BT 500 Pool Table

You need to be completely at ease when playing cue sports, and that means, among other things, having enough space to play in. Ideally, you should have around the length of a cue (the average length is 1.45m) to move around in on each side of the table. Allow an additional 5 cm for your stroke (space to pull back the cue before striking the ball). As an average we would recommend having a space of 15 m2 for this table.

Even though, you'll need a minimum of 13 m2 of space to play on this BT 500 pool table (394 x 330 cm) if you use a 122 cm billiard cue.
But if you decide to switch to a longer billiard cue (usually 145 cm), then you'll need 16.5 m2  of space (440 x 376 cm).

You can absolutely play English pool ("blackball") or snooker on your BT 500 pool table so long as you get balls of the correct size. That being said, there are some differences to take into account. Snooker is usually played on a much larger table, with a slow cloth and smaller pockets. In English pool the table and pockets are smaller.

What about French billiards? You can't play French billiards on this table because there's no way of covering the pockets.

They are 44 mm in diameter.

Your table: 79 cm high, 140 cm long, 76 cm wide.

Playing surface area: 64.2 x 128.5 cm. The tabletop is 15 mm thick.

Once folded up, your pool table is 169 cm tall!

Weight: 36 kg

Given the importance of your billiards table, you must care for it as you would high-quality furniture. To clean the table, dust it off with a soft, dry cloth. Use beeswax to polish the wood parts of the frame (depending on what materials the frame is made of).

1. Chalk marks

The cloth on your table is sensitive to chalk marks. You should avoid chalking your cue over the table. This will prevent chalk dust from accumulating on the cloth and will keep it in good condition for longer.

2. Food and drink

Your pool matches are a chance for you to relax and play a little sport, but even so, we strongly advise you to keep food and drink away from the table. After all, you don't see anyone eating in a 50 m swimming pool.

3. Protect your cloth

When you finish playing, you should always pull a protective cover or a tarp over the table. Unless you've got a table that is especially designed for outdoors, the cloth on your table will need to be protected against sunlight. Covering your table between games will prevent damage and stains and stop dust from accumulating.

4. Cleaning your cloth

For fast cloth (which is used on French billiards and American pool tables and which are generally made of wool and nylon): The dust and dirt on your table are often caused by chalk. Brushing the cloth only spreads it out. We recommend you hoover the cloth after every game.

What are the white marks on the cloth? These are ball burn marks caused by the balls generating friction on the cloth when they are struck by the cue. To remove them, take some leftover cloth, dip it in hot water, wring it out, and then rub the burn mark.

For slow cloth (snooker and English pool tables, which are mainly made of wool and have a velvety look and a furry texture): After each game, we recommend brushing the cloth to remove dust and dirt. Next, run a cool iron over the cloth, from top to bottom, to brush against the pile and improve the glide quality for the next game.

Even though balls will suffer wear over time, regular care helps lengthen their lifespan and allows you to better judge the quality of your shots so you can improve your game.

- If you play a lot and especially if you play with people of different abilities, you might want to switch between two different sets of balls. Once your original set is worn, keep it for impromptu games with beginners and buy a new set for playing against better players. This will help protect your main set for longer.

- Before you play, you  should rub the balls with a cotton cloth. As well as making balls sparkle and shine, careful, thorough cleaning helps them to run better.

- We advise you to  clean them from time to time using a cloth and a little cleaning product diluted in lukewarm water.

- You should store your cue in your case after you've finished playing. If you don't have a case or you like to keep your cue at home, make sure you lie it down flat or stand it upright. If you leave it leaning at an angle against the wall or the table, the wood could warp.

- The butt (the part of the cue you hold) is varnished. To clean it just wipe it with a dry cloth. You can dampen the cloth slightly to remove more stubborn marks.

- The shaft (the part you aim with) is left unvarnished so it glides better in your hand. To prevent markings (especially chalk) from becoming embedded, we recommend regularly cleaning the shaft with a damp cloth, then immediately wiping it off with a dry cloth.

- Start by removing the worn tip and scraping the end of the cue (called the ferrule) with a utility knife to remove any residue left by the leather and glue.

    - Use the knife to cut a grid pattern in the ferrule. This will help the glue to bond better.

    - Rub the flat part of the tip with sandpaper  (the side to be glued) to remove the varnish.

    - Dab the glue very gently on the ferrule and the tip. The aim is for the glue not to ooze out over the sides when you stick the two surfaces together.

    - Press the shaft down vertically, with the tip against your work surface, to ensure the glue bonds well. Keeping the cue in this vertical position, cut the edges of the tip so that it is perfectly aligned with the ferrule.

    - Finally, use sandpaper to give the tip its curved shape and make sure it is properly aligned with the shaft. Use increasingly fine sandpaper to protect the wood of the shaft.