When it comes to selecting your billiards, pool, or snooker tables, you need to realize that all three games are not played on the same type of table. In fact, there are separate tables for each of these games, and you need to have the right table to play on, especially if you’re looking to practice for tournament play.
If you’re playing a version of billiards (carom, three-cushion, straight rail, balkline, etc), you’re going to want a pocketless table. Regulation tables for billiards are rectangular and measure 2.84 metres by 1.42 metres from cushion to cushion, although tables are given a 5 millimetre allowance, so not all may be precisely these measurements. The table is between 75 and 80 centimetres high as measured from the ground to the playing surface.
The bed, or playing surface of the table, should be made from slate and be at least 45 millimetres thick. Many tables actually include heating elements that heat the table so that the surface is about five degrees C above the standard room temperature. This keeps the cloth dry and helps the balls move better and more consistently. In international carom tournaments, heated tables must be used.
Pool tables, also known as pocket billiards tables, are used for eight ball, nine ball, and other games that require pockets. Generally, these tables have six pockets, one at each corner and one in the middle of each of the long sides. Pool tables come in a variety of sizes, usually starting at six foot long and going up to nine foot. They are also rectangular and have a ratio of two to one. A nine foot table, then measures 100 by 50. Note that for regulation tournaments, only eight and nine foot tables are allowed.