How to Rate Billiard Tables
When shopping for a billiard table, you are faced with dozens of choices. Name brand or discount table? Synthetic slate or the real stuff? Even things such as the felt and rails weigh into the equation that will ultimately rate one table above another. It's important to be well versed in all the aspects of a table before making an informed decision as to rating a table.
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Instructions
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Start your comparisons with the table's bed. The playing surface is the most important factor to consider when rating a table. Cheaper tables are made with synthetic slate which is often composed of particle board and is prone to warping, while slate bed tables are made with real stone and can last a lifetime. You should also consider that not all slate is the same. Degrees of thickness can weigh into the rating. For instance, a 1-inch thick slate table is better than one measuring only 3/4 inch. Tournaments are played on 1-inch thick slate.
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Inspect the rails. When rating a table you must check the rails, because poorly constructed rails will not provide a true bounce. Rails made of solid wood rate higher than those that are not. The way the rails are attached to the table is also important, as top-of-the-line tables have the rails connected by bolts which pass through the slate and the frame of the table.
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Check the foundation. A table is only as good as its base, so it's important to consider the construction of the table bed when rating a table. Table bases are made of solid wood or particle board. Better tables will have beams running under the bed, which not only supports the bed but keeps it level. The legs of the table should be solid wood in order to support the entire table.
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Roll the billiard balls to check the felt. Felt comes in many grades and colors, and rating the felt is often a matter of opinion and depends on the quality of play. If you're a serious player, the tournament grade felt will garner a higher rating than cheaper felt designed to resist spills in family rooms. Iwan Simonis felt is the brand used in most tournament play. There's also the matter of worsted versus woolen felt. Worsted provides a smoother roll and will not "nap."
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Check the reputation of the manufacturer. Some name brands, such as Connolly, Brunswick and Olhausen, rate higher simply because they have a long tradition of making high-quality tables, and many tournaments are played on these brands.
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Tips & Warnings
Test the table or the brand before making a purchase to get the "feel" of it. Rating tables on paper is one thing, but you can never truly appreciate how the table plays until you've used it.
