Must Haves for Every Game and Billiard Room

• Dart boards – dart boards can be as simple as a cork board with steel tipped darts and a chalkboard for scorekeeping to an electronic talking board with plastic tipped darts and automatic score keeping

• Arcade games – arcade games have become a nostalgic item for many people in their thirties and forties.  Plenty of your friends will enjoy a wistful game of Asteroids or Pac–Man as well as other similar games that were popular in their teens.

• Stereo system – you don’t need a stereo system that will blast your eardrums out.  This is your game room not a Who concert.  A simple Am FM CD player that will provide background music will be great.  People enjoy some mood music while still being able to participate in a casual conversation.

• Popcorn Machine – a popcorn machine that steam pops the corn will provide plenty of snack goodies as well as a friendly, homey aroma.  Popcorn carts can be had at a reasonable price and are exceedingly decorative and festive.

• Pinball machines – akin to arcade games, pinball machines are very popular in game rooms.  So much so that it has become relatively easy to find rebuilt machines for sale online and in larger cities.  Repairmen and parts are also readily available.

• Jukebox – everybody likes a jukebox.  Used, old style jukeboxes can be found online.  They can be expensive however and replacement parts can also be difficult to locate.  There is a new style jukebox available that uses compact disk technology.  Many of these modern jukeboxes with few mechanical parts are designed to resemble the old style jukeboxes while reducing the need for continual repairs.

• Refrigerator – almost everybody appreciates a cool drink while they’re passing their time in the game room.  While the refrigerator lacks the pizzazz of some of the other items on this list, it truly is a must have.  Nothing large or fancy is necessary.  As long as the drinks are cold people will be happy.

• Vending machine – if you absolutely think a refrigerator is too uncool, try a vending machine.  It will dress up the room and keep the drinks cool.  Also, you can make your friends pay for their own drinks (or not).

There are countless ways to bedeck your game room.  Above are eight of the must haves, and there are many more, like having a few predator p3 pool cues.  Adding any or all of these items to your game or billiard room will liven up the joint and provide innumerable hours of fun and relaxation for you, your family and friends.

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Pool Table Buyer’s Guide

The pool or billiard table has become a staple of many American rec rooms.  As with any major purchase it would behoove the consumer to become well informed about the product one is preparing to acquire.  

Size of the Room

Your first consideration should be the size of the room in which you intend to place the table.  Pool tables typically come in three sizes; seven foot, eight foot and nine foot.  The seven and eight foot models are by far the most popular.  In general you’ll want a minimum space of four feet around each side of the table to allow for comfortable play with your predator p3 black luxe pool cues.  

As a general rule, a seven foot pool table will measure seven feet long by three and a half feet wide.  This means you’d need a room size of fifteen feet by eleven and one half feet to allow for comfortable play on a seven foot table.  Remember this is a general rule and many have used a smaller room with varying degrees of success.

Purpose of Table

Second, you should decide the purpose of the pool table.  Will it be used for adult gatherings, a game for the kids to play or simply as a piece of furnishing which is simply there for its looks?  Once you’ve decided whether the pool table will serve function or fashion it’s time to consider construction, and your custom hard top pool table cover.  The playing surface on many cheaper models will be made of some type of plywood.  While this might be fine for kids to use in the basement it’s not recommended for adults who wish to have friends over for a game.  Slate is the recommended material for the playing surface.  It will come in a variety of thicknesses and quality.

Side Rails

Next, consider the side rails.  They are just as important to game play as the playing surface.  Three parts make up the rails; the cushion, the sub rail and the cap.  The cushions are typically made of rubber and the best cushions are made with ‘live gum rubber’.  Cushions with a higher percentage of gum rubber will give a more consistent bounce.  

Just as the playing surface is covered with varying qualities of felt, so too the cushions will be covered with the same material.  The sub rail is underneath the cushion.  The sub rail connects the side rails to the slate and the tighter the fit the better the table will perform in game play.  The rail cap is the decorative part of the rail.  It can be solid wood or laminate.  Other materials like mica are used in very expensive tables.

Frame

A final consideration should be the pool table frame.  Tapered frames and straight frames are the two most common types.  Tapered frames narrow from the table top to the floor.  Straight frames are, as the name implies.  There width is the same from top to bottom.  In most cases, your choice will depend on appearance preferences. Do however; make sure the frame is of sturdy construction.  It does need to support the playing surface.

As stated, this information is intended to be a starting point for your research.  In no way is it intended to be the definitive educational tool for your pool table purchase.  Remember to shop around.  Ask questions.  Compare different tables from several manufacturers and retail outlets.  If you choose carefully your new pool table should last a lifetime.

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Turn Your Garage into a Game Room

A game room is a great addition to any home, and in many cases it is a better alternative to keeping a vehicle in the garage (or if you have a two car garage, converting one side of it into a game room).  If you’re looking for some private space to watch the game, or maybe a big enough space to put that pool table you’ve had your eye on, the garage just might be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Turning your garage into a game room is an easy, cost-effective way to get the game room convenience without having to sacrifice space elsewhere, or having to put a foosball table in a place where it doesn’t belong, like the back of the living room. You might even be able to move your television out of the family room to be more conducive to conversation flow.

Where to Start

The first thing you should ask yourself is, “what am I doing with my garage already?” If you’re using your garage for something other than keeping your car, you might think about having a garage sale, or moving those boxes up to the attic or a to a coat closet. Metal buildings aren’t terribly expensive, so if you’re lacking storage space, you might think about having one built.

If your garage is where you store your car, then turning your garage into a game room is still possible, depending on the garage’s size. It’s a good idea to test the new situation for a week or so, before you go out and fill up your game room with a bunch of new toys like a predator p3 black luxe pool cue, to make sure it’s safe and not too much of an inconvenience for you.

Now What?

Once you’ve cleared out the space in your garage, you can decide whether to remove the garage doors to make the room appear more like the rest of the house – by adding walls and flooring other than the concrete floor and unfinished walls of most garages. This won’t be too much of a task as garage doors are not “load bearing”. Keep in mind, however, that if you go to sell your home later on down the road, a garage is a big plus – so if you have just a small garage you might be better off converting a room in the basement or elsewhere into a game room or building an extension onto the home.

If you do just keep your regular garage doors, you may want to consider adding additional security features as most garages are the main entry point for most would-be thieves.  Billiard tables and custom hard top pool table cover are a nice addition to any game room, but be sure you have enough space to allow for a 4-6 foot perimeter around the table for shooting space. If you are going to have a TV in your game room, you’ll have to first make sure you have all the proper electrical and cable accommodations for it.

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When it’s time to outfit yourself with billiard supplies and pool cues, nothing could be easier than shopping online.  A reputable and comprehensive billiards supply online store allows you to view and purchase a multitude of products without leaving the comfort of your own home or office, any time of the day or night.

Undoubtedly, pool cue sticks for billiards are the stars of a billiards supply site.  There are literally hundreds of choices, spanning all price points and playing levels.  When you consider tip choices and shaft customizations, the possibilities are endless.  Whether you are looking for a few inexpensive house cues for a home game room or a top of the line Predator cue for professional play, a good billiards supply store will have your cue.

Having a high-quality pool cue is just the beginning of your billiards gear needs.  You will need products to protect and maintain your cue, and improve your play.  Cue cases are a necessity for transporting your two-piece cue, and are available for any budget.  Joint protectors will ensure the integrity of your cue for years to come.  Supplies such as micro cloths and buffers maintain the beauty and smoothness of any cue.  Tip tools allow you to scuff your tip and correct mushrooming, providing a more accurate shot.

These are just a few of the many products you can have delivered right to your door from a reputable online billiards supply site like CornerPocketPocketPool.com…

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Pool Cue Tips

When you’re buying a new pool cue or shaft, you might wonder which tip is right for your style of play.   Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your tips.

Tip can be one of three difference hardness levels; soft, medium or hard.  Depending on the brand of tips, they can also be described as slow, medium, or quick, respectively. Beginners, or people who need more control, can benefit from a soft tip.  A hard tip provides more power.  Medium tips provide control and power.

The materials that tips are made from affect play as well.  Many tips are made from cowhide, pigskin, or water buffalo.  The manufacturer will either use a solid piece of leather, or create thin layers that are laminated.  Layered tips such as Moori are longer lasting and do not “mushroom” from use.  Le Pro tips are some of the most popular tips worldwide because they are medium-hard and offer a combination of power and control that benefits beginner and advanced players alike.

Keeping your leather tip responsive is easy with various tip tools that either scuff or prick the tip, raising the nap of the leather and allowing it to hold chalk.

Phenolic tips are made of a man-made substance and are very hard.  These tips are generally used for break/jump cues.  Also, be sure to keep extra tips in your leather pool cue case when possible..

When purchasing a new cue or replacing a tip, keep in mind your style of play to pick the right one for you.  If you happen to be looking for a new pool cue, consider the Meucci line of high-quality billiard pool cue sticks…

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Finding the perfect billiards cue (or cues) might seem an impossible task when faced with the number of options.  Cues can be one or two piece, have simple or ornate styles, and also have a wide range of prices.  Breaking cues down into general categories will lead you to the perfect cue.

One piece cues are also called house cues.  These pool cue sticks are intended to be used in one place, like a home game room.  Most people purchase a few cues in different lengths and weights for all types of players.  Excalibur pool cues make an excellent full sized house cue that has a classic design.  Troubleshooters have shorter length cues to get the kids playing as well.    Think about a pool cue wall rack to display and protect your house cues.

When most people think of a choosing a high quality billiards pool cue, they think of the two piece cue.  Two piece cues can be taken apart and packed in a cue case.  Choosing a pool cue of the two piece variety is easiest when you start with your price range.

At the mid to top range are Predator pool cues.  Predator cues are consistently in the top of pool cue ratings.  If a Predator cue is out of your current price range, consider a Poison cue.  Poison cues are made by Predator and have the same play and quality at a lower price.  Players cues are at the lower end of the price range, but play well and have a loyal following.  If you like the look of a house cue and the convenience of a two-piece, go for a Sneaky Pete pool cue.

Specialty cues like break cues and jump cues round out a billiards player’s arsenal.  These cues give you extra power when you need it.

Choosing a pool cue can be easy.  And don’t forget to pickup a high quality pool cue case to protect your stick!

Shop online at CornerPocketPool.com right now for that perfect pool cue!

Just go to CornerPocketPool.com and find everything you need to hustle up a game.