The 10 little-known billiard accessories
When we talk about billiards, we immediately think of the famous black ball marked with the number 8 or the typical color of the carpet on English billiard or snooker tables.
However, the different disciplines of billiards are also full of accessories that are less emblematic but particularly useful for improving your sensations and perfecting your game.
Do you want to rely on well-maintained equipment to progress? We explain why and how to use 10 little-known billiards accessories.
1/ The process
We start with an accessory that is hidden directly on your pool cue: the process.
This name designates the leather part located at the very end of your cue and with which you hit the ball . It is also thanks to the process that you can create effects when you play.
Obviously, given its role and its composition, your process wears out over the games and it is necessary to change it regularly. Especially since if you fail your retro effect and you bring in the white at the same time as the black when concluding the game, no one will believe you if you blame the wear and tear of your process.
Discover our Master Blue process pack, available in different diameters.
2) The process trainer
When you have just installed a brand new process on your pool cue, it is necessary to sand it . Indeed, in order to provide you with all the precision and effect necessary for impeccable tiles, your process must have a rounded shape.
If you don't want to buy sandpaper and then forget where you put it during the next process change, we recommend the process trainer.
In the form of a strip, for precision work, or a tube that you place at the end of the billiard cue, for an easier gesture, the process former is made of an abrasive surface which allows you to work efficiently and simply on your process .
Discover our 8-in-1 billiard process repair tool, designed to make your job easier.
3/ The process protector
Now that your process has the shape you want, it would be a shame to use it other than during your billiard games.
The process protector comes in the form of a cap that you place on the end of your pool cue when you store it in its case . It protects your process and your ferrule (the part on which the process is stuck) and it also prevents you from getting chalk all over your cue and in your case.
Discover our process protection tips.
Our leather protective sleeves.
4/ Chalk (blue)
We now move on to a more emblematic billiard accessory, best known by its nickname “blue”.
But beyond the almost ritual aspect of using blue, what is chalk really used for in billiards?
In reality, blue helps improve the adhesion of your process : you can create effects more easily and avoid false queues.
Billiard chalk comes in the form of a small cube and rather than rotating it on your pool cue like a pencil sharpener, it is more efficient to stroke the process to deposit the blue evenly.
Find our assortment of billiard chalk.
5/ The chalk holder
Very often, the chalk cubes remain placed carelessly on the edge of the pool table. But instead of adding blue to your process when you pass by the cube or after a failed effect, we advise you to apply chalk between each shot.
So to increase the quality of your effects without having to go back and forth around the pool table, you can equip yourself with a chalk holder:
This accessory allows you to carry your chalk cube at your waist thanks to a magnet and use it in a single movement, without thinking about it . Useful for staying in your game and avoiding bothering your opponent.
Find our assortment of chalk holders.
6) The soft cloth cloth
If it has the advantage of increasing precision and improving the effects of your shots, chalk also has the capacity to leave blue marks almost everywhere on your billiard equipment. And while these marks wipe off easily, some parts of your equipment need more attention than others. Indeed, the arrow that your billiard cue (the part with which you aim) is often devoid of varnish, in order to be able to slide more easily on the bridge.
To prevent chalk and sweat marks from becoming embedded in the wood, we advise you to wipe your arrow with a soft cloth at the end of your game .
Find our extra soft suede cloth
7) Rests (rakes)
Rests, also called rakes, are essential accessories to improve your billiard game when the cue ball is difficult to access. Here's why they're essential:
-
Precise Guidance : The rest allows you to guide the arrow of your pool cue with precision, ensuring a stable and well-directed shot even when the cue ball is far from the edge of the table.
-
Optimal Comfort : By using a rest, you reduce tension and discomfort from overstretching your arm, allowing you to fully concentrate on your shot.
-
Versatility : Available in different shapes and sizes, the rests can be adjusted to suit various playing situations, providing maximum flexibility.
-
Ease of use : Easy to install and remove, the rests are practical accessories that you can use quickly during the game, without interrupting your concentration.
Investing in a quality rest can greatly improve your performance and comfort, allowing you to play with more precision and confidence, even in the trickiest situations.
8) The billiard glove
What about the other hand? If you play with your right hand, your left hand serves as your bridge (and if you play with your left hand, you can reverse the words). Its role in theory is therefore to ensure that your pool cue slides smoothly and precisely at the time of your shot.
And if we're talking about theory, it's because this gesture is more difficult to achieve than it seems! In order to achieve a bridge that precisely guides your billiard cue without losing fluidity, you can choose to wear a billiard glove .
This accessory covers your thumb, index and middle finger and makes your easels easier while protecting the arrow (no relation to archery despite the shape of the glove) from perspiration.
Find our different billiard gloves, for everyone.
10) The case
Now that you've taken care of your equipment, it's time to protect it! To transport your pool cue without damaging it, the best solution is to store it in a case .
While certain options may vary depending on the model (storage for one or more cues, pockets for the rest of your equipment, etc.) most cases allow you to store your cue in two parts for greater ease. Yes, your pool cue doesn't just unscrew to perform massages! The screw thread of the tail also allows you to separate it into two parts to store and transport it without working the wood.
Find our different carrying cases for billiard cues.
And you ? What is the essential accessory for your billiard games?
Share your tips with us and tell us if you liked this article!
The Break & Win team