Pool tables are used to play cue sports, such as billiards, eight ball and straight pool. The game of pool has been considered a common tavern sport since the 1500s. The last major improvement upon the pool table was in 1845, when John Thurston was granted a patent for billiard cushioning made out of rubber, cork and leather.
History
Pool was originally played outside on a lawn. The object of the game was to shoot balls through a course of hoops and knock over a cone-shaped object. The game was eventually played on tabletops because it was more comfortable for the players. The first recorded pool table belonged to King Louis XI of France in 1470.
Identification
Eight-foot pool tables come in two sizes: 4 feet by 8 feet and 4.25 feet by 8.5 feet. The dimensions of the playing surface of a 4 feet by 8 feet table are 44 inches by 88 inches, and 46 inches by 92 inches for a table that's 4.25 feet by 8.5 feet. Of these two tables, only the table that's 4.25 feet by 8.5 feet is recognized by the World Pool-Billiard Association.
Expert Insight
A 9-foot pool table, which is 4.5 feet by 9 feet, is considered the standard professional or regulation-size table and is also recognized by the World Pool-Billiard Association. The playing surface dimensions of a regulation-size pool table are 50 inches by 100 inches.
Considerations
The necessary room dimensions for pool tables depend on the size of the table. For example, the minimum room dimensions for a table that's 4 feet by 8 feet are 17 feet, 4 inches by 13 feet, 11 inches.
Fun Fact
The felt covering on pool tables is green to represent the green lawn where the game was originally played.
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