Most people looking for a pool table for their home will be constrained by the amount of space available. They may also have children who will want to play too, and a 6ft pool table makes an ideal home table for this situation.
What are 6ft Pool Tables
Unless you are buying a kids pool table, a 6ft pool tables will be an English pool table. American pool tables generally start at 7ft in length. English pool tables are either 6ft or 7ft tables.
Your English pool table will have pool balls that are 2 inches in diameter, with pockets to suit. The opening diameter of the pocket is 1.6 times the diameter of the ball, and the larger American pool balls will not fit into an English pool table’s pockets. Because the size of the balls differs, you will need English pool cues, with tips that are 8 to 9mm, rather than the 12 to 13mm of American cues.
A history of 6ft Pool Tables
Traditionally, English pool was played with yellow and red balls, in games called eight ball or nine ball pool. American pool featured balls with spots and stripes. The format of the games is slightly different as well. Nowadays, the varieties have become mixed up, and you will be able to get both types of balls for an English or American pool table.
A 6ft pool table will need a room that is 16ft long and 13 ft wide. This is to allow a 5ft space all around the table – the minimum recommended for comfortable play with a standard 48 inch cue. A 6ft table is popular for home use because it is big enough to provide a challenging game without requiring too much space. Some American pool tables can be 10ft long, which is often too large for home use.
A big advantage of a 6ft table is that children of most ages, except the very young, will be able to play on it. Pool tables are not inexpensive, and the table cloth can easily be ruined by young children. By the time they are 9 or 10 though, most children will be able to play on a 6ft pool table without causing too much damage.
Beginners will appreciate the smaller size of a 6ft table. It is easier to play pool when the distances are shorter, and a small table allows for a bigger margin of error in the angle of the shot. It is difficult to move from a small 6ft pool table to an American pool table which can be as long as 10ft, as the difference in distances means that the ball must be struck harder. If your intention is to have fun at home, then a 6ft table is ideal. If however you would like to enter competitions or tournaments, you should consider a 7ft table – the English Pool Association’s regulation size.
For an evening’s entertainment with family and friends, a 6ft pool table is perfect. Large enough to provide a challenging game for amateurs, yet small enough to fit in the average home, a 6ft table will provide years of enjoyment to the whole family.
