BT 700 UK English 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.If you can, you should allow for an extra 5 cm for your stroke (the back and forth motion of the cue before you strike the cue ball).In short,with the BT 700 pool table, you'll need 21.5m² to play in (around 5.14x4.18m).

STEP 1:

Start by placing the adjustable legs at mid-height: between the highest and lowest points. Place your table where you plan to use it. If you need to move it again one day, you'll have to relevel it.

STEP 2:

Once the table is in place, choose one of the long sides - this is what you'll use as your reference point. Adjust the horizontal position by placing the spirit level on the table, parallel to the long side, as close as possible to the side on the table top. Stand in front of the spirit level, choose one of the table legs (either the right or the left) to adjust it and bring the table up to level on this first side.

STEP 3: 

Now that you have your reference point, do the same on the two short sides, making sure you don't move the long side.

STEP 4:

Once the two short sides are level, your table is ready! To make sure your table is as level as possible, go around the table once more (in the same order) to double check all the adjustments and repeat as necessary.

Temperature changes will often cause the wood to warp. This is one of the main advantages of the stringers on the BT 700 table: they increase the stability of your table over time.

Though there are convertible tables, this particular table is not designed for that.

The reason for that is the casing, which prevents you from putting your legs under the table. This table is designed for pool or billiards and set at the correct height for play.  

You can absolutely play American pool or snooker on your BT 700 UK pool table so long as you have billiard 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 slower bed cloth and smaller pockets. In American pool the table and pockets are larger.

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

15 English pool balls with a 50.8 mm diameter, and 1 white cue ball with a 48 mm diameter.

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. Depending on the material that makes up the frame of your table, you can use beeswax to polish the wood parts and a special stainless steel cleaner on the metallic parts.

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.