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Have you ever been to someone’s house to play pool, and realized that there was not enough room around the table to make a shot? Maybe you are considering getting your own pool table, and you want to make sure that there is enough room around your pool table to play the game properly.
Well, in this article we will go over everything you need to know about pool tables and how far they should be away from a wall.
So how far should a pool table be from the wall?
The average pool table should generally be five feet away from a wall, and if you want plenty of room for people to take a shot and someone to walk behind you can even go up to seven or eight feet away from the wall.
Although there are different sized cue sticks that people might have, if you are tight on room, the minimum length you should have will be four feet.
If you want to know more about how far a pool table should be from a wall, you will want to keep reading this article. You can also check out this video to learn exactly the size room you need to fit the size pool table you want to own.
If you are looking to get better at playing pool one of the best ways to do that is by upgrading your pool cue. One of my favorite cues is the Viking Valhalla. It is available in a variety of colors and won’t break the bank. You can find it by clicking here.
How Far Should The Pool Table Be From The Wall?
As per the experts, five feet is the perfect distance for a pool table to be away from the wall. As to why it comes down to the calculation that comes in when placing a pool table.
The extra surrounding space needed in the room as well around the table itself is very important indeed. That is so that the players can have adequate space to move around.
It is often that players hit against walls or ceilings with the butts or shafts of the pool cue if they don’t have enough space to move around.
To play pool, a player needs space to use their cue to get the right angle for the perfect shot or to crush a break and adding sufficient space around the pool table allows the player to do it effortlessly. They can angle the shaft upwards to make for a constricting space but that is not how the game is supposed to be played.
That added space is almost crucial to have a good play on the table top without constrictions.
Shooters at the pool table require five feet of free space on every side of the table on the minimum and more if possible so that they don’t bang into things or poke the wrong thing out with their pool cue. A simple calculation would be to add 10 feet of space to the pool table’s dimensions, both length wise and width wise.
This will then give you a good chance of playing a good game at your pool table.
Most people get excited when they purchase their first pool table, and they make the mistake of not having a room big enough to accommodate a pool table, or at least the size pool table they get. This is because pool tables come in various sizes, and even though your room can fit a 7 foot pool table, it may not be able to fit a 9 foot table.
This is always something that you should consider when you are buying a pool table.
If you have a pool table then you need to get this accessory kit. It includes pool cues, extra pool balls, and all the gear you need to keep your pool table in tip-top shape.
If you are tired of your kids (or friends) ruining your good pool cue when they play then having these extra ones will keep that from happening (just be sure to hide your good one!).
Other Factors To Consider When Placing A Pool Table
When you have a specific place in mind to place a pool table there are many other things that you should consider beside just the distance from the wall. Of course you want to have enough room on all sides of the pool table but what else should you be considering?
Smaller Vs. Larger Pool Table
Say you have a cramped space in your game room and need to compromise the size of your table in order to fit it in, then you might just go for a smaller table than recommended because you do not have the space for it.
However, a smaller table will limit any opportunities you might get for high level play. For example, if you buy a 8 foot table instead of the 9 foot table to make for more space that will also affect the angles as well as your practice.
Experts advise that you should buys the largest table that you can afford and of course that fits your space. Ideally you will find a place in your home to fit a regulation table and still have the necessary 4-5 feet on each side.
If you practice on a standard sized table your game will improve much faster and it will carry over to when you play anywhere else on a normal sized pool table as well.
Light fixtures
When putting a pool table in your home you will want to make sure that you have installed lights in a way and place that will not interfere with your gameplay. Also make sure that they won’t need to be taken down to place the table in its place because you did not take proper measurements while putting the fixtures up.
Just make sure that you have ample space to move around and play with your pool cue and not end up breaking the light or hitting your cue (or head) on it.
Rugs
Rugs are typically placed under a pool table to save the ground from stray balls and so that the pool table does not slip or move. You need to make sure that you make space for the rugs and consider how well they fit under the table as well.
While first installing the rug under the pool table, you will need to be constantly levelling the table as the rug is likely to settle a bit over time with the weight of the pool table on it.
Ideally you will want to make sure that the rug is centered in the room to make sure that it looks nice.
Room For Manuevering
How well you are able to manuever the table in the room is something that should always be serious considered as well. If you have not planned how to get the massive pool table into the room then you could certainly have issues.
Some things that you might have in your house like a spiral staircase or tight turns in hallways may just make it impossible for you to get the pool table into the room that you want to. So just be sure that you measure ahead of time so you don’t buy a pool table only to find out later you can’t even get it through your house.
Bring In An Expert
Bringing an expert from your local pool shop will do you a lot of good in the long run. They will tell you what to look for and what to discard if you are to get a full size table inside your home.
An expert will catch things with their trained eyes that you are bound to miss if only due to the fact that you are not used to it yet. So, get trained eyes to make the way for your new table and you will not be disappointed.
What Is Pool?
Pool is a cue game that is played indoors on green table tops with 15 object balls and one cue ball as well as one pool cue. You will use this pool cue to direct the object balls to the six ball pockets lining the table.
The objective of the game is to direct the object balls into the ball pockets with the help of the pool cue on a very level table that is covered by a slab of slate and then with a green felt cloth to give it minimum resistance.
A pool table is usually placed in the middle of the room to give easy access to all the players from all the sides as the pool cue has to point the cue ball from different angles to get the objects balls in the required line of sight.
Only by placing the cue ball in a position where the ball will collide with the object balls can one use the pool cue to hit the cue ball in a perfect hit to the ball pocket.
Conclusion
Now that you know what to look for when you get a pool table as well as how big of an area you need around your pool table for it to work properly, you are ready to go and get your very first pool table.
As long as you know your dimensions of the table you are getting, and the dimensions of your room, you are on your way to becoming a professional pool player in no time.