It’s pretty well known that the tables used in professional, televised snooker matches are different to the ones we play on down at the club. It’s also a known fact that these tables are significantly more challenging to play on, often turning a reasonable club break-builder into a novice on a match table. But what are the specific differences on a match table that causes these difficulties?
Since 1990, the pocket templates used for professional match tables haven’t changed. All match tables used in events are to the exact same specification which is regulated and checked by officials to ensure there aren’t any deviations. Templates that are used involve wooden pieces to check the size of the pockets, the cut of the jaws, as well as the distance of the slate from the hole of the pocket. This is particularly important given that the closer the slate is towards the pocket, the more difficult it is to pot a ball. And on a match table, generally speaking, the slate is measured further in towards the pocket.
Due to the jaws of the pockets being cut to a certain specification, the jaws are often quite sharper and less forgiving than a club table. This creates the narrower pockets which are associated with match tables and really emphasises the importance of a consistent cue action if you want to be able to string together a few pots. Since club tables don’t follow a consistent fitting format, there can be quite a bit of variation from one table to the next; and by not following the official templates (which are closely guarded by WST), it can lead to more generous pockets. However, the pockets are not the only factor that differs a club table from a match table.
The cloth is another significant factor that plays into the differences between a club and match table. Most will probably know that the match tables will run a finer cloth which allows for more reaction from the cue ball. This can make for a difficult transition for a club player who is used to playing on their regular table when adjusting to the speed of a finer cloth on a professional table. It’s quickly noticed that less force is required when playing screw or other positional shots on a match table, which can be quite tricky for amateur players to grow accustomed to.
The cloth used on competition tables are Strachan’s West of England No. 10 Cloth, which is a light, 100% woollen material weighing at around 30 ounces. Club tables tend to be heavier and require less refitting, but they are a cheaper alternative to equipping all tables with a tournament level Strachan cloth. This is why you see a lot of snooker clubs have a number of tables to play on, plus one or two match tables charged at a higher hourly rate.
Lastly, the balls used on a match table can be different to what’s used on a club table. Similar to how the pockets must conform to a specific template, snooker balls have a tolerance level of 3 grams, meaning that there can be no more than a 3 gram weight difference between a set of snooker balls. Tournament balls used take this further. Aramith 1g balls are used for professional tournaments which adhere to a 1 gram tolerance level, providing a consistent weight across a set of snooker balls.
Of course, there are other things to take into account such as the under-table heater, frequent cloth refitting, overall table maintenance and ambient temperature, but it all provides for an optimal playing field for professionals to compete on. And it doesn’t take a long time for even the newest of players to notice the difference between playing on a snooker match table and a club table.
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