This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
First year playing APA, I bought everything.
Fancy cue case. Three different bridge sticks. Jump cue. Break cue. Glove. Multiple chalk holders. Rail brush. Table brush. Table cover. Scoreboard.
Know what I actually use every Tuesday night?
Maybe six of those items. The rest collect dust.
Here’s what 11 years of league play taught me about pool table accessories. What’s essential. What’s nice to have. What’s complete waste of money.
The Actually Essential List (Used Weekly)
1. Quality Ball Set ($40-$150)
Aramith Premier Ball Set on Amazon – $85, lasts 5+ years
Your table came with balls. They’re probably garbage.
Cheap balls aren’t round. Not joking. Roll them on your table. Watch them wobble. That affects every shot.
Bought Aramith balls three years ago. They still look new. Previous cheap set lasted six months before showing wear.
What matters:
- Roundness (within 0.001 inch specification)
- Weight consistency (each ball within 0.2 ounces of others)
- Durability (phenolic resin lasts 5x longer than polyester)
Skip if: You’re casual player who plays monthly. The cheap balls work fine for that.
Must-have if: You play weekly. You’ll feel the difference immediately.
2. Decent Table Brush ($15-35)
Professional Horsehair Table Brush on Amazon – $22
Brush your table after every session. Takes 30 seconds. Extends cloth life by years.
Cheap brushes have synthetic bristles that don’t pick up chalk dust properly. Horsehair brushes actually work.
I brush my table after every practice session. Been using the same brush for four years. Cloth still plays clean.
What matters:
- Horsehair bristles (synthetic doesn’t work as well)
- Width matches your table (12-inch brush for 9-foot table)
- Handle length (long enough you don’t lean on table)
3. Triangle Rack ($8-25)
Viper Wood Triangle Rack on Amazon – $12
You need two. One for 8-ball, one for 9-ball (if you play both).
Bought a $45 “professional” rack five years ago. Works identically to the $12 wood rack I bought last year.
The expensive difference? Finish quality. Not performance.
What matters:
- Tight rack (balls touch with no gaps)
- Durability (wood lasts longer than plastic)
- Doesn’t warp (cheap plastic racks warp in heat)
Pro tip: Magic Rack template racks work great but they wear out. I replace mine every 18 months.
4. Chalk (Lots of It) ($1-3 per cube)
Master Chalk 12-Pack on Amazon – $16 for 12 cubes
Blue Master chalk. That’s it. Don’t overthink this.
I’ve tried premium chalks. They work slightly better. Not $5-per-cube better.
Buy Master chalk in bulk. Keep extras in your bag. You’ll go through 12 cubes a year if you play regularly.
5. Cue Case ($30-$200)
GOBUROS 2×2 Soft Cue Case on Amazon – $45
Protects your cue. That’s the job.
I’ve used a $45 soft case for three years. My teammate uses a $180 hard case. Both cues are fine.
Hard cases protect better if you’re traveling. Soft cases are lighter and easier to carry into the hall.
What matters:
- Fits your cue (measure before buying)
- Protects the tip (internal padding)
- Has pocket for accessories (chalk, tools, etc.)
Skip if: Your cue lives at the pool hall. Just get a wall rack instead.
The Nice-To-Have Category (Use Monthly)
6. Rail Brush ($10-20)
Go2trymo Pool Table & Rail Brush Set on Amazon – $14
Cleans dirt off rails. Improves ball response.
Do I use this every week? No. Every 2-3 weeks? Yes.
Makes a difference if your table gets heavy use.
7. Table Cover ($40-$120)
BearCover Heavy-Duty Table Cover on Amazon – $65
Keeps dust off when table isn’t in use.
I use mine. My friend doesn’t use his. Both tables play fine.
The difference? My cloth stays cleaner longer. His cloth needs brushing more often.
Worth it if: Table is in dusty room or garage. Not worth it if you play daily and table’s always in use.
8. Bridge Stick ($15-$50)
East Eagle Telescoping Bridge Stick on Amazon – $28
For shots you can’t reach comfortably.
I use mine maybe twice per league night. But when I need it, I really need it.
Get the telescoping kind. Takes up less space in your bag.
9. Scoreboard or Counter ($12-$45)
RAM Gameroom Billiard Scoreboard on Amazon – $18
Keeps track of games in a set.
Half the players I know use their phone. Other half use a physical counter.
I use a counter. Don’t have to unlock my phone between games.
Skip if: You have good memory or play on coin-op tables that count for you.
What I Wasted Money On (Learn from My Mistakes)
Jump Cue ($80-$400)
Bought a $150 jump cue my first year. Used it maybe 10 times total.
Why? Most bar tables and leagues don’t allow jump shots. And when they do, you can jump with a regular cue if you know the technique.
Skip unless: You play in tournaments that allow/require jumps and you don’t want to risk your playing cue.
Fancy Chalk Holder ($10-$30)
Chalk sits on the rail. That’s free.
Spent $20 on a magnetic chalk holder. It fell off constantly. Went back to just setting chalk on the rail.
Complete waste for league play.
Multiple Break Cues
One teammate has four break cues. I asked why. He said “different break styles.”
He breaks identically with all four.
You need one break cue. Maybe. Or just break with your playing cue like I do.
Pool Glove ($8-$25)
Tried gloves. Hated them.
Some players swear by them. Most players don’t use them.
Try one if you have sweaty hands. Otherwise, save the money.
Table Vacuum ($80-$200)
Marketing says you need to vacuum your cloth.
My table guy said brushing is fine for 99% of players. Vacuum is overkill unless you’re running a commercial hall with heavy daily use.
I brush. Table plays great.
The Upgrade Path (What to Buy When)
Month 1 (Getting Started):
- Decent balls: $85
- Table brush: $22
- Rack: $12
- Chalk (12-pack): $16
- Cue case: $45
Total: $180
Month 3-6 (Playing Regularly):
- Rail brush: $14
- Table cover: $65
- Bridge stick: $28
- Score counter: $18
Total: $125 additional
Year 1+ (Optional Upgrades):
- Better ball set: $120-$150
- Break cue: $80-$150
- Hard cue case: $100-$180
Don’t buy everything at once. Start with essentials. Add things as you realize you need them.
Storage Solutions for Accessories
Wall-Mounted Cue Rack ($25-$60)
Iszy Billiards 6-Cue Wall Rack on Amazon – $35
Keeps cues off the floor. Prevents warping.
I use a simple 6-cue wall rack. Holds cues, bridge stick, and rack.
Accessory Drawer/Box ($15-$40)
Store chalk, rail brush, table brush, score counter in one place.
I use a simple plastic toolbox from hardware store. $12. Works perfectly.
Maintenance Accessories (Long-Term)
Cue Shaft Cleaner ($8-$15)
W4W Pool Cue Shaft Cleaner on Amazon – $11
Clean your shaft monthly. Takes five minutes. Keeps it smooth.
I bought one bottle three years ago. Still have half left.
Tip Shaper/Scuffer ($5-$12)
HUIESON 3-in-1 Cue Tip Tool on Amazon – $8
Shape your tip every few weeks. Scuff it before playing.
This tiny tool lives in my cue case. Use it at every session.
What’s Actually Worth the Premium Price?
Balls: Yes. Quality balls last 5x longer and play noticeably better.
Brush: Maybe. Horsehair works better than synthetic but cheap horsehair works fine.
Rack: No. $12 wood rack works identically to $45 premium rack.
Chalk: No. Master chalk at $1.30/cube works 95% as well as premium chalk at $5/cube.
Cue Case: Maybe. Hard cases protect better but cost 3-4x more. Worth it if you travel frequently.
The League Player’s Essential Kit
What I actually carry to league every Tuesday:
- Cue in soft case ($45)
- Chalk (3 cubes, in case pocket) ($4)
- Small towel (wipe hands) ($3)
- Tip tool (in case) ($8)
- Score counter (sometimes) ($18)
Total value: About $78
Everything else stays at home. That’s all I need for league night.
My Actual Spending (11 Years)
Year 1: $380 (bought too much stuff)
Years 2-11: $40/year average (replacement chalk, brushes, cloth cleaning)
Total over 11 years: $780
Per year average: $71
Not bad for maintaining a home table and playing 2x/week.
Bottom Line for League Players
You need:
- Quality balls ($85)
- Table brush ($22)
- Rack ($12)
- Chalk ($16 for 12-pack)
- Cue case ($45)
Total: $180
Everything else is optional. Buy it when you realize you need it. Not before.
Don’t be like first-year me buying everything the internet says you need.
Start simple. Add as you go.
Prices accurate as of January 2025. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.