Equipment

Table

The playing surface, 11 feet 8.5 inches by 5 ft 10 inches for a standard full-size table, with six pockets, one at each corner and one at the center of each of the longest side cushions. For further information see Billiard table, specifically the section Snooker and English billiards tables.

Cloth

The cloth is usually green with a directional nap running from the baulk end of the table towards the end with the black ball spot (often called baize however baize is a much inferior type of cloth sometimes used on pool tables). The nap will affect the direction of the cue ball depending on which direction the cue ball is shot and also on whether left or right side (spin) is placed on the ball. Even if the cue ball is hit in exactly the same way, the nap will cause a different effect depending on whether the ball is hit down table (towards the black ball spot) or up table towards the baulk line. The cloth on a snooker table should not be vacuumed especially if the vacuum head has beater brushes as this can destroy the nap. The best method is to brush the cloth in a straight line from the baulk end to the far end. Multiple brush strokes are fine as long as they are straight in direction (i.e. not across the table). Some table men will also then drag a dampened cloth wrapped around a short piece of board (like a two by four) to collect any remaining fine dust and help lay the nap down. Strachan cloth as used in official snooker tournaments is made up of 100% Wool. Some other cloths include a small percentage of nylon.

Balls

22 balls (15 red, six colour balls and a white cue ball), 52.5 mm or 2¹⁄₁₆ inches in diameter. For further information see Billiard ball, particularly the section Snooker

Cue

A stick, made of wood or fibreglass, the tip of which is used to strike the cue-ball.

Cue-tip chalk

The tip of the cue is "chalked" to ensure good contact between the cue and the cue-ball. (The substance is not technically chalk, like the white kind used on a blackboard.)

Extension

A shorter baton that fits over, or screws into, the back end of the cue, effectively lengthening it. Is used for shots where the cue ball is a long distance from the player.

Rest

A stick with an X-shaped head that is used to support the cue when the cue ball is out of reach at normal extension.

Rest head adaptor

An attachment that slips onto a conventional rest head to make a spider or just to give a slightly different bridge.

Hook rest

Identical to the normal rest, yet with a hooked metal end. It is used to set the rest around another ball. The hook rest is the most recent invention in snooker.

Spider

Similar to the rest but with an arch-shaped head; it is used to elevate and support the tip of the cue above the height of the cue-ball.

Swan (or swan-neck spider or giraffe)

This equipment, consisting of a rest with a single extended neck and a fork-like prong at the end, is used to give extra cueing distance over a group of balls. If not available, a regular X rest can be placed on a spider so it in turn hangs the required distance beyond to provide similar support.

Triangle/Rack

The piece of equipment is used for gathering the red balls into the formation required for the break to start a frame.

Extended rest

Similar to the regular rest, but with a mechanism at the butt end which makes it possible to extend the rest by up to three feet.

Extended spider

A hybrid of the swan and the spider. Its purpose is to bridge over large packs of reds. Is less common these days in professional snooker but can be used in situations where the position of one or more balls prevents the spider being placed where the striker desires.

Half butt

Usually housed underneath the side of the table, the half butt is a combination of a table length rest and cue which is rarely used unless the cue ball needs to be struck in such a way that the entire length of the table is the actual obstacle.

Ball marker

A multi-purpose instrument with a "D" shaped notch, which a referee can (1) place next to a ball, in order to mark the position of it. They can then remove the ball to clean it; (2) use to judge if a ball is preventing a colour from being placed on its spot; (3) use to judge if the cue ball can hit the extreme edge of a "ball on" when awarding a free ball (by placing it alongside the potentially intervening ball).