Sarah Johns asked:


The game of Carrom, often described as finger billiards, is an indoor game played on tabletop. This game has a strikingly similarity with other table top games like table shuffleboard and billiards.  The details about the origin of this game is hazy although some sources claim this game of Carrom has an Indian origin, while others say that it has a Chinese origin.

The basic item needed to play a game of Carrom is plain plywood board which is square in shape and about 74 centimeters or 29 inches. The playing board is framed on all four sides with wood bumpers. Here unlike balls used in billiards, wooden disks are used. The disks are called as Carrom coins or Carrom Men. There are four different color coins - black, white, red and a striker. The aim of the game is to strike the coins with the help of the striker and push them to fall into the corner pockets. The red colored coin is called the ‘queen’. Carrom can be played with two to four players.

A carrom-man is a usually wooden or sometimes plastic, uniform small disk. The Carrom-men have a smooth movement in a flat position on the surface of the carrom board when hit by a striker of standard specification. The carrom-men traditionally come in two colors – black and white - denoting the two players or in doubles play, the opposing teams. The opener always plays white. An additional, special carrom-man is colored red and called the “queen”. The accepted specifications for Carrom Men are - diameter of not more than 3.18 cm and no less than 3.02 cm, and thickness must be between 7 mm and 9 mm, with a weight of 5 to 5.5 g.

The dimensions of the queen must be the same as those of the other carrom-men.The queen is the most powerful carrom piece and usually red in color. It is placed at the center of the circle. If a player wins the board with the queen, this adds five queen points to the player’s total score. A player pockets the queen and to cover it provided a carrom-man of the player’s own has already been pocketed.

The striker is a larger and relatively heavier disk, flicked with the finger to hit the carrom-men and knock them into the corner pockets. The striker has to be smooth and round, with a diameter not more than 4.13 cm. Its weight should not be more than 15 grams.

High quality powder, most commonly boric acid powder is used on the board to enable the pieces to slide easily. In the UK and other European countries, many players use a version of spray powder from the printing industry which is made from pure, food-grade vegetable starch.

The rules of the game are promulgated by the India-based International Carrom federation. The organisation also ranks players, sanctions tournaments and presents awards, and has many international affiliates.

The aim of the game is to pocket one’s own nine carrom men before one’s opponent pockets his. However, before sinking one’s final carrom man, the queen must be pocketed and then “covered” by pocketing one of one’s own carrom men on the same or subsequent strike. Fouls, such as crossing the diagonal lines on the board with any part of one’s body, or potting the striker, lead to carrom men being returned to the board. The player is allowed to shoot with any finger, including the thumb known as thumbing.



Amy

peterrrr asked:


i just cant get it right!

Chad

Nick F asked:


I love the game, but I live in a small town and I’ve been unsuccessful at finding a teacher.
Dr Pepper -

Many phenominal players have had coaches to teach them mechanics and such. That doesn’t exactly make them ‘posers’. Like any other task, learning pool is better when you have a mentor who can give you valuable tips and help you correct your errors before they become habit.

Ernest

batflyz2 asked:


This attitudes have died down greatly but it wasn’t the same almost 60 years ago. Even in pop culture and general attitudes, people associated billiards with crooked people, immoral, and only for males.

One example shows in the movie Pinocchio when the bad kids are seen playing pool.

Why was billiards shown like this?

Jeanette

Jacques Habra asked:


 

When choosing a billiards lamp you have to consider several factors, including:

 

1. What is the type of look and/or feel you are trying to convey in the room?

2. What area of the room do you plan to light?

3. How many lamps do you have and where will they be place?

4. What is the limit on your budget?

 

It is important to determine whether the room is going be elegant and classy or fun and exciting! You do not want to end up with a fun game room with an elegant-style billiard’s lamp. With modern day designers, there is enough variety to suit just about style of décor you choose.

 

It is very important to remember the color scheme throughout the process of choosing a billiard’s lamp. You could mix and match the shades to give color uniformity to the room or just go with one color. You could try looking for a brand new style or something that looks a little more retro, such as a wrought iron billiard’s lamp. This is a great way to add sophistication to a game or recreation room area, which in most homes, it not the epitome of style and class. A wrought iron billiard’s lamp can give that aura without taking away from the overall fun vibe of the room.

 

You should also take the time to look around the room to determine where you are going to place the lamp as well as the billiard’s table it will be hanging over. You also have to decide whether there will be one large lamp or several smaller billiards lamps. If using more than one lamp, try to coordinate lamps so that although they are different, they have a cohesiveness that makes them appear to be the same style. You might also try to find a large lamp that has a complimentary smaller lamp available.

 

Now that you have chosen the lamp you want, it is VERY important that you measure out the size of the lamp in conjunction with the space it will be hung in, to ensure that it will fit where you have envisioned it. Check the specifications carefully, make sure that you have measured everything correctly before you try to hang your lamp! You also have to be realistic about where you place your lamp to ensure that it is not in the way or obscuring an entrance, aisle or any other commonly used areas in the room. Moreover, when you are in the process of hanging, be sure that the lamp is not too close or too far from the table.

 

If you have a budget, keep in mind these lamps can be quite expensive. However, you pay for quality, so keep that in mind before you make the determination to bargain shop. If you do not plan to do it yourself, you should also plan for the expense of having a professional install the lamp.



Gene

sundayschild63 asked:


If its the same..then why do some people say they have a pool table,and some say billard table?

Jon

Mark Whichard asked:


If you are taking your whole family for a vacation in Orlando and Disney World then you would probably like spacious and comfortable accommodations, in a convenient location and at a great price. The vacation rental homes at the Glenbrook Resort, located 7.5 miles from the gates of Disney World, more than satisfy these requirements, so let’s take a look at what is on offer at this popular resort community.

This beautiful resort community offers a family-friendly atmosphere and a variety of exciting recreational activities. Glenbrook rental options include highly impressive 3 to 7 bedroom vacation homes and the Resort’s clubhouse offers free Internet access, billiards, air hockey and an exercise room. Beautiful Glenbrook vacation homes surround a large community pool, as well as tennis and sand volleyball courts.

In addition Glenbrook’s Resort is an ideal location, just a short drive to Disney, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and popular shops and restaurants.

Here’s what you get in a Glenbrook Resort rental home: Each Glenbrook vacation home features a master suite with a king or queen size bed, TV and a master bathroom featuring a garden tub and separate shower. All rentals boast a private screened swimming pool and many include a heated spa. Glenbrook’s convenient accommodations also include fully equipped kitchens with breakfast and formal dining areas, TV, VCR or DVD player and a washer and dryer. Select Glenbrook rentals are available with game rooms that include billiards, table tennis and air hockey along with play stations for kids.

While the homes might seem complete in themselves, the amenities of the resort community just add to the experience. For example there is also a large community pool, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, free Internet access at the clubhouse, billiards, air hockey and an exercise room. So if you add these amenities to the facilities that you will enjoy in your own rental home you can see why Glenbrook vacation homes are in high demand the year round.

“What is this going to cost me?” That’s a natural question with a surprising answer. Instead of paying premium for a spacious, fully equipped rental home situated in a community boasting numerous recreational facilities, you can actually save money by opting for a vacation rental at Glenbrook.

I can prove this with two examples. You can get a three bedroom, two bath executive villa at Glenbrook for $120 per day in the low season and this price increases to $165 per day in the peak holiday seasons. If you are traveling with a large family or with friends and relatives, then it makes sense to get a rental home such as this one. And, if you need something even larger you can get a 6 bath, 4 bedroom home at Glenbrook starting from $175 per day.

The combination of homes with all amenities, a resort community with lots of recreation options, a close location to the attractions of Orlando and affordable prices make the Glenbrook Resort a prime location for vacation rentals in this area. If you are planning a vacation in Florida this year, then be sure to book your Glenbrook Resort rental home as soon as you can.



Pedro

Doug Marks asked:


The first pool table (also known as “billiards”) of which we have record is a table sold to King Louis XI of France in 1470.  It was a game with rules similar to croquet, except that the game was played on a table.  The name probably comes from the balls that were used (”billes” in French) and the stick or club that was used to hit the ball (”billart” in French). 

At first, the balls were pushed through a wire gate into a wooden peg, just like croquet, but over time, players began using the sides of the tables to purposefully angle the balls into the gates, and eventually, holes or pockets replaced the wire gates. By the mid-1700s, billiards had taken root as a popular game not only in France, but in England and its American colonies, as well.  One can imagine the powdered wigs and long-tailed coats surrounding a billiards table sipping ale and English tea in Boston Harbor just before the famous “tea party.”   

Over time, the materials used for the rails on the sides of the tables evolved into highly-uniform substances that would produce a uniform rebound.  From cloths stuffed with horsehair and rags to tightly-rolled cloths, technology marched on.  Eventually, vulcanized rubber, which kept its shape regardless of temperature changes, was used for the side rails. 

Technology and innovation also marked the development of the cue, or stick, that replaced the croquet-style billart used in early years.  By the mid-1800s, chalk was used to provide additional friction, and leather tips were applied to the plain wood tips used previously.  So Generals Grant and Sherman may have been chalking the tips of their cues as they pondered their next step against the rebels.  

Nowadays, pool tables are made with Italian or Brazilian slate, and mahogany or other hard wood is used for a durable finish.  The frame is usually made of poplar, which makes a strong and durable structure. The rules of pool have evolved, just as have the tables, balls, and cues.  Almost all tables are twice as long as they are wide, although they come in many different sizes.   

Why have pool tables made for such a popular game through the centuries?  You’ll probably have to answer that for yourself, but playing pool is a relaxing yet engaging activity.  Where some games are based solely on luck, pool is based on both skill and foresight.  Much like chess, success in pool depends on an ability to look into the future to project future events that are entirely predictable.  Unlike chess, though, the player has to exhibit some physical prowess to send the ball in the exact direction he or she intends.  The mixture makes the game enjoyable for players of all skill levels.



Ella

gmiller442 asked:


I would love to sell cue sticks and the like on eBay and other related sites. I am having a hard time finding a wholesale supplier that wants to do business with a “small” guy like me. Can you help?

Adrian

Gerald Njuguna asked:


As with all games, we have quite a number of billiard accessories to help players maximize their influence in the pool game. Billiard gloves, also known as pool gloves or cue gloves, are considered important accessories to pool player.

Billiard gloves help reduce friction when playing and make your stroke more consistent. We have the 3-fingered glove that make the cue shaft slide better on your bridge hands making your shots more accurate. The reduction in friction makes your strokes to be better, consistent and accurate.

Like with all sports, billiard gloves can also be personalized to a player’s personal taste & preference. You have the option of left-handed & right-handed gloves. Personalized gloves are made using different materials each claiming to offer better control and smoother action over the others.

We have different prices starting as low as five dollars a pair. A good pair will cost you between ten to fifteen dollars.

Pool gloves are easily recognizable. They have the same look as ordinary gloves and they cover only three fingers; the thumb, index & middle fingers. The fabric is made of silky material that is frictionless. When you buy the gloves you will find that they have leather or leatherette patch at the palm section to help reinforce your grip over the table cloth.

The good thing with pool gloves is that they are a one-size-fits-all because of their elasticity. The more costly ones are made to be reversible in order to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed pool players. Velcro straps allow you to hold the glove more firmly to your wrist.

Spandex and Lycra are the most commonly used materials to make the gloves. These materials allow for a strong comfortable grip while at the same time allowing better traction for the cue stick. When made using these material, you won’t find the one-size-fits-all type of glove but are made with different sizes.

Over time pool players can develop a liking for one type of glove material or brand over another. We don’t have rigid rules to determine which are the best pool gloves in terms of design or material. Pricing points to the durability and built quality of the gloves.

As with most things where the personal subjective preference takes first choice, a billiard player will obviously have a liking on pool gloves no matter the pricing.

Some pros prefer not to use billiard gloves, opting to develop their skill in developing an intimate feel with the pool cue & plus the table. Pros prefer skill over assistance in devoping their game.



Javier