New player seeking equipment advice

A

alexk3954

Registered
Hi everyone! I have always enjoyed playing pool, but I recently moved and have the space to get my own table so I am planning on starting to play more seriously. I was hoping all of you could look over the equipment I am getting to make sure it looks good.

First, here is the table I plan on getting:

http://socalpooltables.com/balboa-mah-pool-table.htm (8 ft version)

The company seems reputable and has plenty of good reviews. I was under the impression that Simonis was the best or most popular brand of cloth, but this company uses championship or Fortsmann. Are those good brands? I have seen the tables in person and they look well made and use 3 piece 1" slate and are solid wood construction.

Also, I plan on getting the camel cloth. Does anyone have experience with this color? Does it get dirty particularly easily? What color chalk would be best to use?

For a cue I plan on getting the McDermott G405 with G core shaft. I am still a complete beginner and have difficulty controlling the cue ball, but I figure this setup will still be very good as my skills develop. Are different brand butts and shafts compatible? Would I be able to add a 314-2 shaft later on if I want to? I know that they can be made in any joint type, but would different brands have the same diameter at the joint ?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
My brain is fried, so please pardon my quick math:

Did these mfers here really allow 12hr to pass without responding to you?

I apologize for all dem bums. May the beatings continue...!!

But you choices could be worse. I would suggest going with an 8' gold crown, but really, as long as you can hit balls, you can play some damn poool. also, availablty may be a concern with the gold crown...as may be the neede for potential major repair work.

I WOULD SUGGest looking on craigsliist and having the best mechanic you can find either go buy it or accompany you. New tables are expensive and used ones are hard to sell, generally. Definitely a buyers' market, IMO...but be patient and you will get a good one at a good price.

The installer's proficiency is likely equally as, if not more important than the table, IMO. On that note, check out the mechanic's section here to find someone reputable, or let us know your city and we will hook you up.

Re: the cloth, Id go Simonis, but if it is more than 100-150 more, fuggit and go with what is provided. You can try Simonis next time. I am green/ blue, for color, but camel toe isnt the worst other choice out there, by far.

Cue is choice is fine. If you like pool and keep playing,,,well, you will buy another and another and...:)

WElcome to the club. Sorry you're a member:sorry:!!:grin-square:
 
i do not really know what to tell you about the table, i know nothing about them. is that price including delivery and setup ?

most people on here if they reply would tell you to go with diamond , a used one is about twice the price of that table then you have to figure in delivery and setup. i have an olhausen myself and after 4 years its held up well considering kids play on it.

as for the cloth color its strictly a personal choice but light colors show up everything a whole lot more than dark a dark color will. if you do decide on that color use gold master chalk. using any other color the chalk will stick out like a sore thumb on the cloth.

in my opinion you cant go wrong starting out with a mc dermott. you mentioned you are new at pool. if your intention is to upgrade to a ld shaft at a later date i recommend you get the shaft when you get the cue.

the g core shaft is low deflection but not like a predator. once you get used to the g core and switch to a predator you will have to learn aiming all over again with it.

my main player is a custom with a straight maple shaft and i seem to play better with it. occasionaly i will take a mc dermott with a g core shaft or my predator blak with a 314 shaft out of the closet and play with them. it takes me a few racks to adjust to them but i like to keep the wood lively as ernie of gina cue fame says.

good luck to you on whatever you decide to purchase and welcome to the forum.
 
Thanks for the input! I would prefer to buy a table that looks like a nice piece of furniture rather than a name brand table with their logo all over the side of it. As long as the slate and bumpers are high quality and the pockets are the correct shape and size, a non name brand table should play very well, right? From what I understand the pocket size can be somewhat variable? Are there specific pocket measurements I should be going for? And yes the price of the table I showed is including delivery, installation and an accessory kit ( the cues will be fine for guests but I will be upgrading balls to aramiths). I have not found anything but glowing reviews for the company I linked. Everyone says they are very professional and take their time to make sure everything is set up perfectly. Unless anyone sees any glaring problems with the table I linked I think I will give it a try.

I am going to check out a supply store this weekend and hopefully try out some cues. I really like the style of the Mcdermott G405, but would like to get a better LD shaft if its better just to get accustomed to one from the beginning.

Thanks again!
 
If you must get the tan cloth, make sure you only use tan chalk. Chalk marks really show on tan cloth.
 
TX Poolnut said:
about tan cloth...

No.
Click to expand...

Why is that, just gets dirty too easily? I really like the look of it, but if it does get that dirty I guess I would dislike the look of it rather quickly :p

EDIT: Ahh you beat me to it. I was planning on using a similar colored chalk. I may give it a try and hope for the best. I guess it can always be replaced if it starts to look too bad
 
I don't know tables other then the GC and Diamond so I'll let others comment on that.
I looked up the McD cue and I really like the looks of it. And you can't go wrong with that brand.
Good luck and good shooting.
 
Tan chalk is nice because it won't "blue" up your shafts over time.

Tan cloth and blue chalk just don't mix. If your looking to present the table as a nice addition to your home, it should look clean, no? If you use blue chalk on a tan clothed table, you will be cleaning your table every time you use it. It will get old fast.
 
You want a table to let the dog chase balls on top off because it's cute then get some generic table with ball and claw legs and don't forget the tan cloth. The wife or gf will also find it useful to fold clothes on. They may have high reviews but those are not from serious players I am guessing.

For most serious pool players it's either a Diamond or a Goldcrown. Tan. No way. Blue or green that's it.

Look here for ideas http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=182377&highlight=show+home+rooms
 
JohnPT said:
You want a table to let the dog chase balls on top off because it's cute then get some generic table with ball and claw legs and don't forget the tan cloth. The wife or gf will also find it useful to fold clothes on. They may have high reviews but those are not from serious players I am guessing.

For most serious pool players it's either a Diamond or a Goldcrown. Tan. No way. Blue or green that's it.

Look here for ideas http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=182377&highlight=show+home+rooms
Click to expand...

Ouch, now theres a strong opinion! Is there really a huge difference in how the tables play? If so, whats the difference? Not trying to sound like I am doubting you, just genuinely curious.

I am getting a light fixture with 3 shades ( each with 100 W bulbs) to hang over the table, but I am not sure what is the proper height to hang it and am reading a lot of different things. I was thinking somewhere around 70 inches from the ground...
 
I dig tan/ camel cloth. Prefer it over green myself. You can save a lot by getting used gear, that's the only recommendation. Like black balled says- cue doesn't matter, you'll buy a few :)
 
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JohnPT said:
You want a table to let the dog chase balls on top off because it's cute then get some generic table with ball and claw legs and don't forget the tan cloth. The wife or gf will also find it useful to fold clothes on. They may have high reviews but those are not from serious players I am guessing.

For most serious pool players it's either a Diamond or a Goldcrown. Tan. No way. Blue or green that's it.

Look here for ideas http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=182377&highlight=show+home+rooms
Click to expand...

Ouch, now theres a strong opinion! Do Diamonds and brunswicks really play that differently? If so, how? Not trying to sound like I doubt you, just curious.


And to the "you will keep buying more cues" comments - great, another hobby like that is just what I need :rolleyes: . I also collect pinball machines and I am guessing that is just like cues, the perfect number is always one more than you currently have...
 
I've played on tan and light (but not bright) cloth is actually ideal for pool. Doesn't wear out the eyes and everything is very easy to see. Just as a personal preference I don't like shades of brown, and some tan looks more like babyshit yellow. So I wouldn't get it. If you like the color in general, don't worry about the playability, it's very playable.
 
Good answer here Blackballed

Black-Balled said:
My brain is fried, so please pardon my quick math:

Did these mfers here really allow 12hr to pass without responding to you?

I apologize for all dem bums. May the beatings continue...!!

But you choices could be worse. I would suggest going with an 8' gold crown, but really, as long as you can hit balls, you can play some damn poool. also, availablty may be a concern with the gold crown...as may be the neede for potential major repair work.

I WOULD SUGGest looking on craigsliist and having the best mechanic you can find either go buy it or accompany you. New tables are expensive and used ones are hard to sell, generally. Definitely a buyers' market, IMO...but be patient and you will get a good one at a good price.

The installer's proficiency is likely equally as, if not more important than the table, IMO. On that note, check out the mechanic's section here to find someone reputable, or let us know your city and we will hook you up.

Re: the cloth, Id go Simonis, but if it is more than 100-150 more, fuggit and go with what is provided. You can try Simonis next time. I am green/ blue, for color, but camel toe isnt the worst other choice out there, by far.

Cue is choice is fine. If you like pool and keep playing,,,well, you will buy another and another and...:)

WElcome to the club. Sorry you're a member:sorry:!!:grin-square:
Click to expand...

Alex. Craigslist is loaded with pool tables.

I would surely check there first.

I use Simonis cloth and love it.

As far as a cue goes just find a pool hall and shoot with a bunch of cues till you find one that really feels good to you.

Don
 
I'll say that on the suggestion of getting a table off craigslist, it probably won't come out all that much cheaper anyhow.

$1500 there for the new table

$500 for a used table
$300 to have it moved and set up
$200 to have it refelted
$150 to have a couple of the rubbers replaced on the bumbers
the new one comes with the accessory set so 4 plain cues, balls, etc that may or may not come with the used table.

So unless you are looking at used tables that you really like the looks of, to heck with it and get the new one


Now on the cue. I'm a McDermott fan and have a few of them and like them. And I got a 314 2 shaft for them. And then I got a predator.... and the only time I shoot with any of the mcdermotts is if the predator is in the case and I know i'm going out to shoot later that night.

right here on AZB is a used one at not a bad price

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=320529

although its not my first choice in them as its not the uniloc. There are many of the predator sneaky pete style's available right in the same price range as the McDermott, but they come with your choice of a 314 2 or Z2. May as well just go that way from day 1 if its going to cost the same. If I was somehow forced to replace my current one, i'd probably replace it with this

http://www.billiardwarehouse.com/cues/predator/predator-sp6gn.html

just because the reversed points is cool and I've gotten used to wrapless.
 
As others have mentioned, set up is as important if not more. So I would ask about the installers that will be setting up the table.

Mcdermott makes a GREAT cue. You might look on the for sale section here and see if there is one floating around.

The only thing I notice you will need but dont have listed is a pool ball cleaner. I happen to know someone that can supply you with one of those :D lol

It's exciting to get your first home table. Congratulations, and welcome to the world of drills :)

Woody
 
TX Poolnut said:
about tan cloth...

No.
Click to expand...

Agreed! You can buy any table you like as long as it is green or blue. Lol
And while your at it save yourself a couple years in the quest for a perfect cue by bypassing all production cues and starting out with a nice custom. I recommend a Kenny Murrell.
 
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Find a cue you like. Use that. If it's a Walmart special, use it.. if you like a $5k custom and can afford it, use that. I downsized to a bar cue because I play better with it. Don't let other people fool you into thinking you need to spend money to play well with something.
 
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