What is your preference for a home table? I'm not asking about preferences for pool halls, tourneys, etc., just home tables. Also, what is the reason for your preference? Drop pockets or ball return?
I'm in your camp for my home table.You’ll find this topic covered ad nauseam in many old threads. Its all personal preference. Personally I far prefer drops, find them much quieter in a small ish single story house with wood floors for late night play in a family home table setting and for drills and just throwing balls out and I actually prefer walking around the table vs bending over at the box. Seems like most 1p players prefer drops for obvious reasons. IMO less parts = good, long term maintenance wise, and drops have no lost chalk trapping issues - but per the responses - others apparently feel just the opposite. Sooner or later someone will be along to point out that you can just stuff sponges in the returns to get the best of both worlds. if possible, get some time on both at some poolhalls, see what you like better.
Forgot to add that the choice is also somewhat related to brand of table and other features/considerations. Diamonds are obviously amazing, the ProAms and smart barboxes are designed all around the internal return, but are heavier, and boxy looking to some. Valley coin ops etc you have no choice, and like Diamonds with internal return tracks you’ll have chalk trapping issues. Diamond Pro’s play the same, are gorgeous IMO and ascetically more like Gold Crowns in appearance but only come with drops. Gold Crowns can go either way, so you can go back & forth if you end up changing your mind.You’ll find this topic covered ad nauseam in many old threads. Its all personal preference. Personally I far prefer drops, find them much quieter in a small ish single story house with wood floors for late night play in a family home table setting and for drills and just throwing balls out and I actually prefer walking around the table vs bending over at the box. Seems like most 1p players prefer drops for obvious reasons. IMO less parts = good, long term maintenance wise, and drops have no lost chalk trapping issues - but per the responses - others apparently feel just the opposite. Sooner or later someone will be along to point out that you can just stuff sponges in the returns to get the best of both worlds. if possible, get some time on both at some poolhalls, see what you like better.
My words exactly.Having a drop pocket table at home, I would trade it out for an equivalent ball return table in a heartbeat.
Ball return Advantages: Much easier for ball retrieval / racking when practicing / playing by yourself. This to me is about the only real advantage of a ball return table.What is your preference for a home table? I'm not asking about preferences for pool halls, tourneys, etc., just home tables. Also, what is the reason for your preference? Drop pockets or ball return?