Pool is one of the most popular games in the world. It is played by millions of people in a multitude of countries. If you have the space for it, a pool table can be a great edition to any home, but the main issue is which one to buy. Regardless of specific make of table, there are specific attributes to what constitutes a good table as opposed to a bad table. A buyer must inspect the entire quality of construction including the legs, body, slate, rails, pockets, and cloth used. If these elements are not inspected or fully understood then it is all too easy for a buyer to purchase a faulty table for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

When buying a table, as mentioned previously, you must insist on being able to inspect and assess the pool table. The most important thing to look for is overall build and flex. It is essential that the table feels solid and does not flex when lent on; this can seriously affect the trajectory of a ball. After you feel confident in the quality of the build, you should immediately check the slate of the table. The slate is what lies directly beneath the cloth and is effectively the material that the balls will roll upon. It is therefore essential that the slate is flat. The flatness we are referring to is not the overall flatness of the table ( as this can be adjusted when the table is installed) but rather the flatness of the slate with itself. This can be tested with a spirit level, making sure that the bubble lies in the same place in all places. Good slate should also be in three pieces and as such have only two seams where the pieces join. By running your finger from one end to the other across the cloth, you should be able to detect these seams telling you how many pieces of slate have been used, and also whether the slate is in alignment ( you will feel a bump if the pieces are not correctly lined up).It is also worthwhile keeping in mind that a good piece of slate should be at the very least 1 inch thick.

The next stage is to inspect the the rail and pockets. The rail ( the frame running around the table where the balls will bounce off of) should be made of solid wood and lined with grade A rubber ( as opposed to grades B and C). This ensures that when a ball impacts off of the rail it will behave in the anticipated manner. Remember the rail is covered in cloth, so have a good feel of the rail when inspecting it. The pockets should be made from leather preferably, or a high quality rubber as more solid materials will eventually crack.

Lastly, you should inspect the legs of the table and under-construction. Legs come in the form of two pedestals or as four independent legs. Pedestals are preferable and should be solid and clearly not warped in any way. If the table has four independent legs, make absolutely sure that they are incredibly solid in construction.

Finally, Simonis cloth is recommended, but you can buy a good table with poorer cloth and have the cloth replaced. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should help you to avoid the most common pitfalls when purchasing a table.