Pool table suggestions for an occasional player?

R

RainySunday

New member
Hi All, I am looking for a decent 8' table to fill the game room of my new house. I'm definitely still a novice so I don't need the worlds best but I am looking for something that plays reasonably well and looks good while doing it.

I've looked at several different tables from Leisure Bay, Olhausen, American Heritage, and Spencer Marston. The trouble I've run into is that every dealer trash talks every other dealer and 'knows' theirs is the best but with a price range of $1800-3500 I'm left completely clueless on how to choose between them.

Can anyone suggest the best brand for a budget under ~$3000 that is going to look nice and play well? It might be from the above selection or any other tables I could find in the Atlanta area. Any known comparisons or trade offs for the above would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
Jeez, in the Atlanta area there should be several passable tables for cheap on Craigslist. Just about any table with a slate playing surface will be ok if you're not looking to dive deep into the hobby. Just be patient and stalk Craigslist daily. Mark Gregory is an absolute top-tier table mechanic in the ATL area, and might have a lead or two for you. His screen name here is PerfectPocketz. Look him up, I highly recommend him as a quality person as well as a phenomenal mechanic.
 
I agree with the last post. Check out Craigslist.

People get to where they will sell them cheap just to get rid of them. I found a 7 foot valley slate table in NC there for $250. It needed new felt but that was still a lot cheaper than a new table.

When I was looking I saw tons of nice looking 8 foot tables for good prices. Just make sure it is slate.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
 
RainySunday said:
Hi All, I am looking for a decent 8' table to fill the game room of my new house. I'm definitely still a novice so I don't need the worlds best but I am looking for something that plays reasonably well and looks good while doing it.

I've looked at several different tables from Leisure Bay, Olhausen, American Heritage, and Spencer Marston. The trouble I've run into is that every dealer trash talks every other dealer and 'knows' theirs is the best but with a price range of $1800-3500 I'm left completely clueless on how to choose between them.
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Of these, only Olhausen is made in America.
 
RainySunday said:
Hi All, I am looking for a decent 8' table to fill the game room of my new house. I'm definitely still a novice so I don't need the worlds best but I am looking for something that plays reasonably well and looks good while doing it.

I've looked at several different tables from Leisure Bay, Olhausen, American Heritage, and Spencer Marston. The trouble I've run into is that every dealer trash talks every other dealer and 'knows' theirs is the best but with a price range of $1800-3500 I'm left completely clueless on how to choose between them.

Can anyone suggest the best brand for a budget under ~$3000 that is going to look nice and play well? It might be from the above selection or any other tables I could find in the Atlanta area. Any known comparisons or trade offs for the above would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
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give this thread about 2-3 days and you'll be pointed in the right direction by people who wont take advantage of you. Good move to ask. Good Luck.
 
If you are located in or near a high density city, you should
find some great deals on Craigslist. Most of the Sellers are
"motivated" to part with their table, which puts you in the
driver's seat when it's time to negotiate price.
Once you know the Brand & Model they are offering you can
do a little research before making an offer.
 
Thanks for the fast responses everyone. I've been looking on Craigslist for a while but it seems like I won't get a table for more than a few hundred dollars cheaper after the cost of (dis)assembly and a new felt cover. And in this case, I have a table in unknown, less than new condition. If this is the case then I think I'd prefer to spend a little more and get a table that I know hasn't been abused, had drinks spilled on it, etc. Does this sound accurate to everyone?

Also, is the general consensus that of DallasHopps - any slate table is going to play basically the same for a new player like me?

Thanks again for your help.
 
What are the dimensions of your game room? (15 x 20 or more? )

I ask because even though you are a novice now, you won't always be if you have a table and use it. So .... If you can fit a 9' table, I strongly suggest you do that and not even consider and 8' table. That will prevent you from kicking yourself in the ass later.
 
AE Schmidt is American made and, in my opinion, the best a person can buy. They are reasonably priced new from the factory (just call them) and they can price it delivered to you. I am in the process of doing so now and just got back from meeting with them - they can sell you one stock or customize it for you.
 
Olhausen is the best for the money and very well made and will look the best. Also they don't have the fly by night dealers. I have one. For a sport player ask the installer to make the pockets easier.
 
3andstop, unfortunately my room is a little small for a 9' - 13.5'x17.5' so I think I need to stick with an 8'. I did like the Ohlausen tables but they were ~33% higher in price for a comparable look.

Right now I'm leaning towards an American Heritage. I'll be happy as long as the table looks nice and plays basically as well as any other table, even if it only lasts me 10 years. At that point I'm sure I'll either hardly use it and won't really care or I'll be really into it and decide to invest in a much nicer table than I'd look at today.
 
my thoughts

Your new and one day might quit or get more serious. Either way if you get an ok to lower end table now the resale later will be terrible. and you are playing on an ok to lower end table.

I think you get a good table and good balls and you will enjoy the game better and if you decide later that its not for you then you will have a better product to be selling.

There are good Brunswick's in your price range I would think.

I would call Mark. Its possible he knows of a home owner or room owner that has been sitting on a good table for a while.
 
maha said:
Olhausen is the best for the money and very well made and will look the best. Also they don't have the fly by night dealers. I have one. For a sport player ask the installer to make the pockets easier.
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I have an Olhausen and have had it for around 13 years. IMO, they are great looking pieces of furniture and solidly built. However, they are very average as far as pool tables go.

I have never liked the way the rails rebound or the way the pockets are cut. I tolerate the pockets better than the rails. They continue to frustrate me! :(
 
Honestly in your situation I wouldn't think of buying a new table. There are great used deals all the time on craigslist. Buy a nice bar box or other used table and you can turn around 5 years later and probably sell it for what you bought it for or more if you are a good negotiator. Let someone else take the depreciation hit.

Only table you buy new is a Diamond because a used one costs almost as much as new a lot of times. Resale on them seems to be WAY above any other table. You aren't in Diamond territory just yet but one day you might be hooked like me and a lot of the other zombies on here and have to have the best table in the world so you bite the bullet and empty your wallet like the billiards slave you are.

If a short time down the road you do decide to upgrade and you listened to me you are out very little, maybe the cost of some cloth or maybe even rails if you felt froggy. If you bought a new table you are probably out 2 G's when you realize your $3000 table doesn't pull but a grand at VERY best in the used market even though its only a few years old.

Bar boxes are all over. They are great beginner tables and they are well built sturdy units. Best of all in my area you can get one in tip top shape for $400 or less all day long. Other used tables you need to research to see if they are worth your time. Happy hunting.
 
I agree with not purchasing a new one. Many people buy new, then use them very little for a couple years and then decide to sell it to gain their space back. Great tables where someone else has taken the hit! They're worse then cars I think. I picked up a Brunswick GCIV for 1000 bucks. It was probably a 6000 table brand new. Patiently wait on Craigslist and when the right table comes along, jump on it!

And IMO I think a 8 ft table will be snug in a 13.5 ft wide room. You will probably need a shorty cue once in awhile.

Good luck on your hunt!
 
"Q" Protectors said:
And IMO I think a 8 ft table will be snug in a 13.5 ft wide room. You will probably need a shorty cue once in awhile.
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Yikes. I'm a little embarrassed I didn't pick up on that.

He is right that your might really want to consider a 7' table. 13.5' is really tight for an 8' table.

13.5 feet = 162 inches .....minus playing surface = 118 inches

118 inches divided by 2 = 59 inches or roughly the length of a standard cue with bumper
 
Nice Table

Hello, I am picking up a very nice 9' antique Brunswick tomorrow. It can be affordable if you are interested. On a scale of 1-10 . I would give it a 9. This is a table that is a real pool table. Let me know if you would like to talk about it. Thanks Gary
 
"Q" Protectors said:
I agree with not purchasing a new one. Many people buy new, then use them very little for a couple years and then decide to sell it to gain their space back. Great tables where someone else has taken the hit! They're worse then cars I think. I picked up a Brunswick GCIV for 1000 bucks. It was probably a 6000 table brand new. Patiently wait on Craigslist and when the right table comes along, jump on it!

And IMO I think a 8 ft table will be snug in a 13.5 ft wide room. You will probably need a shorty cue once in awhile.

Good luck on your hunt!
Click to expand...

Good advice, nothing wrong with a 8ft GC III or IV in the $1K range.
 
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