Billiard Table Buying Guide: Some things to consider and look at when shopping for your table.
- Room Size: Knowing the exact dimensions of the room you plan on putting the table in is crucial when shopping for the table. A table that is oversized for the room will lead to scraping, marking and scuffing of furniture and walls in the room by the cue sticks. It’s best to draw out the room on a piece of paper noting the length and width. Also take a moment to make note of any columns, half walls or other immovable objects that might obstruct the play area around the table. With this information in hand you and your salesperson can best determine what size table will fit in the room so you won’t be disappointed when the table is installed. The Room Sizing chart will provide you with the recommended room sizes for each table size.
- Functionality: What type of use is this table going to get? Is it going to be an heirloom piece of furniture in a room decorated with the table as a centerpiece or is it going to be the table your kids learn to play on and the neighborhood gathers around simply for impromptu games of fun or, will it be both? The answer to this question will lead you closer to the type of table you should look at when shopping. Furniture quality tables will be made mostly of solid woods with more detailed woodworking and finishes. Many tables will be a combination of solid wood and veneers which will mimic the look of furniture while other tables will be plywood, MDF or particleboard with laminates. The material and details of the table will directly impact the value and longevity of the table.
- Material: All but a very few billiard tables will have some form of wood as the base material of their structure. That type of material used will determine the price of the table, the life expectancy of the table and the possible future upkeep costs. A table where all of the components are made of solid hardwoods will be priced higher than a table made of a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods or one made of plywood / MDF / Particleboard however that table will also have a much longer life expectancy, be a solidly constructed table, be less expensive over the life of the table and generally require less repairs over its life. If your looking for a table that will provide the longevity of a complete solid wood table at a lesser price tag, consider a table made of solid hardwood with a wood veneer.
- Slate: A slate billiard table surface is the only Billiard Congress of America (BCA) recognized for tournament play. It has been tested and proved that slate rolls truer, lasts longer and is more durable than any other billiard table surface. It also provides weight to the table making the table stay in level longer, resist movement from normal play and assists with the overall strength and durability of the table on the whole. The one myth that you will need to know is that the thicker the slate does not mean it is better. The BCA and many experts all agree that 1” slate is all that is needed for the billiard table. Most tables higher quality tables will come with 3-piece slate which is diamond-honed and matched. The diamond-honing provides a smooth level surface while the matching means that the 3 pieces of slate match up correctly.
- Frame: The frame is the workhorse of the table. It should provide all of the support that the slate needs in order to remain level. All frames should fit snuggly together and be more than just a rectangular box. The sturdier the frame the less likely you’ll experience problems in the future, given this, solid hardwoods are preferred for frame material due to their strength. Frame designs vary by manufacturer and it is important to note that the slate should be evenly supported by a secure and well constructed frame. The slate of the table should be anchored with slate screws directly to the frame to prevent movement, if this is not the case, you should question the dealer about this.
- Rails & Sights: The rails are the top part of the table to which the cushion or “rubber” is attached to and which the sights are inlayed. It is the rail that is connected to almost every part of the table. They are bolted through the slate and down into the frame providing for accurate play. Most quality tables will have each rail bolted to the slate & frame in three places per rail, this will provide maximum security and prevent and wobbling or vibration during play. Solid hardwood rails are preferred as they will provide the best playability and longevity. Sights on the table are used as reference points for aiming a shot. They are placed around the table in precise locations to help players determine their angles. Sights can add a great deal to the beauty of a table and depending on the table model and manufacturer are available in a wide array of styles and materials.Cloth:
- Billiard cloth is specifically designed to cover the surface of a billiard table. This cloth is NOT felt. It is in actuality a wool / nylon blend which has been designed to provide playability and longevity on the table. Cloth is available in a variation of qualities known as tournament quality or recreational quality and over the years products like Teflon have been added to some cloths to provide protection against spills. For the home player 20 / 21 oz recreational cloth made of a 80/20 wool/nylon mix will provide fine play. For tournament play or for those that consider themselves expert players, tournament quality cloth will provide better performance than recreational, home use cloth. This cloth has little to no nap and will play faster. This cloth is generally made of up to 90% wool. Billiard cloth, recreational or tournament is available in a wide array of colors to suit the décor of any room.
- Legs: Legs on a billiard table come in all sorts of shapes and styles from simple taper legs to ornately carved solid wood things of beauty. No matter what the style or how the leg looks, the important thing to look at is how well the legs support the table. Give the table a good bump. It should stand its ground solidly and not wobble. If the table wobbles it could mean a couple of things, either the legs themselves are poorly constructed or the method with which the legs are attached to the table is poorly done. The legs should be mounted to the table with legs mounts or brackets and these should be made of heavy duty metal that will provide stability. How the legs are mounted will impact the overall longevity and playability of the table.
- Installation: It should be obvious that billiard tables require intensive, skilled installation. They can’t just be picked up in one piece, placed in a truck or trailer, driven to the home and then carried into the room and placed down ready to be played on. In fact many installations will take several hours to complete. When speaking with the dealer be sure to ask about their installers. Are they employees of the dealer or are they subcontractors? If you have a problem with the installers or installation who do you contact, the dealer directly or the installer? How have they been trained? Reputable manufacturers provide installation training to their dealers, this way you can be sure that your table is being installed according to the manufacturer requirements and recommendations. How much experience have the installers had, is your table going to be their first? Will the installers clean up after themselves when they are done or are you going to be stuck getting rid of the cardboard and other items left over from the installation? All of these are important factors to consider because once you’ve decided on that table, it’s the installation that makes it possible for you to fully enjoy the use of that table.
- The Authorized Dealer: Billiard tables are available from many sources be they online, a big box store or an authorized billiard table dealer. Where you buy that table from is just as important as the table you buy. You may pay more buying from an authorized dealer but the benefits you get will more than make up for the difference in price. Authorized dealers are just that, authorized to sell a specific manufacturers table. They have made a commitment to follow the manufacturer requirements in product training, installation training, product availability, follow-up and customer care after the sale, PLUS they are the only ones authorized to complete warranty work on that table. If you purchase from other than an authorized dealer and you need to make a warranty claim for work, you may find yourself out of luck and with a bill for work that could or should have been done under warranty. A reputable billiard table dealer has happy customers and is more than willing to answer all of your questions about the table and the buying process from start to finish. They will encourage you to shop and will help you make whatever decision is right for you be it a $1900 table or a $5000 table. Your billiard buying and playing satisfaction is their goal.