Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Pocket Specifications

Pocket Openings & Measurements (for cloth covered rails):

Pocket 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 between 4 7/8” minimum to 5 1/8” maximum.

Side Pocket: Mouth between 5 3/8” minimum to 5 5/8” maximum.

The angle at the corner pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is 142° (±1°). The angle at the side pocket entrance on each side of the pocket is 103° (±2°).

Vertical Pocket Angle: 12° minimum to 15° 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 maximum.