Billiards is one of the most enjoyable forms of leisure. This type of leisure has evolved into a full-fledged sport or even a culture in its own right.
The table and the cue are the main tools for playing billiards. The quality of their production and compliance with geometric standards are important criteria for a good game.
The playing field itself should be perfectly level, and the position of the pockets and cushions should be calculated to the millimetre. The playing field is usually based on a well-polished stone slab. It is divided into 5 parts, each weighing about 180 kilograms. One of the main requirements for the table is, surprisingly enough, heat resistance. During the game, the balls spin so fast that their temperature can reach 500 degrees and burn the tablecloth.
The wooden parts of the construction, such as table legs and tops, are varnished. However, it takes a long time to reach the final stage of production. Even with modern drying facilities, typical oak can take around 2 months to dry. Only when the desired degree of drying has been achieved the timber can be cut into the desired shape and glued together. Taking into account the other processes and the fact that the cue has to be made in addition to the whole journey from the beginning to the finished instruments can take several months.
The cue and its performance are as important as a competently made table. For an amateur it makes no difference if there are mistakes in the cue making. But for professionals and true experts, even a few extra grams in the weight of the instrument is noticeable. Incorrect cue length and weight can seriously affect a player’s efficiency and accuracy.
This is the reason why masters use custom made cues. The most correct weight of a cue is 700 grams. Custom-made instruments can cost up to a thousand dollars. Some of the rarest ones get priced cosmic, many times more than that. The time required to make a cue is also several months. Six months is the minimum time required to make a cue. Each part of the instrument requires a different approach and type of wood.
Hornbeam is best suited, and therefore is more commonly used in the making of the shaft and inlays. The butt is made of such exotic woods as amaranth, wenge, rosewood.