ball size?

[Andrea]

Hello
My husband and I just purchased a small (half size?) snooker table at an estate sale here in the United States. (Seven by three feet or so). We need to purchase balls and cue sticks.

I have read that on small tables one should play with ten reds vs. fifteen, plus the colors. But which size balls? Standard size are too big, but should we get the smallest size? And what would that be? My husband prefers we buy a size that is also available in pool sizes so we can use the table for other games as well, if that is possible and adviseable.

And are all cue sticks standard size?

Snooker is still rare here in the USA so I am glad to find this forum.

Thanks! I very much look forward to enjoying this game.
Andrea

[Sonny]

I think you'll need 1 and 7/8 inch diameter balls. It is essential to get the right size otherwise they will jump off the cushions or not bounce enough. You definitely only need 10 reds on a less than 3/4 size table because otherwise it gets too crowded.

[Sonny]

oh dear, the edit post function doesn't work. As I was saying, there's no point in using full size cues because the balls react in different ways and it's easier to control the white with a cue that's about 4ft long. They come as standard with most small snooker tables I think and should be easy to get hold of, although I recommend getting one with a real tip or buying the sort of tip you stick over the end of the cue rather than screw in tips, because screw in tips are crap for getting action on the white.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-7-8-English-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Andrea]

ball size?

Thank you Sonny, that is most informative!

When I went to the local billiard store today, I was told that the height of the bumper should be slightly higher than the midline of the ball, as you said, or else the ball would tend to jump the bumpers.

When I went home I measured the bumpers; they are about 1 1/4 inch tall.
It sounds like the size of 1 7/8 is a good suggestion, as that would not be too tall. I saw some billiard balls that were 1.5 inches in the store but that seems too small.

In addition, I measured the openings of the pockets. At the narrowest they are 2 1/4 inches wide....one inch wider that the height of the bumpers. If the balls were 1 7/8. they would have 3/8 inch "room" to sink, if that makes sense. But the opening is wider at the entrance to the pocket so that should work.

I appreciate your comments on the cue sticks as well. I'll look for the short ones. The man at the store today said a narrower cue would be good for the smaller balls. I suppose that makes sense.

This evening my husband and son pulled out some 1.5 inch golf balls and had a go. It worked pretty well! I could see that 1 7/8 would probably be the largest size workable.

Thanks again, and I do appreciate the link as it is clear I will have to order these through the internet!

Next I'll be asking about game rule clarification I suppose!
cheers
Andrea from "across the pond"