Billiards, what a wonderful game it is. But billiards is also a very skillful game. It takes practice, the ability to laugh at oneself, and did I say practice? When you decide that you want to learn to play billiards it helps if you know what type of game you want to play. There is 8-ball, 9-ball, Snooker and several more. Several publications can be bought from your favorite store. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pool and Billiards", 2nd Edition by Ewa Mataya Laurance and Thomas C. Shaw, is one such book. Another might be "Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots: 350 Moves Every Player Should Know" by Robert Byrne. There are many available and should be the first place you turn when you have a desire to play billiards well.



The next thing that you will need is a "pool cue" or "billiard stick". You will want one that is straight, balanced well and is the weight that feels the best for you. Pool Cues come in weights from 14oz - 22oz. You can order pool cues from dealers at the weight you want. Expect to pay any where from $10.00 at your local Wal-Mart to $1,000.00 plus at a reputable dealer who will give you almost any thing you can think of. Color, wrap, farrel and pool cue tips can be custom ordered for a price. Having a decent pool cue can make all the difference in how well you play.

You will also need good pool cue chalk. "Masters" or "Silver Cup" are the only two of the brands of chalk available. These chalks come in boxes of twelve and any hue of color you might like. Chalk is used to put on the tip of your pool cue so when the ball and cue come in contact they don't slip. While we are talking about chalk you can also get chalk holders that are useful in making your chalk distinguishable from others. These also come in all sorts of fun assortments.

Some players use baby powder on their cue. There is debate about whether your cue likes that powder or not. Many choose to loose the powder and use a glove. The glove helps your hand to slide easily on the cue stick. And since you are not using powder for this, they keep your cue free from sticky build up. Gloves can be worn on the right hand or left and come in many colors. Specialized pool training tools are available such as laser cues, training balls and other electronic training devices. All of these items can be purchase at a billiard store or some of the better sports shops. They come in different varieties and at a cost to fit almost every need.

If you decide to make billiards your game, try out a few of these items. Having these items can help understand the fundamentals to pool a little better. And of course besides owning these helpful billiard supplies, always practice, practice, and did I forget to mention practice?