Guy Manges
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Why 9' ft. Tables, Instead of 8' ft. Tables ?
Why 9' ft. Tables ? Guy...
- Thread starter Guy Manges
- Start date
standard was the 10ft but the BCA/powers-that-be wanted to make game more accessible so 9ft was the new championship size. 8ft fills certain size requirements but has never been a true tournament size. 7ft's caught on because of bars/taverns.
It is the pinnacle of required skill. The pro players on a larger table, and perhaps even with smaller pockets, have a challenge that is equal to their ability. I find, and I think most do, that when I have played a day on a 9ft. table then go home to my 8ft. table, my game is tighter. The table seems to play easier because I have been required to be more accurate and thoughtful to make every shot. Likewise, if I go to a place that just has Bar Box 7ft. tables, I have great confidence in my game.
The opposite CAN be true on a 7ft. table when the balls get more crowded. Still, the 9ft. seems to be the best mix of challenge and space for the pro players to demonstrate their skill.
Just my 2 cents.
The opposite CAN be true on a 7ft. table when the balls get more crowded. Still, the 9ft. seems to be the best mix of challenge and space for the pro players to demonstrate their skill.
Just my 2 cents.
in the yrs after ww2 the game was not doing all that well. BCA wanted to make the game more approacable to a larger audience. iirc the switch started around 1956-ish.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I was watching a match on a 10 foot table and they seemed to have fewer clusters to break apart and more room to move the cueball. Different size table present different challenges.
middleofnowhere
Registered
I believe twice as long as it is wide is the only formula for the table. A 9 footer playing surface is 100 x 50 inches. There are a number of tables such as oversized 8 footers. I don't think there is anything that can actually be called "Regulation". I knew one room owner who when setting up showed me the measurements of the room.
If he went with 8 footers he could get 6 more tables in the same space. I think that plus making the game a little easier for the general public may have been behind the switch to 9 foot. It was an actual switch. In no time there were no 10 footers to be found. I doubt after a time none were even being built.
For the poolroom adding more tables is a big thing. Pool rooms make their money during peak hours. There are only so many peak hours in a week. You have to squeeze as much out of them as you can.
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QUOTE>>"Interesting question. How did 9’ become the standard.
How about commercial cues. 57-58”
Sorry.... I deleted my post (57-59" cues) to stay on the 9' subject but thanks for the replies.
9' seems so perfect. The first tables I played on were 6' 7' in friends houses. One day I'm on a 9' and realize this is the major leagues. Allingers in Phila had some snooker tables...had no idea what we were playing on. Took a week to sink a ball. I never saw a 7-8-10 table in the local Phila rooms in the 60's 70's. Only Allingers had the 10 +
How about commercial cues. 57-58”
Sorry.... I deleted my post (57-59" cues) to stay on the 9' subject but thanks for the replies.
9' seems so perfect. The first tables I played on were 6' 7' in friends houses. One day I'm on a 9' and realize this is the major leagues. Allingers in Phila had some snooker tables...had no idea what we were playing on. Took a week to sink a ball. I never saw a 7-8-10 table in the local Phila rooms in the 60's 70's. Only Allingers had the 10 +
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8ft tables(usually B'wick Century) with bucket pockets were the main table in Texas for years. they made the room owners $$. still some around but not as many. most have been replaced with 7ft/9ft Diamonds.
Guy Manges
Registered
I see it as sad that the 8' foot table couldn't be our favorite table. Ever time i see someone screw in an extension i think why, are we to short for these tables. Was our games designed for tall people... They could see the table better. Now in our day and time we walk into a room and all 7' tables for the casual players, I miss the 8's I don't like 7's... As I came up in life and went in any room or hall there were 8's and that was life... Other wise you played snooker. Snooker tables were good but 8s were more fun... Easier and more self providing, I come from the South , did we have more 8' than North players had? I was almost six feet tall , didn't need to stand on a box to play... And now there are 7'ers as far as the eye can see... Guy
I have similar thoughts on play surface height. Being 6'6'' it's a loooooooooong way down to a 31'' bed, Table should be been 40'' off the ground. 
Whatever you grow up with that is IT. However every table is fun. Some of the best times I had were in Bradford, Pa with a 6' in the bar. Otherwise a 9'ft white GC with a gold cloth is glued in my mind. I feel 8' tables are better than nothing but 9 is it.
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The bigger the table the less traffic. That always holds true. 6’ box’s are a nightmare
My dad was from Bradford. House was on Jefferson. My uncle Frank worked for Zippo and my namesake uncle Bill owned a state store(liquor store) there for years.
I was at a place down south….a restaurant had a 6-foot coin- op….three days in a row I gave myself three tries a breaking and running at 8-ball….never had a chance. It was like being stuck on I-75 in rush hour at Cincinnati.
Zippo….for street lights in their complex, they had giant Zippos…it was cool.
Bradford...Zippo Museum. And the old oil pumps that might start pumping at any time. I was there for JJUSA (JeepJamboreeUSA). The regulars in the town would host the event. Some really nice people to meet up with each year back then. We stayed at the Howard Johnson ( I think). Loved Sat night at the bar playing 8 ball with the nutty group.
At Janscos they had one in the Show Bar. Was called a Crackerbox.
It’s so hard.
I haven’t played on a 6’ box in decades, but I remember playing on them and especially 8B was a nightmare. The traffic jams are brutal. Open up a cluster and create 2 new ones. Tough action.
Best
Fatboy