subject: Pool Tables For The Home [print this page] Pool tables are getting quite exotic these days with multi coloured cloths, (basically any colour you want) and more contemporary table designs to fit in with modern dcor. A well crafted pool table is still a very nice piece of furniture if a bit on the large size. Don't forget to allow for cueing room when you buy a table, allow 10 ft on both dimensions to allow for cueing room when playing, so if you have a 6 ft table your room size should be 16 ft x 13 ft to give some room all around the table to manipulate the cue. (17 ft x 14 ft for a 7 ft table etc). Also pool tables can cost anything from $60 for the small kids tables to $1000's for the exotic Italian tables and the main difference is the playing surface, either wood or MDF and slate. The wooden topped tables are usually the toy versions although there are some very nice wood topped tables that can come in 7 ft sizes, quite adequate for an adult game and very much cheaper than the slate bed versions.
For the best experience, the slate bed tables are best, the MDF tables are not as responsive. The slate comes in thickness's of inch to a full 1 inches depending on the cost of the table. As might be supposed with that much rock on the table they are very heavy compared to their wooden counterparts. The slate itself can come as 1 piece or 2 or 3 separate pieces to save carrying weight when installing the table. Installation is easy for the tables that have only 1 piece of slate but the multiple piece slate table must be installed by a pro as they are difficult to install.
The frame of the pool table can be made from wood or metal which are used in the busy clubs. Wooden tables are generallyn used in the home, whereas the sturdier steel and aluminum framed tables are used in the leisure centres. Tables made with metal frames are often painted with flash outlandish colours whereas the domestic tables have more traditional varnishes.
There are various games that can be played on pool tables and one of the weirdest is carom which is played on pocketless tables! The French play a sort of traditional billiards game with canons where you hit both balls with one shot. Tables that do have pockets are more familiar and the games played are most often 8 ball and 9 ball. Pool is a great game that anyone young or old can play and will be around for a long while to come. So get yourself a pool table or get down to your nearest club and enjoy!
