Track Lighting

Z

zy112

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Does anyone use track lighting in their home pool rooms instead of a conventional pool table light? I would like to go this route for a couple reasons....

1) I am fortunate enough my wife is very cool about letting me have a table in the house and she also enjoys it. But being in our house we want the room to look nice. Not the the conventional table lights arent nice, but we just dont think a big hanging light would fit in well asthetically.

2) Most importantly...My game room is fairly small. Rectangular, just perfect for a 7 footer (I have a 7' Brunswick Danbury). On one side I am mounting a TV on the wall as well as some billiards memorabilia. I have a dart board on the other side along with some stools. I would like the room to be free of viewing obstructions so you can stand on the other side of the table playing darts, watching the pool game or whatever and still be able to see the TV for when I have guests over. Most of my friends arent into pool like I am so watching a football game or whatever would be more imprtant to them lol.

Will track lighting provide decent enough lighting situation? Thoughts, suggestions and pics always welcome. Thanks in advance!
 
Depends how you set it up.

In my opinion, the standard 3 or 4 globe billiard light provides really crappy lighting, and pretty well maximizes shadows.

If you design your lighting so that the playing surface takes light from multiple directions you can really cut down on the shadowing. I have recessed fixtures with compact fluros, and it works just fine.
 
Thanks for the thoughts. I'm thinking about the track lighting that is attached to the ceiling, with four lights. Some of them you can adjust the direction of the light so hopefully that will give me the desired outcome.

I understand I am probably not going to get the kind of light I would out of a diamond or brunswick table light and I am okay with that since this is not a pool hall and understanding our reasons for trying this kind of lighting. Honestly, it doesn't bother me how it is now but it is a little dim and any upgrade couldnt hurt.
 
I would think track lighting would work fairly well, given enough lights to flood the surface of the table. (6 or 8 would be plenty). You might also consider the recessed lights (I think they call them can or cannon type lights) that would be less noticable.

Steve
 
Thanks Steve... I actually have thought about that and might be a better option. Guess I will have to make a trip to Menards pretty soon and see what they got
 
It looks cool but unless you have a hight celieng 20" and other lighting you will have more shadows than you can stand,

its one of theos things that sounds and looks cool but dosent work very well-if your serious about pool and having the best possible set up to play quality pool, if your just going to bang balls then is is the way to go cause it looks good.


I have can lights MR-16's in a Room with a Diamond and it looks great but the ceilin is about 20' tall and there are a zillion lights at 75 watts each. in my pool room I use a diamond light, in my snooker room I use the snooker lights(best lights I have) but they are very expensive and very bright, I'd get a diamond light, you can awalys change the loooks of it with a paint job or something.

But for good lighting, track liteing sucks for players.
 
zy112 said:
Thanks for the thoughts. I'm thinking about the track lighting that is attached to the ceiling, with four lights. Some of them you can adjust the direction of the light so hopefully that will give me the desired outcome.

.
Click to expand...


It wont, I dont want to be a ass, but what your thinking I have done many years ago when my dad bought me a 8' box in 82.

If your serious about playing and becomming a better player getthe right light, if your just wanting to have fun then your idea is ok.
 
I'm def working on my game. Right now I have a lamp and the lighting from adjacent rooms lol so its pretty bad. Just didnt see how adding anything, be it maybe not the best solution would make it worse.

I'm serious about my game, but not serious enough to put what we think would look horrible in the room. If it was in a basement, or any other place a "pool light" would look great. But this room is open through an arch way to my dining room, and immediately on the left as you walk in our entry way.
 
If you want the place to look good as a living room, you might want to get 4 floor lamps. Get the kind with multiple bulbs, a shade that partially transmits light, and a switch that allows you to vary the number of bulbs on. I would use compact fluoros with true daylight spectrum. Personally, I would do this rather than track lighting, as I think the light would be better with less glare.

Alternatively, a chandalier (sp) such as used in a dining room might work if wired up to a variable wall switch. watch for shadow casting with this type of light.
 
thanks DC... I got a lot to think about. Unfortunately, It will be a month or two before I get anything... At least that will give me some time to look around though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top