Pool Table Buying Guide

Pool tables are an excellent addition to any game room and can provide you and your guests with many hours of fun — after all, anyone can play pool, even if they’re absolutely terrible at it (here’s looking at you). The appeal of pool tables is universal as you can find them anywhere from kid’s arcades to hole in the wall biker bars, so it should be enjoyable for almost all guests that enter your rec room.

Size Matters
Pool tables come in several sizes, some big, some small. Not only do you have to pick a pool table that will fit into your recreational room, but you also must pick one that will allow you enough space to play the game comfortably. Generally speaking, you’ll want at least six feet of clearance between you and the pool table in the room, as you won’t want to hit the wall behind you with a pool stick.

Don’t be a cheapskate
There is a massive disparity in quality between the bottom line pool tables at some big box retailers and those found at reputable billiard stores and websites. If you’d like one that you can pass on to your kids, it’s going to cost you. It’s recommendable to spend more on a quality pool table than to settle for the cheapest one available, even if it means waiting to be able to afford one that is more expensive.

And to be frank, the more you (and your friends) weigh the higher quality of a table you need. A good rule of thumb is if you or any of your friends’ favorite meal is nachos and cheese, you need to invest in a sturdy, quality table you can lean on without fear or cracking or breaking.

It’s not delivery, it’s a broken back.
Pool tables are extremely heavy, and even if you’re the brother of Chuck Norris, it’s still not a very good idea to attempt lifting and transporting the table yourself – unless you like pain. That’s why you’ll want to take advantage of delivery from the place at which you purchased the table — even if it costs some extra money. Additionally, because the pool table has to be setup exactly right or the levels and angling will be off-kilter, you might want to hire a professional.