British Billiards Pool Tables

Product Description

British Billiards

British Billiards is a cue sport that is traditionally played on a rectangular table covered with a green cloth, with six pockets (one at each corner and one at the midpoint of each longer side). The game is played with three balls: a red, a white (cue ball for one player), and a yellow (cue ball for the other player). British billiards combines elements of carom billiards and pocket billiards, with players scoring points by:

1. Potting: Sinking balls into the pockets.

2. Cannons: Hitting both the other cue ball and the red ball with the cue ball.

3. In-offs: Potting the cue ball off another ball.

Pool

Pool refers to a family of cue sports played on a table with six pockets. There are many variations of pool, including:

1. Eight-ball: Perhaps the most popular pool game, where players attempt to pot all balls of their assigned group (either stripes or solids) and then the eight ball.

2. Nine-ball: A rotation game where players must hit the balls in numerical order, with the goal of potting the nine ball.

3. Straight pool: Players can pot any ball on the table, scoring points for each successful pot. The game usually continues until a predetermined point target is reached.

Pool Tables in the UK

In the UK, the term "pool table" often refers to tables used for British-style pool, such as Blackball or Eight-ball pool. These tables are typically smaller than American pool tables, with the following features:

1. Size: Commonly 9 or 8 feet in length.

2. Pockets: Smaller and often with rounded corners.

3. Balls: Smaller in diameter compared to American pool balls, and usually, sets include reds and yellows, rather than stripes and solids.

British Billiards Table

The table for British billiards is similar to that used for snooker, and it features:

1. Size: Full-size tables are 12 feet by 6 feet.

2. Pockets: Larger than those on pool tables, designed to accommodate snooker and billiards balls.

3. Cloth: A high-quality, tightly woven wool or wool blend, providing a smooth, fast surface.

Key Differences

- Table Size: British billiards tables are larger than typical pool tables.

- Pocket Size and Shape: Pockets on pool tables are tighter and more rounded.

- Balls: The balls used in British billiards are generally larger and heavier than those used in pool.

- Gameplay: British billiards involves a blend of potting and carom shots, while pool focuses more on pocketing balls.

Understanding these differences can help in selecting the right table and equipment for the specific game you are interested in. Whether you are looking to play traditional British billiards or a form of pool, knowing these distinctions ensures a better and more authentic playing experience.