Pool Table Room Ideas for Small Rooms

If you are looking for Pool Table Room Ideas for Small Rooms, then now more than ever before, a billiard room is very fashionable and adds a great deal of fun to the house.

The range and modern styles of Pool Tables mean they can either blend in or be the key feature of any room or space, indoors or even outdoors there are great pool table room ideas for small rooms and spaces.

Choosing the perfect Pool Table for your entertainment room has also never been so easy and so much fun with the range of Pool Tables at Billiard Shop suiting every palate.

You can go traditional or very modern.

When working out Pool Table room ideas for small rooms or spaces, there are two ways in which to go about creating the perfect room:

design the room around the pool table
choose a pool table to match the current room design

Either way, you will still be able to find the perfect table.

If you’re bringing a table into the family home for the first time one of the essential features to consider is where to place the pool cue rack and what style – wall mounted or a stand.

A scoreboard is also a wonderful addition, in particular, if you also like to also play snooker and the available teak or walnut timber designs do lend themselves to all colour schemes.

Once you’ve got that sorted you can start creating up the room and as any professional interior designer helping you with Pool Table room ideas for small rooms will say ‘The simpler the design the more effective it will be’.

A classic example, is this recently completed Darling Downs room where this gorgeously designed Gloss Black Supreme Pool Table was made to blend in perfectly with an appropriate choice of cloth.

The design creates an entertainment room look rather than a pool room look.

The versatile range of Pool Tables at Billiard Shop will also allow you to blend or even disguise a pool table in a room like the Krenice Pool Table.

The removable solid oak three-piece dining top does not compromise on playability with the USA American 9 Ball worsted cloth and the larger USA American style drop pockets are a really smart option.

Billiard Shop has light or darker timber styles available including this sexy smokey black Krenice with blue cloth.

The reality is that no room or space is off-limits to a pool table. Even outdoors! The outdoor range is not only built to withstand all weather conditions but also to suit different colour schemes.

Some of the additional extras you can consider when sprucing up the room are stools, tables, plants, television, stereo, curtains and lights.

Lights are a superb option whether they’re classic Pool Table lights, pendant lights or a chandelier. They do really light up a room!

Pool Tables are a lot of fun for the family in particular for growing children and now you don’t have to compromise on styling.

Most certainly your Billiard Shop Pool Table will bring family and friends together.

Let the good times roll.

Our Range of Pool Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Cross Over Outdoor Pool Table

$6,695.00

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Cali Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Tulsa Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Pro Ball Return Pool Table

$4,895.00

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Portland Dining & Pool Table Combo

$7,495.00 – $7,995.00

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Aura Outdoor Pool Table

$5,495.00

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Austin Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Lincoln Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Miami 9-Ball Table

$6,495.00 – $6,995.00

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The Dangers of 2nd Hand Pool Tables

It’s an all too common sight When we see 2nd Hand Pool Tables, on removing the cloth we discover the slate is cracked

2nd Hand Pool Tables are a risk for the owner, it’s a heartbreaking feeling that we really don’t like to see as bringing a pool table into a family home is something that should be celebrated.

As expert pool table repairers we will professionally fix up the cracked slate but naturally, it will never play as well as intact slate.

Billiard Shop has a lifetime guarantee on our Pool and Snooker tables and there are processes we do recommend to keep your 2nd hand pool tables looking as they should be.

Care and Maintenance

With 2nd hand pool tables, regular brushing of the cloth will make it last significantly longer while maintaining performance and appearance.

The brushing removes dust/chalk particles in the cloth and re-establishes the nap direction.

Always brush in straight lines in the direction of the nap (from baulk line to spot)
Never brush against or across or else the direction of the nap will be lost as the wool fibres bunch together
Don’t brush too heavily or use a brush with stiff bristles as this may damage the fibres
Occasional dry iron the cloth and in humid conditions do so more often
Ironing in the direction of the nap will make the cloth play faster
Only iron after brushing or marks will be made permanent
The iron must be clean and tested for heat on a sheet of paper.
If there is the slightest scorch on the paper, allow the iron to cool before use
Never iron the cushions – regular brushing is suffice

Important advice.

To avoid fading avoid sitting tables near natural daylight, especially direct sunlight.
A table cover is ideal to protect the cloth when not in use and help preserve the brightness of the cloth’s colour.
Always check your cue tips as a damaged tip results in more damage to the cloth from marks to tears.
Make sure the tips are fitted correctly and if the ferrule is rough or sharp.

Table Discipline

Encouraging and enforcing proper discipline amongst table users will also considerably extend the performance of the cloth and help maintain its performance.

So in other words, don’t spin coins, drop balls or heavy objects on the table, use cues with sharp edges on ferrules and never chalk the cue over the table as the dust acts as an abrasive.

Avoid using worn or damaged balls and avoid excessively powerful shots, don’t sit or leave cues on the table and last but not least don’t drink over the table.

You contact the Billard Shop Repair Team here or read more about repairs here.

Our Range of New Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Cross Over Outdoor Pool Table

$6,695.00

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Cali Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Tulsa Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Pro Ball Return Pool Table

$4,895.00

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Product on sale

Portland Dining & Pool Table Combo

$7,495.00 – $7,995.00

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Aura Outdoor Pool Table

$5,495.00

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Austin Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Lincoln Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Miami 9-Ball Table

$6,495.00 – $6,995.00

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Australian Open Snooker 2016

Farebrother wins Australian Open Snooker Championship 2016

Roger Farebrother has taken out the 2016 Bob Hawke AC Australian Open Snooker Championships held at Mounties at Mount Pritchard over the weekend.

Roger Farebrother	75	62	76	81	61	60
Steve Mifsud	42	26	19	41	25	44

Farebrother defeated an in-form Steve Mifsud 6-0 in the final.

Mifsud went in as favourite having recorded the two biggest breaks of the tournament of 135 and 132 but Roger “The Dodger” proved just that to take out the final. For full tournament results click HERE.

The weekend saw Mifsud awarded Life Membership of the Australian Billiards & Snooker Council – due to recognition of his involvement in the sport over more than 30 years. READ MORE.

Meanwhile also at the AGM, Frank Dewens was re-elected as President and Adam Wyard Vice President.

Our Snooker Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Grand Duke Traditional Pool Table

$9,395.00 – $10,495.00

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Grand Duke Traditional Snooker Table

$14,995.00 – $16,995.00

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Supreme Traditional Pool Table

$6,395.00 – $7,695.00

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The Terminator Pool Table

The Terminator Pool Table.. “I’ll be Back”, and it is!

Well, truth be told it never left – it’s been infiltrating homes throughout Australia for quite a while.

Another Terminator 9 ball Pool Table has made a welcome entry into another new Aussie home this week. See this very handsome table in the below picture.

The Terminator is a USA-specification, ball return pool table featuring six USA style Drop pockets with:

Chrome finish surrounds
ball return system
ball tray
1 piece 1″ thick slate
FSW Worsted USA Speed Cloth.

The ‘Terminator’s’ modern and contemporary design makes it an ideal choice for any pool room.

The available sizes are 8’x4′ and 9’x4’6″.

Check out the Table Options and more pictures of the Billiard Shop Terminator Pool Table.

Hasta la vista!

Our Range of Pool Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Cross Over Outdoor Pool Table

$6,695.00

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Cali Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Tulsa Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Pro Ball Return Pool Table

$4,895.00

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Product on sale

Portland Dining & Pool Table Combo

$7,495.00 – $7,995.00

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Aura Outdoor Pool Table

$5,495.00

Add to cart
Austin Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Lincoln Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Miami 9-Ball Table

$6,495.00 – $6,995.00

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View all Pool Tables →

The Designer Miami Pool Table

The contemporary style of the Miami Pool Table adds that wow factor to any entertainment room

With quality solid wood cushion rails combined with the warm cherry and brushed Nickel stain finish, the Miami is at the cutting edge of personalized pool table design.

The wave-like legs stand not just as a feature piece but as art.

With a 1” thick three-piece slate, the USA American 9 Ball Worsted Cloth the Miami comes in 7’x3’6”, 8’x4’ and 9’x4’6”.

The USA-style genuine leather pockets will make for fast and exciting games that will bring family and friends together.

So if you love contemporary modern designs, this is your dream table that you can design a room around and change it up according to the season.

Check out our Range of Modern Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Cali Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Tulsa Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Pro Ball Return Pool Table

$4,895.00

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Product on sale

Portland Dining & Pool Table Combo

$7,495.00 – $7,995.00

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Austin Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Lincoln Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Miami 9-Ball Table

$6,495.00 – $6,995.00

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Manhattan Pool Table

$7,995.00 – $8,995.00

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Terminator 9-Ball Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $7,995.00

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View all Billiard Tables →

Learning How to Play Billiards

When You are Learning How to Play Billiards It is important to take the right approach

So you have recently made the proactive decision to introduce yourself or your family to the game of billiards and are now looking to start hitting those pockets with greater consistency.

So where do you start when learning how to play billiards?

Perfect practice will bring perfect results.

Naturally, the starting point involves you, your cue, your stance, your balance, your draw and your vision to name a few.

To start off on the right foot when learning how to play billiards the best option, besides a very good family member or friend, is to seek advice or join your local Billiards, Snooker, 8ball, 9ball or various other associations where you can receive brilliant advice and even be provided with lessons.

While all the many clubs can be found with a simple search of the web, joining clubs simply does not fit into the far majority of people’s lifestyles.

The beauty of the cue sport game is that you will get better with more play but to really take massive leaps forward, being taught all the basic techniques is naturally going to equip you with the knowledge to move in the right direction.

Another option is to seek advice and probably the most common practice is to access the thousands of instructional documents and videos on the web when learning how to play billiards.

To help you with this process there are a few basics you need to know when it comes to making head or tails of everyone else’s advice.

For the sake of this article we will focus on your stroke and do to this correctly you need to establish a proper stance, bridge, stroke and grip.

The bridge is of course your front hand that you place the front end of your cue on.

The key element you need to establish with these elements is balance. This balance is the platform in which your game is built and to establish this takes practice and patience.

As we are all different shapes and sizes our stance will also be different and this is why it takes practice to get to a comfortable, strong and stable position.

A Man in White Long Sleeves Playing Billiards

So remember there is no single universally accepted stance. Even the professionals have their quirks.

That said, there are some expected characteristics. The back leg is braced with the front leg slightly bent and taking the majority of the weight. The body including the head should remain still during the shot to ensure you hit the target.

But then again, if your techniques work for you – well just go with it! Have fun! Knock yourself out!

At the end of the day, unless you are currently or are aiming to be a professional, the game is all about what the Billiard Shop professes – bringing family and friends together!

When learning how to play billiards, the Billiard Shop in Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast and at Slacks Creek and Aspley in Brisbane can point you in the right direction. Simply call 1300 300 654 or visit one of our locations.

Check out our Range of Billiard Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Cross Over Outdoor Pool Table

$6,695.00

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Cali Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Tulsa Pool Table

$7,195.00 – $7,495.00

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Pro Ball Return Pool Table

$4,895.00

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Product on sale

Portland Dining & Pool Table Combo

$7,495.00 – $7,995.00

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Aura Outdoor Pool Table

$5,495.00

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Austin Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Lincoln Pool Table

$7,495.00 – $8,495.00

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Miami 9-Ball Table

$6,495.00 – $6,995.00

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Ronnie O’Sullivan Training Videos

It is said that perfect practice makes perfect. That being the case, here’s a perfect way to start practising your Snooker play with Some Ronnie O’Sullivan Training Videos.

O’Sullivan is a prolific break-builder and holds the record for the most competitive century breaks. Among many records, Ronnie holds the record for the fast competitive maximum break – 5 minutes and 20 seconds.

In these videos, Ronnie O’Sullivan, the multiple world champion player, takes us through everything from Grip and Stance to splitting the pack.

You can watch the full 22-video series on YouTube here.

Our Range of Snooker Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Grand Duke Traditional Pool Table

$9,395.00 – $10,495.00

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Grand Duke Traditional Snooker Table

$14,995.00 – $16,995.00

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Supreme Traditional Pool Table

$6,395.00 – $7,695.00

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How Much Money Do Snooker Players Earn?

So just How Much Money Do Snooker Players earn in Professional Circles?

Well, quite a bit, even excluding endorsements.

During the 2015/16 World Snooker season England’s Mark Selby was the highest earner, winning £510,909 in prize money.

That’s $995,478.84 in Australian Dollars of which $642,987.33 came from winning the world championship in May.

It was the second time in three years that the reigning world champion has topped the list having picked up a cool $1,361,636.74 in 2013/14.

It’s quite a handsome sum of money!

Australia’s Neil Robertson came in second in claiming $805,454.65 across the season.

Just over half of that was pocketed in winning the Champion of Champions and the UK Championships.

In 2013/14 Robertson finished fourth highest with $95,1675.81 and in 2014/15 came in fifth with $651,852.77.

Below are the top ten total prizemoney earners of last season.

How Much Money Do Snooker Players Earn Exactly?

Here is a breakdown of some top players:

	Player	2015/16 Prizemoney
1	Mark Selby	$995,478.84
2	Neil Robertson	$805,454.65
3	John Higgins MBE	$645,494.98
4	Ronnie O’Sullivan OBE	$588,625.68
5	Mark Allen	$582,000.96
6	Judd Trump	$558,181.20
7	Ding Junhui	$499,612.85
8	Kyren Wilson	$428,073.69
9	Shaun Murphy	$427,148.18
10	Barry Hawkins	$410,196.69

Now before you start asking how much money do snooker players earn and start feeling sorry for Ronnie O’Sullivan OBE, the forty-year-old’s career prizemoney tally currently stands at $16 497,270.22. The winnings have come from the 278 tournaments he has played since 1992.

O’Sullivan has a 74.21% winning record – 817 wins from 1,101 games played.

Robertson’s career Prizemoney earnings are $6,107,239.83 with a 63.67% winning percentage from 779 matches played.

But chances are by the end of his career, 34-year-old Robertson’s earnings will more than likely outstrip O’Sullivan’s, with prizemoney on the up.

In this coming season, total prizemoney will top $10 Million pounds ($19,484,464.67AUD) for the first time with the addition of new world ranking tournaments and prizemoney increases.

Prize money at the Players Championship and Welsh Open will increase, with the Cardiff tournament now joining new events in England, Scotland and Ireland to form the Home Nations Series.

And take this, any player that wins all four Home Nation Series will pocket a £1,000,000 ($1,948,446.47) bonus.

So you wanted to know how much money do snooker players earn, but what’s the moral of the story – get practising!!

Whatever the case the massive money up for grabs will inject even more tension into the 2016/17 World Snooker Tour which begins on June 22^nd in Latvia with the Kaspersky Riga Masters.

#letthegoodtimesroll

Our Range of Snooker Tables

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Grand Duke Traditional Pool Table

$9,395.00 – $10,495.00

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Grand Duke Traditional Snooker Table

$14,995.00 – $16,995.00

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Supreme Traditional Pool Table

$6,395.00 – $7,695.00

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Pool Chalk History

Some Words About Billiard Pool Chalk History

Thank goodness for chalk!

Can you imagine a guest in your house twisting their cue into your ceiling to produce some grip to reduce the chances of a miscue?

Well, believe it or not, pool chalk history shows that this is what used to happen. Players would place their cue into a plaster ceiling or wall to extract the chalk-like substance.

This widespread practice ended around the 1820s just as tips were coming into play and so pool chalk history was to change to a new era.

In the city of Bath in southwest England, John Carr began marketing the first brand of cue chalk called “Twisting Chalk”. Was this the first known commercial sale in pool chalk history?

And how Carr drove sales and at the same time how he lost it all, is quite a story.

Employed as a marker for John Bartley who was the owner and manager of a Pool Table Parlor in Bath, Carr and Bartley would fill in time during the quiet times by trying to screw the red ball into a middle pocket from the centre spot without bringing the red ball back into baulk.

Bartley was the only one who could do it and eventually told Carr he did it by striking his own ball on its side.

This little piece of information set off a chain of events that would change Carr’s life forever and how the game of Pool was played.

Bartley’s ability to screw the ball into the middle pocket effectively made him the inventor of the side stroke but it was Carr who took this as his cue and with an entrepreneurial brain ran with it.

Carr known as Jack, maybe so as not to confuse him with his employer, soon became a much better player and not only mastered but adapted the sidestroke to other areas of the game.

His trick shots transfixed patrons who wanted to know the secret.

With perfect timing and cunning, Jack told them, his amazing shots were due to “Twisting-Chalk”.

It just so happens that he had recently invented and had “Twisting-Chalk” on sale which was powdered chalk placed in small pill-boxes.

An interesting part of this pool chalk history was that it was ridiculously over-priced but the players bought it in order to tap into the magic and in came the cash.

But it also quite quickly went out as good ol’ Jack was a chronic gambler. To start a new life, he moved to Spain and through an undefeated playing reign sold even more twisting chalk but the call of the cards again got the better of him and he eventually returned to England with barely a cent to his name.

It was quite a ride for John “Jack” Carr and even more so considering his original magic pill-boxes were filled with the ground-down blocks of chalk that Mr Bartley was already providing for his customers in Bath.

Eventually, the twisting chalk hysteria died down as people came to realize it was just chalk. When the cue chalk crossed the Atlantic into America it came with its own jargon. “Put a bit of English on it” was the saying when referring to putting some spin on it.

Today chalk is no mystery as the evolution of cue tips denotes the essentialness of chalking up.

Through innovation, all chalk produced today is dustless so to speak. It does produce dust but it quickly settles. This is the result of baking chalk for longer which hardens it.

But the truth is that pool cue tip chalk hasn’t been chalk since 1897 when a combination of crushed silica and Corundum (a crystalline form of aluminium oxide) was first used with dye. But who cares?

The only general piece of information about chalk these days is that the professionals consider the harder chalks to be more grip-receptive than the not-so-hard.

Let the good times roll at Billiard Shop.

#letthegoodtimesroll

Check out our Range of Billiard Chalks

If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

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Taom V10 Cue Chalk Single

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Taom Soft Chalk Single

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Taom Pyro Chalk Single

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Pool Table Chalk – Box of 144 Cubes

Original price was: $99.00.Current price is: $89.10.

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Triangle Pool Chalk – Box of 144 cubes

Original price was: $150.00.Current price is: $135.00.

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Red Triangle Pool Chalk

Original price was: $15.00.Current price is: $13.50.

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Blue Triangle Pool Chalk

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Green Triangle Pool Chalk

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PALKO Pool Chalk

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Lego World Snooker Video

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s fastest Snooker 147 — a Lego World Snooker Video

A snooker fan has taken an incredible moment in snooker history – and turned it into one minute of pure online Lego Genius.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 1997 147 in the first round of the World Championships against the unfortunate spectacle-wearing Mick Price took just 5 minutes and 20 seconds to pot 36 balls – but in this video, the Lego Ronnie can do it faster, in one minute and 14 seconds!

Our Snooker Tables

*If you want to purchase these for your store, contact us at palko.com.au for wholesale prices

Grand Duke Traditional Pool Table

$9,395.00 – $10,495.00

Select options
Grand Duke Traditional Snooker Table

$14,995.00 – $16,995.00

Select options
Supreme Traditional Pool Table

$6,395.00 – $7,695.00

Select options

View all Billiard Tables →

Pool Table Room Ideas for Small Rooms

If you are looking for Pool Table Room Ideas for Small Rooms, then now more than ever before, a billiard room is very fashionable and adds a great deal of fun to the house.

When working out Pool Table room ideas for small rooms or spaces, there are two ways in which to go about creating the perfect room:

Our Range of Pool Tables

The Dangers of 2nd Hand Pool Tables

It’s an all too common sight When we see 2nd Hand Pool Tables, on removing the cloth we discover the slate is cracked

Our Range of New Tables

Australian Open Snooker 2016

Farebrother wins Australian Open Snooker Championship 2016

Our Snooker Tables

The Terminator Pool Table

The Terminator Pool Table.. “I’ll be Back”, and it is!

Our Range of Pool Tables

The Designer Miami Pool Table

The contemporary style of the Miami Pool Table adds that wow factor to any entertainment room

Check out our Range of Modern Tables

Learning How to Play Billiards

When You are Learning How to Play Billiards It is important to take the right approach

Check out our Range of Billiard Tables

Ronnie O’Sullivan Training Videos

It is said that perfect practice makes perfect. That being the case, here’s a perfect way to start practising your Snooker play with Some Ronnie O’Sullivan Training Videos.

Our Range of Snooker Tables

How Much Money Do Snooker Players Earn?

So just How Much Money Do Snooker Players earn in Professional Circles?

How Much Money Do Snooker Players Earn Exactly?

Our Range of Snooker Tables

Pool Chalk History

Some Words About Billiard Pool Chalk History

Check out our Range of Billiard Chalks

Lego World Snooker Video

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s fastest Snooker 147 — a Lego World Snooker Video

Our Snooker Tables

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