How to Use a Professional Snooker Triangle
A majority of the time, if ever the word triangle is used when playing snooker, it refers to the triangular-shaped accessory used in snooker to put the fifteen red balls in the pink table.
However, a professional’s snooker triangle is not triangular it’s rectangular in shape with an angular hole in the middle and there’s a valid reason why this is.
Snooker triangles are made from plastic or wood. However, no matter which material you choose, ensure that you do not rub the baize while putting in the balls.
It is vital that all 15 red balls are placed in the correct order on tables during tournaments for snooker. This is done by using the special features of the professional tournament snooker triangle.
Professionally snooker triangles are played on a wheel that are unidirectional, they also have a pointer that is used to find the centre of the table. Furthermore, because the shape of the outside is rectangular, one edge of the rectangle can be utilized to align the row of reds that is closest to the top cushion in line with it.
How to use a Professional Tournament Snooker Triangle
Place the triangle on the table with the short side the furthest from the pointer flush against the cushion at the top. Be sure that the pointer points toward the black spot.
- Place the red balls of 15 in the triangular opening.
- Move the triangle toward the pink spot until it is just above the pink spot.
- To make sure that your fingers are tight packed, place the ends of your fingers right behind the balls.
- Make the triangle move to the left by pushing it a few millimetres.
- Lift the triangle upwards, until the balls have disappeared.
- The entire triangle was removed from the table.
- Place the pink back in its place.
- The balls are now in the perfect position ready to be consistently broken off.
When you purchase a professional tournament snooker triangle, ensure that it can perform what it’s supposed to accomplish. You must ensure that it is precise and well-made. It should also not cause marks on the table once it is used.
It is essential to invest in a snooker cue and case with chalk, snooker ball, chalk and a snooker triangular If you’re serious about learning snooker. When you’ve got all theseitems, you’ll be in a position to take your breaks like pros do.
Snooker triangles are the undiscovered hero of Snooker. They are present to help you in every game, ensuring that you get the most effective start to your game every time. They can make all the difference if you purchase quality products. You should ensure that the product has all the features professionals can appreciate.
A GUIDE FOR SELECTING THE the PERFECT CUE TIP
With the different sizes, shape, hardness, layers, and materials, and most obviously, cost, it can be difficult to look through the many Billiard, pool and snooker cues available that are available. Your skill, technique, and practice are the most important factors in your game. It is important to pay attention to any subtle variations in your tips since they can have a huge impact on your shot or game. Here are some suggestions for variables.
Tip Size
Tip size is largely correlated to the type of game being played (English Pool, American Pool or Snooker).
English Pool
- It is the most well-known game in every day Australian as well as English pool games.
- Typically 2″ pool balls are typically used for tables with 7 feet and 8 feet. tables.
- Commonly: 1 7/8″ balls for 6-foot tables (or 2″ balls with 1 7/8″ white ball)
- Tip size: 8-10mm tips
American Pool
- 2 1/4 inch balls on 7-foot or 8-foot or 9-foot tables (similarity to 9-Ball pool).
- Tip size: 11.2mm-13mm tips
Snooker
- Coloured snooker balls generally played on 10 or 12-foot tables.
- Tip size: 9.5mm-10mm tip
- Shaft strength decreases when the tips are smaller than 9mm
- As a general rule: A larger tip equals more power. A smaller tip = more finesse.
Tip Hardness
Your typical English and Snooker Pool games generally utilise medium or soft tips. Hard tips are a necessity for breaking cues but many players use them in general game play. Here are some general rules regarding tip hardness:
Soft Tips
- Impact
- More spin and cue ball spins after striking off centre
- More misshaping + maintenance + replacement
- The mishap is commonly called’mushrooming or flattening’
- Most likely to harden as it is used.
Medium Tips
- Combination of control and the sameness
- Still have spin (like soft tips) but with less misshaping
Hard Tips
- Absorb less impact
- Less spin (as they absorb less energy and impact) They are also less likely to miscue when striking the cue ball off the centre
- More consistency means less maintenance and more durability
Phenolic/Carbon Fibre Tips
- Just as difficult as cue balls
- Smooth, solid hits that deliver the maximum power , with little maintenance
- Many breaking cues are standard
- Phenolic (non-leather) tips are not permitted in some pool tournaments clubs and leagues.
It’s important to note that tip hardness makes some difference in performance and cue spin, however, personal skill, technique, power and training are just as, if not more crucial.
What are layered suggestions?
Layered tips are made by gluing many layers of leather. They are quickly becoming the norm in contemporary tips. Because leather isn’t homogeneous (i.e. Each piece of leather is different, and each one is different in its hardness. It is therefore best to bundle multiple layers in a single layer, since they’ll be more uniform in terms of hardness. Although traditional, solid leather tips are more popular than those with layers but they are not without defects and imperfections that could cause inconsistent tips. Additionally, they increase the risk of miscuing and mushrooming.
Why is it that there are numerous price differences? Aren’t all tips the same?
A higher price usually means that the company is paying more attention to quality properties like durability, consistency and overall quality of the tip. It is important to experiment with various tips and conduct your research prior to assuming that the highest priced tip is the most effective.
Elk Master tips, which comprise of solid Elk-leather and tips that are not layered are a good illustration. The Cue Shop sell a pack of three for as low as $6, or 50 boxes for $49.95. The problem with this is the fact that the standards for manufacturing and testing aren’t as rigorous as higher-end tips. Although the most soft side is more difficult, there are still hardness variations between tips. There are minor defects as well as blemishes, inconsistencies and flaws in the Elk Master tips. They are not layered and are “hole punched’ into a piece of leather to form a solid tip. However, Elk Master tips are widely known for their great tips for pool enthusiasts to the growing champion. Their reasonable price makes them great for practicing to build skill and also to practice in reshaping and maintaining tips.
The highest level of tip consistency is achieved with high-end tips with a consistency in thickness, hardness, and elasticity (e.g. Soft layers are not compatible with hard layers. This is especially evident in ElkPro tips, which are renowned for their rigorous tests and standards for shape to ensure overall tip consistency. Brunswick tips are another premium tips that have a uniform density. They are made from hand-selected water Buffalo hide and are infused with high-quality velvet Silica. Their long-lasting life is because of ultra-pressure and being much thicker than the average cue tip.
The Cue Shop recommends the Kamui range to ensure maximum durability, consistency, and reliability. Kamui tips feature 10 layers of specially selected pig skin. They are optimized for the highest porosity, resistance to humidity, and heat resistance. The tips of Kamui have excellent chalk-retention which promote tip-grip and stops the tip from slipping. Pig skin is a high-quality leather used in the majority of layers tips since it has exceptional elasticity, especially when compared to other types of leathers. Although Kamui tips show great chalk retention but it is crucial to maintain the tips regularly to promote chalk retention and tip shape, as well as overall gameplay. This is important for any cue tip. Find out more information about our tips on how to keep tips here!
There is so much information on the qualities that create a top pool cue tip. You’re probably thinking about is which one is the best? Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut solution. Before you look at the hardness of your cue it is crucial to first note the length of the game. A high-quality cue tip can help you improve your pool skills. As your experience and proficiency increases, as well as experimentation with different tips, you will notice the minor variations and will be able to find a tip which fits you best.
Additional Resource:
https://www.prosnookerblog.com/
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/snooker/
https://www.livesport.com/en/snooker/