I have seen everything from a single incandescent 100W bulb to 4 eight foot flourescents over a table. Lets see if we can get a concensus of what is the best table lighting, and if its flouro's, you will have to specify what color. Assume its a 9 footer. And how high off the playing surface is ideal?
best table lights?
- Thread starter Jcat
- Start date
Look at the diamond table lights. they are considered the best in the industry.
If not do a search on pool table lights and i'm sure you can see a variety of lights that work the same as the diamond.
If not do a search on pool table lights and i'm sure you can see a variety of lights that work the same as the diamond.
True story.
I prefer non flourescent lighting
Non fluorescent lights with a framework that directs and increases the output of the light fixture are the best. I say non fluorescent because fluorescent lights cycle supposedly 160 times per second and can be very wearing on the eyes when tired or playing for a long time, otherwise fluorescents work fine and is probably the bulk of fixtures out there. The height of the bulb to the bed surface has always been 36 inches, so if you get a large fluorescent fixture that has a large outside dimension/framework you sometimes are unable to bring the cue butt vertical or somewhat vertical to do a slight masse' because of fixture interference and you must raise the fixture height allot.
Non fluorescent lights with a framework that directs and increases the output of the light fixture are the best. I say non fluorescent because fluorescent lights cycle supposedly 160 times per second and can be very wearing on the eyes when tired or playing for a long time, otherwise fluorescents work fine and is probably the bulk of fixtures out there. The height of the bulb to the bed surface has always been 36 inches, so if you get a large fluorescent fixture that has a large outside dimension/framework you sometimes are unable to bring the cue butt vertical or somewhat vertical to do a slight masse' because of fixture interference and you must raise the fixture height allot.
walk into LOWES .
Go to the lighting department , and grab an associate .
walk them out of the lighting department to anywhere else .
Point up , and say "me want dat"
Their whole store is lit up with 8' florescent fixtures 8 bulbs wide.
use cool whites - with that many , daylights will blind you !
Go to the lighting department , and grab an associate .
walk them out of the lighting department to anywhere else .
Point up , and say "me want dat"
Their whole store is lit up with 8' florescent fixtures 8 bulbs wide.
use cool whites - with that many , daylights will blind you !
I don't care for florescent lighting. It blinks rapidly and drowns out the color. Also you can't use a radar gun around florescent bulbs. I prefer the 3 or 4 fixture metal lights with ultra white bulbs. Usually 100 watts on the outside and 75 watts on the inside fixture(s).
Any light that makes noise is annoying.
I've got this . . .
For an 8 1/2 footer . . . its a 4 lamp straight bar with downdraft shades.
The best lamps (bulbs) for this (IMO) are the GE Reveal Daylight bulbs . . . 100 watt. Available at Lowes in 8 packs for about $7. Perfect clean natural daylight - NOT soft white etc. which almost always have a yellow or tan cast (tinted) light. Its like Yankee Friggin' Stadium - minimal shadows and comfortable on the eyes.
You probably won't like flood bulbs - like the one on the right above - they're typically a narrow field.
I wouldn't try a 3 lamp fixture on a 9 footer, or even an 8 footer. You won't get even coverage across the table. Notice the corner pockets on mine below - no annoying shadows. You see the field the same - everywhere on the table.
They have light fixtures like those in my pic at billiard stores or even on the web. (Seyberts, PoolDawgs, Neilson's, etc.) They're probably less then $100.
I believe the standard light mounting height is 63" up from the ground, and the table height should be 28 - 29".
Diamond does make a fantastic light for their tables - just be prepared to pay - I think a matching light for their 9 footer is a little over $500. (ouch)
You can certainly improvise by going to the home improvement or a lighting centers with some of their standard fluorescent fixtures - besides, they look old school cool!
For an 8 1/2 footer . . . its a 4 lamp straight bar with downdraft shades.
The best lamps (bulbs) for this (IMO) are the GE Reveal Daylight bulbs . . . 100 watt. Available at Lowes in 8 packs for about $7. Perfect clean natural daylight - NOT soft white etc. which almost always have a yellow or tan cast (tinted) light. Its like Yankee Friggin' Stadium - minimal shadows and comfortable on the eyes.
You probably won't like flood bulbs - like the one on the right above - they're typically a narrow field.
I wouldn't try a 3 lamp fixture on a 9 footer, or even an 8 footer. You won't get even coverage across the table. Notice the corner pockets on mine below - no annoying shadows. You see the field the same - everywhere on the table.
They have light fixtures like those in my pic at billiard stores or even on the web. (Seyberts, PoolDawgs, Neilson's, etc.) They're probably less then $100.
I believe the standard light mounting height is 63" up from the ground, and the table height should be 28 - 29".
Diamond does make a fantastic light for their tables - just be prepared to pay - I think a matching light for their 9 footer is a little over $500. (ouch)
You can certainly improvise by going to the home improvement or a lighting centers with some of their standard fluorescent fixtures - besides, they look old school cool!
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My Diamond light was about $800 delivered and I would not have any other light over my table.
I have had many other lights and the Diamond is the absolute best.
I have had many other lights and the Diamond is the absolute best.
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rorywayne
Banned
:thumbup:If you want to light a large office, with lots of lights, flourescent wins hands down, its more energy efficient, and the light spread is 4 to 1 over incadescent, which is why two countries, made everyone switch to it and get rid of the old light bulbs.
You can light a pool table cheap that way, go to Lowes, buy two, 4' 4 light fixtures, with a disfussion shield, and hang them with chains 2" out of the ceiling up high, and dont put them down the middle like you see most pool lights, turn them sideways and space them. Two for an 8', 3 for a 9', they are only about $30 each. Being high up you dont have the heat issues you have with incadenscent in the summer times or the up close glare in your eyes.
But, if you try to film, the colors will run, even change. Then its a mess, been there, done that one. I once had to turn the flourscent light off and bounce quartz lighting off of the ceiling from 3 directions going back through a bed sheet.
Most installs in the pool world are the incadescent, using a 3 light for a 8' and a 4 light for a 9', they hang them in the middle. That is the prefered choice, and the most popular. The goal is not to have any shadows on any of the rails.
If it was my table, I would use the 4 light, on an 8', and hang two, not one, side by side, each one off center then I would have perfect light. I could then use 60 watt bulbs.
My advice is, over light, you cant have too much light, I want mine, like an OR table, where I could do brain surgery.
Pancho:thumbup:
You can light a pool table cheap that way, go to Lowes, buy two, 4' 4 light fixtures, with a disfussion shield, and hang them with chains 2" out of the ceiling up high, and dont put them down the middle like you see most pool lights, turn them sideways and space them. Two for an 8', 3 for a 9', they are only about $30 each. Being high up you dont have the heat issues you have with incadenscent in the summer times or the up close glare in your eyes.
But, if you try to film, the colors will run, even change. Then its a mess, been there, done that one. I once had to turn the flourscent light off and bounce quartz lighting off of the ceiling from 3 directions going back through a bed sheet.
Most installs in the pool world are the incadescent, using a 3 light for a 8' and a 4 light for a 9', they hang them in the middle. That is the prefered choice, and the most popular. The goal is not to have any shadows on any of the rails.
If it was my table, I would use the 4 light, on an 8', and hang two, not one, side by side, each one off center then I would have perfect light. I could then use 60 watt bulbs.
My advice is, over light, you cant have too much light, I want mine, like an OR table, where I could do brain surgery.
Pancho:thumbup:
For real. Good luck trying to beat it. Not only does it provide the perfect amount of light (not dim but not too bright), it spreads it evenly over the entire playing surface, eliminating any dark spots. And yes, you may call me Captain Obvious.
rorywayne
Banned
Yes its pretty, looks nice, but it has drawbacks, its very expensive, that runs most off, and its too big, too wide, try and jack up on the rail and hit a verticle masse, you cant, the butt hits the fixture, which is always hung too low. The brunswick copy is better, because its a little smaller and is inside the rails and wont interfer with a masse.
Yeah I know, most of you dont have a clue what that shot is, so whip T do dah, its flourscent, so if you film, the colors run.
And that disfussion shield, throws all kinds of small little lights all over the ball, which drives me crazy, I use the POL aim system, and it wont work on these kinds of light.
You could not give me one of these over priced dino's. Great idea, lousy design. Muy bado. Every time I play on one, I want to take my dos pistolas and shoot a hole in it amigo.
Pancho.
Yeah I know, most of you dont have a clue what that shot is, so whip T do dah, its flourscent, so if you film, the colors run.
And that disfussion shield, throws all kinds of small little lights all over the ball, which drives me crazy, I use the POL aim system, and it wont work on these kinds of light.
You could not give me one of these over priced dino's. Great idea, lousy design. Muy bado. Every time I play on one, I want to take my dos pistolas and shoot a hole in it amigo.
Pancho.
I've never had a problem with the fixture in the way of a masse. And in my opinion, if you're stuck hitting a vertical masse in-game in the first place, you're already in a world of trouble. Don't let yourself get to into that situation lol.
The question asked for the best table light. The Diamond light is the best. It may not be the best for your situation, given budget or any other reason, but it is performance wise.
Also, I might have declared myself Captaion Obvious, but you Mr Wayne I'd have to declare Captain Negative. Every post I've read of yours has an aire of negativity and condescension.
The question asked for the best table light. The Diamond light is the best. It may not be the best for your situation, given budget or any other reason, but it is performance wise.
Also, I might have declared myself Captaion Obvious, but you Mr Wayne I'd have to declare Captain Negative. Every post I've read of yours has an aire of negativity and condescension.