Why are American pool table pockets so big?

On American tables, the pockets are wide with straight-cut corners and a sharp point at either side of the entrance. This makes it easier to pot a corner ball from a distance, encouraging players to use the fast cloth and go for the long shots.

How big are American pool table pockets?

American pocket openings should be between 4.5 and 4.625 inches on the corner pockets and centre between 5 and 5.125 inches. The mouth of the centre pocket is traditionally ½ inch wider than the mouth of the corner pocket. Professional tables will also have a vertical pock angle (Back Draft), between 12 & 14 degrees.

Why are American pool tables bigger?

American Pool Tables are bigger than English Pool tables because American Pool uses larger balls and pockets. American pool tables used in competitions are 9ft in size, however, for practicality reasons, we have found 7ft and 8ft tables more common. This is because they fit into buildings easier and require less room.

Are all pool table pockets the same size?

The standard corner pocket size on a pool table is 4 7/8 inches to 5 1/8 inches. The standard side pocket size on a pool table is 5 3/8 inches to 5 5/8 inches wide. The smaller pockets on snooker tables make the game more challenging than pool.

Are American pool tables bigger?

American tables are closely aligned to their English pool table counterpart in appearance, but diverge slightly on sizes. The standard American Pool Table is sized at either 8ft or 9ft, with the latter being the official size used when playing professional USA Pool.

129. - Pocket Sized - Pro. v Club tables

Is English or American pool harder?

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 the difference between British and American pool tables?

The Size. 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).

Can you make pool table pockets smaller?

Pocket Reducers

A pocket reducer is a spring loaded device attached to two rubber “cushions”. The device is squeezed together and set it the pocket and then the tension of the spring keeps it in place. The rubber cushions extend the length of the rail and make the pocket opening smaller by about an inch.

Can you change the pockets on a pool table?

The baskets can be replaced on the existing pocket irons (the finger-shaped part that goes inside the wood rail), but it is usually more cost-effective to purchase an entire set of billiard pockets with new irons. There are a handful of exceptions such as Delmo brand and antique pockets with exposed irons.

What's the point of a pool table without pockets?

Carom billiards tables have no pockets or opening where balls are sunk, that snooker and pool tables do have. In its simplest form, the object of carom billiards games is to score points or "counts" by bouncing one's own ball, called a cue ball, off of the other two balls on the table.

Do you get 2 shots in American pool?

Under APA and BCA Eight-ball rules after your opponent commits a foul you would not get an extra shot, but you would get ball-in-hand meaning you can place the cueball anywhere on the table from where you can then take your next shot. This is true for any foul committed after the break.

How heavy is an American pool table?

Most residential pool tables are between eight feet and nine feet long. The lightest regulation tables used at home start around 1,100 pounds and go up to the ultimate 12-foot table that can weigh 2,500 pounds or more!

What is American vs French pool?

Each game mode has its own rules and especially a specific pool table. Indeed, French billiards is played with 3 balls and on a playing surface without pockets. While American billiards is played with 15 balls to pocket. It therefore becomes hazardous to combine the practices if you need a pool table per game mode.

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 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.

What size is a standard American pool table?

Standard size pool tables, along with the playing surface dimensions (measured between the noses of the cushions) are: 12-ft (snooker): 140″ (356.9 cm) x 70″ (177.8 cm) 10-ft (oversized): 112″ (284.5 cm) x 56″ (142.2 cm) 9-ft (standard regulation size table): 100″ (254 cm) x 50″ (127 cm)

Can you move a pool table without removing the slate?

Before you move your pool table, it's strongly recommended to take it apart. Pool tables are not designed to be moved in one piece. You will need to disassemble the legs, felt, rails and slate and then reassemble them in your pool table's new location.

How do you modernize an old pool table?

Why are pool tables so hard to move?

Not only is a pool table one of the heaviest items a person can own, but it also requires a long and tedious disassembly process when moving. Pool tables can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Their bulkiness and weight make them a particularly difficult item to move.

What's the heaviest part of a pool table?

The heaviest part of your pool table is the slate. Our tables feature 3 pieces of slate fitted to ensure perfect play, and these pieces weigh in between 150-250 pounds each.

What makes a pool table so heavy?

Slate is very heavy, fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock. Billiard table manufacturers use slate because of its flatness and sheer weight. Slate adds hundreds of pounds of weight to a pool table, which adds stability and allows for precise billiards play.

What is American pool called?

Eight-ball, the most commonly played form of pool (as distinct from blackball, a.k.a. British eightball pool) Nine-ball, the leading professional variant of pool, with historical roots in the United States in the 1920s.

What color pool tables are best?

Many people have asked me, “what's the best felt color to put on my pool table?” From the point of view of a serious pool or billiards player, green billiard cloth has been the best choice to play on. The reason is, that the color green is supposedly the easiest on the players' eyes.

What is a Chinese pool table?

The Chinese 8 ball pool table is 9 feet long. Full-sized 2 ¼” American pool balls are used in the game. The rules are slightly tweaked, as explained below. The cut in the pockets of a Chinese 8 ball pool table resembles that of a Snooker table.