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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
BALL AND TABLE GAME
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1994/017875
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a ball and table game which incorporates aspects of features of the game of golf and more conventional ball and table games, such as snooker and pool. A ball and table game apparatus is provided which has a playing surface (3) of varying topography, including depressions (5) and rises (4) on the playing surface. A cue-ball and a pot-ball are provided and the object of the game is for the player to pot the pot-ball in a hole (A, B, C, D, E, F) on the playing surface by striking the cue-ball to hit the pot-ball, in the least number of shots possible. The varying topography increases the difficulty of attaining this object. Preferably, a number of different playing surfaces may be provided with different "courses".

Inventors:
CARBONI GAVINO ANTONIO (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU1994/000060
Publication Date:
August 18, 1994
Filing Date:
February 10, 1994
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
CARBONI LORRAINE FAY (AU)
CARBONI GAVINO ANTONIO (AU)
International Classes:
A63D15/00; (IPC1-7): A63D15/00
Foreign References:
GB356961A1931-09-17
GB2200294A1988-08-03
US1566057A1925-12-15
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Claims:
THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. A ball and table game apparatus, comprising a table having a playing surface, the playing surface having at least one pocket arranged to receive a ball therein, the playing surface having a varying topography arranged to interfere with the progress of a ball being played on the playing surface.
2. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the varying topography is provided by one or more rises and/or depressions in the playing surface .
3. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with claims 1 or 2, at least one obstacle being provided on the playing surface, the obstacle being arranged to prevent the progress of a ball over or through the obstacle .
4. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3, the obstacle being arranged such that a ball contacting the obstacle will rebound therefrom in a similar manner to which it will rebound from a conventional "cushion" .
5. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, the playing surface being defined by a border of an irregular curvilinear shape.
6. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 5, the playing surface having rises thereon, the surface profile of the rises being such as to allow the balls on the table to roll smoothly thereover and provide deflections to the path of the balls when the rises are encountered.
7. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 5, the playing surface having depressions therein, the depressions having a surface profile allowing the ball to roll smoothly and providing deflections to the path of the ball when they are encountered.
8. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, an area of the playing surface being designated as a tee area, wherein in a first phase of a game to be played on the game apparatus a cueball must be played from the tee area.
9. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the playing surface has a plurality of pockets and wherein there are designated on the playing surface a plurality of tee areas, wherein in specified phases of a game to be played on the apparatus, a cueball must be played from a specified tee area for a specified pocket.
10. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein there is provided a cueball and a pot ball, and wherein the aim of the game is to strike the cueball from a rest position on the playing surface to hit the potball to pot the potball in a specified pocket for a particular phase of the game .
11. A ball and game apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein there are a plurality of pockets and wherein an area is designated for placement of the potball during each phase of the game, a particular area for the potball being designated for particular pockets.
12. A ball and game apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the playing surface is provided with a covering which gives an inconsistent surface providing variation in resistance to rolling of the ball.
13. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein the playing surface covering is suede leather.
14. A ball and table apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the table surface is a split level surface and one part of the playing surface is higher than another.
15. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein there are provided a plurality of interchangeable playing surfaces, each playing surface having a different topography from the other playing surfaces, whereby a number of different "courses" are provided.
16. A ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, a pit being provided in the surface of the table for receiving a ball in such a manner that the ball cannot be played out of the pit but must be manually removed.
17. A system of game apparatus, comprising a plurality of ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, each ball and table game apparatus in the system having a playing surface which has a varying topography which is different from the varying topographies of the other ball and table game apparatus in the system, whereby the system provides a plurality of different "courses" .
18. A method of playing a game wherein a player or players compete by taking turns to strike a cueball on a playing surface of a ball and table game apparatus to hit a potball to direct the potball towards a designated pocket, the method comprising the following steps: a player places the cueball on a designated tee area and the potball on a designated potball area 4, for a particular pocket; the player takes sequential shots by striking the cueball to hit the potball to direct it towards the pocket, until the potball enters the pocket; note is taken of the number of shots it took for the player to send the potball into the pocket; and subsequently the next player takes a turn to pot the potball in the pocket or, where there is only one player, the one player may play the pocket again or play another pocket where available.
19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the object of the game is to pot the ball in the pocket in the minimum number of shots, and account is taken of the number of shots each player takes to pot the ball in the pocket.
20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein there are a plurality of pockets and each pocket is designated a "par" , being a predetermined number of shots by which a player should have the potball in the hole.
21. A computer game simulation of a ball and table game apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 17, comprising a visual display unit for displaying a playing surface having a varying topography and at least one pocket, and a cueball and potball moveable on the surface, a control means for controlling the display and a player actuated device for causing motion of the cueball .
Description:
BALL .AND TABLE GAME

The present invention relates to a game apparatus and method of playing a game, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a ball and table game apparatus of the type wherein a game played on the apparatus generally involves a step of potting a ball into a pocket in or proximate a playing surface of the apparatus .

There are a number of well known ball and table games. Examples include snooker, pool and billiards. All these games are generally played on a table having a rectangular, flat playing surface bordered by a "cushion". An object of the game is to score points by potting balls in "pockets" proximate the playing surface adjacent the cushions. These well-known ball and table games are all played on flat playing surfaces.

The present invention provides a ball and table game apparatus, comprising a table having a playing surface, the playing surface having at least one pocket arranged to receive a ball therein, the playing surface having a varying topography arranged to interfere with the progress of a ball being played on the playing surface.

The varying topography preferably comprises one or more rises and/or depressions in the playing surface.

By "ball and table game apparatus" is meant the type of apparatus having a playing surface on which a ball can be played from areas on the playing surface where it comes to rest, similar to the known types of ball and table game apparatus such as snooker, pool, etc. The playing surface of the apparatus of the present invention, however, is preferably provided with a depression and/or rise, preferably a plurality of depressions and/or rises. These depressions/rises are arranged to interfere with the progress of a ball being played on the playing surface. Where an object of the game played on the playing surface is to pot a ball in the pocket, therefore, there is a greater requirement of

skill necessary in order to negotiate the "course" formed by the arrangement of rises/depressions.

In a preferred embodiment, rises and depressions on the playing surface are arranged to provide the impression of a miniature golf course. The apparatus then lends itself to the playing of a game which could be considered to be a hybridisation of golf and more conventional ball and table games such as snooker, pool, etc. In a preferred game, a cue-ball and pot-ball are provided. The game is played by striking the cue-ball to hit the pot-ball to propel the pot-ball towards the pocket. A large degree of skill will be required to negotiate the "course" formed by the series of depressions and rises on the playing surface. It will also be necessary for the player to judge the resulting position of the cue-ball after it has struck the pot-ball in order to ensure that the cue-ball is in a position for the player to be able to take his next shot at the pot-ball . Rises are preferably of a nature that will allow the balls to roll smoothly at all times on the playing surface and provide slight deflections when encountered. Similarly with depressions. The gradients of the rises and depressions are preferably gradual. A depression maybe designed so that a ball may come to rest at its base, in a similar manner to a golf "bunker". Similarly, rises may be provided with a flat top or plateau on which the ball may come to rest .

Obstacles may also be provided on the playing surface. These will preferably be of a nature to prevent progress of a ball when it strikes the obstacle. They will preferably be designed to cause a ball to bounce off their surface in a similar way to the way a ball will bounce off a conventional cushion. An obstacle in the form of a "hole" or "pit" in the playing surface may also be provided. The ball may become trapped in the "pit". Such a hole maybe said to provide a similar function to a "water trap" on a golf course. Such a hole or pit may be

essentially of the nature of a depression with steep gradient, from which the ball cannot be propelled out.

The playing surface is preferably bordered by a cushion, as in conventional ball and table game apparatus, and the pocket is preferably provided adjacent the cushion. A plurality of pockets are preferably provided.

Whilst the playing surface may be generally rectangular in shape, as in conventional ball and table game apparatus, it may also be of an irregular curvilinear shape. The playing surface is also preferably provided with "tee areas" which designate an area where a cue-ball is to be played from as an initial step in a game to be played on the playing surface. Areas are also preferably designated for placement of the pot-ball. Where there are a plurality of pockets there are preferably a plurality of corresponding tee areas and areas for placement of the pot-ball, so that the pot-ball and cue-ball will initially be placed in different areas depending upon which pocket is being played.

In general, the "table" may comprise any form of support capable of mounting the playing surface and need not be in the form of a conventional table. The support for the playing surface needs to provide adequate support for the playing surface and enable access thereto by the player.

Playing surfaces may be interchangeable for a particular table, so that a single table may play host to a number of different "courses". As soon as the players become accustomed to a certain course, therefore, it may be changed to increase the difficultly. It is envisaged that the game may be provided in hotels, leisure centres and the like. Interchangeability of the playing surface will assist in maintaining interest in the game. The apparatus may comprise a table support mounting a table top. The table top mounts the playing surface. To enable interchangeability, the table top may be removable from the table support and replaceable by

different table tops having playing surfaces with different courses. The interchangeable playing surfaces may have different shaped borders or the same shaped borders . The playing surfaces may be interchangeable in other ways. For example, changing the playing surface and retaining the same table top, or adding obstacles and rises to the playing surface to change the course while retaining the same playing surface .

In a further embodiment, a "split level" playing surface may be provided. One level of the playing surface will be higher than another level, with a gradient in between the two levels. This preferably will make playing even more difficult .

The playing surface is preferably covered by a material which provides an inconsistent surface; parts of the surface have more resistance to the ball rolling thereon than other parts of the surface, for example. A preferred surface material is suede leather. The fibres of the sued are longer in some areas than in others . The inconsistent surface provided by using this type of covering preferably increases the difficultly and interest in the game. It has the additional advantage over conventional coverings (e.g. felt) that it has better fire resistance, better appearance and will not fray like conventional coverings.

It is envisaged that tables may also be provided for playing the game out doors . The covering provided on such tables may be of different material, as may the table itself, than those used in doors. The pocket or pockets may be of any suitable form and, although it is preferred that they be situated adjacent a cushion proximate to playing surface, it will be appreciated that they may be provided at any point on the apparatus, for example, within the actual area of the playing surface.

From a further aspect, the present invention provides a system of a bail and table game apparatus, comprising a plurality of a ball and table game apparatus

as discussed above, each ball and table game apparatus in the system havin'g a playing surface which has a varying topography which is different from the varying topographies of the other ball and table game apparatus in the system, whereby the system provides a plurality of different "courses" .

From a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of playing a game, wherein a player or players compete by taking turns to strike a cue-ball on a playing surface of a ball and table game apparatus to hit a pot-ball to direct the pot-ball towards a designated pocket, the method comprising the following steps: a player places the cue-ball on a designated tee area and the pot-ball on a designated pot-ball area, for a particular pocket; the player takes sequential shots by striking the cue-ball to hit the pot-ball to direct it towards the pocket, until the pot-ball enters the pocket; note is taken of the number of shots it took for the player to send the pot-ball into the pocket; and subsequently the next player takes a turn to pot the pot-ball in the pocket or, where there is only one player, the one player may play the pocket again or play another pocket where available. Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan schematic view of a playing surface of a ball and table game apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan schematic view of a playing surface of a ball and table game apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side-on sectional view illustrating an example profile of a "depressicr-" and an "obstacle" ;

Figure 4 is a side-on sectional view illustrating an example profile of a "rise";

Figure 5 is a perspective view from above and one side of a ball and table game apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through a side portion of a table top in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, to illustrate construction of the "cushion"; and Figure 7 is a plan view of a pocket of a game and table apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, to illustrate example pocket dimensions.

Figures 1 and 2 both show plan views of a playing surface for a table and game apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a ball and table game apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment . The borders 1 of the playing surface of Figures 1, 2 and 5 are of generally irregular curvilinear shape. The shapes are different for each embodiment . Otherwise the embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 2 differ only in the arrangement of the pattern of rises and depressions and obstacles on their respective playing surfaces. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment also only differing from the other in the arrangement of the pattern of rises and depressions. It may be said that each playing surface represents a different "course". Similar reference numerals will be used to designate the rises, depressions and obstacles for each embodiment. Note that the borders of the playing surfaces of apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be of any shape, including rectilinear as in conventional ball and table apparatus .

The respective playing surfaces comprise substantially flat areas 3, a plurality of rises 4, a plurality of depressions 5. In the illustrations all areas which are not rises or depressions or otherwise marked are substantially flat areas.

In the embodiments of figures 1 and 2, the rises 4 and depressions 5 are indicated by a boundary line. Both the rises 4 and depressions 5 have a sloping profile designed to cause deviation of a ball rolling thereon. The rises are generally gradual rises in the playing surface which either peak to form a plateau or a small hill. They are of such a nature that they will allow balls rolling on the table to roll smoothly at all times and provide deflections when encountered. Shapes and grades of the rises may obviously vary from playing surface to playing surface. Many different "courses" may be designed.

Similarly with the depressions. These will also be designed generally to allow the balls to roll smoothly, providing slight deflections or areas where the ball may come to rest in the bottom of the depressions

(in a similar manner to "bunkers" in golf) .

Furthermore, a plurality of "obstacles" 6 are also provided on the playing surface. The obstacles in the illustrated embodiments are cylindrical bodies upstanding from the playing surface and designed to impede the progress of the ball. If a ball hits one of the obstacles with any speed it will bounce off in a similar manner to the way it would bounce off a conventional cushion.

In each embodiment the playing surface is surrounded by a conventional cushion (shown only as a border line in Figures 1 and 2) and pockets (marked "A" through "F") are provided on the playing surface adjacent the cushions, in a similar manner to the way they are provided in conventional ball and table playing surfaces.

Further, tee areas 7 and 8 are designated in flat areas of the playing surface of each embodiment.

A pedestal support 20 supports the table top 21 mounting the playing surface (Figure 5) .

A preferred game which can be played on the playing surfaces of the illustrated embodiments is as follows :

The game is played with two balls, cue-ball 12 and pot-ball 13! The balls 12, 13 may be of similar sizes to balls used on conventional ball and table games and will be of a size that can fit down the pockets. A preferred game is played in stages and the balls are initially positioned depending upon which stage of the game is being played. A first stage of the game requires a player to pot the pot-ball 13 in pocket A using the cue-ball 12. In that case, referring to Figure 1, the cue-ball is placed on the tee designated with numeral "1" and the pot-ball is placed on the marked spot 10, as illustrated in the figure. The player then strikes the cue-ball 12, with a conventional billiard cue, to strike the pot-ball 13 in an attempt to propel the pot-ball towards pocket A. The object of each stage of the game is to get the ball into the specified pocket in the least number of shots. A certain amount of skill will be required to enable the player to negotiate the "course" with the balls. The next stage, after the pot- ball has been potted in pocket A, requires it to be potted in pocket B after the pot-ball has been re- positioned on area 10 and cue-ball on tee "2". Subsequent stages are played commencing from the correct start positions for the pocket in question. A single game may be played by several players.

Each player takes it in turn to pot the pot-ball 13 in a particular pocket for the stage being played.

In each subsequent stage of the game the pot-ball and cue-ball are placed wherever is appropriate for the particular pocket being played. For example, with reference to figures 1 and 2, the cue-ball 12 is placed on tee 2 for pocket B, tee 3 for pocket C and the pot-ball is placed on spot 10 nearest area 8. For tee 4 the pocket to be played is D, tee 5 pocket E, and tee 6 pocket F. The pot-ball in this case is placed on spot 10 near area 7. It will be appreciated that variations from this particular placement may be applied. This is merely the preferred placement for the commencement of each

stage for the embodiments shown.

Each pocket may vary in difficulty in potting the pot-ball in that pocket and each pocket will be provided with a "par" (the number of shots it should take a player to complete that pocket) . Similarly to golf, a player may complete a "course" (and pot a ball in all the pockets) in "even par", "over par" or "under par".

The game has a higher degree of difficulty than conventional ball and table games due to the varying topography of the playing surface and the necessity for the player to be able to correctly negotiate the "course" . With difficulties exacerbated by penalties being added to the player score if a player makes a "foul" shot. The general list of foul shots is as follows:

1. If the cue-ball is struck and leaves the table, 1 point is added to the players score and the cue-ball is re-positioned in the relevant part of the tee for the pocket being attempted. 2. If the cue-ball is struck and is sunk in any pocket, 1 point is added to the players score and the cue-ball is re-positioned in the relevant part of the tee for the pocket being attempted.

3. If the cue-ball strikes the pot-ball and the pot-ball is sunk in a pocket other than the designated scoring pocket, 1 point is added to the players score and the pot-ball is re-positioned onto the marker relevant for the pocket being attempted.

4. If the cue-ball strikes the pot-ball and the pot-ball leaves the table, 1 point is added to the players score and the pot-ball is re-positioned onto the marker relevant for the pocket being attempted.

5. In the event of both balls creating fouls according to the above rules in the execution of a shot, 1 point only is added to the players score and the balls are re-positioned accordingly, (in effect the player starts again) .

6. If the cue-ball is sunk in the same shot that

the pot-ball is sunk (in correct pocket) , either after or prior to pot-baϊl entering pocket, no penalty points are added to players score.

7. If the cue-ball is struck towards the pot-ball and misses, 1 point is added to players score.

8. In the event that the cue-ball and pot-ball end up in a "kissing" position, the player may elect to; a) have a 1" margin relief (cue grip) from the pot-ball in he direction of the "kissing" balls; or b) strike the cue-ball away (in any direction) from the pot-ball.

9. In the event that the cue-ball and pot-ball end up in a "kissing" position within a bunker (depression) , the player may elect to place the cue-ball on the flat surface adjacent to the bunker in the direction of the "kissing" balls.

10. Further to rules 1 - 9, failure to comply with the following guidelines will result in the addition of 1 point to the players score. a. a player's cue-tip must strike the cue-ball only once in the execution of a shot. b. a player must have one foot on the floor in the execution of a shot . c. both balls must come to rest before another shot is attempted. d. a player must strike the cue-ball with the tip of the cue only. e. a player must not attempt to make the cue-ball jump over obstacles, bunkers, mounds (rises) or pot- ball. f. a player must not attempt to sink the pot-ball in a pocket other than that being played.

11. In competitions, the referee is in charge of all official decisions regarding foul strokes, reliefs and any other rules not complied with by the player. The rules of the game played on the game apparatus of the present invention may vary from those given above.

It is envisaged that there will be many different "courses" available for play. Rather than having a

single table produced with a single course, it would be preferable if many different tables with different course designs were produced. That way, no one player would find it easy to get used to a single course. It is also possible that a particular table could be adapted to provide for different courses. For example, the playing surfaces for a particular table may be interchangeable (either by interchanging table tops mounting different playing surfaces, or by other ways - see previous discussion) .

The obstacles designated by reference numeral 6 in the specific embodiments, may be movable to enable some degree of variation on a particular surface.

It will be appreciated that many different types of surface "courses" may be designed, varying in difficultly depending upon the complexity and arrangement of the topography of the playing surface. Design of the best, most "interesting" and "playable" of courses will be essentially a question of trial and error in experimenting with various different designs, pretty much as with conventional golf courses. A preferred method for approaching the design of a particular course is as follows :

1. A sketch is drawn to scale on graph paper of the proposed new table. This sketch is in plan form and shows the approximate geometric shape of the table. The graph paper aids in the placement of this new geometry enabling the designer to keep within the specified size limits of the table; eg. 8x8, 12x8, 10x8 etc. 2. Scaled measurements of curve radii, straights, etc. are taken from the sketch. Through calculations and using the laws of geometry these scaled distances and calculated angles are joined together and adjusted, if necessary, to create a "perfect" geometric shape. 3. Arbitrary coordinates are given to each relevant point in this new geometric shape eg. centrepoints of curves, tangent points, common tangent points, etc. and may be entered into a computer where a scaled drawing is

produced (using conventional surveying geometric techniques - a computer is not necessary; the scaled drawing could be produced manually) .

4. This scaled drawing along with the coordinates and relevant geometric information are then utilised to manufacture the table.

Once the table has been designed in this manner, then manufacturing in accordance with the design may commence. In a preferred embodiment the manufacturing steps are as follows:

1. The base of the playing surface is a sheet of 32mm medium density fibreboard (such as LAMINEX™ CRAFTWOOD™, for example) . This material has the advantage of consistency and that it can be routed, in order to create the "bunker" (depressions) .

2. The depressions are cut into this surface with the aid of templates and hand routers up to 14mm deep.

3. The rises are cut to shape and bevelled from 25mm & 32mm board (same material as base) . The playing surface is then slightly recessed (1,2mm) in the area to receive the rise to enable a "smooth" surface finish, and the rise is then glued to the playing surface.

4. The outer shape of table is designed as segments of circle with radius plotted. Each segment is cut in turn and laid out on table to form full shape of finished table, these are then glued to top. The table can then be cut to shape and trimmed flush with outer edge of segments .

5. The pocket shapes can now be cut out . 6. The outer border needs to be laminated and clamped around the outside edge, clamping to the segments .

7. The inside of the segments can now be bevelled to receive the rubber cushion. 8. The table can then be painted and the leather (suede) or other covering material can be applied.

Figures 3 and 4 show profiles of depressions 5, and obstacle 6 and a rise 4. Please note that the

profiles are not to scale. For both the depressions 5 and rises 4 the respective depths and heights are exaggerated in the drawing with respect to the width dimension. Both the depressions and rises will generally be in the order of 300 to 500 mm across and a matter of millimetres in depth or height (as shown) . Lengths of 400-800mm are preferred. Further, the obstacle 6 may also be much wider than illustrated. It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the depressions, rises, etc, may vary from the dimensions given above.

Figure 6 shows a cross section through an edge portion of a table in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It comprises an outer border 30 which is some 20mm (A) in width dimension. The outer border is made of laminated CRAFTWOOD™ in the preferred embodiment. The outer border 30 surrounds the table top 31, of CRAFTWOOD™ and having a depth of 32mm (B) . At the border of the table top 31 a mounting block 32 is supported which also has a depth of 32mm (C) . The mounting block 32 is bevelled at 33 to receive a rubber cushion 34. The gum rubber cushion 34 extends around the border of the playing surface. Dimensions are not limited to those specified above and may be varied from embodiment to embodiment . Figure 7 shows a plan view of a pocket in the border of the table. The same reference numerals are used for similar components as figure 6. The rubber cushion 34 has a width dimension of 32mm (D) and the mounting block has a top width dimension of 40mm (E) . A pocket 40 has a width of 85mm (F) and is border at one side by an ASTEK™ mounting 41. A net (not shown) may be provided underneath the pocket to receive a ball or a ball may be channelled to a receptacle in the table pedestal (in a similar manner to pool tables found in hotels) . Any other means for receiving the ball may be provided. As above, the components are not limited to the dimensions specified.

In general, the table may be of a similar height

to conventional pool and snooker tables, i.e. 2 feet 3 V_ to 2 feet lO 1 ^ inches top of cushion rail to floor. The size of the playing surface will vary depending upon number of factors, such as where the table is to be installed and how large a course is required. Generally, the playing surface will be somewhat larger than the playing surface of a conventional full size snooker table .

In the preferred embodiment, the covering for the playing surface is suede leather. This provides an inconsistent surface which differs across the surface in its resistance to rolling of the balls. This increases the difficultly and interest of the game. Because the surface is not a standard weave, no advantage can be taken of the tack or nap of the cloth. It could be said that the surface is as variable as that of a golf course. Further, the suede is glued down to the table surface.

As well as depressions and rises and obstacles, in a preferred embodiment one or more "pits" may be provided in the playing surface of a dimension to receive a ball therein. These simulate the effect of "water traps" on golf courses. These pits are not shown in the drawings .

Note that in manufacture of the table, computer control routing machines are available. These can route to the coordinates provided.

The table support which supports the table top and playing surface may be of any desired design, e.g. a pedestal 20, as shown in Figure 5. It is also possible that other means apart from a cue may be used to strike the balls.

The pockets need not be at the edge of the playing surface . They could be placed anywhere on the playing surface . Other types of obstacles could be included on the playing surface.

By "pocket" is meant any means for retaining a ball once the ball has reached the area of the pocket

does not have to be a physical "hole" perse.

The "course" is preferably designed to mislead the player into thinking that he will be able to pot the ball in a direct line from the pot-ball mark and from other positions on the playing surface, whereas in fact this will not be possible and he will be likely to fall foul of depressions and/or rises.

An advantage of the game of the present invention is that it can be played by a single player, competing against himself to improve "handicap" and lessen the number of shots that it takes him to complete a "course" .

A further advantage of the game, in particular a game wherein plurality of different courses are available, are that a player will, after practice, have a

"home" advantage when he is used to a particular course, in a similar way to players of conventional golf courses.

It is also envisaged that a computer game could be implemented simulating the ball and table game and apparatus as described herein, but on a computer visual display screen. Computer games are already known which simulate pool and snooker. The present invention also incorporates an embodiment which comprises a computer simulation of the game apparatus and control means for playing the game on computer simulation.

The computer simulation arrangement comprises a processing device for producing a display of a playing surface on a visual display unit, the playing surface having a varying topography incorporating one or more depressions and/or rises, and a pocket in, on or adjacent to the playing surface. A visual display of a cue-ball and a pot-ball are also produced. Input means are provided for a player to cause movement to the cue-ball to strike the pot-ball and propel it in the direction of the pocket.

Other features which are a reproduction of the features of the bail and table game as described herein may also be provided in computer simulation.

Variations and modifications may be made in respect of the invention as above described and defined in the following statements of claims .