Determining Diverse Pool Table Styles
Jack R. Landry has played professional billiards for the last 19 years and written hundreds of articles about pool tables. He recommends (http://www.PoolTables.com) for pool tables.
There are a variety of different types of pool tables. Choosing the best pool table for you is dependent upon which games you enjoy playing most on it; where the pool table is going to be located whether at home, a saloon, or a pool hall; and how expensive the pool table is.
The American pool table and the English pool table are two different types. They have some similarities and many differences.
The American pool table tends to be a bigger table. American Pool Tables are built in 3 sizes, 7ft x 3 1/2 ft, 8ft x 4ft, and 9ft x 4 1/2 ft.
They measure nearly 9 feet long for the tournament sized table. The English pool table is supplied in 3 sizes, 6ft, 7ft, and 8ft.
English pool tables tend to be made smaller than the American Pool tables. The cues have larger tips than their English counterparts at 12-13 mm diameter.
The English pool table cues measure to be a smaller size, usually around 8-9 mm. American pool tables are growing in popularity, not only in the Unites States but, in the UK as well.
Lots of people feel that the American pool table provides the standard for playing, while the smaller English pub pool tables are a poor imitation for the real thing. The big pool tables certainly look the part, especially in tournaments where there are some outstanding examples of the beautiful American pool table.
The main manufacturers of American pool tables include Brunswick and Olhausen. They have been the established leaders in the industry for a few years now.
Brunswick has been the market leader for pool tables and game room furnishings since 1845. They offer the industry’s largest selection of high quality product in a variety of different styles.
Another major pool table manufacturer is Olhausen. Olhausen has a wide variety of pool table designs available, some traditional and some contemporary to fit in with modern decor.
The main designers of American and English pool tables, in the UK, include Sam Leisure and BCE. They, too, have been established for some time.
Sam Leisure makes not only pool tables but also air hockey and other related equipment. The Sam leisure K steel is a renowned table used extensively in clubs and is regarded as one of the best around.
Their American and English pool tables have found their way into some of the world’s finest bars, nightclubs, pool halls and homes. The look of the tables boast high style with reliability, durability and profitability.
BCE started in the 1890’s. The company started out as the largest manufacturer of cricket bats in the world.
As a sideline, the company started to manufacture billiard tables and cues, and by 1910 the Company was producing around 800 full size tables per year. Parallel to the full size tables, the Company also manufactured a large quantity of convertible tables including tables with dining tops.
Portable tables became by far the company’s biggest selling line. The cloth on the American pool table is always speed cloth making the ball go faster and straight, as slightly opposed to, British tables.
The pockets are larger on the American pool table to accommodate for the larger ball size. The tables for the home are usually made from wood.
They are fabulous pieces of furniture that can add to the style, feel, and design of any room. Pool tables can cost anything from $1,500 – $6,000.
Often, the home pool tables are made with just drop pockets and no ball return. This is usually because this would spoil the look of the table for home use.
Whereas the club tables almost always come with ball return and are often coin operated. The tables made for the clubs are generally made with steel or aluminum frames and are extremely sturdy to stand up to the rough environment, and are virtually indestructible, apart from the cloth that can fairly easily be injured.
American pool has been made even more popular by the movies “The Hustler,” and “The Colour of Money.”
One of the main characters was George Hegerman, nicknamed Minnesota Fats. Minnesota Fats was known as an excellent pool player of the old days.
The American version of the game is alive and well and sales of the American pool table are doing well with expected growth in the future. If you want to play pool the most traditional and classy way be sure to play on an American pool table.
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