7 or 8 ft table - What is the preferred table

[PoolFan101]

Hello ,

Growing up in the local pool halls all they ever had around here was 8 ft tables. I learned the game and it’s many turns and tricks on a 8 ft Steepleton table with green felt. I still prefer 8 ft as that is what I am accustomed to. But in the last couple of years it seems 7ft tables is becoming the norm. My Cousin wants to trade his 8 ft table in on a 7 ft Diamond as that is what a lot of the halls are using. I still like a 8 ft but when I do play out at the Club and whatever 7 ft seems to be the size and it takes me a while to adjust. What do you all like in tables 7 or 8

 

[THam]

I also started on an 8 ft table. But now personally I would go with a 7 ft or 9 ft if I had to choose one. Mostly because I don't think most places have tournaments on 8 footers, at least not here in Utah.

 

[iusedtoberich]

A 7' Diamond will play faster than any other 7' table, or any other 8' table, or any other 9' table (other than Diamond). Because its cushions are very bouncy. So if you plan on competing on a Diamond on a regular basis, having a Diamond at home will help a lot. If it was not for the bouncy cushions, I don't think it matters much what size you have at home vs when you play outside. The shots are pretty much all the same. But the bouncy cushions changes things a lot, imo.

 

[Welder84]

Hello ,

Growing up in the local pool halls all they ever had around here was 8 ft tables. I learned the game and it’s many turns and tricks on a 8 ft Steepleton table with green felt. I still prefer 8 ft as that is what I am accustomed to. But in the last couple of years it seems 7ft tables is becoming the norm. My Cousin wants to trade his 8 ft table in on a 7 ft Diamond as that is what a lot of the halls are using. I still like a 8 ft but when I do play out at the Club and whatever 7 ft seems to be the size and it takes me a while to adjust. What do you all like in tables 7 or 8

Congratulations on your decision to buy a table. I owned an 8' footer for years. Now I own a 7' footer due to downsizing. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

• You can play straight pool on an 8' footer.
• An 8' footer will allow switching to a 9' footer without much adjustment.
• A 7' footer is used in a lot of leagues and amateur tournaments (if that's your thing).
• A 7' foot Diamond plays great and holds it's value.
• You will probably be happy either way (as long as you buy quality).

 

[asbani]

Nine foot tables are the preferred and best tables in the entire planet apart from the United States.

In the US I feel it’s 50/50 between 9ft and Barbox and it is mainly due to the existence of bars from the old days and they kept putting smaller tables for dunk men to still shoot decent I believe ;D

But yea I think world wide the 9ft is the only table.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ChrisinNC]

Hello ,

Growing up in the local pool halls all they ever had around here was 8 ft tables. I learned the game and it’s many turns and tricks on a 8 ft Steepleton table with green felt. I still prefer 8 ft as that is what I am accustomed to. But in the last couple of years it seems 7ft tables is becoming the norm. My Cousin wants to trade his 8 ft table in on a 7 ft Diamond as that is what a lot of the halls are using. I still like a 8 ft but when I do play out at the Club and whatever 7 ft seems to be the size and it takes me a while to adjust. What do you all like in tables 7 or 8

Although 8 foot tables are by far most popular size table for home pool tables, nobody plays on 8 foot tables in pool rooms except in Texas where they are apparently still very prevalent. Most pool rooms have 7 foot bar boxes or 9 footers or a mixture of both.

 

[Robert58]

I grew up in Texas with the o/s 8' tables. 46" x 92" playing surface. That is what I prefer.

 

[terpdad]

I think the same adage that if you play well on an 8 footer, you will play really well on a 7 footer applies to a 9 footer, too. A potential downside for 9 footers is they are far less common in homes & when you go to sell it you will probably lose even more money (b/c of lack of demand) than you would on an 8 footer. I wouldn't have a 7 footer unless room size was an issue.

 

[The_JV]

Most pool rooms have 7 foot bar boxes or 9 footers or a mixture of both.

My home room has about 15 9ft, and 6 bar boxes. 2 of those BB are actually 8fts. For kicks the beer league I play in mixes the BBs in to for entertainment value. It always throws me off when I find myself on a 8ft. I do make adjustments to my game when I switch from pool to BB, but the 8ft being such an anomaly it always catches me off guard.

 

[forabeer]

My home room has about 15 9ft, and 6 bar boxes. 2 of those BB are actually 8fts. For kicks the beer league I play in mixes the BBs in to for entertainment value. It always throws me off when I find myself on a 8ft. I do make adjustments to my game when I switch from pool to BB, but the 8ft being such an anomaly it always catches me off guard.

Someone who just recently ran 127 balls at Straight Pool should have ZERO problems stepping up to an 8' pool table.

 

[ChrisinNC]

I think the same adage that if you play well on an 8 footer, you will play really well on a 7 footer applies to a 9 footer, too. A potential downside for 9 footers is they are far less common in homes & when you go to sell it you will probably lose even more money (b/c of lack of demand) than you would on an 8 footer. I wouldn't have a 7 footer unless room size was an issue.

I would agree with that with the exception of it being a Diamond table. There will always be a market for a top quality model used 9-foot table like a Diamond, that a serious pool player will be looking for, and knows they’re going to have to pay top $ for, even used.

 

[The_JV]

Someone who just recently ran 127 balls at Straight Pool should have ZERO problems stepping up to an 8' pool table.

...and I don't when I realize that I'm on a 8' BB...lol. That's the point. BB is uncommon for me. Finding myself on a 8' BB is a surprise that might happen once a year...., maybe.

FWIW, I'm stepping down to BB of any size from my normal 9ft play.

 

[jtompilot]

Diamonds are a players best friend

 

[garczar]

Hardly ever see 8ft's in rooms/bars. For some reason Texas has always had a bunch of them but other that not much. Popular in homes due to size issues.

 

[The_JV]

Someone who just recently ran 127 balls at Straight Pool should have ZERO problems stepping up to an 8' pool table.

Diamonds are a players best friend

...and that's the other thing. We don't have those fancy Diamond BBs. We suffer through that goofy CB on the Valleys...

 

[garczar]

...and that's the other thing. We don't have those fancy Diamond BBs. We suffer through that goofy CB on the Valleys...

Aramith makes a magnetic cb that rolls fine.

 

[alstl]

If you have room get a 9' table.

 

[The_JV]

Aramith makes a magnetic cb that rolls fine.

Something I'm confident in, is the lack of interest of the room owner will have in replacing the BB cue balls with something of quality...lol

 

[garczar]

Something I'm confident in, is the lack of interest of the room owner will have in replacing the BB cue balls with something of quality...lol

They're only around 20bux on-line. And owners wonder why they lose business. Crazy.

 

[Buzzard II]

Something I'm confident in, is the lack of interest of the room owner will have in replacing the BB cue balls with something of quality...lol

Funny, I play in a bar with three 8' Valley/Dynamo's kept in very nice condition. But the freakin' cue balls all look like little moons. Whats up with that? Maybe someone uses a break cue as their shooter? The 15 OB's are fine so its not nails or screws in the pockets.