First, you want light to shine evenly across the table. And of course it might simply be too dark to see.

Your pool table light should be at least three feet above the surface (for a person six feet tall, that is about even with the bridge of your nose) of your billiard table for a couple of reasons. When considering billiard lamps, one must not only consider what is best for the pool table, but what will illuminate the rest of the billiard room, as well. Also, if you are a taller person, you run the risk of smacking your head on the table light during shots.

Poor lighting can affect a pool player in a number of ways, including the infamous "shadow casting," which can distort angles and play tricks on a shooter's eyes. Hanging a pool table lamp too low will cause the billiard table to be lighted unevenly, creating light pockets and shadows. Billiard table lamps are most commonly anchored to the ceiling right above the center of the billiard table. This can be more dangerous than you think, especially if you have.

Adequate and proper lighting for your billiard table is key if you want to make billiard shots up to caliber.