What is the difference between an American and English pool table?

The simplest answer is that the American pool tables are generally larger than English pool tables with the standard American pool table being an 7ft, 8ft or 9ft and the standard English pool table being a 6ft, 7ft or 8ft. The official tournament or professional sizes being 9ft for American, and 7ft for English.

Is American pool easier than English pool?

With the larger pockets and balls, American pool is an easier game to pick up and learn, especially good if you have children you're looking to get into the game. The game is also a good deal faster with the smoother cloth.

What is English in American pool?

English or “side” refers to sidespin applied to the cue ball (CB) by hitting left or right of the cue-ball vertical centerline. Proper usage suggests the term “english” is preferable to “English” for describing sidespin, but “English” is also commonly used.

What size is an English pool table?

Standard sizes

The average size of a UK pool table is 7ft, but many pubs and clubs opt for the smaller, 6ft size. In America, the standard pool table size for homes and private residences is 8ft, but their professional tournaments are played with the full-sized, 9ft tables.

Are American pool tables bigger than English?

One of the most noticeable differences between British and American tables is their sizes. While British tables are almost exclusively either 6ft or 7ft in length, American pool tables are either 8ft or 9ft (the official size used in professional games and tournaments).

What are the Differences Between English and American Pool? - Pool Table Buying Advice

Why are English pool tables smaller?

This is because they fit into buildings easier and require less room. This being said, the smaller American pool sized tables are still perfectly able to play an excellent game of American Pool. English Pool is played using smaller balls and smaller pockets, hence competition tables are only 6ft.

Is English or American pool better?

The short answer is that American tables are larger than British tables. The long answer is that British tables are almost exclusively made in 6ft or 7ft lengths. This makes them the best choice for home games rooms, where space and cueing room can be limited.

Why is it called English pool?

When a cue ball is struck on either side of its vertical axis, giving it “sidespin," that's called "English" in billiards. It may also occur when a ball collides with another or with a rail. The term comes from the British players who first became famous with sidespin techniques.

What is the standard USA pool table size?

Standard 8ft - (Playfield: 44" X 88") This is the most common size sold in the USA for homes and private residences. Tournament 9ft - (Playfield: 50" X 100") This is the full size the game of Billiards was invented on.

Can you use American pool balls on an English pool table?

​​​​​​​Larger tables and wider pockets require bigger balls. American pool tables use the larger and much heavier 2 1/4-inch balls, and English tables generally using 2-inch balls, with coin op tables using the smaller cue ball to separate them.

What cue is best for English pool?

Most adult players will be best suited to a standard-length 57-inch cue, although a 48-inch cue is also perfectly good for most adults and older children. If they travel to play, then a 2-piece or 3-piece cue might be ideal. But if they play at home, a 1-piece could be the best.

Why are American pools curved?

That transition is curved for strength, so that the wall can hold up worst-case wet dirt outside the pool pressing on the wall while the pool is empty.

What is the most popular pool table size?

The most popular standard size home pool table is a regulation 8-foot table, followed by the 9-foot regulation pool table.

What size pool table do professionals play on?

A professional pool table is another name used for a regulation billiards table. So, a professional table is a 9-foot table with a length twice its width and with pockets equally distanced from one another.

Is a 7ft pool table too small?

Generally speaking, eight-foot tables are considered 'professional' size, whereas seven-foot tables are considered 'bar' size. If you have the space, we recommend the larger size, it generally provides a better playing experience. However, a seven-foot table can be a great addition to a smaller room.

What is the first shot in pool called?

break: the first shot of a pool game where the CB is hit from behind the head string (i.e., in the “kitchen”) into the racked balls; or, in snooker, a series of pots in a single inning.

Is there a difference between billiards and pool?

Billiards is played on a table without pockets. The game only has three balls, which are red, white (with a spot), and another white one (without a spot). Pool involves a table with six pockets. You need 15 balls, but some people play with just nine.

Why are pool balls red and yellow?

One reason the pool balls were changed to two colours was that it was easy to replace Red or Yellow balls if one went missing. Rather than break a set up just for one numbered ball.

Which pool lasts the longest?

A concrete pool has the highest lifetime cost and takes the longest to install (approximately three to six months), but it can be built to any specifications. They are the most difficult to maintain, but they also last the longest.

What brand of pool is best?

What is the most durable pool?

A popular choice is a gunite swimming pool because it is highly durable and it can be created in just about any shape. Gunite pools use a rebar framework that is sprayed over with a concrete and sand mixture. Gunite is exceedingly durable, so swimming pools made of this substance are built to last.

How many balls are on a English pool table?

A set of pool balls consists of one white cue ball and 15 colour-coded numbered balls. The balls numbered 1 through 8 have solid colours and the balls numbered 9 through 15 are white with a centre band of colour.

How heavy is an English pool table?

Without a coin mechanism, an English pub style pool table usually weighs around 230 kilograms. This weight comes from the deeper design, and the inclusion of a slate bed makes increases the weight of the table substantially, the weight of the slate alone making up almost 30% of the table's total weight.

Why a 9ft pool table?

9-Foot Pool Tables (9ft x 4.5ft)

Nine foot pool tables are what the pros play on. The larger size, and often tighter pockets, results in longer shots that require more accuracy and speed control. Pro tip: Develop an accurate stroke and control the cue ball.

Which is better 7ft or 8ft pool table?

Generally speaking, 8' tables (8' x 4') are considered 'professional' size, whereas 7' tables (7' x 3'6”) are considered 'bar' size. Most pool table buyers will opt for the larger size if they have the space available, as the larger table provides a better playing experience.