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A Word on "Regulation" Tables

Heart and Soul

By Matthew Sherman, About.com

The grand game

Photo (c) MicroMachines 2007
The table is the blood and body of good pool. The best shooter, equipped with the world’s best stick, would fare poorly on a table with broken pockets or on one too small to present a challenge.

Pool tables are typically rectangular with a 2:1 ratio play surface, length to width (in a variety of sizes). The best sized-table to play on is nine by four-and-a-half feet. Warning: Beware rip-offs due to the deregulated nature of pool competition worldwide! Table ads that guarantee "regulation size" mean nothing in particular, except that they have a 2:1 ratio. Even a tiny 4' x 2' table could be legally advertised as "regulation"!

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