Snooker Products at INTERSPORT

Welcome to INTERSPORT Snooker. Please click here to find INTERSPORT Store locations that specialise in Snooker equipment and accessories. You can also view general information about Snooker in our FAQ section below and find out about events taking place in 2010.

 

FAQ's

Table:

  • Snooker is generally played on a 6'x12' table, with cushions that curve smoothly into pocket openings. The height of the table is measured from the floor to the top of the cushion rail, and the height shall measure 34” with an allowable variance of +/-0.5”.

Players: A game of snooker is played with two players.

Balls Used:

  • The game is played with 22 balls, made up of fifteen red balls, six different coloured balls (object balls) and a cue ball which is white.  
  • Point values for object balls: red-1, yellow-2, green-3, brown-4, blue-5, pink-6, black-7.

The Rack:

  • A game begins with the red balls placed within a rack forming a pyramid shape.
  • The object balls are then placed in their own positions as shown in the diagram.

Baulk-line and Baulk:

  • A straight line drawn 29” from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to it is called the Baulk-line and the intervening space termed the Baulk.

The Half Circle:

  • The Half Circle is a semi-circle described in Baulk with its center at the middle of the Baulk-line and with a radius of 11.5" 

Object of the Game:

  • To score a greater number of points than the opponent by potting as many high value balls.

Opening Break:

  • The starting player has cue ball in hand within the Half Circle.
  • S/he must cause the cue ball to contact a red ball; if this is not achieved then it is a foul.
  • The opposing player would then have the option to play the table or enforce the other player to break again.

Rules of Play

  • A player must continue to play the table as long as they are potting balls.  If a player misses a pot, they must allow the other player to take their turn.
  • Whilst red balls remain on the table, a player must always pot a red before they can attempt to pot a colour.
  • Failure to touch a red whilst they remain on the table will result in a player committing a foul.
  • If a player pots a colour when the play is a red ball, the player will receive a foul.
  • Jump balls are illegal in International Snooker.
  • When no reds remain on the table, players have to continue to pot coloured balls in number order.  Once potted, they will not be put back on the table.

Illegally Potted Ball:

  • Reds illegally potted are not put back onto the table (spotted).
  • Illegally potted colours are spotted.

Object Balls Jumped off the Table:

  • Balls that jump off the table result in a foul for the offending player.  Colours are spotted but reds are not.

Touching a Ball:

  • While balls are in play it is a foul if the striker touches any object ball, or if the striker touches the cue ball, with anything other than the tip during a legal stroke.

Snookered:

  • A player is known to be snookered if the cue ball is obstructed and the player does not have a straight line to a legal ball.

Angled:

  • The cue ball is angled when a direct stroke in a straight line, to any part of every ball, is obstructed by a corner of the cushion.

Occupied:

  • A spot is said to be occupied if a ball cannot be placed on it without touching another ball.

Push Stroke:

  • A push stroke, which is a foul, is made when the tip of the cue remains in contact with the cue ball when it makes contact with another ball or after it has started to move forward.

Fouls

If a foul is committed:

  • The player who committed the foul incurs the penalty prescribed (which is added to the opponent's score), and has to play again if requested by the next player.

Penalties for Fouls

The following fouls incur penalties of at least four points or the higher described:

  • Value of the ball on - by striking:

a) when the balls are still moving from the previous shot.
b) the cue ball more than once (double hit).
c) without at least one foot on the floor.
d) out of turn.
e) improperly from in hand within the Half Circle.
f) the cue ball misses all object balls.
g) a jump shot.

  • Value of the ball on or ball concerned - by causing:

a) a ball not on to enter a pocket.
b) the cue ball to first hit a ball not on.
c) a push stroke.
d) by striking with a ball not correctly spotted.
e) by touching a ball other than with the tip of the cue.
f) by forcing a ball off the table.

  • Value of the ball on or the higher value of the two balls by causing the cue ball to hit simultaneously two balls other than two reds or a 'free ball' and the ball on.
  • Penalty of seven points is incurred if the striker

a) after potting a red commits a foul before nominating a color.
b) uses a ball off the table for any purpose.
c) plays at reds in successive strokes.
d) uses, as the cue ball, any ball other than the white one.

Basic product requirements

  • Snooker table
  • Snooker Balls
  • Snooker Cue
  • Chalk