Considering an American pool table but not quite sure why you would prefer it to an English-style one? Well, it might be that your first instincts on hearing “American” were right as, yes, as with a lot of American things, the key difference with an American pool table is all to do with being bigger, faster, louder and – some may say – simpler!
Here’s a run-down of the key differences and why the American pool table might be the thing for you:
Bigger Size
The traditional English table is usually around 7 foot (although they can even come down to as little as 6 foot in some cases) whereas the American comes in at an 8 foot standard, with a whopping 9 foot length serving as the standard for American tournament play. You may be wondering the reason for this. Well, it’s all to do with things being bigger in America; in this case, their bars. A 9 foot American pool table is larger than the front room of many traditional English pubs but is perfect for a diner or saloon.
Larger Balls
Keeping with the size theme, the American pool balls tend to be a half inch larger than their English compatriots – partly this is to compensate for the size of the table as it can take some real elbow-grease to get from one end to the other with English size billiards.
Faster Play
Like with the balls, the considerably larger size of the American pool table needs to be compensated for if your game of pool is going to move quickly and easily. Whereas the English table will typically have a woollen cloth – that being a plentiful material on the British Isles – an American pool table will tend to have a woven material of cotton or synthetic fabric lining its surface. The key difference here is in something called the “nap” which is what gives the English game its distinct speed through increased traction. Without this, the American game runs far quicker with less effort needed to convey the balls around the table.
Ball Colours
Perhaps the most distinct difference between English and American pool tables is the colour of the balls that sit on them. Traditionally there have been three colours only on an English table – red, yellow, and black – where the Americans have a whole rainbow of colours separated into the “spots” and “stripes”. The American balls also come with numbers such as the well-known “8 ball” black. The function of these numbers differs between the states, with different rule variations available to the player seeking variation. Even with the standard “UK pub rules”, however, the American pool look certainly adds a touch of Hollywood pizazz.
Bucket Pockets
This is where the “simpler” aspect comes in to the discussion, although perhaps unfairly. The standard American pool table has pockets much larger than the Standard English model, with well-defined corners that allow for rapid potting. Where the rail-lining runs in to the pocket on an English table, the American often has rubber buffers for increased impact absorption – allowing for faster and harder impacts. However, the right-angled American “bucket pockets” do present a much harder challenge in the event of narrow-angled pots, so it’s not all amateur hour!
The big differences between traditional English and American pool tables come together to make the American game go much faster and on a larger scale. For the beginner this can make the American pool table a great choice as you get all of the fun of English pool without as much of the frustration. For the advanced player it can also offer a satisfying speed of play great for trick-shots, tournament play and impressing your friends.