Poolipöydät

Poolipöydät, commonly known as pool tables or billiard tables, are specialized tables used to play cue sports such as pool, billiards, and snooker. The playing surface of a poolipöytä is typically a flat, smooth surface covered with a dense napped cloth, most commonly green felt or baize. The table is surrounded by rubber cushions, known as rails, which are angled to provide a predictable rebound for the balls.

Poolipöydät come in various sizes, with standard sizes for American pool being 7-foot, 8-foot, and 9-foot lengths. Snooker tables are larger, typically 12-foot. The table has six pockets: one at each of the two middle sides and two at each end. Poolipöydät are constructed from durable materials, often wood or metal frames, to withstand the impact of cue strikes and ball collisions. The playing surface is usually made of slate or a composite material to ensure flatness and stability.

The game played on a poolipöytä involves players using a cue stick to strike a cue ball, which in turn strikes other balls on the table, aiming to pocket them into the designated pockets according to the rules of the specific game being played. Different games have different numbers of balls, colors, and scoring systems. Poolipöydät are found in homes, bars, clubs, and dedicated billiard halls worldwide, serving as the central equipment for a popular global pastime.