BCA EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
These specifications are meant for recreation (non-professional) equipment.
TABLE SIZES:
3 ½’ x 7’, 4’ x 8’, and 4 ½’ x 9’ with the play area measuring twice as long as it is wide
(± 1/8”) from the cloth covered nose of the cushion rubber to the opposite cushion rubber.
4 ½’ x 9’ tables with a Play Area of 50” x 100” is the recognized size for professional
tournament play.
TABLE BED HEIGHT:
The table bed playing surface, when measured from the bottom of the table leg, will be
29 ¼” minimum to 31” maximum.
POCKET OPENINGS & MEASUREMENTS (cloth-covered rails):
Pockets openings are measured from tip to tip of the opposing cushion noses where
direction changes into the pocket. This is called the mouth.
Corner Pocket: Mouth 4 7/8” minimum to 5 1/8” maximum
Side Pocket: Mouth 5 3/8” minimum to 5 5/8” maximum
The angle at the corner pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is 142º (± 1º).
The angle at the side pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is 103º (± 2º).
Vertical Pocket Angle: 12º minimum to 15º maximum
Shelf: The shelf is measured from the center of the imaginary line that goes from one side
of the mouth to the other where the nose of the cushion changes direction to the center of
the vertical cut of the slate pocket radius.
Corner Pocket: 1 5/8” minimum to 1 7/8” maximum
Side Pocket: 0” minimum to 3/8” maximum
Drop Point Slate Radius: The pocket radius measured from the vertical cut of the slate to
the playing surface.
Drop Point Slate Radius: 1/8” radius minimum to ¼” radius minimum
PLAYING BED:
The playing surface must be capable, either by its own strength or a combination of its
strength and that of the table base frame, of maintaining an overall flatness within ± .020”
lengthwise and ± .010” across the width. Further, this surface should have an additional
deflection not to exceed .030” when loaded with a concentrated static force of 200
pounds at its center. All slate joints must be in the same plane within .005” after leveling
and shimming. The bed must be covered with a billiard fabric, the major portion of
which is made of wool, with proper tension to avoid unwanted ball roll-off. It is
recommended that professional tournament size tables have a three-piece set of slate with
a minimum thickness of 1” and a wooden frame of at least ¾” attached to the slate. BCA
will sanction tournament play on home and coin-operated tables with one-piece slate
providing the Play Area requirements are met. All playing surfaces must be solidly
secured to base frame with screws or bolts.
CUSHION:
Cushions should react so that they conform under controlled conditions to the three
cushion angles prescribed in the “diamond” (or site) system shown below to ± 1 ball
width.
The speed of the table cushions should be such that placement of a ball on the head spot,
shooting through the foot spot, using center ball english, with a level cue and firm stroke,
the ball must travel a minimum of 4 to 4 ½ lengths of the table without jumping.
POOL BALL SPECIFICATIONS:
Molded and finished in a perfect sphere in the following weight and diameter:
Pocket Billiard Balls
Weight: 5 ½ to 6 oz.
*Diameter: 2 ¼”
*Diameter tolerance: ± .005”
POOL CUE SPECIFICATIONS:
Player may bring a maximum of 3 cue sticks to a match.
Width of tip: No minimum/14 mm maximum
Weight: No minimum/25 oz. maximum
Length: 40 inches minimum/no maximum
The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The
cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other
fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and
contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed.
The ferrule, if of a metal material, may not be more than 1 inch in length.
