Pool tables

[M_Six]

Any pool table experts here? Not how to play, but how to buy. Any do's and don't's? Good brand suggestions? Maintenance issues?

My wife and I are thinking of having an area of our house remodelled into a bar/gameroom. We'd like a nice pool table and were wondering about the investment value. We're not looking to make money, of course; but it would be nice to know that we were buying something that would retain its value.

[Steve R Jones]

Do you already play a lot? Do you or will you have many people over on weekends that would like to play? Dropping a couple of grand on a table that will get used a lot is an investment. Playing a few hours every now and then isn’t.

If you do it, do it right. Meaning make sure you’ve a nice large room where you don’t have to worry about the walls or anything else when shooting.

[pickel]

Here in Jackson, there's always good pool tables for sale in the newspaper and at reasonable prices.Check it out. If I had the room....

[thekingofpain]

Make sure you have more room for the table then you think you will need---roof height and area surrounding are EXTREMELY important---
As far as the table you can spend $200 or $20,000 (or MORE) and itl "sorta" look the same---
Try looking into a "convertable" table that offers it to be used -not only as a pool table- to maximize your recreational experience (air hocky, ping pong, foosball, banquet, cards etc)

[Ming]

As far as brand suggestions, Olhausen makes very good tables.

[M_Six]

Thanks everyone. I have plenty of room for the table, so that's not an issue. My sister and her husband have a table in a tight area so you have to use shortened cues in a few places. I want no part of that. Their table was around $800, but I remember it being pretty nice. I'm no poolshark and would hardly be there nightly. Probably just on the weekends with a few friends. Plus we have two cats. The cats aren't destructive, but it only takes one cat having a bad hairball day (gak, gak, gak) to ruin a table, so I'll probably go cheap. If I really get into the game, I can always sell mine and go with a nicer table.

Thanks again, all.

[draboo]

i would say buy a good quality one and a cover.

i rented a home with a regulation table in a room built just for the table. it was great. after playing on a larger table,shooting on a bar table was a cake walk.(until the beer and blackjack kicked in )

[Pexster]

If you want to have a regulation table, which is 4.5 x 9, and not have to use shortened cues or "jack up" a standard cue, you'll need a 20' x 20' space, which is about a standard 2-car garage (at least it used to be). Even then, placement is critical (and I mean within an inch or two).

Years ago, I was able to pick up an old Brunswick Anniversary model table with rosewood rails, leather pockets, yadda yadda, for $500 from a bowling alley that was closing their pool room in order to put in video games. I don't know if opportunities like that are available now, but they might be. The country is full of pool players who thought "Gee, I could run a pool hall." (Bad idea!)

I agree with Ming that Ohlhausen is a good brand, but if you want to go top-of-the-line, you'll get a Brunswick Gold Crown.

[wju425]

For those who don't have room for a real table or can't afford one Virtual Poolhall (VP2) is the best pool simulation I've ever seen. There's Vitual Pool 3 but it's kind of dark and requires a very good computer to run it.

\o/ Billy

[M_Six]

...if you want to go top-of-the-line, you'll get a Brunswick Gold Crown.

Very nice tables, but I hadn't planned on a second mortgage to buy one.