The Development And Continued Utilization Of The Pool Table

November 20th, 2009 by Matthew Kerridge

The development of the pool table through the years started out, of course, as a way to engage in more than a few recreational-type games in addition to being a perfect platform for engaging in a little gambling based on the game’s outcome. More formally, many of the games played on this table are known as cue sports. In the modern era these tables come with flat slate surfaces.

Additionally, a good pool table will also feature rubber cushions, pockets in which the balls used in billiards will end up and will generally be elevated to at least waist height. In the 16th and 17th centuries, this table is known as a “billiards board.” Early versions of these gaming tables made their appearance during the reign of Louis XI of France in the mid-to-late 15th century.

At that time, the typical board consisted of a section of lawn that was lifted up and placed onto a large table. Gradually, the table itself soon developed rails and was covered by fine quality billiards cloths that, back then, was normally made from felt. As the table gained in popularity along with the games played on it, the wooden rails soon became covered by the same felt.

It wasn’t until the’40s that these tables took on their fully modern form and came to be made from slate or some other hard surface. Cushioning along the rails came into usage in’30 though it wasn’t entirely popular due to the poor quality of the rubber that was used for the bumpers are cushions, though that problem was fixed by’43 when rubber was finally able to be vulcanized.

Since the mid-19th century pool tables have been manufactured on an ongoing and consistent basis around the country with the first pool table maker making its appearance in’45. By the late’00s, San Francisco had become a popular manufacturing hub for the area with a number of makers turning out product for use in all parts of the country.

A pool table generally has a number of common characteristics no matter the size or material the table is made in. It always has some form of cushion running along the inner sides of the table rails, which are almost always covered in some sort of cloth material that is more formally known as billiards cloth. Each table will also have a number of pockets into which billiards balls are sent.

As far as size in a pool table goes, there is no standard or single size for the table. Regulation or tournament size tables can measure as long as 12 feet in snooker tables and usually begin at 9 1/2 feet and go up from there. There are other sizes but the most common characteristic of every table is that it has six pockets, three on each side with one pocket in each corner.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in pool tables. If you want more information about varieties of pool table or are looking for a reputable pool table retailer please visit http://www.topofthecue.com

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