About Pool Table Design

A pool table can be a fun addition to any game room. However, before rushing out to by the least pricey pool table on the market, carefully consider the main features of any billiard table to ensure you get the most features for your money. While inexpensive tables are appealing, inferior materials, such as fake slate or cheap felt, and expensive features such as a ball return system, can reduce the lifespan of the table.

Table Size

While most billiard shops list their tables at 7 foot, 8 foot or 9 foot, there are specific measurements that denote the table type. Tables that measure 3.5 feet by 7 feet are barroom sized, while slightly larger tables measuring 4 feet by 8 feet are common in homes. Pool halls typically use tables that measure 4.25 feet by 8.5 feet. Regulation-sized tables used in professional tournaments are larger yet at 4.5 feet by 9 feet. Consider your room size when deciding on a table, as there must be enough room to accommodate the reach of the pool cues.

Fabric & Bed

Commonly known as the felt, the fabric stretched across the pool table surface can be a worsted wool or a wool-nylon blend. Worsted wool has no nap or "fuzz" which slows play down, unlike the less expensive wool-nylon blend. The bed, also called the slate, is the hard surface beneath the felt. While cheaper surface options are available, real slate is the preferred surface.

Pockets vs. Ball Return System

At each of the four corners and two at the center of the table, the pockets on a pool table can either be self-containing or part of a ball return system. While tables with the return system conveniently gather the billiard balls at the foot of the table while returning the specially-weighted cue ball to the head, they increase the table's initial cost and may require future maintenance. Individual pockets require players to retrieve balls from each of the six pockets; however, pockets that become loose or damaged are easily replaced with minimal expense.

Rails & Cushions

Table rails refers to the raised wood around the slate, or playing area, to which the cushions are attached. Usually manufactured from synthetic or vulcanized rubber, the cushions cause the billiard balls to rebound off the rails to allow for accurately angled shots.

Table Design

Pool tables come in a variety of designs, from classic to contemporary and plain to ornate, with the latest design option being a completely clear table that does not incorporate a table felt. For a more traditional, yet personalized look, you can order custom designed felt with almost any professional logo or personal design. Adding free-hanging pockets of netted leather or fringed fabric further enhances the style of a pocket billiard table.