Whether you're building your own pool table or refinishing the felt surface of an old one, it's important that everything is set up correctly. Once the side diamonds are aligned, finding the correct location for the head and foot spots (the dots on the pool table felt) is not difficult.

The Head Spot

Each pool table should have diamonds on the side rails (sometimes in the shape of small dots). These dots evenly divide the distance between consecutive pockets and can be used for positioning purposes. There are six diamonds on each side of the table, three between each pocket. Find the middle diamond on the head side of the table. (The head is the side of the table where the cue ball is originally located at the beginning of a typical eight-ball game.) Hold a yardstick or meterstick to the center of one the middle diamonds on the head side of the table and stretch it across the table until it touches the middle diamond on the opposite side. Calculate the midpoint between the two diamonds by dividing the distance between them by 2, and make a small mark with chalk directly at the midpoint. This point is the correct place for the head spot, or the dot on the head of the table.

The Foot Spot

The same method can be used to place the foot spot--the dot at the other end of the pool table felt. Use a yardstick or meterstick to measure the distance between the two center diamonds on the foot side of the table, and find the midpoint between them. Use a piece of chalk to mark this point on the table, and place the dot on the pool table felt at that location.

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The Pool Table Layout