Pool tables are getting quite exotic these days with multi colored cloths, (basically any color you want) and more contemporary table designs to fit in with modern decor. A well crafted pool table is still a very nice piece of furniture if a bit on the large size. Don't forget to allow for cuing room when you buy a table, allow 10 ft on both dimensions to allow for cuing room when playing, so if you have a 6 ft table your room size should be 16 ft x 13 ft to give some room all around the table to manipulate the cue. (17 ft x 14 ft for a 7 ft table etc).
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Also pool tables can cost anything from $60 for the small kids tables to $1000's for the exotic Italian tables and the main difference is the playing surface, either wood or MDF and slate. The wooden topped tables are usually the toy versions although there are some very nice wood topped tables that can come in 7 ft sizes, quite adequate for an adult game and very much cheaper than the slate bed versions.
Proper pool tables are the slate tables, no wooden topped table will equal the response and accuracy of roll of a slate bed pool table. The slate comes in thickness's of 3/4 inch to a full 1 1/2 inches depending on the cost of the table. As might be supposed with that much rock on the table they are very heavy compared to their wooden counterparts. The slate itself can come as 1 piece or 2 or 3 separate pieces to save carrying weight when installing the table. Whilst single piece slate tables can be installed easily by the customer providing you have some hefty mates to help you put the slate on, the multi slate tables should always be installed by professionals as they can be tricky to line up right.
The pool table bases also come in a variety of materials from the traditional types made of wood to the brick outhouse style of steel tables made to stand up to the Hurley burly of pool club life. The choice 8 ball pool games free download full version of table really depends on the use it is put to, with the wooden types looking more decorous in the home environment and the steel and aluminum framed tables are made for the clubs. The aluminum and steel tables also lend themselves to garish outer decoration as you've probably seen in public places with pool tables whereas the home tables are more demure.
The games played on pool tables vary depending on which country you are in from the French which play on Carom pool tables which don't have any pockets! They play a form of billiards on these tables where you score points for hitting the object ball or your opponent's ball or both. The more common tables do have pockets and the games on these are 8 ball which perversely is played with 15 balls with the object being to pocket the number 8 ball and 9 ball pool which IS played with 9 balls formed up into a diamond shape for break off.
Pool tables are part of the larger family of billiard tables which have been around for a few hundred years and include snooker carom and pool tables, and I'm sure they will be around for a few more hundred years as it is a great game that anyone can play and if you get really good at it you can earn a very decent living on the professional playing circuit. So get yourself a pool table or get down to your nearest club and enjoy!
Pool is a game which was derived from billiards in the 1870s, with the history of billiards never having been very clear as to its exact origins. Shakespeare mentioned billiards in his play Antony and Cleopatra in 1600 which has lead to the assumption that the game originated sometime in the 15th century. It is widely believed although no one can prove it that the game originated from the game of croquet which for those of you who have not heard about this game here is a brief summary.
Croquet is a game played on a grass lawn that was popular with the aristocracy in Europe in the 15th century. It involves striking a solid ball which is 3 5/8" in diameter through hoops which are referred to as wickets. The standard game used nine wickets but variations of the game can see this number change. The balls are struck with a mallet which is designed in length so that no bending over is required when playing the game. Because this was played outdoors often the weather meant that play was not possible and at some point an indoor version was created using a bumper edged felt covered table to resemble a lawn and small balls were pushed through hoops with a stick. This is believed to be where the game of billiards began in France where croquet was very popular and the word billiards was derived from two French words "billart", a wooden push stick and "bille", a ball.
Although the exact time is unclear later in the 1600s the cue as we call it today replaced the mace which was the name given to the push stick which did not have a tapered end. Sexism came in at this point as it was deemed that women would rip the cloth trying to use a cue and they were made to continue using the mace. The first rule book for billiards was published in 1675 and the game steadily grew in popularity throughout the 1700s with no noteworthy advances or changes taking place until the 1800s.
The 1800s saw the introduction of cue chalk before tips were even used, as it was found to increase the friction between the ball and cue, resulting in a more efficient strike of the ball. The cue tip was introduced in Britain in 1823 and was made of leather and this changed the game as skilled players could now apply spin to the cue ball for more control. This was perfected amongst British players and they referred to it as putting side on the ball. This skill was passed onto American players who often refer to it as English because it originated in Britain. Two piece cues were produced from 1829 and were an instant success as they could be easily carried whereas previous cues were awkward because of their length. The early 1800s saw more advancements in the game than any other time period due to the industrial revolution. Coming next were slate beds introduced from 1835 and when Goodyear perfected the manufacture of rubber it was incorporated into the cushions from 1845.
Until the 1870s, four ball billiards was the most popular game in America but that all changed with a new spin off game called fifteen-ball pool. This game very quickly became the most popular and from it the other versions of pool were created. In Britain pool caught on a lot slower, as in the 1920s snooker became the main table game and is still widely popular there today. Pool is now more popular than snooker for participating in, although as a spectator sport snooker still takes top position in Britain.
