Pub pool tables are the smaller version of the American pool table. Basically the English don't have the room available in the pubs and bars for the big American table. The compromise was the smaller 7 ft pool table found in most pubs and games areas around the UK. They nearly all have coin operated mechanisms in them and are there to generate extra income for the pub and to draw in more people. But what began as a purely commercial decision has led to a whole new division of the game of pool.The English game has now got to such a level that tv companies are televising the tournaments now, like Eurosport and Sky. And the small table version has also spread into Europe and the commonwealth countries so there is a cosmopolitan feel to the small table tournaments now and the prize money on offer has crept up as well with the bigger tournaments now offering many thousands to the winner.
So what we know as English pool tables are more commonly known as pub pool tables because that was their genesis. The official tournament size of an English table is 7 ft by 4 ft and that is their external dimensions, the actual playing area is 6 ft by 3 ft. The game most often and almost exclusively played on English tables is 8 ball pool. The game has 7 red balls and 7 yellow balls and a black number 8 ball, after which the game is called. The object is to simply pocket all 7 of one of the colours either reds or yellows and then pocket the number 8 ball, after which you have won the game.
Pretty simple eh! But that is the beauty of the game, it is very simple to play but hard to get really good at and there are lots of people playing the game now, it is really competitive in those tournaments around the country. So from dodgy beginnings the pub pool table is here to stay and has finally come of age.
Author: George Pennwood, click this link for some examples of the pub pool table
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Pennwood
