Billiard accessories
Billiard accessories keep both the game and the table in shape — from chalk and spare cue tips to triangles, bridges and cloth brushes. You will also find gloves, cue cases and racks, ball sets and table covers here. Choose according to the discipline you play and the dimensions of your table.
Billiard accessories
How well the game goes rests on plenty of things that do not come with the table: a greasy tip on the cue, a dusty cloth, or balls that are not from one set. Billiard accessories therefore cover two sides at once — the accuracy of the shot and the upkeep of the table.
Around the cue is where most of the consumables sit. Chalk raises the friction between tip and ball and stops the shot from sliding off; the tip flattens over time and gets replaced with a new one, which has to be glued on and sanded to shape. Shapers, tip picks and adhesives exist for exactly that. A bridge or an extension helps with shots your hand cannot reach.
Table upkeep rests on brushes and sweepers for the cloth, which lift dust and chalk residue, on covers against dust and sun, and on a spirit level for setting the table true. Cloth is sensitive to damp and to sharp objects, so it is cleaned along the nap, and drinks have no place on it.
When picking balls and a triangle, mind the discipline: pool is played with 57.2 mm balls, carom uses 61.5 mm and snooker 52.5 mm — the triangle and pockets follow suit. On a cue, length, weight and tip diameter matter; on a replacement tip, so do the thread and joint type. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, especially when gluing tips and cleaning the cloth.