Among fans of billiards, disputes often flare up about which of the varieties is better. Some consider Russian billiards boring and monotonous, others will call pool a women's game because of the small size of the balls and the table. In fact, it makes no sense to oppose Russian billiards to American pool. These are two different games.
Professionals who play exclusively in Russian tend to be weak in the pool, and vice versa. There are exceptions in the form of universal players, such as Evgeny Stalev, a multiple world champion in Russian billiards and, at the same time, a winner of various pool championships. However, exceptions only confirm the rule.
Both varieties require some preparation, long training and the ability to think tactically. Of course, in order to decide which type of billiards is closer to you, you need practice. However, before starting the game, it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with the features and main differences between Russian billiards and American pool.
The game of Russian billiards is considered more complex, requiring high skill and subtle thinking. Its complexity is determined by the design features of the table - narrow pockets and large balls (285g) create a lot of "dead zones" that do not allow you to play a direct hit or along the board into a corner. All this makes Russian billiards a leisurely positional game.
Penalties and many rules make this game not only difficult, but also extremely exciting. She is loved for her unpredictability, the need to constantly improve. The most common varieties of Russian billiards are currently the most:
,As mentioned, pool play is considered easier because of the wide pockets and (156-170g). There are practically no "dead zones", and the game ends much faster than when playing Russian. However, some varieties of pool are really difficult and require excellent technique and combinatorial skills from the player.
The main advantage of the American pool is entertainment. Rollouts, braces, screws look much brighter here. Each hit is worth its weight in gold. Mass and jumps are much more often used. The most common varieties of the American pool:
The G8 uses 15 numbered balls and a cue ball. The player's task is to pocket all solid balls (No. 1-7) in any order, his opponent - striped balls (No. 9-15). The winner is the one who pockets ball number 8, having previously pocketed all his balls.
There are many varieties of this game, which are united by one name - billiards. Common to each species is the presence of a billiard table, balls and a cue. But the rules, technique and style of play, tactics and other nuances vary significantly, depending on specific type competitions. Therefore, for each of them is strictly individual. The two main varieties of billiards are the most popular today - pool and Russian billiards.
They have their own strictly marked, certain dimensions of the billiard table, they are made according to pre-patented standards. For playing American, the following dimensions are considered typical - 3.6 m long, 1.86 m wide and 0.85 m high. Size range of tables intended for playing Russian billiards is richer. The size of the billiard table for the pyramid is considered the largest among other billiard counterparts. Fans of Russian billiards use tables with a length of 3.0 to 4.0 meters, and a width of 1.5 - 3.0 meters. Moreover, only a four-meter length entitles such tables to be used in a professional field, therefore, only them are used at all official Russian billiard tournaments. Billiard tables, which are smaller in size, can be widely used at home, in offices, billiard clubs, and amateur meetings can be held on them. There are no professional qualified competitions on such tables.
Another rather significant difference between tables for Russian and American billiards is their production method. In the manufacture of tables for playing the Russian pyramid, a solid slab made of durable natural stone or, sometimes, concrete is used as a flooring. The base of the playing field at such tables is natural slate, although it is possible, in which a chipboard is used for the base in order to save money. While the Americans, in pursuit of cheapness and fashion, have long switched to metal and plastic in the manufacture of pool tables. But that is not all. Americans use green cloth made from synthetic materials to cover their tables. The ball moves freely on such a surface, encountering practically no resistance. Tables for the Russian pyramid are more conservative, because they are covered with good old green woolen cloth. But, it is a natural, completely eco-friendly material.
When a billiard ball hits the board while playing American pool, it receives additional acceleration due to the special elasticity of the rubber, which fits the billiard table around the perimeter. The balls bounce off her considerable distances. In Russian billiards, more rigid rubber is installed on the sides, which, on the contrary, dampens the speed of the ball that has fallen into it.
It differs from Russian tables for pool and the size of the pockets. In the pyramid on the tables, pockets are used that have a width of 72 - 76 mm. In the pool, the pockets are much larger, their dimensions are 88.6 mm. This is explained by the fact that the diameters of the balls in the American are larger than in the Russian pyramid. However, the size of the pockets is not the last difference between pool and Russian billiards. These varieties of billiards have and different shape pockets - the pyramid is played with pockets that have sharp lips, and in the American pockets, the lips of the pockets are rounded.
How to choose the right billiard table, what you should pay attention to when choosing a billiard table.
1. Which billiard table should I buy?
At the beginning, you need to understand what game you are interested in playing: Russian billiards (or); American pool; English snooker. Each game has its own features and rules. For example, the game of pool seems easier because it has large , but the rules of this game make it as interesting as it is difficult. The rules of the game of pool require only one white ball to be played, the shot must be calculated in such a way as to bring the ball into Right place table, since you need to score either a certain group of balls or in the order of their numbers. Snooker is the hardest to play, the pockets are quite wide and the balls are small and harder to hit. In Russia, the most common game is Russian billiards. There is no need to be afraid of Russian billiards, in fact, Russian balls fall into the pockets quite simply, the main thing is to master the rack, learn how to hold the cue correctly, and you will enjoy playing Russian billiards.
IMPORTANT TIP: Before you buy a pool table for your home, try playing pool on different pool tables in all three games. Go to a billiard club, play, learn the rules, and then you will be able to understand which game you like best, and what is closer in spirit, then you will definitely make the right choice.
2. How to choose the right billiard table size?
When choosing, you need to build on the size of the room. In addition to the size of the billiards itself, you need to take into account the distance from the sides of the table to the walls of the room. To prevent the cue from hitting the wall when hit from the side, the length of the cue is taken into account. For different types games use cues of various lengths. For playing Russian billiards, the length of the cue is 160-165 cm, for playing pool and snooker 140-145 cm. If the table for Russian billiards is 8 feet or less, small balls are used, and therefore shorter cues, as for pool . From the side of the table for the Russian pyramid, you should retreat 165 cm, plus 15-20 cm, so that it does not rest against the wall itself and does not spoil the paintings hanging on it.
It is also worth considering the furniture and the space around the furniture (armchairs, sofa, table, bar counter).
IMPORTANT ADVICE: do not try to cram the largest billiards into the billiard room, it is better to consult with professionals and choose the most advantageous one for you. comfortable game billiards.
| playing field | Minimum room size | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in feet | in meters | pyramid | pool | snooker |
| 5 feet | 1.65 x 0.85 m | 4.5 x 3.7 m | 4.5 x 3.7 m | |
| 6 feet | 1.80 x 0.90 m | 4.7 x 3.8 m | 4.7 x 3.8 m | |
| 7 feet | 1.99 x 0.99 m | 4.9 x 3.9 m | 4.9 x 3.9 m | |
| 8 feet | 2.24 x 1.12 m | 5.1 x 4.0 m | 5.1 x 4.0 m | |
| 9 feet | 2.54 x 1.27 m | 5.8 x 4.5 m | 5.4 x 4.1 m | |
| 10 foot | 2.95 x 1.47 m | 6.2 x 4.7 m | 5.8 x 4.3 m | |
| 12 feet | 3.50 x 1.75 m | 6.8 x 5.0 m | 6.4 x 4.6 m | |
Attention: the sizes of billiard tables from different manufacturers may vary.
3. How much does billiards weigh and what does it affect.
In addition to the size of the billiard table, you need to consider its weight. The weight of a billiard table depends on the size of the table, on the design of the table, on the material of the table, on the material of the slab, on the thickness of the slab, on the design solution ...
For example, a professional billiard table with a size of 12F can weigh from 1200 kg to 1600 kg, depending on the manufacturer and the materials used in its production.
With a thinner stone, it can weigh 200-300 kg less than a professional thick stone table (see specification).
And finally, a 12F billiard table with a chipboard playing field will weigh 900 kg less than a professional table.
Billiard tables with a playing field made of laminated chipboard win a lot in price and do not require heightened attention to the floors of the billiard room, but lose as the game itself. Balls on a chipboard surface will roll more slowly, and the vibration from rolling balls will make a loud hum. Over time, the surface can be deformed from exposure to aggressive environment, and the evenness of the playing field may not be ideal.
On a thick stone provide the maximum level of comfort. This is achieved through ideal flat surface and stability of the table structure. A table on a thick stone cannot be moved or give it any noticeable vibration. roll smoothly, quickly, silently.
Billiard tables on a thin stone (see specification) are not inferior in comfort, but win in weight and price.
IMPORTANT TIP: Pay attention to the thickness of the stone base for your pool table. The thicker the stone, the more stable the billiards. A massive plate is the key to a high-quality and comfortable game without flaws.
4. What are billiard tables made of?
In our age modern technologies, you can find billiard tables made from various artificial materials, up to the playing surface. Most often, this is due to the desire of manufacturers to reduce the cost of production and equipment for production. Such producers practically do not leave anything natural and natural for the sake of cost reduction, or simply because of the inability to ensure their production. quality raw materials and necessary equipment.
There are not many manufacturers who use natural and traditional materials, which are supplied to us by nature itself (natural wood and a natural stone), fully meeting all the requirements for the production of billiard equipment, as this is associated with certain difficulties and costs.
Billiard tables from natural wood, can easily withstand repeated assembly and disassembly (in case of moving, rearrangement or resale), such tables always remain beautiful and pleasant.
Billiard tables from artificial material(MDF, veneer, etc.) quickly lose their appearance, chips, dents, and various deformations appear on them more often and faster. It is not recommended to disassemble and assemble such tables often, as the attachment points quickly fail.
Billiard tables on a metal frame have a lot of weight and good stability, but they lose in aesthetics. Such tables are completely hung with fake low quality wood products, or chipboard and MDF, etc., which cover the metal frame and create a deceptive look. wooden structure. In time everything decorative items, covering the metal frame, become loose, begin to dangle, lose their proportionality in relation to each other. For example, accidentally touching the leg, or the tsarga, you can see how it has moved or moved, this does not at all cause a pleasant impression. But at the same time, the design of the table itself will be strong and reliable, you definitely won’t move it from its place, even if you really want to.
Another thing billiard tables made of oak and ash! This is beauty, aesthetics, warmth, comfort, strength, reliability, prestige. It is a pleasure to play on such a table.
The latest developments in the production of an artificial playing field allow the production of fake diamond for billiards. Time has not yet tested the reliability of such stones, but this stage manufacturers have not yet achieved the ideal surface of artificial stone and it is difficult to say how such a playing field will behave in a few years.
OUR TIP: Pool tables made from artificial, surrogate materials cannot match the durability of natural wood tables. The so-called artificial stone is a novelty in billiard production and little studied. All its characteristics will be fully manifested only years later.
5. What are the prices for billiard tables?
There are not many factors that affect the price of a billiard table, but all these factors also affect the game itself. For example, at official billiards competitions you will not find tables with cheap Chinese cloth, on thin stone and vertical fastening of the boards, just as you will not find boards with bad rubber that does not meet special standards.
What you should pay attention to when buying a billiard table:
To justify the use of a vertical mount, manufacturers draw ingenious schemes for the application of force at the moment the ball hits the side and give indistinct proof of the "reliability" of their design.
Vertical fastening in billiard production began to be used when the Americans invented their own game of pool, which requires tables of small size and on a thin stone. It is impossible to attach a board horizontally to a plate with a thickness of 25 mm or less. With light pool balls this is not a problem, but balls for Russian billiards already weigh 280 g or more. For such a load, the vertical fastening of the sides was not designed initially. Even in the production of snooker tables with the smallest billiard balls, the weight of which does not exceed 140 g, they did not come to a vertical fastening.
A billiard table on a thick stone should be with a horizontal fastening of the sides.
All of the above factors affect the price of a billiard table. Skillfully using these or those cunning tricks, some manufacturers reduce the cost of billiards, supposedly taking care of the buyer. “Here we will replace the tree with something simpler, there we will take a thinner stone, or even not a stone at all” - everything will do for an ignorant buyer. In fact, these "good" intentions often turn into complete disappointment.
IMPORTANT ADVICE: Pay attention to what exactly you buy. There are few parameters at the billiard table. Only the material of manufacture, the thickness of the stone, the fastening of the board and components (cloth, pockets, etc.) are added to the type of game and size. Be sure to carefully study the specification, compare characteristics and choose what is best for you.
By the way, a thin stone is not bad, playing on tables with a thin stone is no worse than on a table with a thick stone, a non-professional will not notice the difference. It's just that the sides with vertical fastenings are afraid of increased load and they are not recommended to be installed in billiard establishments, well, the sides of such tables themselves have a different design and lose a little in beauty (this is a purely personal opinion).
Summarize:
All billiard games are good in their own way, a matter of taste.
Billiards loves free spaces, this must be taken into account.
The weight of a billiard table is of decisive importance.
billiards from natural materials more reliable in every sense.
The price of a billiard table depends not only on its size.
Billiard tables can be compared with a car - the purpose is the same, the properties are different.
Billiards is an interesting, gambling and exciting game. Recently, it was only entertainment, and now it is also a sport with many championships and championships. The beauty of billiards is the need only for a table, balls and cues, and this is in abundance at the Roll Hall billiard club on Tulskaya. For training, neither a team nor a sparring partner is needed - he took a cue in his hands and began to score balls. On the contrary, it is easier for one person to work out blows and complex combinations in order to go out to “fight” with fellow billiard players already prepared.
For a very long time, people were interested in playing balls with a variety of clubs and sticks, and there is a lot of archaeological evidence for this, but it’s hard to call the ancient “billiards” a similarity to the current one - it’s just something that the ancient players had a wooden stick, balls and holes in earth.
The first rules of billiards, more or less similar to modern ones, were published in 1674 in Lyon by the French, who at that time were leaders in the production of inventory and tables. Billiards has become a full-fledged sport in late XIX century, after the World Carom Tournament was held in New York.
Russian-speaking people are familiar with two types of billiards: Russian billiards and American, although many fans confuse "American" with American pool. Billiard lovers from America are hardly familiar with the Russian version, except for professionals, of course, who can play all kinds of this magnificent game.
The main difference between the Russian version of the game and the American version is the table, and especially the size of the pockets on it and the diameter of the balls. In Russian billiards, the pocket is only 1-2 millimeters larger than the diameter of the ball, so a very accurate hit is required to hit. In American tables, the pocket is almost one and a half times the diameter of the ball, and it is easier to roll the ball, so American pool is very popular all over the world, and here too.
In Russian billiards, two games are better known: Russian pyramid and "American", or American pyramid.
The American woman has an extremely distant relation to the American pool, or rather, has nothing. In this version of the game, 15 balls are placed on the table in a pyramid, but the main difference from other games is the ability to hit any ball differently (except for the first hit). The main thing is to score balls into the pockets. Whoever "puts" 8 balls into the pockets first is the winner. American is perhaps the most popular game among fans of Russian billiards. There is no ordering rule and other intricacies of more complex games, everything is simple here: you pocket the ball - you hit it again, if you don’t score - the opponent hits, and so on up to an advantage of eight balls.
Another popular game of Russian billiards is “Russian pyramid”. As in the American, 15 balls are placed in a pyramid, the pyramid breaks with a crowd, but then the differences begin. The blow is always made with a special ball, cue ball. For each ball pocketed, there are points equal to the number of the ball, except for the first one - 11 points are added for it. For a penalty ball, 5 points are deducted from the player, and the same 5 points are added to his opponent. To win, you need to score 71 points or more, busting is off.
In American billiards, not only the pockets on the tables are larger, but the balls are smaller; here the balls are also colored differently, although in the most popular game of American pool, the "eight", there are also 15 balls and a cue ball, as in Russian billiards. The most popular American pool games are eight and nine.
The figure eight is so named because to win it, the player needs to pocket seven balls of the same color, and after that the number eight ball is black. All strikes are carried out by the cue ball. Before hitting, it is necessary to indicate where and which ball the player intends to pocket. Direct and adjacent balls should not be indicated, but complex blows from the board, combination blows must be pronounced. The opponent has the right to clarify the number of the ball to be pocketed and the pocket. While the player pockets the ball, he can shoot further, as soon as he misses, the opponent hits. So, until the number 8 ball is correctly potted.
The second popular game is nine. There are fewer balls in the nine than in the eight. Actually, there are nine of them - and a cue ball. The winner of this game is the one who pockets the ninth ball. All blows are inflicted only by the cue ball. The player must hit the cue ball first into the ball with a lower number, but ball number 9 can be pocketed immediately. If, say, the cue ball touches ball number 1, rolls further and pockets ball number 9, then this is a correct hit - and a victory. Such nuances make the "nine" very interesting game, since you can lead the whole game, pocketing ball after ball, but stumble on No. 8 or No. 9 and give the victory to your opponent.
Russian and American billiards have millions of fans, and it is impossible to say which is better. They are different, but both are very exciting! We are waiting for you in the billiard club "Roll Hall", you can book a billiard table online on our site or by multi-channel phone of our call center: 8-495-255-0-111 .
Billiards is becoming more and more popular among young people. For example? in Kaliningrad, billiards can be played both in specialized clubs and in entertainment centers, bars, cafes. There are 2 types of billiards - Russian and American pool. How are they different? And what kind of billiards does the youth prefer?
Let's start with American billiards. I will say right away that it is much easier to play it than Russian. The pockets are wide (about 90 mm), the corners of the pockets are rounded. Billiard table 3 meters 60 centimeters long, 1 meter 85 centimeters wide. Table height - 85 centimeters. The flooring for the gaming table is made of metal or plastic. All this is covered with a smooth synthetic cloth. The boards in the American version of the table are rubberized with a special elastic material, which contributes to a good rebound of the ball.
As for the rules of playing American billiards, it is worth mentioning that there are several varieties of games. And each has its own rules. Each game is interesting and good in its own way. If you really like this game, then you can buy a pool table and install it at home.
Russian billiards is much more difficult to play. The pockets are so narrow that it is very difficult for beginners to get into them. Their width is about 75 mm, while the corners are not rounded. To break the ball into such a pocket, you need exact calculation and a solid hit. A table for Russian billiards is made up to 4 meters long and up to 3 meters wide. The flooring of the table is made of stone slabs. Then it is covered with natural wool cloth. Therefore, in contrast to the perfectly smooth synthetic coating of the American table, on the Russian table the balls will meet with serious surface friction resistance. The sides of the table are covered with hard rubber, so you should not rely on strong ricochets.
What kind of billiards to play - you decide. For beginners, I would recommend playing American. But hardcore players to the Russian billiard table lies the road.
