March 2006

Just sorted out our advertising copy for the Snooker Scene and CueSport.

We came to a difficult decision today. We have been working on our development for almost a year now.

We have decided that we will offer a free check of any Riley Aristocrat tournament champion table in the UK.

BCE declined to even meet us, so we have to follow other avenues of development.

All the feedback to date has been positive. Every table we have levelled and optimised has been better

to play on. The bonus is, that when we have levelled the 8 legs to perfection, the maps we collate give a

true picture of the quality of the table surface. So we can effectively grade your table to a "standard".

If the map shows that the surface is below standard, do not worry. We can resolve this, and guarantee

our work.

Theoretically, the more you pay, the better the quality. We shall see. We aim to introduce a Quality Standard.

So we are offering to optimise and map any Riley Aristocrat tournament standard table for free.

This will give us information to work towards determining a standard and at the same time expose our system

to people that invest in the game, who are professional or dedicated enthusiasts and we believe this sector

will be the biggest beneficiaries of our optimising.

We have made no headway with the professional governing body, World Snooker.

It took 4 months to arrange a basic demonstration which was carried out at the Wembley Arena, during

The Masters tournament at the end of January. It took 3 weeks after this for the World Snooker

"Technical Committee" to contact us and summise that the laser system was not for them.

They are going to continue with their "run of the ball across various points of the table" solution to

levelling the tables. I heard on the grapevine that it took 6 hours to optimise the only competition table

at The Master this year using this method. We could have optimised in 1 hour and mapped the surface,

giving a true quality check. However Mike Ganley (World Snooker Tournament Director) said that our

system was too slow!

They recommended that I contact the table manufacturer, being BCE (Distributors) Limited.

They supply the Riley Aristocrat tournament tables used in all World Snooker tournaments.

After supplying reports on the 6 Riley Aristocrat tables we had optimised and quality mapped with

practical solutions that would provide optimum tables every time, they have declined to even meet face to face.

They have no desire to even assess the application of the laser system.

We are working hard to make them change their decision by providing our service free of charge in the UK for

a limited period. We believe we are able to offer guaranteed playing surfaces that are perfect to play on.

We believe in our product and that we genuinely optimise tables and provide guaranteed, irrefutable analysis.

When you pay 9k+ for tournament standard new tables, you should expect top quality.

Every snooker player, of whatever standard should be playing on perfect tables in the 21st Century!

The technology is here to give you that option. Traditionally, tables were made by craftsmen and were

essentially precision tools of the trade. Consistency through quality and many man hours of craft produced

the best standard.

We have optimised for level, tables over 40 years old and then mapped the slate surface. No modern tables we

have measured have matched the standard of some of these tables from reputable manufacturers of a bygone age.

Perhaps Thurston's are the last in this country.

The levelling of the frame and the slate bed, steel block cushions, quality cloth, and the best environment,

all combine to provide the player with the best conditions. We achieve perfect levels over the bed and provide a

quality check on the quality of the flatness of the playing surface. If there are any unacceptable deviations,

we can resolve and guarantee our results. This service and standard has never been available before the advent

of laser and computer technology. Our results are irrefutable.

So here is our offer.....

Optimised Clive Everton's table yesterday.

I had a meeting with Clive Everton at his Snooker Scene office.

I combined the trip with levelling his private table.

Results are below. It is amazing that a 44 year old table is still perfect.

 

Does optimising table surfaces improve break building and high breaks in tournaments?

We've not had the final figures confirmed, but it would seem that the EBSA Team Tournament at

The Ivy Rooms, Carlow has produced a plethora of century breaks.

2006 - 37 century breaks (Carlow, Ireland)

2005 - 9 century breaks (Qawra, Malta)

2004 - 12 century breaks (Riga, Latvia)

Tournament report from RIBSA Republic of Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association.

We are not claiming that the optimising of the tables is the reason for this leap.

We can only confirm that our optimising is having a revolutionary effect by providing

optimised tables at future competitions at the top level, be it Pro or Amateur

with statistical increases in high breaks being confirmed over time.

The accumulating statistics will tell the story. We feel optimistic.

Ideally players would be practicing as well as competing on True Level optimised tables.

Check back for news, hopefully this will come sooner rather than later....

Tested the sanding of slate vacuum system today.

We made real progress today to resolve the sanding of high areas on a slate bed. There are serious health hazards with slate dust.
We have sourced a system that is Health & Safety approved, and extracts and contains ALL the dust when we optimise table slate surfaces.
So this means that there is no dust in the air when we work on your table. The system is a bit noisy. Sorry!
Perfection means making some sacrifices.

Click on the link to see the video. Refresh the page to re-run the flash movie.

slate sanding videos with and without the dust extraction vacuum system

 

2006 European Team Championship Ivy Rooms, Carlow, Ireland - 19-25 March 2006 feedback.

I spoke briefly with Jim Leacy, the feedback about how the tables are playing is very positive so far.

After 2 days play, everything is going very well. Some good high breaks. It will be interesting to

compare statistics with previous tournaments, to see if there is an improvement in high breaks.

Jim is the current president of the European Billiards and Snooker Association, EBSA, as well as president of

the Republic of Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association, RIBSA. Jim and his wife Marian own

The Ivy Rooms at Carlow. Marian and her able and friendly assistants run an excellent snooker facility.

The RIBSA website has up to date news on the tournament.

The Ivy Rooms is probably Ireland's premier snooker venue. (especially now the tables are optimised!)

Carlow is a lovely place. Well worth a visit. Recommend the Guinness and The Craic in Finegans.

Photos taken at The Ivy Rooms. Carlow.

 

right click and open in new window.

Positive feedback

Had a call today from a guy who has been playing on tables we optimised at Saint Gregory's Social Club, Preston. He says that the tables played perfectly, 

and both him and his friends improved their scores because the tables played so well, giving them the confidence to play long shots and go for more challenging shots. 

He plays at a social club near Southport and hopefully can persuade the steward of the club that paying £200 for us to optimise the 3 tables will be money well invested. 

Everywhere we optimise tables we get positive feedback. All we ask is that you listen to the growing awareness of our services, and the improvement it can make to 

your game, if you have total confidence in the trueness of your table. 

If you are a keen player there is no reason not to be playing on laser optimised tables. 

Tell your club owner about us, or get your committee to approve us coming in to level your tables.