The Table and the Slate
A quality pool table is built around a bed of slate — a smooth stone surface, usually about an inch thick, that stays perfectly flat for decades. Cheaper tables substitute wood or fiberboard, which warp over time and ruin the roll. Tables come in standard sizes, most commonly seven, eight, and nine feet; the nine-foot table is the tournament standard, while seven-foot “bar boxes” are common in leagues. The larger the table, the more position play and precision the game demands.
Cloth: Speed and Roll
The cloth stretched over the slate is often called felt, though modern cloth is a woven wool or wool-nylon blend. Napped cloth has a slight directional grain and plays slower; worsted cloth, common on tournament tables, is smooth, fast, and consistent in every direction. Fresh, tight cloth makes the cue ball travel farther for the same stroke, which is why players adjust their speed when moving between rooms. Cloth wears and should be replaced when it thins or develops burns.
The Balls
A standard set has sixteen balls: the cue ball plus fifteen numbered object balls, molded from cast phenolic resin for durability and a true roll. Quality balls are precisely weighted and balanced so they do not curve or hop; cheap sets often vary just enough to frustrate. Keeping balls clean matters more than most players realize — a film of chalk and oil changes how they grip and throw, so a periodic wash pays off.
Chalk and the Tip
That small cube of chalk is not decoration. Chalk increases friction between the cue tip and the cue ball, and without it the tip would slide off on any shot with spin, causing a miscue. Apply it gently and often, coating the tip rather than grinding a hole in the cube. The tip itself, usually layered leather, is the only part of the cue that touches the ball; its hardness and shape determine how much spin you can impart. Tips wear down and must be reshaped and eventually replaced.
The Cue
The cue is the one piece of equipment players care about most, and it deserves its own discussion. Length, weight, balance, shaft taper, and joint construction all affect feel. Many players own more than one — a playing cue, a dedicated break cue to absorb heavy impacts, and sometimes a jump cue. We cover how to choose and care for a cue in detail on the choosing a cue page.
Useful Accessories
A few accessories round out a kit. A mechanical bridge (or “rake”) helps you reach long shots without straining; a tip tool shapes and scuffs the tip; a glove reduces friction for a smoother stroke in humid rooms; and a hard case protects your cue in transit. None of it is essential to enjoy the game, but each solves a real problem once you play regularly. For the official equipment specifications used in competition, the World Pool-Billiard Association standards are the definitive reference.