Snookball (Billiards meets Soccer)

This is what snookball looks like
A lot of websites offer these as DIY kits, but the prices are honestly insane. Because of that, I’ve been thinking about just pouring a concrete pad in my backyard to build one myself. I looked up some specs, and the playing area itself seems to be roughly 6.6 x 3.6 x 0.45 feet, with an outer perimeter for standing that brings the total footprint to about 7.4 x 4.4 feet. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I don't have much experience with masonry or pouring concrete, so I'm a bit lost on the depth requirements. To ensure the entire 7.4 x 4.4 foot area is sturdy enough for play, how thick should the slab actually be? I was leaning toward 10 inches, but I'm not sure if that's overkill or just right. My main question for anyone here who knows their way around a cement mixer: what kind of budget should I set aside for a project like this? I really hope I'm asking this in the right corner of the forum. 😁
Here is a rough sketch of what I have in mind https://postimg.org/image/5d059bmj/

Alex Cook really knows his way around a concrete pour 😉

You’ve come to the right place.

Anything less than about 14 inches of concrete for the base is just asking for trouble. You really don't want your friends or neighbors laughing at you when they show up for a game night, do you? If you're doing the floor, go with some heavy-duty rebar, maybe something in the 3/4 to 7/8 inch range.

As for the side walls, I’d make them at least 28 inches wide so someone can actually walk along them without feeling like they're balancing on a tightrope. You could go wider, but if you're watching your budget, stick to that 28-inch mark. For the height above the playing surface, aim for about 16 inches—which means about 32 inches from the ground up. And obviously, don't skimp on the rebar there either; use something around 3/8 to 1/2 inch.

So, looking at the math, you're looking at roughly 230 cubic feet for the walls and about 460 cubic feet for the floor, totaling around 700 cubic feet. That comes out to about 25 cubic yards of concrete, though you should probably order 30 since there’s always some spillage or uneven ground to account for.

A yard of concrete will run you about $133 plus tax, but please, don't just grab the cheapest mix available; you only build this thing once. Let's say $150 plus tax, so roughly $187 per yard. Multiply that by 30, add in your rebar and general construction supplies, and the whole project shouldn't top $10.

Just dig some holes in the backyard, put up some cheap fencing from Home Depot, grab a bunch of balls at Walmart, and pick up some spray paint to color them all in ☕

Amanda Evans2 is basically an All-American pro in that sport!

Eric Fox7 said:Alex Cook really knows his way around a concrete pour 😉

Pranking the crazy ones is half the fun

Speaking of niche sports—man, I’ve been thinking about setting this up right in my own backyard:

I'd love to hear what you guys think—any advice or warnings before I go buying all the gear? Thanks in advance.

Best, Eric Fox7!

I heard those guys from the Midwest make it themselves; just bring them a mixer and three six-packs of Budweiser ☕

Jesse Sullivan5 said:Amanda Evans2 is basically an All-American pro in that sport!

I’m getting pretty close to hanging up the jersey for the national team. My club obligations are starting to pile up, and frankly, I don't want to spend every single summer grinding through preseason camps. At my age, you have to start thinking about your family...

Eric Fox7 said:Speaking of niche sports—man, I’ve been thinking about setting this up right in my own backyard:

I'd love to hear what you guys think—any advice or warnings before I go buying all the gear? Thanks in advance.

Best, Eric Fox7!

Man, this is gold. You basically just need some heavy-duty Velcro—probably some Vietnamese kids could whip this up for cheap. ☕

He’d absolutely wreck you guys like a linebacker in some ☕
alleyway.