Enough room or too tight?
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Damn it! Well played!
In my humble opinion, it's not worth it. Now, this is just about my opinion so you can do as you will with it. Even if the table were free, I would view this as a bad idea. The time and effort invested in getting a table has to yield a scenario that's fully functional. That said, can you still practice? Sure. You can still do a lot on a table that's flush to a wall! But, you can't play pool.
I say this because the fact is, when I get my own table, it'll be because I want to move my practice time from the poolroom to my livingroom. In order to do that, my home table would have to be a better environment than my favorite poolroom otherwise, it's not going to work. It's like buying a television. If you get a 20" tv, you're still going to want to go to the movie theater. Get a 60" and you'll wait until it's on HBO and watch from the comfort of your own home.
Just like the TV analogy, you find yourself spending money to make the experience better and, not just for you but for your guests. You'll want proper chairs and ideal lighting. Maybe you get a television mounted high on the wall so you can watch the game while it's not your turn. Look around your local room and ask yourself, honestly, what makes you enjoy your time there? Once you factor in all of those things, ask yourself again if you have the space. That's something only you can answer.
I say this because the fact is, when I get my own table, it'll be because I want to move my practice time from the poolroom to my livingroom. In order to do that, my home table would have to be a better environment than my favorite poolroom otherwise, it's not going to work. It's like buying a television. If you get a 20" tv, you're still going to want to go to the movie theater. Get a 60" and you'll wait until it's on HBO and watch from the comfort of your own home.
Just like the TV analogy, you find yourself spending money to make the experience better and, not just for you but for your guests. You'll want proper chairs and ideal lighting. Maybe you get a television mounted high on the wall so you can watch the game while it's not your turn. Look around your local room and ask yourself, honestly, what makes you enjoy your time there? Once you factor in all of those things, ask yourself again if you have the space. That's something only you can answer.
Very well said!!:smile:
I strongly recommend that you try this, from the old RSB FAQ. It is your best chance to know whether it will bother YOU or not.
From the RSB FAQ:
If your room does not meet these minimum size requirements, many billiard retailers will suggest that you can still put a table in, and use short cues (52", or 48"). Many people have found they are unhappy having to resort to shorter cues, and should have either gotten a smaller table, or no table at all. Others, of course, take the opposite view -- they are delighted to have any table.
In the end, only you will know whether you are happy with the room dimensions and need for short cues. Before you spend $2000 for a table that will cause you to smash the walls in frustration, try this:
(1) Find an indulgent pool hall when it's not busy.
(2) Measure your space (at home) carefully, including the distance from the table to all walls that require a special cue
(3) Go to the pool hall with a piece or pieces of plywood or some such, and a short cue, and set up the "walls" to replicate where the walls would be in your house. Play for several hours, using the short cue when needed.
Gideon
From the RSB FAQ:
If your room does not meet these minimum size requirements, many billiard retailers will suggest that you can still put a table in, and use short cues (52", or 48"). Many people have found they are unhappy having to resort to shorter cues, and should have either gotten a smaller table, or no table at all. Others, of course, take the opposite view -- they are delighted to have any table.
In the end, only you will know whether you are happy with the room dimensions and need for short cues. Before you spend $2000 for a table that will cause you to smash the walls in frustration, try this:
(1) Find an indulgent pool hall when it's not busy.
(2) Measure your space (at home) carefully, including the distance from the table to all walls that require a special cue
(3) Go to the pool hall with a piece or pieces of plywood or some such, and a short cue, and set up the "walls" to replicate where the walls would be in your house. Play for several hours, using the short cue when needed.
Gideon
I saw this first hand when my wife and I were house hunting 3 months ago. I could not believe the table setups in homes we looked at, 7 foot tables with 3 feet of space between the rails and walls. You could not use a full size cue unless the CB was in the middle of the table. 
That would be interesting to see/do. Unfortunately, I don't even know of a pool hall around aside from hard times. I'm more in the category of just happy to have a table. I don't compete or even plan to. I've just wanted another one since I was a kid, and I enjoy banging around.
I do hope to get better and enjoy the table with friends. Hopefully in the near future I can convince my better half to let me take the couches out and then I can move the table and no longer have the unplayable spot. It isn't ideal, but it's what I have to work with.
In the end I couldn't walk away from a Diamond Pro (red label) in great condition for $500. If all else fails and I get tired of the space constraints, I can sell it for more than I paid and get another table.
I think you mean the other way around. If he had a ten pound bag for five pounds of shit, we'd have nothing to talk about.