One great thing about hobbies is that they give you instant gift ideas. When we were first married, my husband was really into wood working, so I always knew that for a birthday or Christmas, I could easily make him happy with a power tool. But last year he developed a new hobby: playing pool. Funny enough, it developed because of his woodworking. He came across and old pool table where the playing surface was in good condition, but the wood needed a lot of help. He refinished the top and built new legs (the old ones had been used as a chew toy for a very big dog!), and with a beautiful new finish it now looks great in our family room. But you also need pool table accessories to play pool, unless of course, you plan to just use if for your model train set like Hector in Monarch of the Glen!

Some pool tables already come with some basic items (like balls), others you order everything separately so that you can fully customize your experience. There are a few pool table accessories that are an absolute must, some which you need but can get by without when in a pinch, and others that are just extras.

Some of the accessories that you must have include billiard balls and cues (though if desperate, you can play around by rolling the ball with your hand). Pool balls obviously come in a wide range of prices that reflects a range of quality and materials from which the balls are made. Besides the standard set, you can get some that are fancier, others for playing in black light (how cool is that?) as well as other types of sets for playing snooker or carom. When it comes to cues, what can I say? They range in price from $20 to hundreds of dollars, so choose accordingly.

Some pool table accessories that you need, but can do without in a pinch would include chalk for your cue (some say this is a must!), a triangle (or diamond) for racking the balls (way easier than carefully placing the balls by hand and one by one), and perhaps a bridge for those more difficult shots (totally optional by many, indispensable by others). All of these come in different varieties, including chalk, which you can get in purple or orange besides just the standard blue. Racks come in plastic or a range of wood types, and bridges also come in a variety of styles and materials.

Other pool table accessories are smart to help protect your investment. These items include table covers to protect from dust and spills, and brushes to clean, and therefore, extend the life of the playing surface. You can get brushes for the bed of the pool table, and others for under the rail. A cue rack or holder is also very good to keep your cues organized and in good condition. These truly come in a large variety of sizes and makes, so you can easily find one that suits your personality and pool room decor.

Then come the fun pool table accessories, things that personalize your pool playing experience and that can make it more fun. These can range from small chalk holders and pool gloves to billiard ball cases for storing the balls to great billiard lights for above your table and clocks and neon signs for your wall.

Of course there is a large variety of pool related clothing, books and helpful DVDs to keep a pool enthusiast covered for years worth of gifts. And when I run out of ideas and my husband has all of the pool table accessories that he could possible need? Well, maybe by then he will have a new hobby.

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?