Pool Table Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know when Buying a Pool Table.

Pool is one of the most universally popular games, and it has been for many generations.  A pool table can make an excellent choice for any family, with family members of all ages likely to enjoy at least the occasional game.  

Choosing the right pool table will begin with your budgetary constraints - because you really do get what you pay for when it comes to pool tables. Additional considerations include the size of space you have available in your home to position the table and how often and how seriously you play.  

As there is much to consider, if you would like to discuss the options available, please call us free on 0800 622 6464 so we can ensure you select the right table for you.

Why Buy a Pool Table?

If you’re in two minds about buying a table, or you’re looking for positive arguments to win over a less than certain other half, here are five very good reasons for considering a pool table purchase:

1. Having a pool table in the house will give you the perfect excuse for all the family to spend time together. Nowadays it’s all too easy to end up with each member of the family in separate rooms involved in different activities, but with a pool table you can all get together and play together.
2. A pool table is a one-off expense that can be used over and over again. As activities and days out become more and more prohibitively expensive - especially when you have children - a pool table can be considered a good long-term investment that will provide hours of fun every week.
3. Children who become interested in playing pool will have a more active mind and body than their peers who simply sit in front of the TV, PC or games console.  What’s more, if your children are inside playing a game of pool, you know where they are and you know they’re safe.
4. You can invite friends round to enjoy a game of pool as part of a day or evening’s social gathering.  Everyone enjoys at least one game, no matter how skilled they are, and you’ll quickly find that playing a community type activity together breaks the ice and helps new guests get to know your old friends.
5. Any space can be made into a space for a pool table.  You can fit one in the garage, loft, dining room, children’s playroom or the formal living room that never actually gets used anyway!

English Pool Tables are either 6ft or 7ft in size, as found in the pubs and clubs around the country. The balls are 2” in size, on coin-operated pool tables the cue ball is 1 7/8”. Most commonly you will find reds and yellows used, but many prefer the look of American style spots and stripes. The pockets are smaller than American ones, because the balls are smaller. But their “jaws”  or pockets are also narrower in the corners. The centre pockets are more open than American ones, allowing you to pot from a tighter angle.

                        

American Pool Tables are generally larger, starting at 7ft up to 9.5ft. The pockets are larger to accommodate the larger 2 ¼” balls. The corner pockets are wide and welcoming, making long shots along the cushions easier than on an English table. The centre pockets are not as open as on English tables. They have a “straight-cut" style, rather than opening at an angle.

What is a Pool Dining Table?

Pool Dining Tables, or pool diners as they are also known, are hugely popular. A large percentage of the pool tables we sell here at Home Leisure Direct are pool dining tables. These tables are designed so you can put the matching two-piece top in place when you need to use the table for entertaining. The height of the table and depth of the body are designed so you can sit at the table using any regular dining chairs and eat at a normal height. Then, when you want a game of pool, you can remove the top, store it away safely, and set up your game.

When you don’t have enough rooms in your house to accommodate a regular pool table, the pool dining table is the ideal option. There are many designs now available to suit a range of interior decors, from traditional to contemporary, in many different finishes.

What’s the difference between 8 Ball and 9 Ball Pool?

8 Ball Pool is where the object of the game is to win by being the first player to pot a group of colours in any order and in any pocket and then pot the 8 Ball in any pocket. This is the type of game most commonly played in pubs around the country. For the rules please check our Guides section for the Official World 8 Ball Association rules.

9 Ball Pool is where 9 balls (surprisingly!) are used - each has a different colour, and they are numbered 1 to 9. The balls are set up in a diamond formation - the 1 Ball sits at the front of the rack, on the spot nearest the back cushion. The 9 ball goes in the middle of the diamond - the rest of the balls can be placed anywhere in the rack. The object is to pot all 9 balls in number order, lowest to highest, finishing with the 9 ball. Whoever pots the 9 ball wins. Again, for the rules please check our Guides section for 9 Ball Pool rules.

You can play both types on either type of table, but you will need to have spots and stripes balls to play 9 Ball pool.

What is the difference between a Slate Bed pool table and a MDF bed pool table?

Slate bed tables have the playing surface made from slate, which is then covered in cloth. Most often the cloth is stuck to the surface of the slate to ensure a consistent playing surface. The slate can vary in thickness from 19mm to 30mm. The thicker slate is used on larger and more expensive tables, and some larger tables will use 2 or 3 pieces of slate.  Slate bed tables are the ones used in pubs, clubs and pool halls. It gives the best and truest playing surface, which will not deteriorate over time. If the cloth starts to wear or gets damaged you can just get a new one fitted.  

MDF bed tables have the playing surface made from MDF.  MDF is a type of hardboard which is made from wood fibres glued under heat and pressure. This makes the tables very cost effective to build and lighter to ship and carry once in your home. The downside to MDF is that it's response is not the same as you get on a slate bed table and that, over time, the MDF can begin to warp slightly, so the ball doesn't play true.

Our advice is to go for a slate bed which allows for a better game and a huge range of finish and cloth colour combinations.  But this costs more! Prices start from around £579.

If you are working to a budget you will find that an MDF table will give you a great game, but you need to ensure you don’t use or store it in a humid environment. Also, take care when moving it about, as they are not built as robustly as the slate bed tables.  Prices start from £349.97.

What is the difference between ball return and drop pockets?

Ball return is where the ball, once potted, returns to the end of the table using a system of gutters built into the table. The ball is then held at the end of the table awaiting the start of the next game. Coin-operated tables will dispense the colours at one end and the cue ball at the other. On freeplay tables all the balls go to one end.

Drop pockets are where the ball is potted and then just sits in that pocket. You simply retrieve them from each pocket at the end of the game. This is most commonly found on American Pool Tables.

What is the difference between freeplay and coin-operated?

A freeplay table is where the balls return to the holding area at the end of the table once potted. These types of tables are ideal for home use, or for use in the work place or private club.

Coin-operated tables are identical to their freeplay counterparts except they have a coin mechanism fitted, requiring the player to pay to retrieve the balls. Most commonly these are held in a trough behind a window in the side of the table. Some tables have the option of either mechanical or electronic operation. These tables are used in commercial locations, although some home users like to have a coin-mechanism fitted to appear authentic, so they can see the order the balls were potted and to help them make some money from their friends!

How much should you spend on a Pool Table?

As with so many things in life, you really do get what you pay for with a pool table.  There are three price ranges to consider: 

1. Affordable – in this range you will be looking at spending anywhere between £350 to £500, and the type of table you can buy will tend to be for those who enjoy the occasional game or who do not take the game so seriously. The frame will be made of MDF, or a lesser grade wood, and laminated. The cloth covering the table will be of a lower grade, but with careful use a table like this can still be enjoyed for many years.We recommend you avoid any tables costing less than £350 due to their inferior build quality and playing characteristics.
2. Mid-range – in this range prices reach from £600 to £1,500 and you’re looking at buying a more robust and aesthetically attractive table for your money. The slate is usually supported by cross and centre beams and the materials used for the entire table’s construction are of premium quality. These tables are the type you would find in pubs and pool halls. They are of a commercial standard, well finished, and are available in a wide range of finishes and cloth colours.
3. Professional – for those who are committed to pool, custom and superior table models are available for sale from £2,000 and above. You will benefit from being able to customise elements of the table’s design from the type of wood finish to the type and colour of the cloth covering the table. What’s more, such tables offer durability, excellent playing conditions and are more like a work of art than a mere table! When it comes to deciding how much to pay, remember that the more you pay, the more solid the construction of the table, and the better the game quality you can enjoy.

Final top tips for buying the right Pool Table

Remember that pool tables bought as investments can always be resold without great depreciation in value so, if in doubt, don’t scrimp on your purchase today because even after you have owned it for a number of years, a beautiful table will hold its price.

Think about the colour of the cloth and the type of wood finish – whether it will go with the rest of the house, the room it’s heading for and even the other furniture in that room. Some cloth colours are classic, others are fashionable today, some show up chalk markings and other slight stains more easily… think about the durability and longevity of your purchase choices.

Think about the weight of the table when considering which room it will go in, also think about how level the floor is and getting in a professional installer to complete the entire job for you. We can arrange this for you.

Finally, stop thinking too long and too hard, you know that a pool table is an excellent purchase that will provide you, your friends, your family and their friends with hours of free and safe entertainment!

If you’re at the research stage of purchasing a pool table, we hope the above information has been useful. However, if you are past researching and are at the stage where you would like to talk to an advisor about your requirements in more detail, please feel free to call our dedicated team who are on hand to give you friendly and knowledgeable advice -  without obligation - on 0800 622 6464, or drop us an email at customerservice@homelesiuredirect.com

Our team are on hand Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm, so please give us a call so we can talk through your options and guide you in buying the perfect Pool Table .... for you!