How big is a championship pool table?

Answer 1

A championship pool table can vary in size depending on the venue and format. Typically for professional 9 ball tournaments the tables used are Brunswick Gold Crown and Diamond. The table size used in these tournaments are 4.5 feet x 9 feet. It is important to note that "professional" style tables tend to use Simonis cloth that has a higher thread count than the average home or bar table. The reason this is important is because it significantly increases the speed that the cue ball and object balls travel on the playing surface.

However , most league tournaments (in the APA for example) tend to be played on Valley Bar Boxes and are 3.5 feet x 7 feet. These tables are more "forgiving" because the average shot typically travels a shorter distance and the pockets tend to be easier to make shots in. Professional tables have tighter pockets and a longer ledge where the rails meet the pockets. This can and typically will result in more balls hanging in the pocket.

Good luck

Answer 2

"Official" is the keyword in your question. The sanctioning body of the tournament, tour, league, etc., determines what the official equipment dimensions are. The professional pool tournaments one sees on TV are most often played on 4.5ft by 9ft tables and most pool leagues are played on 3.5ft by 7ft tables. In addition to that, there are many tours in which the professional and amateur alike compete that use 4ft by 8ft tables and/or 3.5ft by 7ft tables.