Current Pool Table Designs Boring? New Designs Needed??

[Jive]

Some Chinese table maker just posted on the WTS section regarding there newly designed table which I absolute have no liking for..

With that it actually draws me to another question...Why aren't there any accessibly priced pool table with nice modern and contemporary designs from major brands? I know William Sonoma has one but that's a vintage rustic looking table. Why don't any of these major table manufacturers hire some good industrial designer or furniture designers to do up a nice modern collection...is the market not big enough? Don't get me wrong, I love the way a GC or Diamond Pro looks, would be proud to have it at home but those aren't very modern center pieces...hmmm...

If only we get to vote on cross collaboration tables. Off my head I can think of 4 cross brand collaboration table designs I'd love to see.

1) Hardware Restoration - with they're current new vintage theme going on I'm sure it'll be a great cool centernpiece deisgn. Can already imagine their old aerospace design element on the table..

2) B&B Italia (Antonio Citterio) - this should be a modern and sophisticated design that's timeless and elegant.

3) Bang & Olufsen - tell me you didn't drool at those cool looking TV and speakers...

4) Richard Mille or Audemar Piguet - This Swiss watch maker would make the table super cool with so much engineering coolness! Don't forget that quality...

Just ranting...

 

[MitchAlsup]

To a large first order, the design of a pool table must create a structure that will hold 600-900 pounds of slate in such a way that a 300 pound massé artist can bang around on it all year long and neither has the table has moved nor any parts of the table has moved. That it, it is still level, the rails remain square, the pockets remain properly sized,...

This requires stiffness and is the reason for much of the box structure under the slate pieces and the way the box is held above the floor on its legs.

Thus, the box structure and the leg architecture is basicaly a given fixed known quantity. Allowing the "furnature designer" only the ability to diddle with the externally visible pieces. And afte 100+ years of this endeavour, they have converged to about what we see in the market today.

 

[Jive]

To a large first order, the design of a pool table must create a structure that will hold 600-900 pounds of slate in such a way that a 300 pound massé artist can bang around on it all year long and neither has the table has moved nor any parts of the table has moved. That it, it is still level, the rails remain square, the pockets remain properly sized,...

This requires stiffness and is the reason for much of the box structure under the slate pieces and the way the box is held above the floor on its legs.

Thus, the box structure and the leg architecture is basicaly a given fixed known quantity. Allowing the "furnature designer" only the ability to diddle with the externally visible pieces. And afte 100+ years of this endeavour, they have converged to about what we see in the market today.

No doubt there are several key elements of a pool table that needs to be considered I still think there's many aspect in terms of design, shape, materials and details that can really be manipulated to make a table beautiful.

Cars are the most common example, 4 wheels and boxy? Nope, car designers have made cars totally different today than they were in yesteryears.

Sofas and Chairs for instance needs to provide a basic function of seating. Then there's comfort, aesthetics and quality. Look at the array of designs available these days in multitude of materials and shapes.

Watches are great example as well. You could make a watch like Rolex or Patek in mostly regular shape or you could go crazy like Richard Mille, AP ROO, Gerald Genta, MB&F or Urwek. Mixing materials and add nice elements to make a watch really cool. Importantly they still serve their primary function but with style and no quality compromise.

There's no doubt that the current crop of table designs are extremely well functioned and tested by time however there's always the ability of creative minds that can make it better not because it needs to be but because it can be done.

Cars are constantly getting better not because they need to be but they can be and ofcourse there's the brand competition aspect. Watches are the most typical of improving when not necessary. Mechanical chronograph movement ETA 7750 has been tried and tested for decades and proven spectacular but manufacturers are constantly doing something different albeit not always better.

I know pool table isn't a mass market item or uber luxury item with a huge consumer base but a man can dream and wish and here I am dreaming and wishing...just so that I can add another item to my wishlist

 

[Fast Lenny]

I think the pool table needs to evolve for the masses, maybe have the diamond system markers light up on it, a sleeker modern look, perhaps make noises when you make or miss a ball. Dartboards do it and so should pool tables, at least bar tables for the bangers to give them a more enjoyable time.

 

[bigshooter]

I think the pool table needs to evolve for the masses, maybe have the diamond system markers light up on it, a sleeker modern look, perhaps make noises when you make or miss a ball. Dartboards do it and so should pool tables, at least bar tables for the bangers to give them a more enjoyable time.

Or like mini golf... you shoot the ball through a clowns nose or a windmill, maybe put in a water hazard. :embarrassed2:

 

[pt109]

I think the pool table needs to evolve for the masses, maybe have the diamond system markers light up on it, a sleeker modern look, perhaps make noises when you make or miss a ball. Dartboards do it and so should pool tables, at least bar tables for the bangers to give them a more enjoyable time.

How about inter-active equipment....I've seen a lotta pool players talk
to inanimate objects...we need balls that talk back....like, uh...
.."Last time I saw a stroke like that, we called an ambulance."...

 

[Fast Lenny]

How about inter-active equipment....I've seen a lotta pool players talk
to inanimate objects...we need balls that talk back....like, uh...
.."Last time I saw a stroke like that, we called an ambulance."...

That is what I am saying, the table can talk crap when you miss a ball and compliment you when you do, lights up and cheers when the 8 ball is made or something. I know it sounds corny to us diehards but the rec players like that stuff. Maybe a video rules screen by the table that has someone showing how to play different games or whatever.

 

[bender_lu]

lol, cant wait for pooltables that play tetris music during a straight pool match or the super mario sound (after bosskill) when you make the money ball :grin:

i like the brunswik metro tables, they look modern and play really good. the diamond tables are imho also a pleasure for the eyes.

 

[Harold Smith]

Bender, I agree with youabout the Metro . It has some of the best lines for a pool table that I have seen. They play very nice too.---Smitty

 

[Jive]

I see more inputs about added functions towards the table, that's cool too. However anyone else with thoughts about the aesthetics of the table? Not that what we discuss will even materialize but in terms of designs what kind of cross collaboration would you like to see or what kind of designs would intrigue you?

Another thought I have would be a Pininfarina designed table, not so much the Ferrari element but the lines that Pininfarina would play with or shapes they'd introduce. I think it would be cool, just don't get them to throw the table into a wind tunnel...

Some other funky designers that comes to mind would be Karim Rashid if you like crazy colour, Zaha Hadid for new age form? Or Tom Dixon for some elegant charm?

I think I started this thread more for my own entertainment..haha

 

[Mr. Bond]

i've actually designed a table with a built-in wireless sound system.
seemed like a no-brainer to me. music + pool =

ever seen the tables made by hurricanebilliards?