Lighting

Billiard table lighting is not decoration but a condition of fair play: badly placed lighting over a pool table throws the ball shadow across the line of the shot and dazzles you when you drop down over the cue.

The rules are simple. Shades hang 80–90 cm above the slate, about 150 cm off the floor. A 7ft table needs two light points, a 9ft one three, and a full-size snooker table five or one long linear fitting. Colour temperature should be neutral, 4000–5000 K — warmer light shifts the ball colours, colder light tires the eyes over a long session. Evenness matters too: several weaker sources beat one strong one. Listings include club lamps with shades, LED bars and branded fittings. See also table parts, scoreboards and billiard tables.