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Pool/Billiards/Questions Answered by Expert Ernie Reynolds
| Subject | Date Asked |
| pool cue we inherited | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: Part of uncle's estate. Has ivory, mother of pearl, leather wrapping, comes apart in 4 pieces. ... A: I am not a pool cue expert but I have found a couple of links where you might get the info you ... | |
| Size of a pool table | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: Do they make a pool table smaller than 7 ft? If they do, what size of room is necessary to play? ... A: There are certainly pool tables made smaller than 7 ft. but I would consider them to be toys rather ... | |
| 9 ball | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: in 9 ball.if the 9 ball is the only ball left on the table and you make the 9 ball but scratch is ... A: Yes, it is a foul if you scratch on the 9 ball. The 9 ball gets placed on the spot and your opponent ... | |
| 9-Ball Rules | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: If you run balls 1 thru 7, then you legally pocket the 8, but the cue ball then travels and hits and ... A: Short answer - You Win! The 9 ball can be pocketed and the game won at any time as long as you hit ... | |
| Hand Bridge | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: When making a natural hand bridge over a ball, are you allowed to rest your hand on the ball -- even ... A: No, you are not allowed to touch or rest your hand on any balls on the table. This would be ... | |
| Putty | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: i am assembling a billiard table, what kind of putty is best to use in between the slates. thank ... A: I believe most of the pros use bees wax to cover the seam between pool table slates. It is melted ... | |
| 8 ball combinations | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: While playing at a pub, my friends and I were at a stalemate on a rule. While shooting on your ball ... A: According to the official rules, yes you can use your opponent's ball in a combination, as long as ... | |
| two general questions | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I am playing in my first tournament this weekend and it is double-elimination. What exactly does ... A: Double elimination basically means that you must lose two games to be eliminated from the ... | |
| pool table | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a Frederick-willys pool table that is about 40 years old. We play on it very often. I ... A: I am not a pool table expert but I will answer your question to the best of my ability. My basic ... | |
| Pool | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I am a senior at Bunn High School. I have been playing pool roughly about 6 years. In order to ... A: Interesting project you have there. I'll do my best to answer your questions. 1. I would tell a ... | |
| pool | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: how old do you have to be a professional pool player. A: I don't believe there is a certain age for when you can become a professional player. I could not ... | |
| rules on break | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: i always played that on the break if you made two balls say solids and one stripe your shots were ... A: According to the World Standardized Rules, as long as you make at least one ball on the break, you ... | |
| Game of 8 Ball | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: Say at the corner pocket, your opponents ball is between the pocket and your ball, is it not illegal ... A: Yes, this is entirely legal to hit your ball in after sinking your opponent's ball, as long as you ... | |
| 9 ball | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: if you combo the nine in and you scratch do you lose? A: Although I cannot find anything in the rules that specifically says this, I am 99% sure that you do ... | |
| pool table markings | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: its an 8by4 maybe slightly larger and don't know where i should put my markings for the white ball ... A: What you need to do is set the head spot and foot spot. If you look at the pool table layout graphic ... | |
| choise after break | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: If he pockets both a solid and a stripe on the break, he has a choice. Must he pocket an appropriate ... A: In 8-ball, according to World Standardized rules, the table is still open after a player breaks and ... | |
| size of pool table in relation to the size of room | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a room that is 14' x 13.5'. What size pool table would be appropriate for that room? A: I have a room size chart on this page - ... | |
| 8 ball | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Question- Over the years I have run into this situation and mattering on whos table an eight ball ... A: The answer to this is simple. If the scratch occurred during the shot for the last ball, then it was ... | |
| men vs women | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I don't mean this to be sexist but I have a question. I like watching 9 ball competition on TV and ... A: That is an interesting question. I certainly don't have the definitive answer to it but I'll give ... | |
| multiple pool tables spacing | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: How do you determine spacing for multiple pool tables in a smallspace. is there a minimum spacing ... A: The average length of a pool cue is about 58 inches, which is just under 5 feet. You would need at ... | |
| Hitting the eight Ball | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: Scenario is like this. The other team scratched and I have the cue behind the line. We have only the ... A: In your first scenario, you opponents were incorrect in saying that you lost the game because you ... | |
| Table size | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: Does it matter what size pool table you learn on? A: No, it doesn't really matter what size table you learn on in my opinion. The important thing is to ... | |
| eight ball question | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: i am hoping you can help me clarify a rule regarding calling the eight ball on your final shot. If ... A: I'd call that shot "lucky". I couldn't find anything in the rules that says you can't hit the cue ... | |
| 8-BALL | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: IN MY LAST GAME OF POOL THE OTHER PLAYER ONLY HAD TO SHOOT THE 8 BALL LEFT OVER . SO HE CALLS IT OFF ... A: I have had several questions like this lately and I find myself turning to the rulebook once again. ... | |
| 8-ball | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: if you have 2 balls left plus the 8 ball can you use the 8 ball on a combination shot and it be ... A: The strict answer to your question is "no". According to the official BCA rule shown below, you ... | |
| eight ball | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: if you are down to the last ball (the eight ball) and you call the pocket and shot and it goes into ... A: When you get the cue ball in the pocket is called a scratch. And yes, you definitely lose when you ... | |
| 8 ball | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: If you do not call the shot of the eight ball or it goes in the pocket you did not call do you lose ... A: I have played a lot of different places and under different rules, but everytime I have played ... | |
| 8 ball combo | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: my ball is in the pocket his ball is ahead of mine. he hits his object ball into my ball my ... A: My first inclination was to say that anytime the 8-ball hits another ball on the way to the pocket, ... | |
| The Break | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: When you break and say u hit in a solid. Are you automatically solids or must you hit in a solid to ... A: According to Billiard Congress of America World Standardized Rule #4.10, the table is always open ... | |
| Pool Table Markings | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a table which does not have markings for the head string, foot spot or the bank shot aids on ... A: The bank shot aids you refer to are often called diamonds. This is because they are often made in ... | |
| foul shot | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: Can you call your object ball to bounce off your opponent's ball before it is pocketed without a ... A: The short answer to your question would be YES. In the private 8-ball games that I play at the bar ... | |
| Practice table | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: How are you I have a question. I play pool at pool halls but want a table to practice shooting on ... A: I am a big believer in practicing your pool game all you can, by whatever means possible. If you ... | |
| pool rules | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: if I hit oppentents ball when sinking in mine with out calling it is that okay or do i loose my next ... A: I assume you are playing 8-ball. If your object ball bounces off one of your opponent's balls before ... | |
| Table Install | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I bought a Pool Table in New Jersey and had to take it apart to bring it home to New Bern, North ... A: If you go to this page - http://used-pooltable.com/northcarolina.html you will find an installer for ... | |
| slate/beeswax | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I had a new table put together and felted. I was told that the 1 in. slate joints didn't need any ... A: I would answer your question with more questions - How does the table look and play. Are any joints ... | |
| pool table | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: i have a brunswick 9ft. table that needs to be leveled. need a good rec. for a mechanis to do same A: You didn't say what part of the country you are from. If you go to this page - ... | |
| Placement of eight ball after scratch | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: my question is for eight ball. The scenario is as follows: I have sunk all my balls, and will be ... A: No, that would not be correct to place the 8-ball on the foot spot, at least according to the ... | |
| 8 ball | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: In shooting at the object ball,it went into the pocket and an additional ball went into a pocket. ... A: According to WPA and BCA rules, in 8-ball, no balls need to be removed from the pocket and spotted ... | |
| Judging double hits | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: As per rule 2.20 of general rules of pocket billiards,suppose the distance between my cue ball and ... A: I am not an official or referee of the BCA, but I will give you my interpretation of the rules. ... | |
| diamond system | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: What do the diamonds represent on the pool table? Do they have a numeric value? This is for a ... A: The diamonds on the pool table are used as reference points for aimimg. They are most useful for ... | |
| How to | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: How do i change the tip on my cue? A: To change your cue tip you first need to remove the old one. Take a razor blade and carefully run it ... | |
| age groups | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: i was just wondering what age you have to be to play for your county. im 14 am i old enough james A: I don't understand the question. What do you mean play pool for "your county"? I come from ... | |
| Eight ball | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: I was shooting at the solid balls and scratched. My opponent had only the eight ball left and the ... A: The simple answer to this question depends on the house rules where you play pool. Where I play, the ... | |
| WHEN THEY SAY REGULATION SIZE TABLE.. | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: WHAT IS THE REGULATION SIZE OF POOL TABLE? I KNOW THERE ARE BARROOM TABLES 7FT AND8FT AND SOME SAY ... A: The word "regulation" refers to the shape of the pool table playing surface. A regulation table is ... | |
| parts | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: ANSWER: Hi Thomas- Since you have a Brunswick table, I guess your best bet would be to contact the ... A: Thomas- That Lakeside site is pretty nice. They seem to have everything. As you said though, they ... | |
| parts | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: A: Since you have a Brunswick table, I guess your best bet would be to contact the Brunswick company ... | |
| "Go for it, or play it safe?" | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: Game: 9-ball Situation: only 8, and 9 remain Ball positions: -8 sits center-width, 4'' off end rail ... A: Several scenarios come to mind from your description- If you feel confident banking the eight in ... | |
| antique slate | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: I am restoring a 1898 Brunswick pool table. The only good piece of slate is the center piece. The ... A: It sounds like you have quite a project on your hands. I am not a pool table restorer, but it seems ... | |
| 8 ball rules | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: There are just three balls on the table. The cue, the 8 ball and the 11 ball. The player with just ... A: According to World Standardized Rules, this is indeed a legal shot and the player who sunk the eight ... | |
| Help in Identifying a Brunswick table | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: I have my Dads old table that he got in the early 1960's. This was an old table then. I had ... A: I honestly don't know any more about this table than I have already told you. I think you need ... | |
| Help in Identifying a Brunswick table | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: I have my Dads old table that he got in the early 1960's. This was an old table then. I had ... A: I am certainly no expert on old pool tables and I wouldn't know what I was looking at in a picture ... | |
| Eight Ball to Win the Game | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: The other night I was playing a game and going for the win in a standard solid stripes game. My ... A: That makes things a little clearer. The good news is that you didn't lose the game. According to the ... | |
| restoring a pool table | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: Is there any way to replace veneer on pool table rails? A: I am not a professional pool table repair person, but I will give you my opinion to your question. ... | |
| Eight Ball to Win the Game | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: The other night I was playing a game and going for the win in a standard solid stripes game. My ... A: I am not completely clear on what happened in your game according to your explanation. I will ... | |
| Ball In Hand History | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: When was the Ball In Hand rule first instigated into modern-day pool in the US? My father taught me ... A: That is a tough question you have asked, and I'm afraid I don't have a definitive answer for you. We ... | |
| Nine Ball Question | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Who is the winner if the nine ball and the cue ball goes into the pocket at the end of the game... ... A: Nine ball is not like eight ball, where you lose if you scratch on the eight ball. If you scratch ... | |
| bank the eight | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: While playing an eight ball game (bank the eight)we had a dispute. When it came time to bank the ... A: I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question because I don't think there is an ... | |
| Nine Ball Question | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: Who is the winner if the nine ball and the cue ball goes into the pocket at the end of the game... A: I believe that no one is the winner yet at that point. The nine ball would be removed from the ... | |
| billards | 12/25/2007 |
| Q: How do I hit the ball and make it take a turn. lets say it is in the corner pocket and i hit it ... A: If I understand the question correctly, you want to put some side-spin on the cue ball. In the pool ... | |
Ernie Reynolds
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Questions about pool playing, billiards history, and shot making.
Experience
Webmaster of http://www.pool-and-pocket-billiards-resource.com, http://www.pool-for-beginners.com, and http://pool-is-cool.com blog.
40 years of playing pool and billiards
Education/Credentials
Broadcasting school,
computer school
Awards and Honors
Eagle scout award
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