How to Tell a Billiards Table is High Quality
The game of pool has been around for centuries. Many families are learning that purchasing a pool table will offer hours of entertainment for everyone. Whether you are an avid pool enthusiast or a homeowner looking for a table for the family, it is important to look for quality. Buying a table that is built well and is designed for accurate play is essential.
What Makes a Quality Pool Table?
Several different things go into making a quality table. First and foremost, it must be sturdy and easily balanced. When you must lean over the table for those long shots, you don’t want the table shifting and throwing off your shot.
While you won’t be moving your table very often, make sure that if you do, it is easy to re-balance. For extremely high-quality pool tables, most companies ask that you call professionals to move your table and balance it.
Secondly, look closely at the wood. A quality tableis made of solid wood, not laminate. When you look at the materials used in making a quality table, solid wood has a distinct wood grain look and feel. It is also important to pay attention to other, smaller details. For example, look closely at the pockets. Some will have leather webbing, while others are made with interwoven nylon cording. Make sure to choose the one that fits your purpose. You will also want to look for:
- Easy to see spots/diamonds
- Firm rails
- Deep pockets
- Smooth, well-polished wood finish
Feel the Felt!
All felts are not the same, so don’t settle for something you may not like. Good felt is the key to accuracy and continuous, smooth spin. Whenever you look at a table, make sure it has real felt. Many manufacturers use a “cloth” felt. This cheaper version looks and feels like cloth. You can see the strands of threads and feel them, as well. True felt, looks and feels like soft cloth, but has no noticeable, interwoven threads.
Choosing a billiard table is a big decision; a well-crafted table is designed to provide years of play and enjoyment, and the right table can play a big role in creating family memories that will last a lifetime.
A durable, stylish table designed to offer a truly enjoyable play experience doesn’t just “happen;” there are many factors and elements that go into making a high-quality table, and unless you know what to look for, you may end up with a table that doesn’t perform as well as it should. If you’re shopping for a table – and especially if this is your first table – here are some tips to bear in mind to ensure you get the best table for your budget and your needs:
Look at the Frame and Legs
At the heart of every high-quality billiard table is a sturdy frame capable of providing a consistent level of support across the entire playing surface. Slate is heavy, and the thicker the slate employed by your table, the more weight your table’s frame will need to support.
Solid wood provides the strongest level of support and is pretty much a necessity for tables with thicker surfaces. Solid wood also offers better screw-holding capacity than either particleboard or plywood, which is important since both the frame and the table surface use bolts or screws to hold them together. When the frame lacks holding power for the connectors that keep it in line, it can become wobbly and lose its rigidity.
Similarly, your table’s legs need to be strong enough to support the playing surface as well as the entire frame. When selecting your table, look for strong connections between the table and the legs. Look for substantial legs that feature ample support where they meet the table frame, as well as sturdy feet to provide stability during play.
Examine the Rails
Look for rails made of solid wood that are wide enough to provide adequate support for the shooting hand. Solid wood rails are superior to particleboard rails because they provide a more durable surface for attachment of cushion rubber and felt. What’s more, replacing felt or cushion rubber on particleboard rails can result in the particleboard chipping or breaking apart, making the material replacement impossible. Solid wood rails also provide better play than particleboard, including faster and more sustained rebounds.
Check Out the Cushions
Cushion design and materials are an essential part of a superior play experience. Look for tables that offer a full profile, canvas-backed K-66 cushion to assure more consistent and accurate play. For greatest resilience, cushions should feature high-quality, top-grade rubber. Many Connelly tables feature exclusive ICON Aerospace cushions imported from the U.K. to achieve a tournament-level playing experience.
Make Sure it Has a Slate Playfield
Most playing surfaces comprise three pieces that are diamond honed to achieve a smooth, level playing surface. Top-quality tables offer pieces that are matched and registered to ensure the most consistent playing surface. Slate usually comes from Italy, Spain, Brazil or Portugal and ranges in thickness from ¾ inch to 1.25 inches – defined as the industry’s best.
Generally, the thicker the slate, the better the playing experience; however, it’s important to note that a quality table is equal to the sum of all its parts – and that means that thickness does not always translate into superior play: For instance, thick slate set on an inferior or weak frame may perform more poorly than a thinner slate on a durable frame of solid wood.
Feel the Cloth
Most tables feature wool/nylon blends, but Teflon® cloths are also available. Each type offers some subtle differences in play. Before selecting one for your use, it’s a good idea to try both to see how the ball responds.
How to Know You Are Getting Your Money’s Worth
One way to find out if you are getting your money’s worth is to play an actual game on the table. Watch how the balls roll and whether or not they have a smooth recoil off the rail. You can also look closely at the warranty. A good table comes with a guarantee that cheaper tables won’t offer. You can also check the table’s reviews. Many pool and billiards magazines will rate tables and provide expert advice on which ones are actually worth the price.
Shop at a Premium Billiards Retailer
Taking time to ensure the table you choose uses high-quality materials is an important step in ensuring years of enjoyment. At Oakville Home Leisure, every table we offer features high-quality materials to achieve superior play and performance at all price points. Browse our pool table catalogue to view what’s available, and contact us for a quote.
Updated 2023.
