Is it Time to Raise Table Height?

Wheelchairs

Jeff said:
Do tables seem too short for you?

Table height from the BCA site

TABLE BED HEIGHT:
The table bed playing surface, when measured from the bottom of the table leg, will be 29 1/4" minimum to 31" maximum.

I assume the height of a table has been standard for over a hundred years. But the average height of American men has gone up.

The average height of men increased from 66.8 inches in 1861 to 70.5 inches in 1957.

I am right at 6' and to me I am bending over farther than is comfortable. At the end of a long night of pool, I am a little sore.
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I think our friends in wheelchairs might have an issue with raising the table height. Its hard enough for them now.
 
There is only one place in my area with "pay by the hour" tables. They are 4 1/2 x 9 and the cloth is the old thick slow felt. I knew they felt lower but didn't know how much lower they were.

My back only gets sore after several hours of practicing and all this time I believed my back got sore because it was practice time and I didn't sit down that often like when playing someone.

But I went down there and measured the tables and they are a hair over 29'

I went to two of the bars where I play most often and the tables there were 32' at one and 33' at the other.

So now I think my back getting sore is mainly because of the lower height of the tables where I practice.
 
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Jeff said:
There is only one place in my area with "pay by the hour" tables. They are 4 1/2 x 9 and the cloth is the old thick slow felt. I knew they felt lower but didn't know how much lower they were.

My back only gets sore after several hours of practicing and all this time I believed my back got sore because it was practice time and I didn't sit down that often like when playing someone.

But I went down there and measured the tables and they are a hair over 29'

I went to two of the bars where I play most often and the tables there were 32' at one and 33' at the other.

So now I think my back getting sore is mainly because of the lower height of the tables where I practice.
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At the bars you mentioned, what kind of tables were they, that they were so high up at the playing surface?

Glen
 
Dead Crab said:
I have my table at just over 33", and it is far easier on the back than the 29" you find in some pool halls. You can avoid the potential problem of unstable leg levelers by putting the table feet on blocks.

The Brits allow their 5 x 10' snooker tables to be up to 34" high and it doesn't seem to affect their reach. My table is just a 7-footer, but at 5'-10", I don't even own a rake. In my opinion, it increases comfort and doesn't change the game, except for the better.
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In England, the height of snooker tables is to the top of the rails, from the floor up, so subtract the thickness of the top rails...and you have the playing surface height of the slate;)

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
I do believe I'd have to agree with you on that, or at least the number 86 comes to mind:D What I think someone fails to understand, the playing height of a pool table...is a world standard, not an American standard, as there are far more people around the world that play pool if all added together than the American pool players:D and I don't believe their average height has caught up to that of Americans...has it?;) When you start using the leg levelers to raise the height of a table, you start standing it on stilts, which makes the table very unstable. If it wasn't designed to be that high, then it's not going to be stable that high either;) Table height is adjusted by 3 leg levelers, with the 4th being the lowest point of the playing surface, and the other 3 made to match that height, therefore making the frame of the table level.

Without wind, this boat isn't going to sail:D

Glen
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Also you'd have to call all the table mfg. and have them retool. Just too get then to standardize pocket size has been futile, why, because most all their product goes into homes, and since table mfg./BCA support the home base your idea here in the states has in the past fallen on deaf ears and will till its truly a sport with all the benefits $$$$ and recognition that go with being a legit sport like golf.
 
If it's your table, have it set up how you like it. I mean if you've played on a taller table and you found it is significantly more comfortable, then make that how you play most of the time. We do this for fun. Maximize the fun I say! Adjusting back to a table that is one or two inches could tough, or it might just make you pay more attention. (which helps the shotmaking)
 
Island Drive said:
Also you'd have to call all the table mfg. and have them retool. Just too get then to standardize pocket size has been futile, why, because most all their product goes into homes, and since table mfg./BCA support the home base your idea here in the states has in the past fallen on deaf ears and will till its truly a sport with all the benefits $$$$ and recognition that go with being a legit sport like golf.
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Table height as well as standard pocket openings are always going to be dictated by the masses of people, not the few;) My suggestion for all those that want tables to be higher, get your down payment into Diamond, and I'll see what I can do about having them build some blocks to put under the feet of the leg levelers for your custom orders for pool tables, but there will be an additional charge of course:D

Glen
 
It will not work for me

I am 5.5 and have to use the bridge to often now, so you want another advantage. I would be totally against this, you allready have an advantage over shorter people and now you want to increase it, it figures.
 
scenario said:
I am 5.5 and have to use the bridge to often now, so you want another advantage. I would be totally against this, you allready have an advantage over shorter people and now you want to increase it, it figures.
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Standing 5 11" I guess I'd fit into that short statistic as well, but I think I make up for it weighing in at a little more than 270lbs:D

Glen

PS. This week:D Other weeks I'm more like 280lbs, but never less than 265lbs;) Must be my job:D
 
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Jeff said:
SNIPT
I am right at 6' and to me I am bending over farther than is comfortable. At the end of a long night ... I am a little sore.
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That will go away soon as you get out of prison ;) :D
 
I played for several hours yesterday and my back is fine (I am 6') BUT my shins are killing me today.

It might be an issue of being out of shape. (I know I am!)

Pool is lot more physical than most people think.

I remember seeing a match on TV with Allison and she had a kink in her neck, she lost badly to Karen but it was obvious to me that all muscles need to be working well to play top level.

SR
 
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