling and shipping from Vancouver BC.
One is nearly new Aristocrat steel back $8500.00 this came off the tournament floor at a ranking event. The other is an older Riley steel back $2000.00 all plus crating, packing, handling and shipping from Vancouver BC.
Thank all of you who responded to my question. Based on internet research I have deduced that the only advantage of a steel block rail over wood block is that the rail is narrower. My inexperienced opinion is that steel block rail construction, as seen here http://www.titansports.co.uk/products/images/cushion.jpg, does not lend itself to easy maintenace by the amateur table mechanic. American billiard table manufacturers abandoned horizontal T-bolts in favor of vertical bolts and nut plates many years ago.
Hey George,
I am not far from Florence, Al and have a steel block Wiraka M1 table. I really like the steel block as it is very responsive. It has tighter pockets than I like, but it is a good table. If money is not a major issue, then go with a Riley, BCE, or an older Burroughs&Watts. Get the steel block, you will not regret it.
Best regards,
Trapper
I am not far from Florence, Al and have a steel block Wiraka M1 table. I really like the steel block as it is very responsive. It has tighter pockets than I like, but it is a good table. If money is not a major issue, then go with a Riley, BCE, or an older Burroughs&Watts. Get the steel block, you will not regret it.
Best regards,
Trapper
