Choosing A Billiard Table
There are few pieces of furniture as visually striking as a well crafted billiard table. A billiard table is
a lasting investment not only as a recreational game, but as a important piece of your home's decor.
It is often the focal point of a well planned out recreation room and should be chosen carefully. The
type of table you choose has many will depend upon a number of important factors such as room
size, player skill level, player age, construction material, style, and of course...budget.
Anatomy Of A Billiard Table
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Official Competition Table Specifications
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TABLE SIZES:
3 1/2' x 7', 4' x 8', and 4 1/2' x 9' with the Play Area measuring twice as long as it is wide (± 1/8") from the cloth covered nose of the
cushion rubber to the opposite cushion rubber. 4 1/2' x 9' tables with a Play Area of 50" x 100" is the recognized size for professional
tournament play.
TABLE BED HEIGHT:
The table bed playing surface, when measured from the bottom of the table leg, will be 29 1/4" minimum to 31" maximum.
POCKET OPENINGS & MEASUREMENTS (Cloth covered rails):
Pocket openings are measured from tip to tip of the opposing cushion noses where direction changes into the pocket. This is
called the mouth.
Corner Pocket: Mouth Between 4 7/8" minimum to 5 1/8" maximum
Side Pocket: Mouth Between 5 3/8" minimum to 5 5/8" maximum
The angle at the corner pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is 142o (±1o).
The angle at the side pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is 103o (± 2o).
Vertical Pocket Angle: 12o minimum to 15o maximum.
Shelf: The shelf is measured from the center of the imaginary line that goes from one side of the mouth to the other where the nose
of the cushion changes direction to the center of the vertical cut of the slate pocket radius.
Corner Pocket:
1 5/8" minimum to 1 7/8" maximum
Side Pocket: 0" minimum to 3/8" maximum
Drop Point Slate Radius: The pocket radius measured from the vertical cut of the slate to the playing surface.
Drop Point Slate Radius 1/8" radius min. to 1/4" radius max.
PLAYING BED:
The playing surface must be capable, either by its own strength or a combination of its strength and that of the table base frame, of
maintaining an overall flatness within ± .020" lengthwise and ± .010" across the width. Further, this surface should have an
additional deflection not to exceed .030" when loaded with a concentrated static force of 200 pounds at its center. All slate joints
must be in the same plane within a .005" after leveling and shimming. The bed must be covered with a billiard fabric, the major
portion of which is made of wool, with proper tension to avoid unwanted ball roll-off. It is recommended that which professional
tournament size tables have a three-piece set of slate with a minimum thickness of 1" and a wooden frame of at least 3/4" attached
to slate. BCA will sanction tournament play on home and coin operated tables with one-piece slate providing the Play Area
requirements are met. All playing surfaces must be solidly secured to base frame with screws or bolts.
CUSHION:
Cushions should react so that they conform under controlled conditions to the three cushion angles prescribed in the "diamond"
(or site) system showing in the diagram on page 161 of Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book to ± 1 ball width. The speed
of the table cushions should be such that placement of a ball on the head spot, shooting through the foot spot, using center ball
english, with a level cue and firm stroke, the ball must travel a minimum of 4 to 4 1/2 lengths of the table without jumping.
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