A billiards table with 6 pockets
A billiards table or billiard table is a table on which carom billiards games are played such as three cushion billiards, straight rail (carambole) and balkline. Regulation billiards tables are perfect rectangles, with the bed of the table (the playing surface) measuring ten feet by five feet. Although not common in the U.S., smaller size Billiards tables are occasionally seen, typically used for the Korean game of "four ball."
Pocket Billiards tables, sometimes called pool tables, are specific to the various pool games such as Eight ball, Nine ball, Straight pool and One pocket. As the name implies, pocket billiards tables have pockets; normally six of them--one at each corner of the table ("corner pockets") and one at the midpoint of each of the longer sides ("side pockets").
Many players erroneously refer to a pocket pool table as regulation based on table size. A "regulation" table means that the length of the playing surface is exactly twice the width. Measurements are made from cushion nose to cushion nose. As an example, a 9' tournament size table is "regulation" when the side to side (cushion nose to cushion nose) measurement is 50" and the length is 100" when measured the same way. Most present day pool tables are "regulation". For home use an 8' table is generally standard. Most professional tournaments are played on 9' tables, and 7' coin-operated tables are typically found in bars due to limited space. Pool tables use multiple ways to determine the cue ball from the colored. These include light sensors, different ball sizes, or magnetic triggers.
Whilst most tables are perfect rectangles, there are other tables which are round, hexagonal and even zig-zag shaped. The latter, however, are all far less popular than the rectangular tables ubiquitous in many social halls, from Gentlemen's Clubs to bars.
On the sides of all varieties of billiard table are "rails" (or "cushions"), which are made from elastic materials such as synthetic or vulcanized rubber. The cushion's purpose is to rebound balls without letting them lose too much kinetic energy. The playing surface (the "Bed") on all quality tables is made of 3/4"-2" thick slate, typically imported from Italy, Brazil or China. Cheaper table surfaces are usually made of "Slatron" or some composite wood variant like Medium-density fibreboard. These surfaces are usually more susceptible to warping and are not as flat.
Both the rails and slate beds are covered with 21-24 ounce billiard felt which is most often green in color, because it is easiest on the eyes, and consists of either a woven wool or wool/nylon blend called Baize. Most bar tables, which get lots of play, use this slower, thicker cloth because it can stand up to heavy usage. By contrast, high quality pool cloth is usually made of a napless weave such as worsted wool, which gives a much faster roll to the balls. The faster or slower a cloth is, affects the amounts of swerve and deflection of the balls. Snooker table cloth traditionally has a directional nap, upon which the balls behave differently when rolling against the direction of the nap.
Common pool table sizes for the USA are:
- 3.5' × 7' (1.06 m × 2.13 m) — Bar
- 4' × 8' (1.22 m × 2.44 m) — Home
- 4.25' × 8.5' (1.30 m × 2.60 m) — Commercial
- 4.5' × 9' (1.37 m × 2.74 m) — Tournament
In the U.S., pool is mostly played according to the Billiard Congress of America's World Standardized Rules.
Categories: Billiards, snooker and pool stubs | Billiards | Tables (furniture)
