Billiard Tables – Buying Tips
Billiard tables, which in some parts of the world are better known as pool tables, have been in existence in one form or another for centuries. They have long been centerpieces of activity in pubs, lounges, bar rooms and games rooms. Nowadays, billiard pool tables are more and more often also finding their way into family and rec room settings around the country. One of the things that makes them so popular is that there are many different types of billiards games that can be played on these tables and usually something that everyone can enjoy.
One common concern people have when thinking about buying a billiard table is if they have enough space to fit one into a spare room or a family room. While everyone’s idea of the perfect spot to play pool is different, in most cases you will want to have enough room for more than just the table. You must also have ample clearance around it to be able to wield your cue stick effectively. Billiards is a social game, and you should select a space in your home that can accommodate comfortable seating, as well as places to hold food and beverages that people often enjoy while shooting pool.
The dimensions of the most common American billiard tables are either eight feet by four feet, or the tournament size of nine feet by four-and-a-half feet. The most popular and common cue sticks are 57 inches in length, so in order to have proper clearance and not be hampered by walls or other obstacles that are too close, you would need a room that is about 14 by 18 feet at the bare minimum, before considering space for seating and mingling.
If you just don’t have that much space, you could opt for one of the smaller sized tables. There are billiard pool tables as small as six feet by three feet. In conjunction with a smaller pool table, you could also use shorter cues which are available as short as 36 inches. The combination of these two factors would mean that you could conceivably play pool in a room as small as 9 by 12 feet.
However, there is a drawback to trying to squeeze smaller tables into a room that won’t hold a full size pool table. Once you get used to playing on smaller billiard pool tables and with shorter sticks, you will find it quite challenging to be able to play well on the more common size tables that you will find at bars, pool halls, and in most other homes. In addition, if part of your idea for buying a pool table is to entertain friends and have social gatherings with it as the central activity, then you will find that other people will have trouble adjusting to what many think of as mini pool tables.
Once you have determined the size of the table that will fit into your home, you next need to look at the quality of the materials before you make your decision. Most quality pool tables have a slab of slate underneath the felt. This provides a very stable, even, and good quality surface. The best tables actually have three slabs which can be adjusted independently to assure the ability to properly level the surface.
Since slate is such heavy material, a slate pool table bed can weigh up to 800 pounds. Because of this, the construction of the billiard tables frames must by very sturdy and of high quality to support that weight and assure that the table playing surface is always level. Look for metal-to-metal construction for the joints and solid cross members that are bolted securely.
By Sports Info Editor
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