Billiards Room Etiquette

1. Respect the Equipment.

   • Avoid Placing the chalk upside down on the table. Nobody likes chalk residue on their clothes.

   • Avoid using hand chalk; washing your hands and cleaning your cue will provide you with a nice smooth stroke.

   • Avoid smoking at the table; a dropped cigarette or ash could burn the cloth.

   • Avoid bringing food or drinks to the table; a spilled drink or dropped food can stain the table or cloth and is a mess to clean up.

   • Avoid sliding the rack across the table; lift the rack slightly to position the balls, this will prevent additional wear to the cloth.

   • Avoid sitting on the table; this could scratch the table or throw the table out of level.

   • Avoid undue strain on the cues by leaning on them or by placing them across the back of your shoulders and wrapping your arms around them.

2. Respect the Room

   • Pool tables, cues, and other equipment are expensive treat them gently and with respect so that they are not damaged.

   • When finished return all equipment back to its proper location

   • If you smoke, don't flick your ashes on the floor or use the floor to put out your cigarette. Use the ashtrays that are provided.

3. Respect the Other Players

   • Be aware of yourself, not to be in the way of other shooters.

   • Be aware of yourself, not to be excessively loud as to disturb the shooters while you are away from play.

   • Avoid distracting any player in the process of taking a shot.

   • Avoid making noise while a competitor is shooting, your opponent or not. To include: talking loud, coughing, cleaning your throat, humming, whistling, dropping something, tapping your stick, jingling the change in your pocket, or any other distracting noise.

   • Avoid movements in the shooters view. To include: chalking you cue, lighting a cigarette, walking in front the shooter, making hand/arm movements, or waving your cue.

   • Avoid standing at the table while your opponent is shooting, especially down the shot line behind the targeted pocket.

   • Avoid changing the lighting while your opponent is shooting, such as the room light or light on another table.

   • Avoid congratulating your opponent before the game is over, no matter how easy or difficult the ending is, this may cause a break in the players concentration.

4. Respect Yourself

   • Pay Attention to the game, when its your turn you should be ready to address the table.

   • Don't criticize the skill of your opponent, “luck” happens both ways.

   • Don't criticize the game, defense is part of all sports.

   • Don't make excuses for a shot you are unsuccessful at making.

   • When your turn is over, move away from the table and give your opponent their chance at the table. You should return to your seat or otherwise stand back out of the way and out of the line of sight of your opponent.

   • It is certainly not okay to return to the table to use the chalk from the table while it is not your turn.

   • Be a gracious winner and loser; shake hands.

   • Show respect before, during, and after a match.

   • Call your shots. Good Luck!