Confused newbie...help.

A

artmustel

Registered
Hello everybody! I'm new in the forum and newbie in billiards. I apologize if this is not the proper place for this kind of questions.
I was recently given an old pool table. It is not a professional one, I think it is cheap (Brand is "Superior", no more info on it). Table measures, bumper to bumper, are 76 1/2 x 38 1/2". Table total size is 83 1/4" x 45 1/4". I have several questions and I will appreciate very much your help. According to the above measures, is this table considered a 7 foot table?
Second question: I was reading in this forum about pocket aperture sizes. This table has corners with a bit under 4" aperture, and side pockets are 5 1/2". Is this a correct relation between side and corner pockets aperture dimensions?
Even one more question...by now:wink:. Together with this table I was given 2 sets of balls. One set has balls with 2" diameter, and the other is 2 1/4. I understand that official size is 2 1/4 but I wonder if according this table size and pocket apertures I should try to use the smaller set of balls (2") or the one with normal diameter.

Thanks in anticipation for your responses and any other advice or suggestion that you may want to share with me!
 
The standard dimensions of a 7' table playing surface are 76"X38" (see the links below).

http://www.info-on-pooltables.com/pool-table-types.html

http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=rules_spec

Whether to use the 2" or 2-1/4" balls might depend on how the balls rebound from the cushions. On standard equipment, the nose of the cushion should be about 63% of a ball's diameter above the bed. This tends to prevent a rolling ball from climbing up the cushion. Another, and probably more important consideration, is the rebound angle. A ball that is fully rolling when it impacts the cushion should rebound at roughly the same angle as the approach angle (angle in = angle out, approx.). If one set of balls deviates significantly from this, use the other. Otherwise, I would go with the standard 2-1/4", if only to get used to striking a standard sized ball with your cue (although 4" corner pockets are pretty small for this size).

Here is a link to the table mechanics forum where you might get more info:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54

Good luck.

Jim
 
Great advices and links, Jal.
Any ideas why, if it is a 7" table, the corner pockets are so narrow (4") related to the side pockets (5 1/2")?:rolleyes: Just curiosity! Thanks.
 
I had a ol'hauson 7' table with leather drop pockets and it had very wide side pockets and tight as could be corners. I had it for about a minute then Up graded to much nicer, and more challenging.<<<ED
 
artmustel said:
...Any ideas why, if it is a 7" table, the corner pockets are so narrow (4") related to the side pockets (5 1/2")?:rolleyes: Just curiosity! Thanks.
Click to expand...
Sorry Art, but I have no idea. There are other things (facing angle, shelf depth), in addition to pocket width, that determine how likely it will accept a ball that contacts one of its facings. Sometimes aperture size can be a bit misleading.

I should have mentioned, although you likely are aware of this, it's important to use the same size cueball as the object balls (within reason). Significantly mismatched diameters can give you a distorted sense of where to aim, should you then want to transfer your shot making skills to matched sets. (Just a reminder from one who has played, inadvertently, with odd sized cueballs. :) )

Jim
 
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