It is important to know the dimensions of your pool table pockets. They determine the ball's ability to bounce accurately from the pocket. They vary depending on the style of your table. They can range from 4.5 to 6.25 inches wide to as big as five inches. The American pool table's pocket openings should be between 4.5 and 4.625 inches while the pockets on the centre and corner pockets should be five to five and a half inches wide. The vertical angle of the pocket should be between 12 and 14 degrees. English pool tables are usually built with pockets that are rounded, giving the ball a better bounce and producing trickier shots.
American pool tables come with bigger pockets
An American pool table's pockets are generally larger than an English one. Pockets on a standard American pool table are usually between three and four inches deep. This makes it possible to play quickly with larger balls. American versions have pockets that are straight-cut in the middle instead of being full corners.
There are also differences between American pool tables and English ones. American pool tables' pockets are rectangular in shape, while English pools tables have long pockets. These shapes are determined according to the ball's distance from the pocket. For the corner pockets, the angle is approximately two thirds of the ball's width, while the centre pockets are half an inch narrower.
An American pool table is also much faster than an English pool table, because the balls are much larger. This is important, as English pool ball are usually smaller and get lost easily in the pockets. Also, English balls tend to react inappropriately because of the higher contact point with the pocket pads. American-style table have wider pockets which are perfect for competition 8- and nine-ball games.
Modern pool tables come with the same dimensions pockets
The table's size will impact the size of your pockets. For example, an 8' table will have a wider opening than a 4' one. American pool tables use slightly different pocket shapes to their European and British counterparts. In America, the standard pocket is 142 degrees straight, while an English table features a more rounded shoulder and a more narrow entrance.
Make sure you choose a similar-sized pool table when buying one. The average pool table is 7 feet in length, but there are many options. While coin-op or bar tables are usually smaller than this size, these tables are extremely rare. The pool table standard size includes a drop-pocket and a ball returning. The dimensions of the pockets will vary depending on where you live and what era it is.
The materials used to make a pool table can also have a huge effect on the game. American tables feature thicker sectional slats. These are typically made out of two or three pieces that are sealed with special hard wax. English pool tables have one piece of slate, and are 21mm thick.