Carom Billiards Table; French Billiards Table | Perfect Dimensions
A standard carom billiards table used in official games measures about 10 feet by 5 feet. The playing area, the space between the cushion edges, measures 9.3 by 4.7 feet (5-millimeter allowance).
The height of the table, from the playing surface to the ground, usually falls between 74 and 80 centimeters. This height ensures the quality play with the comfort and ease.
Let’s discuss the dimensions in detail.
The Game
Carom billiards is considered a family game played on special tables without pockets. The tables have a smooth surface and are cloth-covered tables where players use cues to hit balls around. The main idea is to score points by making your cue ball bounce off your opponent’s and another target ball in one go.
Carom billiards is a cue sport played on a special table without pockets. Players use cues to strike balls, aiming to make their cue ball hit both the opponent’s ball and a third target ball in a single shot. The goal is to score points through these caroms, where the cue ball rebounds off the other balls.
​You can play straight rails, one-cushion, three-cushion, and more. Each version has its own set of rules. Europe, especially France, is a popular place to play carom billiards. However, some Asian countries, like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam, are popular.
Carom Billiards Table
A carom billiard table is a special playground for games like pool, snooker, and other cue sports. The table has a flat surface, usually made of slate, covered in a smooth cloth. The table was surrounded by bouncy rubber cushions and lifted off the ground.
You might have heard different names for specific tables, like a snooker table or a pool table layout, and they often use different-sized balls. They called it a billiard board back in the olden days, but that term’s not really used anymore.
Table Size
According to UMD (The Union Mondiale de Billard), a standard table’s overall length is 10 feet (3.05 meters), and the width is about 5 feet (1.52 meters).
Playing Surface
The playing surface within the cushions, where the balls are in play, measures about 9 feet by 4.5 feet (2.74 meters by 1.37 meters). This playing area is demarcated by the cushion rails.
Cushions
The cushions along the rails are typically rubber and have a standardized width and height. The cushion height from the table’s bed to the top surface is usually around 1.25 inches (3.175 centimeters). The width from the inside edge to the outer edge is about 1.75 inches (4.445 centimeters).
Billiards tables do not have pockets like pool tables. It has slightly angled edges to prevent balls from falling into pockets and rebounding predictably.
Bed Material
The table bed is often made of slate, providing a flat surface for gameplay. The slate usually measures 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick and is covered with billiard cloth for smooth ball movement.
Table Height
The standard height of a carom billiards table from the floor to the top surface is typically around 29.5 inches (74.93 centimeters).
Cloth
There is no feel on a billiards table, despite the name. It’s a special cloth made of woven wool or a wool-nylon mix called baize. It’s mostly green, a nod to the grassy fields where billiards started.
Billiards table measurements
| Carom Billiards Table | Table Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Length | 10 feet (3.05 meters) |
| Width | 5 feet (1.52 meters) |
| Playing Surface Length | 9 feet (2.74 meters) |
| Playing Surface Width | 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) |
| Cushion Height | 1.25 inches (3.175 cm) |
| Cushion Width | 1.75 inches (4.445 cm) |
| Bed material thickness | 1 inch (2.54 cm) |
| Table Height | 29.5 inches (74.93 cm) |
Other Markings
Sights or Diamonds
Some tables have special markings shaped like diamonds along the edges. They’re not on snooker tables. These markings help players aim their shots. There are seven along the longer edges and three along the shorter ones. They’re like a grid to help players figure out where to hit the balls.
Spots
These are marks on the cloth that show important spots. They can mark where the head and foot of the table are or draw lines to help players position the balls. In some games, lines might connect the markings to make a grid on the table. Different markings are used in different games to help players aim and set up the game.
FAQs
Conclusion
As discussed above, regulation carom billiards tables, measuring 10 by 5 feet with a playing area of about 9.3 by 4.7 feet, form the core of this challenging game. They lack pockets and feature cushioned edges for ball rebounds.
Made of slate and covered in specialized cloth, these tables offer a smooth surface for precise gameplay. The cushions, markings like sights or spots, and standardized dimensions are crucial for players’ accuracy in this skill-driven cue sport.