How to Identify the Quality of a Billiard Table

Billiard tables range in price from around $1000 to more than $40,000, so any table you choose is a large investment. Learning how to identify the quality of a billiard table will help you get the best table for your money. A quality billiard table is a piece of fine furniture that should last a lifetime, adding beauty to your home while providing hours of family recreation. Billiard tables are often called pool tables. According to the Billiards Congress of America, the terms are interchangeable.

Instructions

1

Determine what type of playing surface the table has under its felt. The highest quality tables are made of three separate pieces of slate, each of which can be adjusted to make a perfectly even playing surface. Some tables are made with a single piece of slate, but these are more difficult to move and adjust. Tables with playing surfaces made of wood and other materials are inferior, as slate provides the smoothest and most durable surface for ball motion. A high-quality table will have a surface free of cracks and bulges.

2

Find out what type of felt, or billiard cloth, covers the playing surface. The highest quality felts are made of worsted wool, which comes in 19 to 24-oz. weights. Higher weights are more durable because the fabric is more tightly woven. Three of the most desirable brands of billiard cloth are Simonis, Velocity and ProForm. The felt on a high-quality table will be free of wrinkles and should not move when you place your hand on it.

3

Investigate the quality of the cabinet, the wooden frame that holds the slate in place. Because the interior construction is covered with slate and cloth, you will have to rely on the knowledge of a reputable dealer and/or check individual manufacturers' websites to learn how the cabinet is constructed. The highest-quality tables are made of solid, kiln-dried wood and make use of fine furniture techniques to join the center beam and cross beams that support the slate.

4

Ask about the material used for the side wall cushions that surround the playing surface. The best quality cushions are made of 100 percent gum rubber, which allows for maximum accuracy during play. In a high-quality table, the cushioned side walls will be attached to solid hardwood blind rails that surround the table's perimeter.

5

Look for quality finish details. A high-quality billiard table will be visually appealing and conform to the highest standards of furniture craftsmanship. In the best tables, legs will be made from single pieces of hardwood. If carving is present on legs and/or blind rails, it will be well executed and uniform. If the table lacks a ball return system, pockets should be made of leather, and should easily accommodate two balls.