Billiards Pool Tables
Billiards, also known as pool, is a popular indoor game that is usually played in golf clubs, offices, billiard rooms, and homes all over the world. You can even watch billiard tournaments on ESPN. The popularity of billiards has increased from its inception in the 17th century to now. In the last century the popularity has continued to increase as a result of the TV exposure and several movies such as the Hustler and The Color of Money.
Are you here because you want a billiards pool table in your house? Then let me share with you that a billiards table in your home will provide a place where your kids and their friends will want to hang out. You will find that while playing your kids and friends can eat, talk, watch TV and even listen to their favorite music which is all the things that your kids and their friends love to do. The benefit is that you will know that your kids are safe and at home.
Oh ya, when your kids are not in the billiards room you and your friends can enjoy socializing while playing a friendly game of billiards while watching your favorite baseball, football, or basketball team play.
Whether you are looking for a basic table for the kids, or a table with all the prestigious details of fine furniture, you need to consider certain elements in making your decision about which billiard table to purchase. Billiards pool Tables are available in wide range of styles and prices. For accurate and consistent play however, you will want to make certain that you purchase a slate pool table that meets all the Billiards Congress of America (BCA) specifications.
Minnesota Fats MFT-800 Covington 8-Foot Billiard Table
I bet you already know that a billiard table is going to be a big investment. To make a well informed decision, you need to consider your answers to several very important questions.
1. Who will be the biggest user of the table?
2. Will the table be used for recreation or serious play?
3. What budget have you set for your purchase?
4. What is the size of the room that the table will be placed?
To help you, keep reading to help you answer these questions and gain a further understanding of other billiards pool tables features you should know about.
The performance range from least expensive (up to $1000) to custom level ($2800 upward). You can divide the performance range into four ranges: least expensive (up to $1000), economy level ($1000 – $1500), mid range level ($1500 – $2800), and custom level ($2800 upward).
Least Expensive Tables (up to $1000) – Suitable for kids and informal games. Artificial materials such as permaslate or particle board are used as the playing surface for this type of tables. These tables are designed so you can assemble and manually adjust them on your own. The guarantee is usually limited to only a few years.
Economy Level Tables ($1000 – $1500) – Fair table performance, suitable for recreational play. The playing surface is usually made of slate. The cabinet and rails are made typically of laminated particle board. The typically life expectancy is from five to seven years.
Mid Range Level Tables ($1500 – $2800) – Offers excellent playing characteristics and attractive designs. The playing surface is made of three-piece slate supported by cross and center beams. The cabinet and rails are made typically of laminated hardwoods. The cushions will consist of a K-66 blended gum rubber profile. The type of table should be considered a lifetime investment and usually comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s guarantee.
Custom Level Tables ($2800 upward) – Features the highest grades of materials, designs, and quality workmanship. The construction features will be like the mid range tables with higher-grade materials used in the manufacturing process. You will find they have unique features and intricate designs as standard. Should be considered a lifetime investment and should come with a manufacturer’s lifetime guarantee.
Billiards Pool Table Size
The playing surface for regulation-size pool tables is twice as long as it is wide. Billiards pool tables come in different sizes, the most common are 7′ (bar size), 8′ (home size), Oversized 8′ (commercial size), and 9′ (tournament size). The larger the table the more challenging the game becomes because the pockets are farther apart. No matter which table length you choose, be aware that minimum space requirements will change based on the size of the cue you select.
The Playing Surface come in two types. A Non-Slate surface or a Slate surface.
Non-Slate Surface
Non-Slate is used for the inexpensive recreational billiard tables playing surfaces. These type of surfaces are usually made of one of the follow:
Slatron and Permaslate – Hard, synthetic materials that are sheets of plastic that are layered over particle board
Honeycomb – A stiff plastic honeycomb structure that is layered between two sheets of plastic
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) – A flat piece of material made from compressing tiny pieces of wood together, also called pressed wood or particle board
Be aware that non-slate surfaces tend to warp over time and have less durability.
Slate Surface
A slate playing surface is extremely stable and durable and has been recognized and approved by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) as the only playing surface suitable for tournament play. Because it has elasticity, it can be cut into a flat stable consistent playing surface. You will find the one-piece slate is cumbersome and very difficult to level because of the large space it covers. Three-piece slate is much easier to move for installation. With three separate sections of slate, each section can be leveled individually to achieve a perfectly flat surface.
Other Features
The fabric cloth is usually a wool/nylon blend for the more expensive tables, or a synthetic nylon (Taclon® or Tadlon®) for recreational tables. Both of these fabric types provide a smooth, consistent, and durable playing surface.
The rail is the top part of the table where the cushions and pockets are attached. You will find the rails are fastened to the playing surface. Rails are constructed from Medium Density Fiberboard, particle board or solid wood. Particle board rails are more suitable for recreational play, but they will not hold up in a busy billiard parlor. Solid wood rails form a much better surface for stapling the fabric cloth and gluing the cushions. The solid wood being more dense also allow a faster, more solid rebound for the ball.
The cushion is the point of contact for the balls and is attached to the top rail. A molded gum rubber cushions allows for the fastest rebound of the ball. For tournament play K-66 style cushions are required and approved by the BCA.
The sights used for reference points when aiming are the markers on top of the rails.
The table apron or cabinet is the wood between the rail and the legs. This wood covers the playing surface, fabric cloth, and frame for providing the finished look. In high-humidity areas, or rooms with large temperature or humidity changes, plywood or Medium Density Fiberboard will be more likely to warp than solid wood. Veneer/laminate surfaces provide an appearance of wood at an affordable price. Solid hardwoods are heavier, stronger, and are able to withstand wear better. Oak is the most popular wood used in billiard pool tables because it is hard, durable, and easy to match to furniture and accessories.
Most billiards tables have drop pockets, which is some type of net or container under each pocket to catch the balls that fall into that pocket. Table Drop pockets are either simple or elaborate. They are constructed from plastic, vinyl, or leather.
Pool table automatic ball return are available on some tables. When a ball falls into that pocket, gravity causes them to roll along a guide until it reaches the ball return.
How To Play Pool Tips
Snooker tables
Snooker table with balls placed in their starting positions
A billiard table designed for the game snooker is called a snooker table. Snooker tables are a specific billiard tables that are designed for the popular game snooker. The standard snooker table used for tournaments will measure 11 ft 8.5 in by 5 ft 10 in with the height from the floor to the top of the cushion between 2 ft 9.5 in and 2 ft 10.5 in.
Snooker tables have table pockets that are round compared to pool table pockets that have sharp corners. There are six pockets in the table. One at each of the four corners of the table and one pocket in the two longest cushion sides. The pockets size are around 3.5 in. The rounding of the snooker pockets require more accurate shots compared to billiard table pockets.
The “bed” or playing surface of the better snooker tables are made of slate and comes with a green baize table top cover or worsted wool cover. The thickness of the cloth has a great affect on the speed of the table, the accuracy of the shot, and table responsiveness to the spin on the ball. The nap of the baized or wool cloth may have an affect on how the balls runs on the surface, especially on those required slower shots.
The area called the baulk is marked off by a line that is drawn on the table top at 29 in from the cushion at the bottom of the table. A semicircle with a radius of 11.5 in drawn on the center of the baulk line and it forms a “D” where the cue ball is placed when breaking the rack of pool balls. The cue ball is also placed in this “D” semicircle after the cue ball has been potted or shot off the snooker table. There are five specific color positions marked on the table top for the black spot, blue spot, yellow spot, green spot, and the brown spot.