Section 2: Equipment
The Table (Section 1, Rule 1). The standard snooker table's playing area — measured within the cushion faces — shall be 11 ft 8½ in by 5 ft 10 in (3569 mm × 1778 mm), with a permitted tolerance of ±½ in (13 mm) on both dimensions. The height from the floor to the top of the cushion rail shall be 2 ft 10 in (864 mm), with a tolerance of ±½ in (13 mm). The two shorter sides of the table are the Bottom Cushion (also called Baulk) and the Top Cushion; where the cloth has a nap, it must run from the Bottom Cushion toward the Top Cushion.
Balls (Section 1, Rule 2). A full set of balls comprises 15 Red balls and one each of six coloured balls — Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink, and Black — together with a White cue-ball, for 22 balls in total. Balls must be of an approved composition and shall each have a diameter of 52.5 mm, with a manufacturing tolerance of ±0.05 mm. Balls must be of equal weight so far as possible; the tolerance between the heaviest and lightest ball in a set must not exceed 3 g. A ball or set of balls may be changed only by agreement between the players or by decision of the referee.
Cue (Section 1, Rule 3). A cue shall be not less than 3 ft (914 mm) in length and must show no departure from the traditional tapered shape and form, with a tip secured to its thinner end used to strike the cue-ball. Playing a stroke with a cue that does not meet this standard is itself a listed foul under Section 3, Rule 11(a)(xi) ("playing with a non-standard cue").
Ancillary Equipment (Section 1, Rule 4). Players may use cue rests, long cues, extensions, and adaptors, whether these form part of the equipment normally found at the table or are introduced by a player or the referee. Section 3, Rule 20 places responsibility for all such equipment on the striker bringing or using it — they will be penalised for any foul caused by its use — and requires that any extension, adaptor, or sighting aid receive prior approval from the relevant governing body before use.