How big of a Billiards table should i get? What brand?

Question

I am about to get a billiards table for my dad and I. Online, billiard tables are 84',90',etc. How big is full size?

Answer 1

Tournament - 9'

Home - 8'

Bar table - 7'

They also make an 8-pro, which is in between an 8' and a 9'.

If you have the space for it, I'd say go for the 9 or the 8-pro.  If not you can do the 8' or the 7'.  Of course if all you ever play is in bars then maybe the 7' is all you really want.  A 7' table is small and clusterin becomes a problem, you have to be able to work balls out of tight spots, a 9' is almost twice the square footage on the playing surface, so while clustering is less of a problem, long shots become very long.  it's really up to you what works best for you and what you want.  But, if you want my personal opinion (and since your asking here I'm guessing you do) go with the biggest you can comfortably fit in the room with adequate space to get a full length (57") cue around in.  Use a short cue only for around objects, like a pole in a basement or staircase and the like, if you can.

I've attached a link to a room sizing chart below for you.

As far as brand goes, that's pretty much up to you, if you want top of the line, Connelly or a high end Brunswick, coming down from that, Connelly does some mid range tables, so does Brunswick, you also have Olhausen, but their quality is down a little since they moved their manufacutiring facility from Cali to Tenn.  Below that you have a number of companies, Again, low end Brunswick, low end Olhausen, Legacy (used to produce the American Heritage tables, I would not recommend Amer Her. now, they cheapened their tables a lot.)  Look for at least a 1" slate (real slate), the origin of the slate isn't as big a deal now as there are a number of mines with good working slate veins, it's more about the vein of rock than it's origin, you'll find good and bad from italy just as easily as you can from brazil.  Also, as for cloth, Simonis is top, below that is Championship Tour.

Answer 2

If   you   have   the   room   get   a    9    Brunswick   Table.   There  are   other   brands   just   get   the   one   you   like   the  best.   One   piece   of   advice   just   don't   go    for   the   cheap   crappy   brands.   I   have   owned   2   pool   tables   and   the   first   one   I   had   was   a    cheap   table.   It   messed   up   on    me    fast.    Rails   were   dead    and   it   was   hard   to   get   English.    I    now   have   a    Steeplton   table   and    it    does   good   but   Brunswick   is   the   nicer   brand

Answer 3

If your talking about a pool table then sailor is right on the money. But if your talking about an actual billiards table, for the game of billiards , they are usually 10 footers.

Answer 4

If you have the room at home get an 8 foot or 9 foot table.  Brunswick tables are good but shop around for the best quality one you can afford.  They don't come cheap for a decent table.

Answer 5

If your dad is a serious player, he'll want a 9' table. If he's not so serious, the most common size of home tables is 8'. This is something you should discuss with him since it will go in his house, and room size is very important.

As far as brands go, the best is Diamond, but they are very expensive. Next is Olhaunsen. I don't know why the other guy said their build quality is down because it's excellent, and they're the only company in the business that gives a lifetime guaranty on their cushions (most brands will wear out and need replacing every 4-7 years). Brunswicks are nice, but they're overpriced and not the same quality as in year's past. (Several of the pool halls I go to have upgraded from Gold Crowns to Diamond or Olhausen tables in recent years, if that tells you anything. I also know of several stores that stopped carrying Brunswick and only sell Olhausen because they Brunswicks were inferior). Connolly also makes a very nice table.

BTW, whatever you do, do NOT try and buy a table off the internet. You will not be able to buy any of these brands online (unless it's used) and there's good reason for that. Internet brands are cheap, Chinese made tables that are shipped in a box and dropped in your driveway. Good brands will have showrooms where you can examine and 'test drive' their tables to make sure you're getting what you want. They will also bring the table to your house and set it up for you.

Answer 6

If you're serious about your and your Dad's eight ball and nine ball games? Get 9' Brunswick Gold Crown 4 or 5, Diamond Billiards 9 footer, Gandy Big G's are good too, and many other quality table makers etc...  The 4&1/2 by 9 foot table with the pockets double or triple shimmed (to make the pockets smaller/tighter) will (with practice) improve your abilities when you transfer to a bar or pool hall table. Simonis cloth is a must (as mentioned by poster earlier)  if you want to develop the cue ball control that you see the pros, or local hustlers/sharks exhibit. A minimum of 3/4 inch backed OIS (italian), or Brazilian slate would be preferred and make sure that the pieces are matched (you will find a lot of seconds that are crowned or pieced together from lots of broken/seconds around). You don't have to worry about 2nds slate sets when buying High end tables as mentioned above and buy other posters, but have a competent Billiard Table Mechanic check out any used or off branded tables you consider before buying. IMHO of course.

If you just want one for family or casual play? A 8', Pro8, or 7 (there is a 6 X 3 foot table available for really small rooms, but not too common) footer, whichever seems to be durable enough to survive being lost under boxes of stuff that eventually will get sored on and under it will do.

Standard cue length is 58", but I play with a 59&1/2". You need to make sure that you have at least 58 inches clearance all around the outside of the rails all the way around the table for unobstructed play, otherwise you'll need a short stick (YUCK!) as mentioned by another poster to be able to get around the table.

Good luck, keep your head down, and follow through.