Getting a snooker table!

[OmaMiesta]

imagejpeg_4.jpgimagejpeg_4.jpgimagejpeg_4.jpg

[OmaMiesta]

Table update: The pockets are extremely tight apparently. Just about 3 inches which I think is perfect for practice. Going to go check it out on Tuesday and assuming its in decent condition and plays well, will have it delivered and installed within next 2 weeks. Got a really good price for it so don't think I can go wrong, will keep you guys posted

[Leo]

Table update: The pockets are extremely tight apparently. Just about 3 inches which I think is perfect for practice. Going to go check it out on Tuesday and assuming its in decent condition and plays well, will have it delivered and installed within next 2 weeks. Got a really good price for it so don't think I can go wrong, will keep you guys posted

Proper pro templates are 3"3/8 which are not 3.5" what everyone else says, so yours being at 3" I think you will really struggle

[Alba_]

Don't dive in and get desperate for a table only for you to get the wrong one. Be patient and keep looking if you don't like the look of it.

[OmaMiesta]

Don't dive in and get desperate for a table only for you to get the wrong one. Be patient and keep looking if you don't like the look of it.

Good advice, definitely going to be cautious when looking at it. Everything seems to be okay so far but wont know for certain until I play on it. My biggest concern is the rails, its just a standard cushion Westbury so hope the cushions will be consistent. But at the price Im getting it for I think it would be worth getting a little work done to it if there are minor issues.

[OmaMiesta]

Proper pro templates are 3"3/8 which are not 3.5" what everyone else says, so yours being at 3" I think you will really struggle

Definitely not doubting that all, I just feel that If i practice enough on em Ill be a lot more precise when playing on the club tables. But if it turns out they're so tight that its just not playable... Ill probably have them changed.

[lesedwards]

Definitely not doubting that all, I just feel that If i practice enough on em Ill be a lot more precise when playing on the club tables. But if it turns out they're so tight that its just not playable... Ill probably have them changed.

Hi Oma, my last table was like that and unless you are already an exceptional player those tight pockets will destroy most players games. I became so gun shy that I could not pot a thing and still struggle to power through the ball. I wish I lived closer but I defiantly will be down to check it out once you have it set up.

[Terry Davidson]

Oma:

You say this is a standard BCE Westbury so it's very likely the pockets will be fairly close to template. Take a tape measure with you and measure across a corner pocket at the apex of the fall (the furthest point the slate drop goes out into the table). That should be around 3-3/8" to 3-1/2".

Also check and see if the fall of the slate has been rounded off since a lot of club tables have had this done to save the cloth being cut on the edge of the slate from balls bouncing back. If this table was ever in a club environment then that is very likely and it makes the pockets slightly easier.

The problem Les had with his table is the drop of the slate was way too far back into the pocket as it was a turn of the century billiards table but with a Westbury being designed for snooker you shouldn't have this problem.

Get to the Corner Bank and take a good look at the corner pockets on the Shender tables as they are right at the correct size and cut and normally match the IBSF templates. For instance, trying to pot a black off its spot to a middle pocket is impossible at anything other than dead weight as you need a little pull from the nap besides hitting it perfect. Take a couple of pictures of the pockets at the Corner Bank so you can compare.

If this Westbury hasn't been used in a long time then you will likely have to replace the rubber. The guy you want to do the re-clothing and re-rubbering is Pat McCarthy who does an excellent job and can supply both cloth and rubber.

[Terry Davidson]

Oma:

I didn't look at your pictures before that last post. The tape should be out a bit more and right at the apex of the fall and it appears it will be around 3.5" there. What doesn't look so good is the pocket opening narrows after the fall and they are supposed to come straight back and maintain that 3.5" all the way into the pocket. If they narrow after the fall they will spit balls back out. Pat will be the expert on that and he can easily fix that if he doesn't have to re-rubber.

Couldn't tell from the pics if the slate has been rounded a bit, but it looks like it.

[OmaMiesta]

Oma:

I didn't look at your pictures before that last post. The tape should be out a bit more and right at the apex of the fall and it appears it will be around 3.5" there. What doesn't look so good is the pocket opening narrows after the fall and they are supposed to come straight back and maintain that 3.5" all the way into the pocket. If they narrow after the fall they will spit balls back out. Pat will be the expert on that and he can easily fix that if he doesn't have to re-rubber.

Couldn't tell from the pics if the slate has been rounded a bit, but it looks like it.

Ah thanks for the indepth info Terry, the pockets were starting to worry me a bit but as long as it can be fixed I think its very worth it. Im buying the table for $2000 so it should be worth having work done to it.

[Sir Ivanhoe]

Oma:

You can talk to Odie Willet who usually has some tables in stock but he will charge you over the going rate and you'll have to negotiate. I would try and stick to BCE, Shender or Riley. I'm not sure if Brunswick made any steel blocked as I've never seen one and the Wiraka tables are not very good quality as they are made out of composition board.

There is another dealer somewhere near Hamilton but I forget his website now but Les Edwards has his contact info. He usually has some nice tables but he charges a lot for the older ones, way above your budget but he might have some newer ones at a reasonable price.

Then you'll need to get it clothed and perhaps re-rubbered and Pat McCarthy is the guy to call for that.

What I would do in your place is enter the ontariosnooker.club tournament this weekend and there may be someone there who will be able to help you out with some info. Pat might even be playing. and he might know if there are any tables available.

Ontario snooker club. Thats' if you can find the place. They have more snow over there than Siberia!! We have 2" snow over here and the kids are off school, airports close and the temperature is only O degrees. Think it gets to minus 20 over there. Stay at home.

[lesedwards]

Ontario snooker club. Thats' if you can find the place. They have more snow over there than Siberia!! We have 2" snow over here and the kids are off school, airports close and the temperature is only O degrees. Think it gets to minus 20 over there. Stay at home.

Your right. We got hammered..... Over 30cm good thing I have a big V plow on my Duramax Diesel Pickup...

[Terry Davidson]

Ontario snooker club. Thats' if you can find the place. They have more snow over there than Siberia!! We have 2" snow over here and the kids are off school, airports close and the temperature is only O degrees. Think it gets to minus 20 over there. Stay at home.

Ha, buncha woosies! As Les says we got hammered last night with about 25cm of snow (that's about 10in to you Brits) and right now at 5:15pm the temperature is -15.2C. But my driveway was cleared by 8am and the roads were plowed so my wife drove to her appointments this morning.

[GeordieDS]

Canadians know the snow is coming so they have things in place to deal with it,over here we hardly ever see it so very little money is put aside and we just hope grit will do the job

[OmaMiesta]

Going to check out this table tonight....really hope this works out. The seller seems pretty genuine and he swears everything is in good condition ; cushions, levelling, pockets, etc. Will find out for certain tonight, really excited!