From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are many sizes and styles of pool and billiard
tables. Generally, tables are rectangles
twice as long as they are wide. Most pool tables are known as 7-, 8-, or
9-footers, referring to the length of the tables long side. Full-size snooker
and English billiard tables are 12 feet (3.7 m) long on the longest
side. Pool
halls tend to have 9-foot (2.7 m) tables and cater to the serious pool
player. Pubs
will typically use 7-foot (2.1 m) tables which are often coin-operated.
Formerly, 10-foot (3 m) tables were common, but such tables are now
considered antique collectors items; a few, usually from the late 1800s, can be
found in pool halls from time to time. Ten-foot tables remain the standard size
for carom billiard games. The slates on modern carom tables are usually heated
to stave off moisture and provide a consistent playing surface.
The length of the pool table will typically be a function of space, with
many homeowners purchasing an 8-foot (2.4 m) table as a compromise. High
quality tables are mostly 4.5 by 9 ft (2.7 m). (interior dimensions),
with a bed made of three pieces of thick slate to prevent warping and changes
due to humidity. Smaller bar tables are most commonly made with a single piece
of slate. Pocket billiards tables normally have six pockets, three on each side
(four corner pockets, and two side pockets).
